These were either posted by David Upton or responded to by another poster. All were copied from this board
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Federally controlled church services...
Posted By: David Upton
Date: Wednesday, 20 December 2006, at 10:27 p.m.
O.R. Series 1 - Volume 46 (Part III) p. 696
RICHMOND, VA., April 10, 1865.
Hon. E. M. STANTON, (Received 4 p.m.) Secretary of War:
The orders in relation to religions services in Richmond were verbal, and were applicable alike to all religious denominations, without distinction of sect. They were, in substance, that no expression would be allowed in any part of any church service, in the form of prayer, preaching, or singing, which in any way implieit a recognition of any
other authority than that of the United States, or gave any countenance to the rebellion. The clergy were notified that any prayers for the rebel Government or officials, or for the success of the rebellion, would be considered as treason, and punished as such. As in the ritual in use in the Episcopal churches here there was a form of prayer for the rebel authorities they were ordered to omit it. No orders were given as to what would be preached or prayed for, but only as to what would not be permitted. Neither in New Orleans, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, or any other captured city, as I have been informed, have
the Episcopal churches been ordered at first to adopt the form of prayer for the President of the United States. Do you desire that I should order this form of prayer to be used in the Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Hebrew, and other churches where they have a prescribed liturgy and form of prayer?....
G. WEITZEL,
Major- General.
____________________
David Upton
http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/nvcwmb/index.cgi?read=41409
Re: Federally controlled church services...
Posted By: Jamie Roberts
Date: Thursday, 21 December 2006, at 12:21 a.m.
In Response To: Federally controlled church services... (David Upton)
David, when you posted this by Weitzel I immediatly thought of Ben Butler. Here is a little incident from New Orleans...
During the Civil War when occupied New Orleans was under the military rule of Union Gen. Benjamin Butler, Major George C. Strong of the general's staff attended services at St. Paul's and noted that the Rev. Charles Goodrich omitted the Book of Common Prayer's prayer for the President of the United States. Strong stood up and angrily ordered that the service end immediately, saying "This house will be shut within ten minutes." Rev. Goodrich explained that in an effort to remain neutral he did not offer a prayer for either the President of the United States or for the President of the Confederate States. When told of this incident, General Butler retaliated by keeping the church closed, sending Rev. Goodrich to prison in New York and using the marble-floored church as a place to stable the Union troops' horses.
Major Strong is remembered unfavorably in the city's history not only for his stance at St. Paul's but as a signer, along with Gen. Butler, of the notorious "General Order No. 28" on May 15, 1862 which stated that " ...when any female shall by word, gesture or movement, insult or show contempt for any officer or soldier of the United States, she shall be regarded and held liable to be treated as a woman of the town plying her avocation."
After Gen. Butler was replaced by Union Gen. Nathaniel Banks, the Rev. Goodrich was returned to New Orleans. The church was cleaned and repaired after which regular services were once again held.
The source is from St. Paul's Episcopal Church official website. If anybody doubts the info please feel to contact the church and let them know but I stand on this source...
http://www.stpaulschurchno.org/spc_history_2.htm
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http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/nvcwmb/index.cgi?read=41405
Responses from the churches against Federal rules
Posted By: David Upton
Date: Wednesday, 20 December 2006, at 10:48 p.m.
RICHMOND, April 12, 1865.
We, the undersigned, clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the diocese of Virginia, respectfully represent that we continued to use the prayer for the President of the United States (according to our former ritual) for some months after the secession of the States south of us and their formation of a Southern Confederacy. The subsequent secession of Virginia rendered the omission of this prayer necessary and proper; but no new form was inserted in our liturgy, until our ecclesiastical council, duly convened, took action to that effect; the church in each diocese following and never anticipating (as some other denominations had done, years ago) the political relations of the several States. It is a fundamental principle with our Church that, in great civil and political changes, all denominations of Christians are at liberty to arrange their forms of worship in such manner as may conduce most to the edification of the people, provided there be no violation of the laws of the State. But such arrangements are never made by ns as individuals. As in the ritual alterations made since 1861, we were obliged (in accordance with the usage of the Church in all ages) to wait for authority from an ecclesiastical council, so, as there is no union in this country between Church and State, are we obliged to wait at this juncture for authority from a similar council, which will shortly convene, before the insertion of any form which is not in our appointed liturgy. Although according to every constitutional principle of the United States, and of all the States composing the Union, there is no civil power which can prescribe the services of any church or enforce ecclesiastical discipline, yet, in acknowledgment of the political changes which have occurred, we feel authorized to omit a form which is at variance with established order, while, on the other hand, the ecclesiastical authority alone can authorize us to insert a form. We represent these circumstances to the Government in the confident hope that no invidious distinctions will be made between ourselves and other branches of the Holy Catholic Church, and in the belief too, that the course we are pursuing will tend, more than any other, to the preservation of peace and good order.
