USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 59
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Mr. Herman Myers said in his annual report of 1903:
"No single event of the year gave me more personal satisfaction than the final establishment on a more satisfactory basis, of a free public library. Cities throughout the country have for many years possessed
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such a valuable adjnnet to the public school system. Savannah has been woefully deficient. In 1901, it will be recalled, I engaged in correspon- dence with Mr. Andrew Carnegie looking toward the establishment of a library here for the people. The burden placed npon the city gov- ernment by the Carnegie plan was considered too heavy. A public- spirited citizen then inaugurated a movement whereby a certain num- ber of citizens pledged themselves to a payment of $100 a year for a period of years. This also fell throngh. Then came conferences be- tween representatives of the Georgia Historical Society and the city of Savannah, which resulted in the library of the Historical Society being placed under the control of a board of ten managers, five representing the city and five the society, and opened free to the public on June 15.
The results have equaled the most sanguine expectations." Continuing the subject in his report for 1906. he said of the library that "it gives promise of becoming a great factor in the intellectual life of the community." That prediction is being literally fulfilled. The library is now maintained by the city, which appropriated the sum of $10.000 for its support for the year 1912 and continued the appropria- tion for the year 1913. The total income for the former year was $10.916.42, during which period 94.837 books were given out for home use. and 99.489 persons visited the rooms. From its establishment until two years ago Mr. George J. Baldwin was the Chairman of the Library Board. and he did much to help in the development of the institution. He found that the duties were beginning to conflict with other interests, and retired from the Board in 1911, since which time Mr. Otis Ashmore has held that position with dignity and ability.
TELFAIR ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
The building used for public library purposes was a gift to the Georgia Historical Society from the late Mrs. Margaret Telfair Hodgson, daughter of Governor Edward Telfair and widow of William Brown Hodgson, and is a memorial of her husband, being known as Hodgson Hall. The society is also the trustee of the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, which institution was established in accordance with the fourteenth item of the will of Miss Mary Telfair, the last sur- viving child of Governor Telfair, by which she gave, devised and be- queathed "to the Georgia Historical Society and its snecessors all that. lot or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon. fronting on St. James square (now Telfair Place) ** * the
same having been for many years past the residence of my family, together with all my books, papers, doenments, pietnres. statnary. and
works of art * and all the furniture of every description
* * to the said Georgia Historical Society and its successors, in special trust, to keep and preserve the same as a public edifice. for a
library and academy of arts and sciences. ** For the purpose of providing more etfeetnally for the accomplishment of the objeets contemplated * * * I hereby give. devise and bequeath to the Georgia Historical Society and its successors one thousand shares of the capital stock of the Augusta and Savannah Railroad. of the state of Georgia. in special trust, to apply the dividends. incomes, rents and profits arising from the same to the repairs and maintenance of said buildings and premises," etc. The academy was opened in 1885, since
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which time the property has been greatly improved and a large annex added to the buildings, forming the main picture gallery. The collee- tion of works of art is composed of many pictures, mostly original, of great value, and copies of many of the best known sculptures. From the time of its opening until his death in 1905, the only director of the
TELFAIR
ATT VY OF ARTS & SCIENCES
TELFAIR ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
institutiton was Mr. Carl L. Brandt, N. A., whose services have been recognized by the board of managers by the placing on the walls of a bronze tablet bearing this inscription :
In Memory of CARL L. BRANDT, N. A., First Director of the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences 1883 to 1905 In Grateful Appreciation of Valued Service.
Sinee the death of Mr. Brandt the academy has been without a director, but it has the goodwill and friendship of Mr. Gari Melchers, the famous American artist, through whose good advice and valuable suggestions it has not only been greatly improved in its internal arrange- ment and construction, but has acquired many pictures of merit and artistic worth, by painters of world-wide fame, which could not have been obtained except through his efforts.
The institution is governed by the board of managers of the Georgia Historical Society, at this time embracing the following names :
President-Alexander R. Lawton.
First Vice-President-George JJ. Baldwin.
Second Vice-President-JJ. Florance Minis.
Corresponding Secretary-Otis Ashmore.
Curators-Henry C. Cunningham, Benjamin II. Levy, Thomas J.
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Charlton, William W. Mackall, William W. Williamson, Horace P. Smart, and William W. Gordon.
