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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 03543 1532
GC 975.8 B388s Beck, James Lewis; Status of the church in Georgia . ..
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23
THX UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
STATUS OF THE CHURCH IN GEORGIA DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY VAR
A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Literature in Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Arts
Department of History
James Lavia Book
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS September, 1921
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne. IN 46801-2270
OUTLINE
I. Introduction.
(a) Jazen Oglethorpe.
(b) Charity of the colony.
(a) Purpose of paper.
CHAPTER I
The Organisation and Development of the Churches.
I. Episcopal Church.
(a) The Bill for dividing the colony into eight parishes.
(b) Trastoos provide for the religious instruction the settlers.
(0) Changing the parishes into counties.
(d) Laws governing the Sabbath.
(.) Rev. Prink takes charge under direction 8. 7. 0.
(1) 897. Ellington.
(8) Rev. Seymour.
(h) Account of Bsy. Yrink's Mission at Savannah.
(1) S. P. G. report from 1770 - 1975.
(1) Loestion of Episcopal Churches.
II. Methodist Church.
(s) John and Charles Bosley visit Georgia.
(b) John Wesley's troubles.
III. Baptist Church.
(s) The first company in 1757.
(b) The second company about 1770.
(a) The third company in 1771.
(a) Rev. Daniel Marshall.
(e) Location of Baptist Churches.
IV. Congregational Church.
(a) Log church on Hildway Nook.
. (b) Raising of Minister's Salary.
(0) Ministers of Midway Church from 1754 - 1778.
(a) Descons of Midway Church.
(e) Clerks of the aharab.
(2) Attitude of the Congregational Churoh toward theiz
V. Lutheran Church.
(a) Settlement at Old Ebenezer.
(b) Salzburgere discontented at Old Ebeneser.
(e) old Ebeneser abandoned.
(a) Salsburgers move to How Kbeneser.
(.) Rev. Bolsius and the building of the orphan asylum.
(2) Whitefield visits the Orphan Asylum at Her Ebeneser.
(s) The school in connection with the Orphan Asylum.
(b) Church at New Ebeneser supported by church in Germany.
(1) Jerusalem Church a Georgia Landmark.
(i) Property belonging to Jerusalem Church, Jan. 16, 1798.
(k) A description of Frederios.
(1) Location of Lutheran Churches.
(m) Ber. Mahlenburg and Bolsius visit Ebeneser.
VI. Moravian Church.
(a) School House and place of worship at Irene.
(b) Moravians move to Pennsylvania.
(a) Lewis Muller and John Wagner.
VII. Jewish Oharoh.
(a) First company of Jews came over with Oglethorpe.
(b) The Trustees and the Jews.
(a) Jewa leave Georgia and move into northern colonies. VIII. Quaker Church.
(8) Small settlement.
II. Presbyterian Church.
(a) Scotch Presbyterian Emigration.
(b) Location of Presbyterian Churobes.
(a) The Independent Presbyterian Church.
(d) Location of the Independent Presbyterian Churches. .
X. German Fofora Churob.
(a) Bov. J. J. Zably at Savannah.
(b) Location of German Naforma Church.
CHAPTER II
The Attitude of the Churches Towards Rum, Slavery.
Education and the Revolution.
I. Episcopal Church,
(a) Ran.
(b) Slavery.
(1) Trustees against slavery.
.
(2) Oglethorpe's decision on slavery.
(3) George Whitefield favors slavery.
(0) Education.
(1) Whitefield as a teacher, presoher and looturer.
(2) Whitefield'e Orphan House at Bethesda.
(3) Converting the Orphan House into a Beminary of
. Literature and Academical Learning.
(4) Whitefield's Death 1770.
(5) Orphan Bonse destroyed by fire.
(6) Financial Report of Orphan House 1738 - 1770.
(d) Revolution.
(1) Bev. Haddon Smith, Beotor of Christ Church Parisb. II. Baptist Church. .
(a) Revolution.
(1) Bev. Edmund Boteford.
