In 2012, the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina declared its independence from the Episcopal Church. It was the fifth of the 111 dioceses of the Church to do so since 2007. A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina is the sweeping story of how one diocese moved from the mainstream of the Episcopal Church to separate from the church. It examines the underlying issues, the immediate causes, and the initiating events as well as the nature and results of the schism. The book traces the escalating conflict between the diocese and the church that led up to the schism. It also examines the legal war between the two post-schism dioceses, the majority in the independent Diocese of South Carolina and the minority in the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. This is the first scholarly history of a diocesan schism from the Episcopal Church. It is extensively researched from original and secondary sources and documented in over 2,000 notes citing nearly 900 works. This story stands as a cautionary tale of what happens in a major Christian denomination when majority and minority factions increasingly differentiate themselves and what impact that can have for both parties.

In 2012, the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina declared its independence from the Episcopal Church. It was the fifth of the 111 dioceses of the Church to do so since 2007. A History of the Episcopal Church Schism in South Carolina is the sweeping story of how one diocese moved from the mainstream of the Episcopal Church to separate from the church. It examines the underlying issues, the immediate causes, and the initiating events as well as the nature and results of the schism. The book traces the escalating conflict between the diocese and the church that led up to the schism. It also examines the legal war between the two post-schism dioceses, the majority in the independent Diocese of South Carolina and the minority in the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. This is the first scholarly history of a diocesan schism from the Episcopal Church. It is extensively researched from original and secondary sources and documented in over 2,000 notes citing nearly 900 works. This story stands as a cautionary tale of what happens in a major Christian denomination when majority and minority factions increasingly differentiate themselves and what impact that can have for both parties.

An Historical Account of the Protestant Episcopal Church in South-Carolina, From the First Settlement of the Province, to the War of the Revolution; With Notices of the Present State of the Church in Each Parish. And Some Account of the Early Civil History of Carolina, never published.

Excerpt from Report of the Committee of the South Carolina Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church: On the Subject of the Schism in Charleston, With the Accompanying Documents 2. That it is expedient there should be a small gate cut on each side of the large gate leading into Bethel yard, on a line with the gallery doors, for the use of colored persons entering the Church. And also that a paling fence be erected in all our yards, leading from each side gate to the Church. 3. That a Committee be appointed to communicate the foregoing Resolutions to the Board of Trustees, and request their immediate action upon them; and in case the Trustees are unable to do so for want of funds, the Committee be instructed to raise a subscription for that purpose. Agreeably to the above Resolutions a Meeting of the Board of Trustees was speedily called, but from the short notice given, there happened not to be a quorum present, and of course no business could be done. A free conversation however took place concerning the Resolutions of the Quarterly Conference, and the general opinion seemed to be that they were unfortunate, and had better not be carried into effect. To this opinion the Members of the Committee themselves did not object. So far, brotherly love seemed to prevail, and not the least evil consequence could reasonably have been anticipated. The scene however was quickly changed, as will appear in the sequel. In the next Society Meeting, Rev. William Capers, the Preacher in Charge, having slightly alluded to the subject of the removal of the boxes, took occasion to inculcate the propriety of Christian charity towards our colored members, especially those who gave evidence of sincere piety, and were otherwise respectable in their stations. These remarks, though uttered in pastoral faithfulness and affection, gave offence to several persons, an evidence of which soon appeared in a letter addressed to brother Capers, charging the Trustees with wilful negligence in failing to attend the meeting of the Board, and peremptorily requiring brother Capers as Chairman of the Board, to call another Meeting, to ascertain, as they said, whether the wishes of the Quarterly Conference should be complied with, or not. Your Committee is of opinion that at this stage of the business, brother Capers took the wisest and most inoflensive course he could, in promptly resigning his office as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, which he and his predecessors had held from courtesy, and not by any requirement of the Discipline. This was certainly a peaceable measure, and well calculated to refute what his opponents have charged him with, namely, a love of power. The Committee of the Quarterly Conference, however, were not so easily satisfied. They shortly after addressed another letter to brother Capers, the evident design of which was to compel him to call another Meeting of the Trustees, to carry into effect the Resolutions of the Quarterly Conference. And to ensure success, they drew up a paper approving those resolutions, and procured to it a large number of signatures consisting of men, women, boys and girls, who were here represented as authorising the Committee of the Quarterly Conference to carry the Resolutions into effect if the Trustees refused to do so. Here your Committee have no hesitation to avow their belief that the Committee of the Quarterly Conference acted inconsistently with the Discipline; and exceeded their own instructions, which sent them to the Trustees and not to the membership in general. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com