In addition to the above, Mr. Thomas P. Ravenel is the society's recording secretary and treasurer, and Mr. William Harden is librarian as well as treasurer of the Telfair Academy trust fund and custodian of its property. This institution stands on the spot where Sir James Wright, governor of Georgia lived, and where he was arrested by Major Joseph Habershan in January, 1776.
The board of managers of the Savannah Public Library is now composed of the following :
Chairman-Otis Ashmore, Charles Ellis.
Vice-Chairman-Pleasant A. Stovall,G. Arthur Gordon.
Secretary-Horace P. Smart, H. W. Witlover.
Treasurer-John M. Thomas,
Thomas J. Charlton.
William M. Davidson.
H. Wiley Johnson,
The following comprise the library staff :
Librarian-William Harden.
First Assistant Librarian-Miss Maude Heyward.
Second Assistant Librarian-Miss Selina Heyward.
Third Assistant Librarian-Miss Mary C. MeCants.
Librarian of the Children's Department-Miss Lily M. Dodgen.
Assistant Librarian of the Children's' Department-Miss Pamela Lucas.
RAILROAD TO TYBEE ISLAND
In our remarks on the origin of the railroad first called the Central Railroad and Banking Company of Georgia, now the Central of Georgia Railroad, we failed to give sufficient credit to one man who, throughout the whole discussion of the subject until the final accomplishment of that great work did not at any time fail to give the matter his hearty enconrage- ment and support. That man was Thomas Purse. At the beginning of the proposed work he said it was needful to the upbuilding of Savannah, and insisted that no step backward should be taken, while others became dis- couraged and threatened to desert the cause. Without his aid and counsel that great highway of commerce would not have been built at that early date. In later years, his son, Daniel G. Purse, proposed the building of a railroad from the city of Savannah to Tybee Island, and he was not only discouraged by those from whom he looked for co-operation, but the idea of a roadbed being constructed. over the long stretches of marsh which characterize the territory through which the road was to run was ridiculed, and he was told that the whole scheme was unfeasible. Unmoved by the adverse opinions freely offered, Captain Purse was sure that the road could be built and that it would in the end be a pay- ing investment, and organized a company to make his idea a success. The work of construction began on the 9th of August. 1886, when, in a formal way. Master Thomas Purse, son of the captain, in the presence of spectators, with a small silver spade, dug up the first parti- eles of dirt, on the place called Deptford plantation, then owned by his father and being on the direct line of the proposed railroad, which received the name of the Savannah & Tybee Railroad, afterwards changed to Savannah & Atlantie Railroad, and now an adjunct of the Central of Georgia Railway.
CHAPTER XLI
' CHURCHES AND ORGANIZED BODIES
CHURCHES OF SAVANNAH-BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES-OTHER ORGANIZED BODIES-STREETS AND SQUARES -- OGLETHORPE MONUMENT-MIDWAY CHURCH AND MONUMENT TO GENERALS SCREVEN AND STEWART.
The reader has had the facts in relation to the early history of the two oldest Savannah ehnrehes presented to him in detail, and we will now pass on to the other churches and their organization.
CHURCHES OF SAVANNAH
We are not able to give a full history of the Lutheran church for the reason that the early records are missing. The Rev. George White, in preparing his Historical Collections of Georgia, attempted to get the facts, and, failing to do so. gave a very brief account of the subject. which is about the only definite information we have. The church in Savannah was probably established about the year 1753, through the efforts of Rev. Messrs. Rabenhorst and Wottman, the services being at first condueted in German. Through the inability of the congregation to follow and respond in any other than the English language, the church did not grow, and for many years no services were held. In 1824 a reorganization was perfected, and in 1843 the building on Bull street. between State and President, was erected at a cost of about $15,000. The edifice has been very nmch altered in recent years. Another church of that denomination has within recent times been organized, and a building ereeted for worship at 1415 Bull street. ealled St. Paul's church. The mother church is now known as the Lutheran Church of the Ascension.