(2) General Poriven.
(b) Education.
III. Congregational Church.
(a) Bevolution.
(1) Midway Congregational Church.
(2) Bov. Moses Allen.
(3) Rov. Allen taken primoner.
(4) General Provost.
IV. Lutheran Church,
(a) Revolution, (2) Major Maitland.
(2) Bev. Triebner.
(3) Church at Hew Ebeneser.
(4) Intherans in Germany.
(6) Lutherans as a whole loyal to Colony.
. (b) Education.
(1) Establishment of a school with a church. (e) Slavery.
(3) Latherans opposed to slavery.
(2) Bev. Urlsperger'a advice on the subjeet.
V. German Reform Charen.
(s) Revolution.
(1) Bev. Dr. Zably expelled from the Continental Congress.
(2) Bev. Zably before the Grand Jury in Chathan County, Georgia.
(8) Rav. Zubly banished from Georgie.
(b) Summary of the churches.
VI. Conclusion.
VII. Bibliography.
IATROLUC CION
James Oglethorpe was born in London in December 1690. Be was the youngest son ef Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe who was an officer in the Duke of York's own regiment before the Dako ascended the throne as James II., and whose family had been, during the civil war and at all times, devoted to the House of Stewart. After the death of Queen Anne, August 1714, George I. ascended to the throne at the call of a faction that controlled the army and navy at that eventful period. . Everything now being against young Oglethorpe, he withdrew from the army which he had joined a few years before and want to the Conti- nent of Europe to help Prince Engene in his war against the Turka. At this time he was between 18 and 19 years of age. At the age of 21 be returned to England and began schooling himself at oxford. In 1722 he entered Parliament from Haslo- mere in Surrey.
He soon became an sotive member usually directing bis views in helping the condition of the unhappy in every for within his power. In an investigation be found that many prison wardens were imposing hardshipe upon their prisoners. In Fleet Prison be found Sir William Rich, Baronet, loaded with irons by order of Bainbridge, the warden, to whom be bed given some slight cause of offense. In 1732 he planned a colony differing from every other undertaking that had origi- nated among men in modern times. The ging was petitioned in
Council for a grant of lands in South Carolina to carry the pre- jest into operation. The King vory graciously received their petition and gronied a sharter of incorporation to Lord For- sival, James Oglethorpe, Edmund Digby and others. The passat was dated Jans 9, 1732, and the new colony was called Georgia." Mr. Wright says of Oglethorpe, "As a philanthropist, bo is distinguished from those who, confining their labors within a limited sphere, cherish some pet project of their ova and ig- nore every other olaia. Hedid not deem it enough to ameliorate the wretched condition of poor destora during their imprisonsest. bat he also found a channel for their industry after their re- 16980. Oglethorpe without creating any private estate or cooking any emolument for his labeurs mode as great efforts and sacrifices for Georgia as Fillima Pean had dens for Pennsylvania, He did not seek to transmit his name to posterity by attaching it to the province which be established. Bis sympathie's were net absorbed by his own seheses. The families of bie depende ents were sure of his assistance so long as they deserved it; and he frequently supportes needy tenante by lending them money to improve their faraa.
It must be remembered in writing the story of the different otareh denominations of Georgia in their attitude toward the Revolutionary War that the colony was late in being settled and the conditions under which the settlers come to
1. Georgia Historical Collection, vol. I. part II, pp. 231 to 205. 2. Wright. A Memoir of General Oglethorpe, p. 587.
that section were under the most adverse ofreumstanoes. then ¥ the colony was settled in 1733 it was to be a home for the poor and Imprisoned of England. The man who was unable to pay his debts was considered just as much a criminal as the one who could pay but rofaced. They were both put into the same pris- on and treated in the same harsh way. Ia "Little Dorrit". Charles Dickens has revealed the story of those unfortunates who were imprisoned for debt. oft times innocent people were taken and it was this condition of affairs that sot Oglethorpe to thinking of how he could reform these people and better their condition. 1
Having been settled only 45 years before the Revolu- tion broke ont, many were still living at the time of the War who first settled the colony. It was made up of all national- itles, such as Franch, English, Quakers, Germans, Jews, Dutch and Joeteh-Irish. The last ez these having moves south from the northern colonies.
