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Gc 976.902 L59 L 1506656
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01715 2106
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FRONT VIEW.
CHAPEL. CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF
Christ Church Cathedral
Lexington, Ky.
BY THE ALTAR GUILD
EASTER, 1898
.
PRESS OF THE TRANSYLVANIA PRINTING CO., LEXINGTON, KY.
:
1506656
Introduction
Time is relative; and a century in our land and in this modern era means incomparably more than the whole life of Methuselah or of Thomas Parr.
A congregation changes very much its compo- sition every ten or fifteen years. And the clergy are even more migratory. So that the following Sketch concerns a great many people. When we recall contemporaneous history in its general secu- lar, civil, religious and ecclesiastical relationships, it will be considered that this Parish must have been affected by many diverse conditions and experi- ences and circumstances.
That through all these, and in spite of not a few of them, the Parish has gone "from strength to strength" does not seem strange to us who know the stalwart worth of the families composing it and the excellent parts of the clergymen successively ministering to it.
A proper motive for this Sketch is the desire to preserve, often out of fading human memories and fugitive records, facts becoming ever more valuable as our people awaken to the importance of history and realize their obligations to the past. But we must not miss being provoked "unto love and to good works" by the noble example and worthy deeds of those who have been elevated to the Church
6
Introduction
Triumphant. On the other hand, as the dim eyes of veterans of the Church Militant glance over these pages, let them not feel that despite is done to the days of their struggle and victory, because the present is glorified. Surely it was for this that they battled :- that the gates of hell might not prevail and that the Church of Christ might increase and abound ever more and more.
So let us all unite in thanking the young ladies for the fruitage of their labor of love, these glean- ings from a century of parochial life that they have had to go far afield and search diligently to gather. And, thus standing together in common love for an edifice so venerable and for the oldest parish in our Commonwealth, with all the hallowed traditions and associations that necessarily cling to it, let us reach up our hands in petition for even richer blessings; let us gird up our loins to strive after even nobler achievements; let us determine that, through our broad-minded love and unselfish zeal, we shall make Christ Cathedral Church and Parish, so favorably situated in this central and typical town, a fostering mother indeed to its local community and to the Diocese of Lexington. LEWIS W. BURTON,
Lexington, Ky., Bishop of Lexington.
Mid-Lent, 1898.
Historical Sketch
"The groves were God's first temples."
Extracts from the "Journal of an Expedition to Cantucky in 1775" by Colonel Richard Henderson.
"Saturday, May 13th. - About 50 yards from the river (Kentucky ) behind my camp, and a finespring a little to the west, stands one of the finest elins that perhaps nature has ever produced. The tree is produced on a beautiful plain, surrounded by a turf of fine white clover forming a green to the very First stock. The trunk is about 4 feet through to the Religious first branches which are about 9 feet from the Service ground. From thence it regularly extends its large branches on every side, at such equal distance as in Ken- to form the most beautiful tree the imagination tucky. can suggest. The diameter of the branches from the extreme end is 100 feet, and every fine day it de- scribes a semicircle on the heavenly green around it of upwards of 400 feet in circuit. At any time be- tween the hours of 10 and 12, 100 persons may com- modiously seat themselves under the branches.
"This divine tree, or rather one of the many proofs of the existence from all eternity of its Di- vine Author, is to be our church, council chamber, etc. Having many things on our hands, we have not had time to erect a pulpit, seats, etc,, but hope by Sunday seven-night to perform divine service in a public manner, and that to a set of scoundrels, who scarcely believe in God or fear a devil-if we are to judge from most of their looks, words or actions.
"Sunday, 28th May .- Divine service. for the first time in Kentucky, was performed by the Rev. John Lythe, of the Church of England."
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Historical Sketch
The service was held at Boonesborough, or near by, and was read from an English praver-book.
With such an early beginning, one might wonder that the real history of the Church in the State commences some twenty years later. To find the reason, we must turn to the history of Virginia, of
The Church in Vir- ginia.
which Kentucky was so long a part. The former state was colonized with a distinctly religious pur- pose. The primary object of the first expedition sent there was to convert the savages. These col- onists were adherents of the Church of England. In their settlements for a long time the Church had its only foothold in America, and there it was al- ways strongest.
