Southern U and Us during the Civil War

Last updated on June 14, 2010


"Radar J" asks "...my Mom's ... been wondering what happened with Universalist churches in the South during the Civil War."
"I haven't found anything on-line yet that gives me even a clue what to tell her. Can you point me to any resources, or even tell us what you know? Did they go underground, or close up shop for the duration, or just keep meeting as usual in spite of the pro-slavery opinions of their immediate neighbors and the war going on around them?"

Ok, an honest question deserves an honest answer.

On the Unitarian side, as far as I can tell the three churches in the South with Unitarian doctrine (the AUA was for individuals and not churches up to around 1870), had weekly Sunday services. Most of the Universalist Churches didnt meet weekly (not unusual for rural churches)- but the lack of ministers during the war and reconstruction (and lack of money to pay ministers with) did lead to a disruption of services. Massive amounts of missionary work by locals Clayton, Burrus, Strain, and Bowers after the war led to resumption of churches and services. Some of these churches continued during the war with occasional services, most did not.

It would be nice to end here.
But honesty insists I don't. The Unitarian and Universalist Churches in the south were not as a group anti-slavery, pre-war. There were a few individuals and ministers who were pro-union (and possibly anti-slavery), but most of the other members reflected their local community on that issue, however their local community felt.

It's been said that Unitarians and Universalists were the two denominations that didnt split over the question of slavery, pre-war. With Unitarians not being a denomination or even association of churches prior to the 1870s, it was kind of hard for them to split. I don't know the thinking of the church in Louisville Kentucky or New Orleans, Louisiana; but the Unitarian church in Charleston, SC was pro-slavery.

The Universalist Church did not split, although Henry Summer of Newberry, South Carolina, (see a previous article) is supposed to have highly pushed for it, wanting an independent southern Universalist Church - to be headquarted in Plains, Georgia. But then South Carolina was full of fire-eaters. Indeed, the one believed Universalist governor of SC led a raid on a federal post office to destroy abolitionist pamphlets (this around 1840s). It was of course, illegal to own abolitionist writings in SC and illegal to advocate anti-slavery views. The Quakers and German Baptist Brethren (Church of Brethren) left SC in the early 1800s, both being strongly anti-slavery. But as noted, SC was a fireeater state, what of the others?
The majority of southern Universalist congregations seem to be in non-plantation areas. Which makes sense, putting aside the issue of slavery, plantation owners didnt think much of anyone outside their social class status. Universalists in the south were more inclined to be middle class. While some of the churches are in areas that were more contempeous of the war (there was a reason SC and the south started drafting conscripts for their "Rich Man's War and a Poor Man's Fight"); I dont see any known Universalists in the rebels against the rebels.
It would be difficult at this date to determine the views on slavery of those Universalists in the south. What little information we have seems to put them in the same category as their neighbors in their own individual communities.
The national convention did condemn slavery. A Southern convention did start a few years prewar, but stated they were not independent of the national convention. We don't know if the lack of independence was because they agreed with anti-slavery in the abstract or some other reason. Again it should be noted that (almost?) all of the other denomination did split.

Henry Summer survived his hanging by northern soldiers, circa 1865, an event intended to extort money from him. This did not improve his feelings toward the North. Did he leave the Universalist Church to go with those who were more anti-north?
Where did Universalist stand during the early reconstruction? Early reconstruction was when there was hope for reconciliation... before the old regime returned and "redeemed" the south. I do see some Universalists there....
We also know that A.C. Bowers of East Tennessee served in the Union army, and that Rev S. M. Simons of South Carolina was pro-Union.

Obviously more research needs to be done.
may 26, 2010

June 14, 2010
Peggy Rawheiser (Author of Universalism in North Carolina) tells me that "In Hope Bain's diary in my book, he recounts his travels to different speaking engagements during the Civil War including being chaplain to Sherman's troops when they were camped near Goldsboro."

Univeralist Convocation in Rochester, NY May 14-16, 2010

while the Universalist Convocation is not a history meet, there is some history discussed - which this year includes a tour of Albion and the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, and it meets at the historic 1st Universalist Society of Rochester. I will be there.