The following table shows the number brought orer from England on charity during the early years of the colony:
June o to June 2.
No. cont.
British. For'n Protestants.
Mon.
1732 - 1933
841
237
104
150g
1933 - 1934
168
141
11
61%
1984 - 1785
81
25
1755 - 1733
470
841
129
224
1. Herris. Stories of Georgia, p. 22.
8. Georgia Historical Collectiona, vol. II. p. 287.
3. Ibid, p. 290.
4. Ibid. p. 292.
5. Ibid. p. 295.
No. cent.
British.
For'n Protestants.
Nen.
1
1756 - 1737
88
19
1737 - 1738
890
185
163
162
8
1733 - 1939
9
2
7
4
4
1739 - 1940
189
134
49
Total up to 1740
1,521
915
606
687.
These were required to work for a certain number of
years and then given their freodoa.
The object of this paper im to show (1) the attitado of this heterogeneous group of people toward the American Revo- lation in 1775; (2) the reaction; and (3) the location of churches which were established up to this time and which were made up of these different nationalities. Their attitude towarda
schoola and slavery le also given consideration.
The white population of the whole colony la 1775 was only 17,000 whites and 15,000 blacks. 5 This is very small when compared with some of the northern colonies due to the fact that it had been settled for only a few years. The make-up of the settlers was not like those who settled Rhode Island. It was not settled for religious fresdca and those who did make up the colony were eiminals and law-breakers of England. Thua they
1. Georgia Historical Collections, vol. II. p. 296.
8. Ibid, p. 801.
8. Ibid. p. 805.
4. Ibid, p. 305.
5. Smith. Story of Georgia and the Georgia People, p. 88. Georgia Historical Collections, vol. II, p. 28.
had little inclination to attend church or to organize one. All religious denominationa were welcome, except Catholios, which is chowa in the following quotation taken from the charter that was granted to Oslothorpes "for the greater ease and encouragement of our loving subjects, and such others as shall come to inhabit in our sald colony, w. do, by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors. grant, establish and ordain, that forever, hereafter, there shall be a liberty of conscience allowed in the worship of God, to all persons inhabiting or which shall inhabit or bo resident within our said province, and that all such persons, except Papista shall have a free ozeroise of rollgion; co they be contented with the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the same, not giving offense or soandal to the government. The charter makes no mention that the Church of England wes to be the established church of the colony.
In the language of Mir. Stevens, the historian of the States "Georgia was the only colony ever founded by char- ity . New England had been settled by Paritans who fled thither for consolenoe' sake; New York by a company of mer- chante end adventurers in search of gain; Maryland by the Pap- iste retiring from Protestant intolerance; Virginia by ambi- tions cavaliers; Carolina by the scheming and visionary Shaftesbury and others for private aims and individual ag-
1. Stevens. History of Georgia, vol. I. p. 488. in appendix.
Charter
.
grandisements but Georgia was planted by the hand of benevo- . lenee and reared into being by the nurturinga of a disinter- cated charity."
1. Perry. History of Episcopal Church, vol. I, p. 836. Stevene. History of Georgia, vol. I. p. 68.
1
CHAPTER I
THE ORGANIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCHES.