GEORGE WOODBRJDGE,
Rector of the Monumental Church.
CHR. MINNIGERODE,
Rector of Saint Paul’s Church.
WILLIAM NORWOOD,
Rector of Saint John’s Church.
J. PETERKIN,
Rector of Saint James’ Church.
F. M. BAKER,
Rector of Grace Church.
http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/nvcwmb/index.cgi?read=41406
More responses...
Posted By: David Upton
Date: Wednesday, 20 December 2006, at 10:56 p.m.
In Response To: Responses from the churches against Federal rules (David Upton)
RICHMOND, VA., April 13, 1865.
His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States:
Mr. PRESIDENT: In consequence of an order from Major-General Weitzel requiring public prayer to be offered for the President of the United States, the clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this city yesterday drew up a memorial, to a copy of which I take the liberty of begging your attention. It was rather informally prepared, because we did not know to whom it ought to be presented. We handed it, however, to General Ord, who very courteously said that he would send it to Washington. It has occurred to me since that we ourselves ought to have forwarded it, but whether to Your Excellency or to the Secretary of State I cannot determine. In this dilemma I have resolved to beg your own personal consideration of this memorial, and all of the clergy I have been able to see heartily approve of my course. We wish to demean ourselves as peaceable citizens, and to do all in our power to allay the excitement growing out of the scenes through which we have just passed; but we are placed in a trying situation....
...The Confederate Government, when in existence here, never attempted to interfere when we deliberated in council about changing the phraseology of the prayer for the President, and, indeed, omitting it altogether. The ecclesiastical sanction for again changing this form to harmonize with the restoration of the Federal Government can, no doubt, be shortly obtained. Until then we simply ask that we may be permitted to conduct our religious services as heretofore, with the understanding that we say and do nothing to interrupt the re establishment of the United States Government over the people of our congregations. We most sincerely believe that this course will conduce more than any other to the diffusion of sentiments of peace and good will among our whole people.
I have the honor to be, Mr. President, Your Excellency’s humble
servant,
JOSHUA PETERKIIN,
Rector of Saint James Church.
http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/nvcwmb/index.cgi?read=41407

Desecration of Catholic Graves...
Posted By: David Upton
Date: Wednesday, 20 December 2006, at 11:06 p.m.
SAVANNAH. March 22, 1865.
His Excellency EDWIN STANTON,
Secretary of War:
HONORABLE SIR: I feel it my duty, as the head of the Catholic Church in Savannah, to inform you of the proceedings ordered by the military authorities against the Catholic cemetery of this city, to give expression to what I deem a legitimate complaint, and to enter a solemn protest in the name of the Catholic community.
Fortifications are now being erected upon the Catholic cemetery. A few days ago I received a communication, written by order of General Gilimore, informing me that he (the general) would make a personal inspection of the locality, and wished me to accompany him to the cemetery. On hearing of the arrival of the general in Savannah I did all I could to find him out, but in vain~ and the day after his visit I learned, altogether accidentally, that 300 men were to be the next day on the graveyard to proceed to the work of disinterring the dead and erecting fortifications on their tombs. I thus had no chance to apply to Your Excellency at least for a suspension of the work.
It is my duty now to tell you that the cemetery infringed upon by Federal orders is the property of the Catholic Church, and has been by a solemn benediction devoted to the purpose of burying the dead. I must tell you that cemeteries arc, in the views of the Catholic Church, consecrated ground, entitled to the same respect as churches of which they are an appendage. I must also state that there is a sentence of excommunication passed by the Church against those who usurp, invade, and occupy church property, or the property of pious places. Brutal force or infidel ideas may make light of such an ecclesiastical penalty, but there is a Power above which sides with the weak and defenseless and will act in due time, slow or obscure its operation may be.
Military necessity must not be a cloak to usurpation, bigotry, or impropriety. There is an abundance of ground to the right and to the left, in front and the rear of that little graveyard, which covers only three or four acres of ground. Fortifications might have beeii erected there without any desecration of a revered spot. This case involuntarily reminds me of the doomed vineyard of Naboth. The fortifications erected by the preceding Government are yet extant near the spot. The Confederates did not think it necessary to infringe upon the right of churches and cemeteries, although they had to defend the city against overpowering numbers. It is hard to see how such a military necessity should have arisen so suddenly now that there is no opposing force at all, and that the Confederates, far from being able to attack, evacuate everywhere what they had.