. The first record we have of the Baptist church is of a building erected in Franklin square abont 1795. In 1794 there were in Savannah a small number of worshipers of that denomination who were organized and began to plan for a house of their own. They were led by fonr devout men, Messrs. Jonathan Clarke, George Morse. Thomas Polhill and David Adams, who were joined a little later by a minister from Wales named Reese, and they sneceeded in raising a sufficient amount to build a church, said to have been 60 feet long by 50 feet wide. with a steeple and gallery. They did not grow rapidly, and it was not until 1799, when the Rev. Henry Holcombe was called and took pastoral care of them a little later, that the congregation became active and
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zealous. They obtained a charter in 1801, and worshiped in the build- ing in Franklin square until 1833, when the building in Chippewa square was erected. In 1847 the church split, and the second congre- gation purchased from the Cuitarians the building on the sonthwest corner of Bull and York streets. where they held services until Feb- ruary 6th. 1859, when a reunion of the two bodies occurred. The building of the second church was sold to the Savannah Volunteer Guards for an armory. Other Baptist churches are Duffy Street, Fourth church, and Sonthside.
Although John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was such an huportant figure in the early history of Savannah, the church he really founded did not have a footing here until the year 1807. It is related that the Rev. Hope Hull came to the city in 1790, and preached some sermons in the building of a Mr. Lowny, used as a chairmaker's shop, and that he met with great opposition and was maltreated. Again, in 1796, au attempt was made by Jonathan Jackson and Josiah Rundle to establish a church, but the result was no better than that attending the efforts of Mr. Inll. A third endeavor was launched by a Mr. Cloud, who met with no better success; but, on his arrival in 1806, Rev. Samuel Dunwoody gathered together a sufficient number of interested persons to enable him to build a house in the succeeding year, which was called Wesley: chapel. Wesley himself said in his journal that "the first rise of Methodism was in 1729, when four of us met together at Oxford. The second was at Savannah in 1736, when twenty or thirty persons met at my house." Somewhere it is stated that as early as 1785 Beverly Allen tried to organize a Wesleyan church in Savannah, and other names besides those already given have been used in connection with attempts to found a church here; but it is agreed that uo building was erected before the year 1807. It is also asserted by some that the struc- ture called Wesley chapel was not erected until 1813, and that at that time the congregation was led by Rev. James Russell. The house was situated on the northeast coruer of Lincoln and South Broad streets, and was used as a church until 1866, when it was sold and a private residence took the place of the house of worship. It was the same con- gregation that finally succeeded in collecting the funds with which the elegant memorial building called Wesley Monumental church was built in Calhoun square, the corner-stone of which was laid in 1872 by Dr. Lovick Pierce,
Trinity church, located on Telfair Place ( formerly St. James square), was begum in 1748 and finished in 1850. There are also Epworth and Graee Methodist churches. On the death of Hon. Robert M. Charlton the Bar Association of Savannah requested the Hon. Edward J. Harden to deliver a public eulogy on that gifted and highly esteemed citizen. and the trustees of the new Trinity church promptly and freely offered the use of their building for that purpose. The offer was accepted, and the eulogy was delivered there in 1854.
It has been stated that by the charter of the colony of Georgia "inhabitants of all sorts, Roman Catholics only excepted, from all parts of the world, were invited to possess this promised land." Even after . the state of Georgia passed forever ont of the control of the British crown, people of that religious faith failed to take measures to establish.
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that religion on this soil. The first time we hear of any actual steps taken to erect a building for church purposes is an ordinance dated May 30, 1799, by which provision was made in laying out certain parts of the town commons, and one lot was reserved for the Roman Catholic church "about to be established in this city." It is probable that the first church building was in Liberty square, and was called the Church of St. John the Baptist, and the first priest who regularly served the parish was L'Abbe de Mercier, who was succeeded by L'Abbe Cori. The next church was erected in 1839, on Drayton, MeDonough and Perry streets, whither the congregation removed at that time from Liberty square. Rev. J. F. O'Neill was the priest at that time. The building was given np on the completion of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on the east side of Abercorn street at the corner of Harris, the corner-stone of which was laid in 1874 and the building dedicated in 1876. The diocese of Savannah, of the Roman Catholic church, was not created until the year 1850, by Pope Pius IX, and comprises the state of Georgia. In that year, on the 10th of September, the Rev. Francis Xavier Gartland. vicar general of Philadelphia, was conse- crated first bishop of the diocese, and just four years afterwards, Sep- tember 20, 1854, he died of yellow fever. He was succeeded by Bishop John Barry, of Augusta, Georgia, who was consecrated August 2, 1857, and lived about two years longer, dying on the 21st of November, 1859. The next bishop was Vicar-Apostolic of Florida, Angustus Verot, who resigned in 1870 and returned to Florida, where he died on the 10th of June. 1876. On the resignation of the last named, Bishop Ignatius Persico, of the diocese of Charleston, Sonth Carolina, was transferred to Savannah March 11, 1870, but on account of failing health he held the office only two years. He was succeeded by Rev. William H. Gross, who was consecrated April 27, 1873, and held on until 1885, when he was made sub-bishop of Oregon. His successor was Rev. Thomas A. Becker, transferred from Wilmington, Delaware, May 16, 1886, but who died July 27, 1899, when the Rev. Benjamin J. Keily, who had been made rector of the Savannah cathedral July 12, 1896, was promoted to the bishopric by appointment April 19, 1900, and was consecrated on the 3d of June following by Cardinal Gibbons, in St. Peter's cathedral, Richmond, Virginia.