Episcopal Church. When the colony of Georgia was established in 1733, the Church of England was to be in the main the principal church of the colony. Up to 1735 roll- glous services in Savannah were held in a hut thirty feet long and twelve feet wide. Court was also held in this
bouse. 1 In 1735 on Mr. Oglethorpe's return from his firet visit to England he ordered that a house be erected which might serve for both a courthouse and church till & chareb could be built. 2 It was under the ministry of lev. Zouber- buhler that the church at Savannah was begun on June 11, 1740. "a few loads of stones being brought and laid down in the place where it is intended to stand," was finally completed . July 7, 1750. 4
A church was built at Angneta in 1750 with Rov. Jonathan Copp, a graduate of Yale Collego, appointed to take charge of it. 6 He was succeeded by dev. Samuel Fink La 1766. These two churches, one hundred and fifty miles apart. were the only two Episcopal churches in Georgia in 1769. though in 1758 the province was divided into eight Parishes by an act of the Assembly, with an annual stipend of twenty-
1. Collections of Georgia Bletorioal Society, vol. I. p. 100.
2. Harden. History of barannah and South Georgia, P. 64.
3. Stephen's Journal, vol. II. p. 403.
4. Perry. History of the American Episcopal Church, vol. I. p.356. 5. American Church History Leries, vol. VII.pp. 263-264.
6. Ibid, p. 264. S. P. G. 1775, p. 47.
.
five pounda Sterling allowed to the olergy officiating in caoh. This not was opposed by the Rev. Mr. Bolsine in a letter to the Assemply, January 26. 1758. 1
The Division of the Colony into Parishes and Later into Counties.
One of the most interesting sote passed by the Legis- lature during Governor Ellis' administration was that of divid- ing the several districts of the province into parishes, pro- viding for the establishment of religious worship according to the rites and ceremonies of the Churon of England, and ca- powering the church wardens and vestryman of the respective parishes to assess rates for the repair of churches and the relief of the poor. The Aot was passed February 6. 1758.
Previona to divid- and approved on the 17th of March. 1758. 2 ing the colony inte parishes, there was an important obange made in 1741 as to the government of the colony. In the com- mon coanoil on March 15th it was resolved "that the province of Georgia be divided into two counties, called the County of Savannah and the County of Frederios. The county of Savannah included all the settlemente upon the Savannah River and both banks of the Ogooohea River. The county of Frederios inoludod
the remainder of the colony. 3 These counties did nos remata
long as Duch for in 1758 the colony was divided again and this
1. Georgia Colonial Hasards, vol. XIII, p. 257.
2. Chandler. Colonial Records, vol. XVIII, p. 259.
3. Hardin. History of savannah and south voorgia, p. 105.
time for the Church of England into eight parishes, vis. : St. Paul, St. George, St. Matthew, Christ Church. St. Philip. St. John, St. Andrew and St. James. 1 In 1765 four new parish- es were added -- St. Patricka, St. David, St. Thomas and St. Mary's were laid out in the seotion south of the Altanska River, and now contained in Camden, Charlton and the arjoin- ing counties. The parishes were not really organized and were unoh in name only. 2 "There was a feeble effort to build a church in each, but save the log church in August and in St. George's Parish, I can find no evidence that any others were built", says Mr. Smith.
The Episcopal Church was weaker in the colony of Georgia than in any other province of North America. 4 Although it was established by law in Georgia when the Province was divided into parishes and commissioners appointed to see to the erection of a church and the setting off of a glebe in every parish, yet all these provisions were nagatory, as no one seemed to consider himself responsible for carrying them
5
Into practical operation.
"There can be no doubt, however.
but that it was the intention of the government, both royal and colonial, to engraft the Church of Ragland apon the province. and within certain limits, to advance its prosperity and ineuro
1. Umith. Story of Georgia and Georgia People. p. 52.
2. Ibid. p. 51.
3. Ibid. p. 51.
4. American Church History Series, vol. VII. p. 264.
6. White. Statistios of Georgia, P. 96.
20
ite permanency. 1 The separation of the colonies from Eng- land interfered quoh with the progress of the Episcopal Church and for many years there were not at any one time more than three clergymen in the state." 8
The trustees for the colony of Georgia considered it a part of their duty to provide for the instruction and conversion of their settlers. John Wesley And George White- field were locked to for this work. Jesley afterwards be- came one of the founders of the Methodist Church, but chite- field remained loyal to the Church of England. 3 Although
the Church of England was established, an sot was passed by Which diesentera were not required to even take an oath be- fors the courts in a way objectionable to them and there was no interference at all with their religious privileges.
