Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 85

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > Kentucky > Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I > Part 85

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The next move in the history of the Episcopal church in Kentucky is the record of " a meeting held pursuant to public notice, at the Washington Hall," in the city of Louisville, on the 31st of May, 1822. "John Bustard acted as chairman and Samuel Dickinson as secretary, when it was resolved to open books of subscription for building a Protestant Episcopal church in the town of Louisville." At a subsequent meeting, July Ist, 1822, Christ Church was fixed upon as the name of the contemplated building, and the committee charged with the execution of the enterprise was enlarged. Its members were, Peter B. Ormsby, Dennis Fitzhugh, Samuel Churchill, James Hughes, Wm. L. Thompson, Richard Barnes, Win. H. Atkinson, Richard Ferguson, Hancock Taylor, James S. Bate, James C. Johnston, and Wm. Croghan.

Dr. Craik, in his history of this parish, says : " The effort to establish the Episcopal church in Louisville seems to have proceeded quite as much from the country gentlemen in the neighborhood as from the residents of the town. Jefferson county, like several other prominent points in Kentucky, was settled at the very earliest period by a class of highly educated gentlemen from Virginia. Of course they were all traditionally Episcopalians, for that had been the established religion of Virginia. But unfortunately, at the period of this emigration, the coarse blasphemies of Tom Paine and the more re- fined infidelity of the French Encyclopedists had taken a strong hold upon the Virginia mind. The early emigrants brought with them the taint of these principles, and in many cases the books from which they were derived. And alas! there was no church in the wilderness to counteract these evil in- fluences and the new spiritual temptations incident to this breaking off from

Conversation of Bishop Smith with the author, May, 1871.

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the ancient stock and from home associations. The consequence was, that this generation lived and their children grew up emphatically without God in the world. But religion of some sort is a necessity for the human soul. The modes of religion prevalent in the country were revolting rather than attractive to educated men, and therefore when Richard Barnes and Peter B. Orinsby suggested the formation of an Episcopal congregation, the proposal was warmly seconded by the most influential citizens of the county."

The projected edifice was completed in 1824, and the Rev. Henry M. Shaw elected the first rector, the same year.

The foundation of the church in Louisville was entirely a lay movement ; for until the completion of the building and the arrival of the newly elected rector, no clergyman had been present or taken any part in the proceedings. Fourteen churches in Louisville and its immediate vicinity have been the fruit, up to this time-1873-of this first action of the laity of the city and county.

In 1829, the Rev. George T. Chapman, D.D., rector of Christ Church, Lexington, first proposed, and by his active exertions effected the organization of the diocese. He visited Danville, called the church people together, organ- ized Trinity parish and procured the appointment of delegates to a primary convention. He then visited Louisville and procured the appointment of delegates from that parish, there being at that time no rector there. This primary convention was held in Lexington, July, 1829. Rev. Dr. Chapman was president and Rev. Benj. O. Peers secretary. A constitution was adopted, delegates to the general convention appointed, and Bishop Ravenseroit, of North Carolina, invited to visit the diocese. That eminent prelate arrived in Lexington, July 25, 1829, and on the next day and the Tuesday following confirmed 91 persons. Dr. John Esten Cooke attended the general conven- tion at Philadelphia, the same year, as the only delegate from Kentucky.

Perhaps the most marked events in the history of this church in Kentucky were the publication of Dr. Chapman's sermons on the church, and the con- version of Dr. John Esten Cooke. Dr. Chapman's volume made a powerful impression at the time, and it has continued ever since the most popular bouk in the Episcopal church on the subject of which it treats, and is from time to time republished to meet the ever constant demand.

Dr. John Esten Cooke, the most profound medical philosopher of his time, had recently removed to Lexington from Virginia, to fill the chair of the theory and practice of medicine in Transylvania University. One Sunday morning, while waiting for his family to attend the Methodist church, of which he was a devoted member, he opened and began to read Dr. Chapman's book. By the time the family were ready he had read far enough to discover that a serious question was raised in the book, which it was necessary for him, with his intense love of truth, to determine for his own conscience before proceeding any further in the religious life. He therefore permitted his family to go alone while he remained to finish the book. From that time he commenced an exhaustive inquiry into the subjects treated of by Dr. Chap- man, first ransacking all the libraries of Lexington, and then sending to Philadelphia and New York for every available authority. The result was his own strong personal conviction ot the apostolicity and catholicity of the Episcopal church, and the production of a powerful and logical argument to sustain that conclusion ; which was rapidly republished in several forms, and attained a remarkable celebrity in England as well as in America.