By 1661 some fifty parishes had been formed in Virginia, but only about ten of these were provi- ded with ministers. A few of these clergymen were devoted, earnest men, but there were others who had come from England only when there seemed no prospect of getting a living at home. These latter did not have the purest motives, or lead the most consistent lives.
In spite of its struggling condition, the Church had a deep influence on the Revolution, imparting the high principles and motives that prevailed.
The greatest want was the lack of a head, since there was no bishop in this country. The parishes nominally belonged to the Diocese of London ; but this was only in name. As early as the reign of Charles the Second requests were constantly made to the Church in the mother country to have a
9
Historical Sketch
bishop sent out to the colonies; but the applica- tion was either overlooked or ignored. The So iety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts was a great assistance in sending out many good men as missionaries.
The want of a bishop necessitated the sending to England of all candidates for ordination; and of course no confirmations could be held. Thus the growth of the Church was greatly retarded. At the time just preceding and during the Revolution, requests for a bishop were less urgent, as it was feared that by sending one England might strengthen her hold on thecolonies With the Rev- olution and the cons quent distrust and dislike of anything pertaining to England, came a strong prejudice against the Church of England The Propagation Society withdrew its missionaries, and many of the clergymen were left without means of support. Many left the ministry and turned to other occupations, some to farming and some to teaching Some few came with the immi- grants to the West, seeking new fortunes in a new .country. Finally, in 1784, the Rev. Samuel Seabury went to England and was consecrated as the first Bishop of Connecticut. Soon afterwards several other bishops were consecrated, and by the end of the eighteenth century the American Church was fully organized.
Considering the struggling condition of the Church. it does not seem strange that, no effort was made to establish the Church in the newer colonies.
Bishop Seabury
10
Historical Sketch
With the immigrants to Kentucky, there came a few Episcopalians, but the dangers and the hard life of the new country kept away all except the poor and hard-working people. Among these the Church had few members. The few who came allowed them- selves to be slowly and reluctantly absorbed by the other denominations in the state.
Rev. John Lythe
In the Transylvania Colony, with which Mr. Lythe came, there were several Episcopalians Of this pioneer clergyman we have not many records. He was at one time the delegate from Harrods- burg to the General Assembly, and in that body he introduced a bill " to prevent profane swearing and Sabbath-breaking." His name appears on several important committees. An influence for good was exerte I by him upon all with whom he came in contact. He perished at the hands of the Indians and seems to have been almost entirely forgotten by his fellow pioneers.
During the early years of the settlements some of the spirit of French infidelity crept in, and there was a general lack of interest in religious matters. Moreover, the people were absorbed in the struggle. for existence, and in their fight against the hard- ships of the new country.
In 1792 there came to Kentucky Mr. James Moore. He was at that time a candidate for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church, but his trial sermons were not accepted by the heads of Transylvania. Seminary, and he came a few years later into the Episcopal Church. He received ordination at the
11
Historical Sketch
hands of Bishop Madison, of Virginia. He was the first Episcopal minister who permanently located in Kentucky.
Rev. James Moore
In 1796 a handful of Episcopalians gathered in Lexington and held services in a little dilapidated frame house on the corner of Market and Church Streets, where the present church building stands. The Rev Mr. Moore was chosen their minister to hold services once in every two weeks.
For more than ten years from this time there First was no parish, no organization of anykind; but Episcopal from this small beginning there has come, in the Church course of a hundred years, the Cathedral of to-day. in Ken- tucky All honor should be given to its founder, Mr. Moore, who had the courage, in spite of what seemed al- most insurmountable difficulties, to make the first effort in this direction. In 1793 he was appointed Director of Transylvania Seminary. The school was in its infancy, and he had many difficulties to contend with, being obliged to hold the school in his own home. The next year, when the trustees met to elect the first President of the Seminary, Mr. Moore was not chosen, but Mr. Harry Toulmin. The latter was a pious, learned and capable man, but differed in point of religious doctrines from many of the trustees of the Seminary. He was a Baptist minister and a disciple of Dr. Priestly, thus being Unitarian in his views. The Presbyterians, who had come to regard the Seminary as particu- larly their own, soon became dissatisfied because of "the Deistical influence under which the Semi-
12
Historical Sketch.
nary had fallen," and withdrew, to establish a rival school at Pisgah. Mr. Moore seems to have assisted them in this undertaking, and in April, 1796, became one of the teachers in the institution. He resigned in September, however, to accept the position of President of the Seminary, made vacant by the resignation of Mr. Toulmin. He received a salary of one hundred pounds per annum, half the tuition money and the products of the farm.
