USA > Arkansas > Pulaski County > Little Rock > The annals of Christ church parish of Little Rock, Arkansas, from A. D. 1839 to A. D. 1899 > Part 19
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A. D. 1868-1875. "The Coronation of the Rose as Queen of Flowers," a cantata, was presented at the city hall by fifty children and young girls, in three successive years.
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
The net proceeds of the first presentation was $250, the second $500, the third $400, whole amount $1,150, the receipts for which were placed in the hands of the treasurer of the Church, Mr. Wm. B. Wait. About three years later "The Twin Sisters," an operetta, was presented twice; at the first the sum of $180 was netted, and at the second representation $77.15. In 1881 another operetta, "The Miracle of the Roses," was presented by children and girls and yielded a profit of $80. To this amount, $1,437.15, a handsome sum was added by the proceeds of two or three concerts ; one, combined with a strawberry festival, was given at the Dutch Garden (situated in the block bounded by Third and Fourth streets and Commerce and Sherman), which yielded a clear profit of one thousand (1,000) dollars. Bazaars and suppers were also given and the proceeds added to this $1,437.15, with which the ground for the Rectory
was bought. This was located on the corner of Seventh and
Cumberland streets. Mr. John E. Reardon gave to Christ Church a bond for title on February 5, 1867, and on August 11, 1874, executed the deed for lots 7, 8, and 9, block 28, in the city of Little Rock, consideration $1,866.66. On this site the Rectory was built, fronting south, with four rooms, two on each side of a hall, at the end of which was a fifth room. A back porch with a storeroom taken off the east end, with a kitchen and servant's room in the backyard, completed what was thought to be a comfortable cottage. The Rev. P. G. Robert, with his wife, four sons and a daughter, was the first Rector to occupy it. He had been residing at the Crutchfield home, on Sixth and Cumberland streets, which has since given place to two new buildings.
When Bishop H. N. Pierce assumed the jurisdiction of Arkansas and Indian Territory, he was the guest of Mr. and
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
Mrs. Gilbert Knapp, on the corner of Seventh and Rector avenue.
After Mr. Robert resigned the Rectorship of Christ Church for that of the Holy Communion, in St. Louis, Mo., the Bishop asked that a second story be added for his use, which was accordingly done by the congregation, and he moved into it with his wife, two sons and two daughters. To this building of eight rooms was afterwards added on the west a long music room, opening by folding doors from the parlor, to be used for the study, exercise, and advancement of the science of music, to which the Bishop's family were devotees. The expense incurred by the building of this room was covered by the proceeds of concerts given by the young people. It was afterwards moved to the rear. Bishop Pierce and family occupied the Rectory for eight years. When they removed to the Bishop's own residence, southwest corner of Seventeenth and Spring streets, Rev. T. C. Tupper and family, who had, for about three or four years, occupied a cottage on Rock street, near Sixth, took up their abode at the Rectory. When Dr. Tupper removed to Leavenworth, Kan., the property was sold by the Vestry before mentioned, to Mr. Henry M. Cooper, recorded as follows : "Lot E 110, and lots 7, 8, 9, block 28,
in the city of Little Rock, $3,361.75."
This hardly
covered the original outlay. The amount was added to
the building fund of the new Church, while the next Rector, Rev. Wallace Carnahan, was obliged to rent a dwelling house until the Chapel, which had been in use during the last nine years of Dr. Tupper's ministry, while the Church was being erected, was converted into a Rectory. .
REV. WALLACE, CARNAHAN.
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
REV. WALLACE CARNAHAN.
A. D. 1886. Rev. Wallace Carnahan, who succeeded Rev. Dr. T. C. Tupper as Rector of Christ Church, at Little Rock, September 1, 1886,* is a native of the Old Dominion, where his birth occurred April 18, 1843. His father dying when he was 8 years old, his mother moved with him to New- port, Ky., and there he received his literary education. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, and afterward prac- ticed for about three years in partnership with the late Hon. Thomas L. Jones, member of Congress. At this period of his life Mr. Carnahan's attention was drawn to the ministry of the Episcopal Church. He abandoned the bar and entered upon the study of theology, which he pursued under Bishop Smith and the Rev. John N. Norton, D. D. He was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Smith, June 9, 1869, and ordained to the Priesthood by Bishop Green in 1870. He spent the first four years of his ministry in the Diocese of Mississippi, and the seven years that followed in Western Texas as a mis- sionary. From Texas he was called to Grace Church, Annis- ton, Ala., and that parish was the field of his labors for six years. From Alabama he was called to Christ Church, Little Rock, September 1, 1886. In this Church Mr. Carnahan's work has been greatly blessed, and he is recognized as an able and eloquent preacher.