Near the close of this same year, 1829, Bishop Brownell, of Connecticut, made an official visitation of the infaut diocese. By him the church building ut Louisville was consecrated, and a number of persons confirmed.

In 1831, Bishop Meade, of Virginia, at the request of the preceding conven- tion, made a much more extensive tour through the state, preaching, baptizing, and confirming.

At the convention in 1831, the Rev. B. B. Smith, the newly elected rector of Christ Church, Lexington, was chosen bishop. But on account of some informality in the election, Mr. Smith declined. At the following convention, held June 11, 1832, at Hopkinsville, the same gentleman was again unant- mously elected bishop, and consecrated in St. Paul's Chapel, New York city,

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October 31, 1832. His episcopate has been one of hard and unremunerative labor, uncomplainingly performed. The church, indeed, has grown somewhat beyond the expectations of the historian Humphrey Marshall; but out of the two early centers, Lexington and Louisville, its progress has been slow and painful.

For a short time after the consecration of the bishop the prospect for the Episcopal church in Kentucky seemed to be unusually bright. A theological seminary with a very able faculty was established, a large and valuable li- brary purchased, a Church paper published weekly, and conducted with very great ability ; and some of the most distinguished divines of the church were congregated at Lexington. Besides the bishop, there was the eminent Dr. Thomas W. Coit, president of Transylvania University and professor in the- theological seminary. There was the Rev. Henry Caswell, afterwards distin- guished as an author, and as an active worker in the Church of England while rector of Fighaldean Wills in that country. There were the two Lea- cocks-William, now and for many years past the venerable rector of Christ Church, New Orleans; and Hamble J. Leacock, who attained a world-wide celebrity as the " Martyr of the Pongas." When to these we add Mr. Peers and Dr. Cooke-already residing in Lexington and professors in the same school-we have a concentration of talent and intellectual power which few cities would present.

This seemingly auspicious beginning led to no corresponding results. The bright galaxy was soon dispersed, and the subsequent growth has been slow but evidently of firm and enduring material. The successive rectors of the mother church at Lexington were the Rev. Edward F. Berkley, the Rev. Dr. James H. Morrison, and the present accomplished rector, the Rev. Jacob S. Shipman.

In Christ Church, Louisville, Mr. Shaw was succeeded by the brilliant Dr. David C. Page; and he by the Rev. Wm. M. Jackson. During the pastorate of Mr. Jackson, the old building was so crowded that the congregation erected a much larger and finer church, St. Paul's, and the rector and the greater part of the congregation removed to the latter in October, 1839, leaving only a few families whose attachment to the early structure would not permit them to abandon it.

To this remnant the Rev. Hamble J. Leacock ministered for a few months. On Nov. 1, 1840, the Rev. Thomas C. Pitkin commenced his work as the rector of this church. In May, 1844, Mr. Pitkin, after a most efficient ad- ministration of nearly four years, resigned, and the Rev. James Craik, of Kanawha, Va., was elected in his stead. Mr. Craik entered upon the , charge of the parish in Aug., 1844, and has continued to hold the same position down to the present time (1873), 29 years. The original church building has been retained, although frequently enlarged to meet the growing demand for ac- commodation ; and it is now one of the handsomest and most capacious church edifices in the country.

In 1870, Rev. John N. Norton, D. D., so long the energetic rector of Ascen- sion Church, Frankfort, became the associate of Dr. Craik in Christ Church.

The popular and efficient ministry of Mr. Jackson in St. Paul's Church was terminated by his sudden death in 1844. The Rev. John B. Gallagher, a lovely specimen of ministerial fidelity, succeeded him. In Feb., 1849, he too was called from labor to rest. The Rev. W. Y. Rooker succeeded. After a stormy pastorate of about four years he was followed by the Rev. Henry M. Denison, and he by the Rev. Francis M. Whittle, the present Assistant Bishop of Virginia. Upon the election of Mr. Whittle to the episcopate in 1868, the Rev. E. T. Perkins, D. D., the present rector, was elected.

At the 21st annual convention of the Episcopal church, Diocese of Kentucky, at Frankfort, May, 1849, appeared for the first time, as a lay delegate from Christ Church, Lexington, HENRY CLAY, the greatest of American statesmen. He entered into the deliberations of the convention with the remarkable interest and animation which characterized his attendance upon the state and national councils during 40 years previous. Although in his 73d year, this was a new field for the exercise of his wonderful powers of deliberation,

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and he enjoyed it. He had but recently been baptized and admitted to the communion of the church.

The Assistant Bishop of Kentucky, the Rt. Rev. George D. Cummins, D.D., was consecrated in 1866. He is distinguished for the rhetorical beauty of his sermons.