Other Catholic churches in Savannah are St. Patrick's, organized in 1865; Church of the Sacred Heart, more recently formed, and St. Benedict's.
In 1827, a number of the members of the Independent Presbyterian church, including Messrs. George G. Faries, Lowell Mason, Joseph Cumming and Edward Coppee, petitioned the Presbytery of Georgia to receive under its care the petitioners and their families and to organ- ize a strictly Presbyterian church connected with the presbytery; and, at the same time they wrote a letter to the pastor and session of the Inde- pendent church stating their reasons for wishing to withdraw and asking for dismission to the new organization, which they confidently expected the presbytery to effect. The desire of the petitioners was granted and the new church was founded as the First Presbyterian church of Savannah. The congregation worshiped for about six years in the building then standing on the southwest corner of Bull and Broughton streets, known as Lyceum Hall, and in 1833 moved to their new build-
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ing just completed farther up Broughton street, between Barnard and Jefferson. In 1856 they began the ereetion of a church in Monterey square on the lot bounded by Bull, Taylor, Drayton and Wayne streets, and began to hold services in the lecture-room, which was first com- pleted. The massive auditorium was not finished until 1872, the work on it having been interfered with by adverse circumstances, not the least of which was the financial condition of the people before, during and immedately after the war of secession.
After the war the congregaton of the Independent church organized a mission church on Anderson street which later united with the Savan- nah Presbytery and changed its name from the Anderson Street Pres- byterian church to Westminster Presbyterian church. A new and handsome edifice is now in process of erection.
The Protestant Episcopal church was represented in Savannah solely by Christ church until the year 1840, when St. John's parish was organized. The first house of worship erected by that people was on the south side of South Broad street, just west of the corner of Bar- nard, built at the time when the diocese of Georgia was created and the Rev. Stephen Elliott was consecrated first bishop. In 1853 the present building of the English Gothie style of architecture was built. Since its erection two other Episcopal churches have been established-St. Paul's, on Abercorn and Thirty-fourth streets; and St. Michael's, on Henry street, east.
There are at present two Christian church congregations in the city.
The Christian Science church is represented by two sets of wor- shipers.
There is a small Swedenborgian church in Savannah, on Drayton street, in which services are held occasionally.
In another place mention has been made of the several Jewish places of worship.
In 1831, through the instrumentality of Joseph Penfield. a church for seamen was erected on Bay street, between Abercorn and Lincoln, named Penfield Mariners' church. It was subsequently given over to the care of the Savannah Port Society, which was organized in 1843, "for the purpose of furnishing seamen with regular evangelical minis- trations of the gospel and such other religious instructions as may be found practicable." The lot and building were sold after the war of secession, and sailors now worship in the chapel connected with the Seamen's Home.
There are a number of churches for the colored people of Savannah, the most noted of which is the First Afriean Baptist, organized in 1788, the first pastor of which was Andrew Bryan. For many years its pastor was Rev. Andrew Marshall, probably the most esteemed colored man who ever lived in Savannah. He commanded the respect and regard of all classes of citizens, and when he died, in 1856. his funeral was attended by white as well as blacks, and was one of the largest known to the people of Savannah.
In connection with the subject of religious instruction and education, it is well to say something about institutions not considered within the strict list of church organizations. Thus, it is a fact worth preserving that in the district commonly known as Yamaeraw the Moravians who for a while did missionary work among the Indians and of whom we Vol. 1-32
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have because of their short stay here said but little, erected a house of instruction which they named Irene. The instruction given there was of a religious character.