Rev. Wallace Carnahan was married in Mississippi to Miss Mary S. Hart, a daughter of Captain John D. Hart, a planter of Madison County, Miss. He is the son of James and Caroline (Smith) Carnahan, natives of Virginia. The grandfather was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and was a
*See Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Central Arkansas, published in 1889, by the Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, Nashville and St. Louis.
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
noted Orangeman. The mother was a daughter of Major Henry Smith, a native of Maryland, and one of the original settlers of Wheeling, Va. Mr. Carnahan's maternal grand- father was a captain of artillery in the Revolutionary war, and his services were acknowledged by an act of Congress.
Mr. Carnahan resigned the Rectorship of Christ Church on account of failing health after eight years of service, so unremitting, so far-reaching in the purification of the Church in Arkansas, so helpful to the cause of missions, so unprecedented in the financial prosperity of the Chruch at home and throughout the Diocese, so uplifting in the standard of holiness in the parish, that the unanimous verdict of the public has been that he stands unequalled in spiritual fervor and cloquence, in culture and executive ability and the devoted allegiance of his parishioners, by any Rector of Christ Church Parish.
A. D. 1887. In the second year of Mr. Carnahan's ministry he began editing a Church paper, which was pub- lished by the contributions of "The Young Ladies' Guild," and was entitled successively according to the expansion of the subscription list, "The Little Rock Churchman," "The Arkansas Churchman," and "The Anglo-Saxon Churchman," the last issue completing its third year in December, 1890, after "three years of steady progress in journalism."
A. D. 1891. We quote from the May issue of "The Anglo-Saxon Churchman," of 1891, the following:
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
CHRIST CHURCH, LITTLE ROCK.
Anticipating the publication of the "Year Book" of Christ Church, Little Rock, we give an epitome of the statis- tics of the parish for the five years ending April 30, 1891.
Baptisms 205
Confirmations 172
Marriages 37
Burials 103
CONTRIBUTIONS.
For Parochial objects $55,218.24
For Diocesan objects 953.60
For Domestic Missions 836.33
For Foreign Missions 240.18
For other objects beyond the Diocese 403.60
Total
$57,651.95
PRESENT STATUS.
Families 356
Souls (about) 1,700
Communicants 620
Sunday School-teachers, 36, pupils (about) 400 436
VALUE OF CHURCH PROPERTY.
Church edifice and grounds $60,000.00
Rectory and grounds 8,500.00
Mission Chapel and lot 1,500.00
Total $70,000.00
OFFICERS OF THE PARISH.
Rev. Wallace Carnahan Rector.
Rev. J. E. H. Galbraith. Assistant Minister.
Major John D. Adams Senior Warden ..
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
Dr. W. A. Cantrell. Junior Warden.
Major R. H. Parham Secretary.
Mr. John W. Goodwin Treasurer.
It is proper to state that the Rectorship of the Rev. T. C. Tupper, D. D., extended over a few months of the first of the above mentioned years, and that the following are to be credited to his ministry :
Baptisms 13
Marriages
2
Burials
2
Contributions (about) $900.00
Dr. Tupper left the parish with 329 communicants, and the new Church edifice nearly completed.
As nothing could be so acceptable for accuracy and so interesting as an exponent of the zeal and influence of this magnetic preacher, some selections from his paper are here given :
THE LITTLE ROCK CHURCHMAN-Vol. 1, No. 1. JANUARY, 1888. -
This little paper is published by the Young Ladies' Guild of Christ Church, Little Rock. It is edited by the Rector and the Assistant Minister, Rev. John Galbraith. Its object is the stimulation of parish work. To that end the doings of the various parish societies will be published, to- gether with the Diocesan news and items of general Church interest. Suggestions for the extension and advancement of the work will be offered ; and, above all things, true principles and right methods of work will be inculcated. Although it is expected that the circulation of the paper will be chiefly amongst the Churchmen of Little Rock, yet we shall be pleased to receive subscriptions from other parts of the Diocese, and even from "regions beyond." We shall be
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
grateful to our brethren, clerical and lay, for items of local Church news. This paper is not published to make money. If there should be a surplus after paying expenses it will be given to missions.