At the diocesan convention of 1872, the bishop having nearly completed the 40th year of his episcopate, the following resolutions, among others in reference to that event, and granting him leave of absence from the state for over a year, were adopted :

" 2. We can not refrain, at such a juncture, from the expression of the grateful affection with which we look back upon this long period of self-sacrificing and disin- terested labor for Christ and his Church.

"3. In consideration of so marked a period in the life of our venerable Bishop, and in the history of the diocese, and in the hope of adding-if ever so little-to the com- fort of his declining years, a contribution be made by every parish in the diocese to a memorial fund, to be presented to the Bishop in the name of the church in Kentucky."

From the Journal of Proceedings of the 44th annual convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Kentucky, May, 1872, it ap- pears that at that date there were in Kentucky-2 bishops, 45 presbyters, -and 4 deacons ; 37 churches, or " parishes and congregations ;" 3,827 com- municants, of whom 365 were added within a year; 3,212 children and 305 teachers in 21 Sunday-schools; total contributions during the previous year, $145,302.

In 1832 there were in Kentucky 6 clergy and the same number of organ- ized parishes-Lexington, Louisville, Danville, Henderson, Paris, and Hop- kinsville ; but only two church buildings. In 1846, there were 20 clergymen, 13 of them officiating in as many parishes; 6 missionary stations, 16 church edifices, about 600 families, and 650 communicants.

Rev. Dr. Norton, in 1872-3, upon a lot purchased for the purpose, erected a chapel, school-room, and church (called the "Church of the Merciful Saviour ")-all as a free gift from himself to the colored people of the city of Louisville.

Shelby college, at Shelbyville, was organized in 1836, transferred to the Episcopal church in 1841, and continued under its control for about 30 years- during which time many young men were educated for the responsibilities of business or professional life. Rev. Wm. I. Waller, M.D., its honored pres- ident during a large portion of that time, is still living (1873).

The Theological Seminary was chartered in 1834. It has an excellent library of above three thousand volumes, and funds to the amount of $12,000. Its library is now deposited in the library room of Shelby college.

The Rev. JOHN LYTHE, of the Episcopal church, or church of England, came early to Kentucky. When Col. Henderson established his proprietary govern- ment in 1775, Mr. Lythe was a delegate from the Harrodsburgh station or settle- ment to the legislative assembly. The delegates met on the 23d of May. 1775, and the assembly being organized, "divine service was performed by the Rev. Mr. Lythe, one of the delegates from Harrodsburg." In the records of this legis- lative assembly, we note the following proceedings :

"The Rev. Mr. Lythe obtained leave to bring in a bill to prevent profane swear- ing and Sabbath breakng. After it was read the first time, it was ordered, says the journal, ' to be re-committed ; and that Mr. Lythe, Mr. Todd, and Mr. Har- rod be a committee to make amendments.'

" Mr. Todd, Mr. Lythe, Mr. Douglas, and Mr. Hite were appointed a commit- tee to draw up a contract between the proprietors and the people of the colony."

On the day succeeding the adjournment of the legislature of Transylvania, (for so this legislative council was termed.) " divine service," the same journal re- cords, " was performed by the Rev. Mr. Lythe, of the church of England." And it was under the shade of the same magnificent elm, that the voices of these rude hunters rose in accents of prayer and thanksgiving to the God of their fathers-

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that the verdant groves of the land of the savage and the buffalo, first rang with the anthems of the Christian's worship, and echoed back the message of the Re- deemer of the world. It was fit it should be so, for

" The groves were God's first temples."*

We know nothing further of the Rev. John Lythe, except what is contained in these extracts of the proceedings of the " Legislature of 'Transylvania." He was doubtless the first minister of the gospel who penetrated the wilds of Kentucky ; and, from the fact that he was elected to the legislative assembly-that he offici- ated as chaplain-and that his name appears on some important committees, he must have been a man of some note.

The Rev. JAMES MOORE was the first minister of the Episcopal church of the United States, who permanently located in Kentucky. He emigrated to the State in 1792, from Virginia, and was at that time a candidate for the ministry in the Presbyterian church. His trial sermons not being sustained by the Transyl- vania presbytery, Mr. Moore became displeased with what he considered rigor- ous treatment, and in 1794 sought refuge in the bosom of the Episcopal church. Soon afterwards he became the first rector of Christ's church in Lexington. In 1798, he was appointed acting president of Transylvania university, and pro- fessor of Logic, Metaphysics, Moral Philosophy, and Belles-Lettres. This situ- ation he held for several years, during which Transylvania enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. Mr. Moore was distinguished for sound learning, devoted piety, courteous manners, and liberal hospitality.