UNIVERSALIST CONVOCATION 2010
May 14-16, 2010
First Universalist Society of Rochester , NY
Keynote: The Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed, “Dragged Kicking and Screaming to Heaven”
For more information please go to nmuc.org/Convo

White-Ward Memorial Universalist Church, Pine Park, Georgia

The first Universalist Church in southwest Georgia, and about 50 miles from the nearest other Universalist Church (in Florida).

Church founded in 1898
building dedicated in 1907

Daniel Patterson Ward (1869-1938) charter member
gave the land and lumber for the church building
1906/7 16 families, 12 members;
Rev. Stanley Manning, circuit minister; G. A. White, clerk;
1907, Feb 24; building dedicated - built next to school
1920s monthly services, attended by other church's membership - as Pine Park was a circuit route for other denominations as well.
1942 services held
1943/1944 Rev. Roger D. Bosworth of the Atlanta Church was temporary providing services.
1948 no services in a couple of years, most members therefore having transferred their membership (to Hamburg, Florida?)

at some point the building became the 4-H Hut (1950s or 1960s)
in the 1990s, it was apparently the Pine Park Community Center.
by 2002, vandals had knocked the doors in.
In 2006, the building was acquired by Baptist college of Florida in Graceville, Florida.
given to them by Janice Ward, daughter-in-law of D. P. Ward
May 2006 Building was restored and in their Heritage Circle, now being used for teaching Southern Baptist ministers.
http://www.baptistcollege.edu/news_events/press/2007/pine_park.asp
contains before and after pictures.

former location: 6 miles west of Cario on US 84. On left, Just before the convenience store. A monument for the church was placed there in 2006.

Pardon while we move ....

Been quite awhile since I posted any history here -
- not because history is dead, indeed i got some interesting stuff in.
A list of sermon topics by Rev Nellie Opdale, when she was preaching
in Maine, etc.

But work has been busy, as well as my upcoming move. (finding a place
to live, etc)
Said move should give me more free time to blog.

Consolation Universalist Church, "Christian County" Kentucky

The Consolation Church was one of the first Universalist churches in the west of the pre-1830s. The church in the home by a traveling universalist minister - who was not ordained by the Universalists, but apparently by the frontier branch of what is now the Church of the Brethren. The church apparently officially affliated with the Universalists around 1835. (if we are to believe the 19th century registers)


In northwest Christian County, Kentucky - 8 miles from Hopkinsville, Ky - on the current Dawson Springs Road.
Consolation Church- 16 May 1819- circa 1940s or 1950s
house church 1819- 1840, first building 1840-1870, second building 1870-1917, third building 1917- torn down c1972

1885 had 175 members

historic marker placed as the first Universalist Church west of the Allegheny Mountains. N 37° 01.812 W 087° 34.896 16S E 448271 N 4098380

Consolation School c1912 - 1940s high school and grade school

church was founded by William Lowe, an Universal Redemption minister.
It originally met in the home of James E. Clark (1770-1841).
While the Clark family was from Virginia, James and his brother Jonathan lived in the
Pendleton district of South Carolina in the 1790s (apparently in Anderson County).
Rev. Joab Clark (1807-1882) was a native of Christian County, ordained in 1835, was the regular preacher at Consolation from 1833 to 1882, replacing William Lowe.

His son Hosea Ballou Clark (1834-1913) was a member of the Universalist Church, and
a Republican state Representative in 1885. His wife was a Methodist. Hosea was the President of the Kentucky Universalist Convention in 1893.
Joab "Joe" Clark Junior (1856-1946) son of Rev Joab, active in the Universalist Church.
Hosea's son, Claude R. Clark (1870-1943), was also an Universalist. His wife was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterians. Claude owned 6 grocery stores in the Hopkinsville area.

The church was still active in the mid1930s (leaders include Pool and McCord).
it was apparently gone by the time of the consolidation of Universalists and Unitarians.
At one time, there were apparently at least three Universalist Churches in Christian County.


View Larger Map

Outlaw's Bridge - the Life Magazine Article

Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church was featured in an 1944 issue of Life Magazine. That issue is now on Google Books.

(if the link stops working, then go to http://books.google.com and search for "Outlaw's Bridge" )

it features the work of Rev Gustav Ulrich, who is said increased the membership of the church to 79 (in a "town" of 94 families). The Church building burned in
1950 - and it's worth reading the story on Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church website - to see what dedication the members had to save what they could.