Some of the congregation will be glad to know that the temporary window in the south transept is to be tinted, so as to soften the light that comes through the opalescent glass. Better still, before many months a stained glass window, memorial of the four Bishops deceased, who have exercised jurisdiction in Arkansas, will take the place of the temporary window.
The old parish Sunday School, now known as the Chapel Sunday School, is advancing in every element of healthy growth. The Chapel is almost as full as it will hold, and the instruction of the excellent teachers is more and more ap- preciated by the scholars.
The teachers in all three of our Sunday Schools are remarkably capable and faithful. The Sunday School chil- dren have just sent $88 for domestic missions, making $262 the Sunday School contributed to missions during the year 1887.
The success of St. Paul's Sunday School is most cheer- ing. It was placed where it was supposed a Sunday School was most needed. The only available room that could be found was a vacated barroom. All signs of the evil spirits were removed and the work was begun the first Sunday in November. Over eighty scholars have been enrolled, and the attendance averages sixty. The only trouble is to find room for the constant increase. After awhile, God willing, we shall have a Chapel in West End.
St. John's Sunday School (East End) was begun last Sunday, January 8, in Forest Grove schoolhouse, the use of
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
which is kindly allowed us by the city school board. Five teachers and thirty seholars were in attendance. This is a grand field for loving, persistent work. In God's good time we look for the building of St. John's Chapel.
There has been a marked improvement in the Church music of late. It is simple, devotional and Churchly, and well rendered. The congregation join in singing more and more, as they learn the music. The organist is a master of the instrument, and the choir is evidently in practice.
The Christmas offerings amounted to $187.80. The largest the parish ever made.
The Ladies' Aid Society, the most ancient organization in the parish, holds its own steadily. Besides keeping up its building association stock, this society has charge of the parish sociables, arranging, through committees, for the musical and literary features of these delightful gatherings. For fear some reader outside Little Rock may suppose that our sociables are entertainments for raising money, we must explain that they are monthly meetings of the adult members of the parish for social intercourse and the refining influence of music and literary exercises. No admission is charged, and no collections are made. And we may add that in this parish no money is ever raised by fairs, suppers, concerts or any other means, except direct giving.
THE LITTLE ROCK CHURCHMAN.
FEBRUARY, 1SSS.
EASTER OFFERINGS.
One of the gems in the crown of the "Queen of Festivals" is the Easter offering. The ideal offering for this great day is the devotion to God of the money value of all our self- denials of Lent. Another ennobling motive finds expression
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
in a thank offering at Easter. If you have received a signal token of God's goodness during the past year, ask yourself how thankful you are-what per cent of your capital ? What per cent of your income ?
In this Diocese there is canonical offering on Easter day for the endowment of the Episcopate. This will be observed of course; but another offering will be called for-to pay the Church debt. The two objeets will be separately designated in the cheek of the contributor, or in envelopes to be used for that purpose. When the present Vestry came into office, last spring, they found a debt of $7,000 on the parish; $4,000 of it secured by mortgage, and paying 10 per cent interest, $3,- 000 payable on demand. The Vestry borrowed $7,000 at 8 per cent and paid off all other debts. This loan was made on four years' time; $1,000 due next April, and $2,000 each succeeding year until paid. The Vestry took the loan on this time out of abundant caution; but with the prosperous year we have had, and the bright outlook for the State, the city, and the parish, there is no need of this delay. We can pay off the whole $7,000 this spring and be done with the in- cubus. This debt stands in the way of so many things that we ought to do that it ought to be swept out of the way. This parish is on the march, and ought not to tolerate any impedi- ment. After the debt is paid we must buy back those pews that were sold, and then all the seats in Christ Church will be made free. Then will follow the establishment of the parish hospital, the building of St. Paul's and St. John's Chapels, the Boys' Academy, the enlargement of the Sunday School room, the Rectory and the chime of bells; after that, we shall contribute two or three thousand dollars a year to the fund for the endowment of the Episcopate.