Changing the Parishes into Conntico.
is econ as Governor Archibald Bullock of Georgis Heard of the Declaration of Independence, he called for the election of delegates to sit in a convention at Savannah to draft a constitution for the State of Georgia. This was dona, and the first constitution was adopted February 5, 1777. one of the provisions of this constitution was that clergymen 5
could not begone members of the House of Delegates. Delegates
1. Jones. History of Georgia. vol. I. p. 527. White. Statistics of Georgia, p. 96.
3. Ibid, pp. 93 and 94.
4. Saith. Story of Georgia and deorgia People, p. 66.
5. Chandler & Lvans. Cyolopedia of veorgin, vol. I. p. 446.
11
from all the parishes were present. Many of there anch as Bullock, Habersham, Dr. Zabli and John Stirk were for the Revolution and at the same time influential in church both as ministero and laymen. 1 This same body proceeded at once to diu-establish the Church of England and to form the parishes into counties. Those counties which were formed wers all. save one, named in honor of those Englishmen who had stood by the colonies in Parliament.
Pulou Governing the Church.
The council with the aid of Barthalsmow Zouberbuhler laid down rules as to how the church should be ran and tazon care of. Vestryman and church wardens were to be selected and sworn to the faithful performance of their dution. Tor the purpose of keeping the church edifices in repair, caro of the cemeteries, ssored utensile end ornaments, to provide bread and wine for the Holy Eucharist, to pay the salaries of elerke and sextons and to make provision for the poor of each parish, the rector, church wardens and vestrymen were author- ised to levy a tax on the estate, real and personal, et all the inhabitants within the respective parishes enfficient to Field in the parishes of Christ Church and of st. Paul thirty pounds each, and in the parishes where no churches had been
1. Smith. Story of Georgia and Georgia People, p. 77.
2. Ibid. p. 88.
18
erected ten pounds each. There was to be a register of "births, christenings, marriages, and buriala." This was to be kept by the vestry olerk and if he failed to do his duty, he was fined five pounds sterling. For each entry the vestry clerk was entitled to receive as a fee one shilling sterling. If any one was convicted of willfully making a false entry. erasing, altering or defasing an entry, he was to be adjudged guilty of felony and to be panished with death without benefit of the alergy. Bo authority was conferred upon rectors to exercise any ecclesiastical jurisdiction, or to administer coolesfestival law. 1
In 1764 the Church at Angusta, Ca., was filled by the Ber. Samuel Yrink. 2 Boy. Frink rezaiced in Augusta about three years. The population at that time was abont 540 whites. 600 negro slaves and 90 Chickasaw Indiens. In 1767 be TO- 8 moved to Savannah and was succeeded by the Ber. Edward Elling- ton, June 30, 1767, who informed the 8. 2. 0. that there was not one place of worship of any denomination within one hundred miles of him in any direction. 4 He also states in a letter to the S. P. G. of November 12, 1767, "That the people are very illiterate at Angauta, and know little more of, Christianity than the Indians.""
2. White. Statistics of Georgia, pp. 93-94.
1. Jones. History of Georgia, vol. I. p. 529.
White. Statistics of Georgia, p. 96.
4. Ibid, p. 96.
5. S. P. G., 1770, p. 32.
13
Rev. Frink gives the following melancholy account of the settlers in the whole of Georgia in 1760; "They seem in general to have very little more knowledge of a Bariour than the aboriginal natives. Kany hundreds of poor people both parents and children in the interior of the province have no opportunity of being instructed in the principles of Ohrie- tianity, or even in the being of God, any further than nature dictates."4
While at his charge in Augusta, Mr. Ellington dia everything in bis power to promote the Christian knowledge among the people. He would set out on Monday and travel thirty or forty miles, perform services at three different places, and return home on friday."