In 1798 or '99 the two schools were consolidated by an act of the Legislature and named Transyl- vania University. The Rev. Mr. Moore was made its first President and Professor of Moral Philoso- phy, Logic and Belles-lettres. In addition to his work in this institution, he probably conducted private classes. In the Gazette of 1801 we find an address of his, made to the students, at the begin- ning of the winter term, and published at their re- quest. It is all extremely interesting, and contains sound advice for the youth of the present day, as well as for those who lived in the early dawn of the century. From a few of the passages we may gain a partial idea of the character of the writer.
"For a youth to be careless whether he acquits himself honorably, in the progress of his studies, would be a most unpromising symptom indeed.
" Remember that even enthusiasm in the pursuits of science is not only justifiable but commendable. Never be satisfied with a partial or superficial course of education.
" But whilst you proceed in your learning, be at- tentive to your manners. Consider what that deportment is, which becomes a student in the
In Memory of the Rev. JAMES MOORE, First Pi vident of Thingyluania. et Minister
Church; learned, Liberxil. amiatta He departed this life June zzino. aged do years,
15
Historical Sketch.
Transylvania University, and never disgrace your name.
"Consider your time as your most precious treasure.
"Let us never hear of quarreling or falling out among yourselves. To be ever ready to see and re- sent little apparent offences, discovers a mind occupied by trifles, and fostering evil passions.
" Worship God with a pure heart-reverence your parents, be obedient to your teachers, and genteel, polite and obliging to all with whom you have in- tercourse."
Mr. Moore is spoken of everywhere as a man of great learning, remarkable piety and. as one his- torian tells us, of "beautiful manners" also. Just within the entrance of Christ Church Cathedral there is a tablet to his memory It says of him that "he was learned, liberal, amiable and pious." He lived a few miles from Lexington at what isnow known as the Frazer Place, on the Georgetown pike. There he built the charming. old-fashioned house which is still standing. Its large parlor he intended should be used as a music-room, for the indulgence of "the parson's passion." He died in Lexington, June 22, 1814, at the age of forty-nine. His wife survived him for many years, for, in 1830, the vestry gave to her the pew in the church that she had occupied for some time, with the request that she would hold it, free of rent, as long as she lived.
· Little more can be found of authentic history in regard to the life of our first rector, but he has been immortalized in story. Posterity will know him as
16
Historical Sketch.
we find him described in the charming tales of James Lane Allen, "Flute and Violin" and " The Choir Invisible." Here we see him pictured as the gentle, music-loving parson, with a great, tender heart. The stories may not claim to have an en- tirely historic foundation, but the idea of the man that we glean from them will remain with us always. Mr. Allen, almost as a prophecy, makes him utter these words :
" Whole events in history come down to me with the effect of an orchestra playing in the distance; single lives sometimes like a great solo. * *
"Martin Luther-he was a cathedral organ.
* *
Plato! he is the music of the stars. * *
*
The most we can do is to begin a strain that will swell the general volume and last on after we have perished As for me, when I am gone, I would like the memory of my life to give out the sound of a flute."
In 1808, the dilapidated frame structure was re- placed by the first brick church. We do not know much of this little church, for none of those who worshiped in it are with us to-day. The church was small; in fact, in a few years, its congregation became too large for it. It was probably sur- rounded by a church-vard. The bell for the church was procured from England by Mr. John D. Clif- ford, and was given by him. The lot on which the church stood, and on which Christ Church now stands, was the gift of Mr. William Morton. From the deed of the lot we learn that Henry Clay's home was on the corner diagonally opposite.