John Wesley was aided in his work by his colleague Delamotte, a teacher who added to the catechising of the children by Wesley on Sat- urday and Sunday afternoon lessons in reading, writing and casting accounts.
The work done at Bethesda, and carried on for a long time by White- field, is kept up to this day. and is well worthy of better support than it has had at any time in its history. In addition to what has already been said elsewhere in this work of that institution, it is proper here to say that it is eared for by a society incorporated in 1786, known as the Union Society, and the names of the inen given in the charter should not be forgotten. They were William Stephens, president ; Leonard Cecil. vice-president : David Montaigut, secretary ; James Bul- lochi and George B. Spencer, stewards, and Mordecai Sheftall, Oliver Bowen, John Morel, Peter Deveaux. JJames Habersham, Joseph Haber- sham, Joseph Clay, Frederick Herb, John Richards, Benjamin Lloyd, James Fields, John Waudin, James Milledge, Samuel Stirk, Raymond Demere and George Handley.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES
In 1801 the Savannah Female Orphan Asylum was incorporated with the following as the first board of directors: Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, Mrs. Ann Clay, Mrs. Jane Smith, Mrs. Sarah Lamb, Mrs. Margaret Hunter, Lady Ann Houstoun. Mrs. Frances Holcombe, Mrs. Hannah Mc Allister, Mrs. Susannah Jenkins, Mrs. Ann Moore, Mrs. Phoebe Mosse, Miss Rebecca Newell, Mrs. May Wall and Mrs. Martha Stephens. The corporation is still living and is doing a great and a noble work.
The Savannah Widows' Society was founded in 1822, and is actively engaged in its good work, which it has carried on without interruption. It was aided by the city in the granting of two lots on South Broad street in 1834, on which houses were erected as homes for aged widows until the bequest of Mrs. Dorothy Abraham became available in 1859, and the Abraham's Home on the northwest corner of Broughton and East Broad streets was built.
The Savannah Benevolent Association has already been described and'it is one of the most useful relief organizations in the city.
Lack of space forbids us to further comment on the benevolent insti- tutions with which the eity abounds; but we must not fail to mention the Georgia Infirmary for colored people, which originated with the gift of land and money for the purpose by Mr. Thomas F. Williams and Mr. Richard F. Williams.
In later years came the Telfair Hospital for Females, founded through the bequest of Miss Mary Telfair; and the St. Joseph's Infirm- ary (now St. Joseph's Hospital), Little Sisters of The Poor, and St. Mary's Orphan Home, supported through the labor and means acquired by the devoted Roman Catholic people of the community; and the Epis- copal Orphan's Home, conducted by the ladies of that church.
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OTHER ORGANIZED BODIES
Clubs and societies are so numerous in Savannah that it is possible for us only to mention a few of the best known, as the Oglethorpe, Savan- nah Volunteer Gnards, Georgia Hussars, Harmonie. Savannah Yacht, Savannah Golf, and the German clubs. We name also:
The Savamah Rifle Association; the Hibernian Society, organized in 1812; the St. Andrew's Society, founded in 1790. There are others, but we must forbear, as the number is too large to specify them.
STREETS AND SQUARES
Too much cannot be said about the system of streets and squares . of Savannah. Laid out in such manner as to render them most capable of being further beautified by the proper planting of trees and orna- mental plants as well as by the modern methods of paving, the authori- ties have caught on to the fact that by the use of such means our city
CHATHAM COUNTY COURT HOUSE
could and should be beautified, and the result accomplished in recent years is simply wonderful. The extension of the taxable limits has brought with it those large tracts of land which, by drainage and other- wise, have become most attractive to citizens and visitors and are now numbered among the beauty spots, which a few years back were not even dreamed of. The county commissioners of Chatham county have co-operated, to the delight of all, and our publie roads, extended in all directions, are magnificent drives freely used and admired without stint of praise. The international automobile course is the best in the world, and it now seems likely that it will never again have a competitor. The fact that it was chosen for the Grand Prize races of 1908 and 1910 and that it will be used for the same purpose in the fall of 1913 justifies that prediction. The winner of the international grand prize in the race of 1910. David Bruce Brown, said of it: "I am free to say with- out favor or prejudice that this course is the finest in the world.'
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