I thought I could not do less than send my humble protest in behalf of the Catholic Church, whose right and privileges I deem to be infringed by this proceeding; in behalf of an outraged community obliged now to carry away where they can the moldering remains of their relatives and friends; in behalf of the Irish-Catholic soldiers, who are obliged to perform the work of hyenas, and in behalf of those who will have to stand in the midst of exhalations arising from opened and mutilated graves,
I have the honor of being, very respectfully, yours,
AUGUSTIN VEROT,
Bishop of Savannah.
http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/nvcwmb/index.cgi?read=41408
The Destruction of the Cemetery... and Lincol
Posted By: David Upton
Date: Wednesday, 20 December 2006, at 11:28 p.m.
This is wierd. As I was scanning the O.R. for information on Roman Catholic Cememtery in Savannah and it's distruction I found this message...on the very same page is the first announcement of the assasination of Abraham Lincoln. Made the hairs on the backs of my hands stand up.
p. 220 Series 1 - Volume 47 (Part III)
STEAMER ARAGO, Hilton Head, S. C, April 14, 1865.
Major-General GILLMORE, U. S. Volunteers,
Commanding Department of the South:
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your report of the 13th instant, in relation to the erection on the Roman Catholic cemetery in Savannah of a portion of fortifications around that city. For the reasons that the works are already finished, that all the bodies have been disinterred and deposited in other places to the necessary extent, and that they cannot be again restored to their former resting place at this season without danger to the health of the city, the
recommendations in your report are approved by order of the Secretary of War. Please make known to the bishop of Savannah what your recommendations are, and furnish him with a copy of this letter.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant- Generat.
GENERAL ORDERS,) IIDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
U. S. Steamer Diamond, off Charleston Bar,
No. 44. April 14, 1865.
Until further orders the headquarters of this department will be at Fort Sumter.
By command of Maj. Geit. Q. A. Gilimore:
W.L. M. BURGER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington City, April 15, 1865—12.10 p. m.
Major-General SHERMAN,
Commanding:
President Lincoln was murdered about 10 o’clock last night in his private box at Ford’s Theater in this city, by an assassin who shot him through the head with a pistol ball. About the same hour Mr. Seward’s house was entered by another assassin, who stabbed the Secretary in
several places, but it is thought he may possibly recover; but his son Frederick will probably die of wounds received from the assassin. The assassin of the President leaped from the box, brandishing a dagger, exclaiinin g, Sic semper tyrannis! and that now Virginia was revenged. Mr. Lincoln fell senseless from his seat, and continued in....
_________________________
David Upton
http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/nvcwmb/index.cgi?read=41420
A Prayer For the President...
Posted By: David Upton
Date: Thursday, 21 December 2006, at 7:57 p.m.
GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, No. 29. )
Charleston, S. C., April 25, 1865.
It has been reported at these headquarters that the Rev. Alexander W. Marshal, missionary of Saint John’s Chapel, Hampsted, has, in the services at the said chapel, since the occupation of the city by the U. S. forces, omitted the prayers for the President of the United States.
In a written communication, addressed to the commander of the post of Charleston, he styles the prayer for the President of the United States a political prayer. It is therefore ordered that he be sent beyond the lines of the army, apd be forbidden to enter the city of Charleston during its occupation. by the U. S. troops without the permission of the commander of the district or department.
It is further ordered that his personal property be confiscated to the use of the United States Government. In punishing the head of the congregation worshiping in Saint John’s Chapel the brigadier-general commanding desires it to be considered a warning to those who, attending the services for weeks, so far forgot their duty to their country as not to inform the military authorities of the conduct of this disloyal priest. They are also warned that they will hereafter be marked persons, and any act done or word uttered in justification of his disloyalty will subject them to a like punishment.
By command of Brig. Gen. John P. Hatch:
LEONARD B PERRY,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
____________________
David Upton
http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/nvcwmb/index.cgi?read=41421
Lincoln's Prayer...
Posted By: David Upton
Date: Thursday, 21 December 2006, at 8:08 p.m.
ALEXANDRIA, February 9, 1862.
Hon. W. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State:
To-day the Rev. J. H. Stewart was arrested in the pulpit of Saint Paul’s Church in Alexandria for omitting the prayer for the President of the United States by your detective here, Mr .Morton. The omission of that prayer occurred in the same church in my presence weeks since. I reported the fact to the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac for the information of the Government, but did not deem it an act that authorized or called for my interference. Had it been a matter of duty I would cheerfully have taken such measures as the circumstances called for and will execute any instructions as may be given in the case, but as it now stands I conceive my rightful authority has been interfered with and the quiet and police order of the city disturbed. May I ask to be put in possession of the Government’s views in such cases. My own views and object in the performance of duty here has been to win rather than force back the affections and adherence of Southern people to the Constitution amid its blessings. This I have and still believe the true policy to reinstate the Constitution in all its integrity.
W.H. MONTGOMERY,
Brigadier. General.