Mr. Allen says that Mr. Moore beat the cane-
17
Historical Sketch
brakes and scoured the buffalo trails for his Vir- ginia Episcopalians. Tradition in this respect is confirmed somewhat by the testimony of the old inhabitants, who have said that people came from a large part of the surrounding country, and that on Sunday many vehicles from the neighborhood drove up to the little church.
On the 25th of August, 1808, a meeting was held in the Church which took the preliminary steps towards the organization of the parish. A num- ber of men were present. Among their names we find several that are prominent in the history of Lexington, and many whose descendants are still foremost in our church. Besides the Rev. James Moore, there were Thomas Hart, John Bradford. William Morton, Robert Todd, Walter Warfield, John Postlethwaite, John W. Hunt and Henry Clay. Each of these agreed to take a pew in the new church and to pay a certain amount for it every vear, which money would go towards the salary of the rector. This body was called for a while the Episcopal Society For a long time it was connected very closely with the Presbyterian Church, it being said that at one time a common Sunday School was held by both churches
It was the next year, July 2, 1809, that the parish Organi- was formally organized, and the first vestry was zation of chosen. The men composing this body were: the Par-
John Wyatt, John Jordan,
ish.
John Johnson, William Morton,
William Macbean, David Sheley,
Walter Warfield.
18
Historical Sketch.
The Rev. James Moore was appointed the min- ister, to officiate every fortnight at a salary of two hundred dollars a year. This is the first authentic record that we find of his receiving any remunera- tion for his service
Lottery for Churches
At a meeting held the next day, July 3, it was decided to conduct a lottery "to raise money for the use of the church." This seems to have been a common method of raising money at that time, the papers in all the early part of the century con- taining advertisements of lotteries, held variously for the benefit of Transylvania University, the Lex- ington Athenæum, the Masonic Hall and many other objects.
The drawing took place at William Satterwhite's tavern, at 3 o'clock, on Saturday, September 16, 1809. About seven hundred and fifty dollars was raised in this way; and the money was used for finishing the church and for the organ.
On the 9th of December; 1809, at a meeting of the vestry, the Rev. James Moore and William Macbean were appointed a committee to draft a petition to the Legislature for an act to incorporate the Epis- copal Congregation ; but the act was not passed until 1860.
Vestry Records
The records of the old vestry are very interesting. In them wefind quaint old expressions, and records of customs just as odd. The meetings were not held as now, every month, but were called by the minister when occasion demanded. Sometimes there would be only one meeting in a vear. Besides the seven vestrymen, an election was held in 1813 to
19
Historical Sketch.
choose nine trustees for the parish. The seven vestrymen for that year were chosen, and, in addi- tion, two others, John T. Mason and John D. Clifford. The trustees were to be elected every two years. The hours of meeting for these two bodies seem a little unusual, and were sometimes designated in a peculiar way. They met in the forenoon, afternoon or evening, with no seeming regularity. Then once we find a record that the vestry resolved to meet "at early candle-lighting;" again, it said ""at sundown." In spite of what seems to us very indefinite hours, a resolution was once passed that a fine of one dollar be imposed on every trustee who might be more than ten minutes late, the money to be used for some charitable purpose. In another place we find that the vestry met at the "' Coumpting house" of William Morton.
When Mr Jacob Shryock resigned as sexton, the vestry "returned him their thanks, together with the donation of the balance of his pew rent." A resolution, that seems from its wording to have a doubtful meaning, reads as follows: "Resolved, That application be made to the renters of pews to reduce their size agreeable to a plan to be shown to them." Still another resolution is this: "Resolved, That Matthias Shyrock put up pegs for hats, and make four benches for the pulpit and five benches for the Gallery and put on buttons to fasten the pews."