Now, we can't have all that good work hindered by this pitiful debt of $7,000. It is less than $15 apiece for the com- municants of the parish. There are, to be sure, some who can't pay $15, but there are twice as many who can each pay more than that. Let us pay off the debt, have the Church consecrated, and sing an ardent Te Deum.
-18-
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
REPORT OF CHRIST CHURCH, LITTLE ROCK, TO THE SIXTEENTH COUNCIL OF THE DIOCESE OF ARKANSAS.
From April 19, 1887, to April 11, 1888-
Number of families. 331
Number of communicants 508
Number of souls 1,628
Baptisms-
Infants
40
Adults
17
Total 57
Confirmations
38
Marriages
7
Burials
18
Sunday Schools-
Teachers
41
Pupils 365
Total
405
OFFERINGS.
PAROCHIAL.
Salary of Rector $ 2,332.90
Rent of Rectory
587.50
Salary of assistant minister (seven months) 493.35
Communion alms
333.20
Church carpet and furniture
1,318.00
Church building and debt.
3,804.79
Insurance on Church 498.15
Other parish expenses. 1,402.32
Total
. $10.770.21
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
DIOCESAN.
Council assessment $ 160.00
Episcopate fund
72.49
Diocesan missions
82.73
Fund for widows and orphans of deceased clergy . .
10.70
Total
$ 325.92
BEYOND THIE DIOCESE.
Domestic Missions-Missionary box, $160; cash, $109.09 $ 269.09
Foreign Missions 100.78
Society for Conversion of the Jews 13.50
American Church Building Fund.
12.60
New York Bible and Prayer Book Society
10.00
University of the South
50.00
Total
$ 455.97
Aggregate
$11,552.45
Value of Church property . $60,000.00
A RETROSPECT.
This first day of September closes the second year of the present Rector's charge of Christ Church, Little Rock. It may be profitable for us to reflect upon the outcome of these two years of work and prayer.
What have we-minister and laymen-done ? and what remains to be done? The former is very little indeed, com- pared to the latter. Still there is no occasion for discourage- ment. We think all feel that these have been eventful years. Perhaps no parish and no Rector ever had the extraordinary' experience we passed through during the winter and spring of 1887. But we do not wish to recall anything painful. On
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
Easter Monday, 1887, the Rector's administration was sus- tained by an overwhelming majority of the parishioners, and was again indorsed on Easter Monday last by a practically unanimous expression of approval and affection. We believe that this is now one of the most united and harmonious parishes in the country.
Within these two years our magnificent Church edifice has been completed, including the finishing of the basement for Sunday School rooms. The old Chapel has been recon- structed for a Rectory, making it one of the most desirable residences in the city. A valuable property-the Camp- bellite Chapel-has been purchased for our West End Mis- sion. So much for the material increase, not stopping to inention things of minor value, like Chancel furniture, the organ for St. Paul's, the bank safe for the parish office, etc. But we must add to things material the total of money raised in the parish for Church work, building and debt, amounting to over $23,000.
Far more important than the above mentioned signs of progress, is the record of living increase. During this same time eighty persons have been baptized and sixty-four con- firmed; the list of communicants has increased from 329 to 532, the average attendance at the Sunday services has doubled, and the number of Sunday School pupils has nearly quadrupled ; in the way of increased organizations, two mis- sion Sunday Schools have been started, and one of them has proved remarkably successful. The Young Ladies' Guild has been reorganized for the special work of supporting the assistant minister, and conducting the Little Rock Church- man ; a chapter of St. Andrew's Brotherhood has been formed. for work amongst young men ; a missionary society, composed of the communicants of the Church, has been made the very heart of the parish ; and monthly sociables are held for social intercourse and the enjoyment of music and literature. Be it noted that these sociables are not used to raise money, the whole system of fairs, suppers, concerts, et id omne genus for bribing people to serve God, having been religiously abandoned two years ago.
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
But after all, these signs of improvement that can be put into figures and minutes of meetings, are not the most signifi- cant elements of parochial prosperity ; the spirituality of a parish is not susceptible of statistical statement, but for all that it is the real life of a parish, without which, all other signs of vitality are as the contortions of a galvanized corpse. We are almost afraid to speak of improvement in this regard, yet we think it not wrong to say that there has been a marked elevation of the religious tone of the parish.