(disclaimer: this blogger is related to the founder Julia Kent Outlaw, via her husband, Bryan Outlaw - a very distant cousin)

Allen Fuller travels in 1834

Trumpet and Universalist Magazine. April 11, 1835.

Br. A. Fuller's Journey
Newberry District, SC, December 14, 1834

Br. Whittemore - I have arrived home after an absence of ten weeks , during which i traveled above 800 miles. I left home on the 4th of October, on account of the poor state of my health, being afflicted with intermittent fever, and proceeded by short stages toward the Mountainous parts of the State. On the 12th i preached for the first time after my sickness, in Greenville District; and at the meeting of the Convention in Anderson District on the 17th, my health was so much improved that i performed the part of the services which were assigned to me, without any apparent injury. There I enjoyed the satisfaction of participating in the consecration of the house of worship erected by the spirited exertions in that place in the past year, and had the pleasure of welcoming one brother to the cause of the ministry, and sixteen to membership in the society. it was truly one of the most joyous occasions i have every witnessed.
From the Convention I proceed to Georgia, preaching in Oglethorpe, Walton, Henry, and Pike counties on my way to the dedication of the First Universalist meeting house in the State of Georgia, situated in Harris County. At that place i had expected to meet our worthy brethren Andrews and Atkins from Alabama, but being disappointed, the whole of the services devolved on me. Having fulfilled this appointment of 3 days in succession, and preached again on the following Sunday, I proceed to Montgomery Alabama, where Br. Atkins was ordained on the 16th of November. With Br. Andrews and family, I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted at the time of their visit to South Carolina, the past summer, and it was truly refreshing to meet them again after traveling so far among total strangers. By his zeal and perseverance, Br. Andrews, has given our cause a powerful impulse in that section of Alabama, and nearly silenced that overbearing opposition which the Partialist clergy generally exhibited on his arrival. His labor and exertions to establish the SOUTHERN EVANGELIST are truly laudable, but I fear that his support is not equal to his necessities.
With Br. Atkins I had no acquaintance until this visit. He also is a brother with whom I am much pleased. Added to a good education and as strong mind, he posses a good practical knowledge of our doctrine, and an unspotted reputation.
Before he was expelled from the Methodist church, of which he was a worthy class leader, the church in that place numbered 66 members; it has not now more than 15. Then the meeting House, which stands on his land, which would not hold near all who assembled therefor worship; now is never filled on any ordinary occasion; and these changes are traced without difficulty to the arbitrary proceedings against him, and the influence of his opinions on others. The charge by which he was condemned by his Judges (the church not being permitted to be present) was holding and advocating heretical and unscriptural doctrines. he admitted that he held and was ready to defend the doctrines alluded to, but denied that they were either heretical or unscriptual. They, however, decided that they were, and proceeded to accordingly to expel him from their church. Br. Atkins preaches in various places in Alabama , but does not devote his whole time to the ministry.
Having delivered two discourses in the Universalist Meeting House in Montgomery, (which is a very neat building, pleasantly situation, and furnished with elegant SETTEES
and adorned with a beautiful chandelier; and it was expected that it would soon be supplied with a bell and organ,) and two at Mount Olympus, the Universalist Meeting House in the fork of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers. I returned to Georgia, and thence home. I preached twice in Talbot, and twice in Jones Counties; in the former of which i could not learn that any of our faith had ever before preached. my first discourse there was on the day of the TOTAL eclipse of the sun, and though it was nearly half obscured before the close of my services, yet so fixed was the attention of my audience, that scarcely one showed any sign of impatience. This I regarded as somewhat extraordinary, considering the seldom occurrence of such a phenomenon.


******* 2009 notes:
Some of the preaching stations mentioned in Georgia had regular services, just not a meeting house. The Harris county meeting house is 24 by 34 feet, on the road from Columbus to LaGrange. **** added - This would be the Mulberry Grove Church. Im not sure if it made it up to the Civil War, or ended a few years before. - McMorris and Hubbard were ordained there, part of the Chattahoochee Association. ***** These three meeting houses would be all the non-union houses for Georgia and Alabama, all in land that just opened for settlement slightly over a decade before. The migration from SC to Alabama and Mississippi was starting to heat up about this time, leading to the decline of the congregations in SC.