A short time after his arrival at his mission he had baptised 178 children and two adulto. During his rest- dense at Augusta he traveled about three thousand miles doing religions work and baptised 428 parsons, and raised the number of communicants from seven to forty. 3
Mr. Ellington resigned his mission at Augusta after the death of Whitefield in 1770 to take charge of ur. White- field's Orphan House at Bethesda. The 8. P. G. now appointed dev. James Seymour to fill Mr. Ellington's place at Augusta.
1. American Churob History series. vol. VII. p. 264.
2. White. Statistics of Georgia, p. 96.
3. Ibid, p. 96.
4. 8. P. G., 1771, p. 30 .- S. P. U., 1772, p. 28.
5. 3. 2. 9., 1772, p. 28.
14
After the arrival of Mr. Seymour as Augusta Le made this re- port in 1771, "Since ny arrival I have baptized 55 children. married 13 couples, and buried one corpsa. Comannieants al Easter were trelro. 1
A letter from Rev. Boymonr, missionary at Angnata, dated Angnat 24, 1772, tolis of his visit to St. George'a parish about forty alles from Augnata where the people have built a good wooden church at that time not entirely finished. Ee preached there and in another part of the parish and at both places baptised 75 infants and one adult. From the first of the preceding Hay he had baptized in his own parish 127 infants and one adull. 3 In his second latter be states he has baptised 27 children and his communicants are increased from twelve to twenty-five.
Two-fiftha of his parish were professed members of the Church of England. Presbyterians, Quakers and Baptiste made up the remainder. "The furious seal of the latter was happily auch absted of late."
James Wright, Governor of Georgia, having recommended Mr. Alezander Pindlay, and the Lord Bishop of London having ordained him, " The Society have appointed him missionary to St. George's Parish, the people having given assurance that they 6
1. 8. P. G., 1773, P. 34.
2. B. P. G., 2774, D. 61.
3. Ibid. p. 41.
4. Ibid. p. 41.
S. P. G., 1771, p. 81.
R
1
will subscribe thirty poanda a yoar henidea the allowance from the government of twenty-five pounds a year and find a bonse and globe." 2
A letter from Bay. Findlay at St. George'a Parish relates some incidents pertaining to Savannah. Ho says that "the aharon at Savannah was not half finished, and the parson- age not begun." He wrote to the church wardens upon the subject.
The following is aasscount of Mr. Frink's Mission at Savannah given out just before his death in 1772;
Denomination
Familien
Mon
Total
Church of Eng.
180
664
621
1,185
Lutherana
35
134
59
198
Presbyteriana)
and
98
327
172
499
Independenta
6
27
49
Infidolo
11
23
7
50
Bogroes who live by themselves and allow thais mastera a certain sam per week.
40
3
Total -
1,996
In the half year he had baptized 83 infante and
added ten to the communicanta.
1. S. P. G. 1771, p. 31.
2. S. P. G. 1773, pp.33-34. 3. S. F. 9. 1772, p. 28.
4. Ibid, p. 28.
16
After the death of Mr. Frink in 1772, the society deolded it to be inconsistent with their truet to give any allowance where the government had made a sufficient provision. The church wardens and vestry of St. George'a havlag
1
recommended Mr. John Holmes to be their missionary and engaged to allow thirty pound sterling per annum towards his support. the Society have appointed him to that mission with the former
2
salary of forty pound sterling.
After Bar. Holmes was ap-
pointed to St. George's Parish in 1772, no word was received till 1775 when the following information come: on his arrival he found no parsonage built but accepted residance with one of the church wardena. 8 It was expected that a parsonsgo would be built in four months from the date of bie lettez. The church stood in the center of the Parish abont ninety alles from the metropolis. The Parish, he thought, bad about 400 families, one-half of them Presbyterians, la general poor and ignorant, owing the chief of their religions know- ledge to illiterate Anabaptist teachers, with whom the book parts of the province are greatly infested. He has baptized but six children, but is told that two hundred would be brought for baptisa if their parents were not terzified by several mar- dere lately committed by the Indians. lot more than sixty
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