We know there was a strong element of spirituality in the parish two years ago, but we know also that the predomi- nant character of the parish at that time was a reproach to Christianity. But let all that pass, it makes one heartsick to remember it. Thank God, it is no longer prima facie evi- dence that a person has no religion to belong to Christ Church, Little Rock. We do not boast of these things; we allude to these tokens of God's blessing on the labors of minister and people only to thank Him for His mercy and goodness, and as an incentive to better work in the future. What is that work for the future ? First of all duties, we must raise our stan- dard of personal holiness still higher, and as a part of the means to that blessed end, as well as a regard for the direct objects of Christian duty, we must pay off the balance of that wretched debt ; we must build a Chapel for St. John's Mis- sion ; we must organize a Sunday School in Argenta ; we must establish a Church school to prepare boys for college ; we must build and endow a hospital, and we must raise $10,000 as our share of the Episcopate fund.
After that we shall find plenty more to do. In the mean- time let us thank God that we are a united band, full of hope and courage.
The Chancel Society is doing its sacred work diligently and with reverence and good taste. The arrangements for the celebration of the Holy Communion and the care of the vestments show that this society deserves the injunction, "Let all things be done decently and in order."
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
The sociables suspended during Lent will be resumed. The next will be held on Thursday night, 19th of April. There were nearly 100 in attendance at the last sociable, but we hope to see three times that many after all our members learn how delightful these gatherings are.
The Vestry have had several interesting meetings during the past month. They are doing their part nobly in the matter of the Church debt, and if the whole $7,000 is not paid off at Easter it will not be their fault. The Rector takes this occasion to thank the Vestry for their cordial and generous support during the past year.
The choir has laid the congregation under obligations for good Church music. We do not mean to say that it "tickles the ears of the groundlings," nor do we claim that it is "cqual to a show." We say it is good Church music; that is to say, the congregation is led in devout praise, skillfully and reverently.
The Young Ladies' Guild are doing good, solid work. Besides doing all the clerk work of the Little Rock Church- man, they raise over $500 a year towards the current expenses of the parish, not counting such little things as the $45 chair which they have just bought for the Chancel. The Rector hopes that the young ladies may not work themselves to death.
The Vestry of Christ Church is certainly one of varied elements; amongst the eleven Vestrymen, eight vocations, both political parties and three shades of Churchmanship are represented. Notwithstanding these differences, they are a unit in their love of the Church, their devotion to the in- terests of the parish, and their cordial support of the Rector.
The Ladies' Aid Society, at their last meeting, resolved to use the funds now in hand, some $150, to pay for the cover- ing and cushioning of the kneeling stools, as soon as the work is completed. The missionary box which they are preparing
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
for a missionary in Western Texas is coming on finely. This venerable society has taken on new life. We feared at one time that their purchasing the carpet (it cost $1,125) had exhausted the Ladies' Aid Society.
The Missionary Society is a thoroughly organized, com- pact body ; there is a steady advance all along the line. Through the labors of the members of this society objects of charity are relieved, new Church families are found and visited, and strangers having no ecclesiastical belonging are brought under religious influence. Besides an interest in Diocesan, Domestic and Foreign Missions is constantly culti- vated. The monthly dues are 50 cents for men, 20 cents for married ladies, and 10 cents for single ladies, which are devoted to missions. Every communicant of the parish ought to belong to this society.
The Sunday Schools are doing remarkably well. The Rector catechises each in turn; St. John's on the second Sun- day in the month, the Chapel Sunday School on the third Sunday, and St. Paul's on the fourth. The last catechising elicited unmistakable evidence of good work on the part of the officers and teachers. The three Sunday Schools will have their annual festival at Christ Church on Easter evening at 4 o'clock. St. Paul's will occupy the north transept, St. John's the south transept, and the Chapel Sunday School the front of the nave. The congregation will be welcome to the rear of the nave. We think the exercises will be interesting to young and old.
MAY, 1888.
PARISH DOINGS.
The Easter offerings amounted to $2,259, which is pretty good ; but next Easter we shall more than double that.
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THE ANNALS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
The Chancel Society deserves great credit for its ex- quisite decoration of the Church for Easter; and the regu- larity with which all its work is done, all the more acceptable because not overdone.
A few weeks ago the parish had the honor of a visit from Archdeacon Fortin, of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Rector begged him to occupy the pulpit whilst here, but his health would not permit.
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