The quaint English custom of having a clerk, or "clark," to give the responses during the service for a long time prevailed in this parish. In the year
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Historical Sketch
1810, we find a record that Robert McNitt was ap- pointed "clark" of the parish, to be present at the church and go regularly through the church forms. He was to be paid one dollar for each day of service. This custom continued for many years. The clerk's desk was in the center of the gallery across the end of the church The gallery was cur- tained off with green curtains, only the place for the clerk's desk being left in the middle, where he stood facing the minister. The organ was also in the gallery, and, when there was a choir, the choir, too, sat there. Mr. Wensell was the first organist, at a salary of thirty five dollars a quarter. The. sexton at first received a salary of only twenty dollars a year
During the greater part of the year 1812, the. Church seems to have been without a minister, probably owing to the ill health of Mr. Moore. Part of the pew rents for the year were remitted for this reason. We have no record of Mr Moore's. resignation, but in 1813 a committee was appointed to take steps towards securing a minister to offici- ate every Sunday. The Rev. James Elliott, who was in the city, agreed to act as a temporary sup- ply, and a little later the Rev. James Moore con- sented to renew his pastorate and officiate every Sunday, as soon as his health would permit. But this arrangement does not seem to have continued long, for later in the same year a committee was: again appointed to secure a permanent minister. Bishop Hobart and Bishop White were consulted,
Rev. James Elliott.
5
0
Rev. J. H. MORRISON.
REV. E. H. BERKLEY.
REV. JOHN WARD.
23
Historical Sketch
and the 5th of November the Rev. John Ward was called to take charge of the parish. The call was ac cepted and Mr. Ward entered immediately upon his duties. He was a native of Connecticut. He served at one time as assistant minister to the Rev. Mr. De- hon, then Rector of Newport and afterwards Bishop of North Carolina. Mr. Ward came to Kentucky in search of health, and soon after became the Rector of Christ Church. He was the first to organize the parish completely, and in a very short time had firmly established himself in the hearts of his par- ishioners.
During his incumbency the Church made material progress. He was a pastor in the true sense of the word. On April 29, 1814, the Church agreed to the Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. In accordance with this impor- tant step, John D. Clifford was elected a delegate to the General Convention which was held in Phila- delphia in May of the same year A proposition was laid before the vestry in 1813 which is worthy of note. It was presented by William Morton and John D. Clifford. They proposed to the vestry that the congregation should pull down the building then standing and erect a new one at the cost of eight thousand dollars. They offered to provide the money for this undertaking, and were to be re- munerated as far as possible by the proceeds of the sale of the pews in the new church. They agreed, if more than the cost of the building was received in this way, to pay the surplus money to the treas- ury of the parish
Rev. John Ward.
First Delegate to Gen- eral Con- vention.
24
Historical Sketch.
These two men were among the most earnest Mr. W. supporters of the Church, as well as among the Morton. best citizens of Lexington Mr. William Morton, · or Lord Morton, as he was usually called, was a man of wide benevolence and true refinement. He was one of the most prominent vestrymen of the Church for years, and it was with him, at his store, that the most of the meetings of the vestry were held. The Morton School in this city was named for him and was endowed by money bequeathed by him. His son-in-law, Mr. Clifford, was a man of perhaps equally fine character and extensive learn- ing. His virtues are lengthily commemorated by a tablet placed in the walls of the church near the one in memory of Mr. Moore. Both Mr Morton and Mr. Clifford, it is said, now lie buried in the family vault beneath the church.
Mr. J. D. Clifford.
The term of Mr. Ward's first engagement with the congregation expired in 1816, and the letter ad- dressed to him by the vestry, urging him to stay, reveals a little of the feeling towards him. The letter is too lengthy to quote in full, but we give a few passages :
" Rev'd John Ward.
"SIR: The vestry of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Lexington, knowing that the limits of your engagement with them will shortly expire, consider it a duty they owe to the congregation and to yourself, most respectfully to decl re the sentiments of esteem and affection which they feel towards you. Your delicate sensibility of mind
Rt. Rev. BENJ. B. SMITH, D. D., First Bishop of Kentucky.
Rt. Rev. T. U. DUDLEY, D. D., Second Bishop of Kentucky.
27
Historical Sketch.
might feel abashed, were we to permit ourselves the full expression of our sentiments, and, on the con- trary, our characters would becompromised, should we omit the declaration that no minister of Christ's Gospel can be more revered for his piety, zeal and pastoral care, or more beloved for the endearing qualities of his heart and manner than you are by our whole congregation You, respected Sir, have won our best affections and have endeavored by the most conciliating and unerring instruction to guide us, as a faithful pastor, along the Path of Life."
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