Rev. BENJAMIN ORR PEERS, one of the most distinguished Episcopal min- isters in Kentucky, was born at Green Hill, Loudon co., Va., April 20, 1800; and died in Louisville, Aug. 20, 1842-aged 42 years. His father, Maj. Valentine Peers, of an influential Scotch-Irish family, emigrated from the north of Ireland to Scotland, and thence to Loudon county, Virginia ; and, Sept. 11, 1777, when only 21 years old, was a brigade-major on the staff of Brig. Gen. Geo. Weedon, at the battle of Brandywine (or Chadd's Ford, Dela- ware), where his officers and soldiers were so handsomely complimented in the published orders of Gen. George Washington and of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Greene. His name appears, also, as an officer of the day, in the order issued by Gen. Washington, Sept. 28, 1777, congratulating the army on the victory of Gen. Gates over Burgoyne at Stillwater, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1777 .* He emi- grated to the Lower Blue Lick springs, Nicholas co., Ky., March, 1803, and engaged extensively in manufacturing salt ; and, some years later at Paris and Maysville, established cotton factories; was a judge of the court of quarter sessions at Paris ; a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church for many years ; and died at Maysville, June, 1830, aged 74. His son Benjamin was educated partly at the Bourbon academy; took his first arts degree at Tran- sylvania university under the early part of the presidency of the celebrated Dr. Ilorace Holley, about 1820; and before the resignation of the same presi- dent, in 1827, was chosen by the trustees a member of the faculty of the university and its professor of moral philosophy. Meantime, he was educated at Princeton theological seminary for the ministry of the Presbyterian church; but changing his views of church polity, was ordained a deacon of the Episco- pal church, by the venerable Bishop Moore, of Virginia, in 1826.

Prof. Peers felt that his special vocation in the holy ministry was as an educator of youth. Under an appointment from the governor of Kentucky, in 1829, he visited the New England and Middle States-to examine their systems of common school education. This trust he executed faithfully ; and on his return-by lecturing in various towns, and by communications in the public press-exerted a powerful influence in molding the popular will in favor of the present common school system of Kentucky. He established at Lexington a male school of a high order, the Eclectic Institute, which was very successful and popular; in 1832, he associated with him in its manage- inent, those two model educators-Henry A. Griswold (deceased at Louisville, when president of Bank of Kentucky, 1873), and Dr. Robert Peter, the eminent

# Records of the Revolutionary War, by W. T. R. Saffell, pp. 339-343.

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chemist (still living, June, 1873). But while still at its head, in 1833, he was elected [the fifth ] president of Transylvania University-which position, against the advice of many warm friends, he accepted, and held for nearly two years, resigning in 1835. During his term, the present Morrison college building was completed, and on Nov. 14, 1833, publicly dedicated. From Lexington he went immediately to Louisville, and opened a select school for boys; and when St. Paul's Church was organized, in the spring of 1835, he was elected the first rector. In 1838, he was called to New York, to che head and directorship of the educational interests of the Episcopal church in the United States, and became editor of The Journal of Christian Education, and of the Sunday-school publications of the church. His constitution, never strong, broke down under these accumulated labors. By medical ad- - vice he went to Cuba for his health, but did not improve; and returning by New Orleans and the river route, reached Louisville-and lingered a few weeks, until his death as above. He fell early, and at the post of duty.

Mr. Peers was distinguished not only for his zealous devotion to the cause of general education, but for sound learning and ardent piety. Ilis published writings were not extensive-the work on "Christian Education " appears to have been his favorite.

Rev. WILLIAM JACKSON was a native of Tutbury, England-one of five brothers of whom three became distinguished ministers of the Episcopal church in this country. William came from New York to the rectorship of Christ Church, Louisville, in July, 1837, in the fullness of his powers and of his reputation. During his rectorship a singular and remarkable event took place -- the building by the members of his congregation of a new church, St. Paul's, to which Mr. Jackson and the greater part of the congregation of Christ Church removed, Oct. 6, 1839, leaving a few old and attached members of the latter to begin again the struggle of gathering a new congregation. Mr. Jackson was a preacher of great eloquence, much of which was owing to his habit of frequent extempore preaching. After some years of service in St. Paul's, he was struck down while in the act of writing his sermon for the following Sunday : " By eternity then, by an eternity of happiness, we demand your attention to your own salvation. It is Solomon's last great argument, and it shall be ours. With this we shall take our leave of this precious por- tion of God's word." These were his last words, written or spoken-to be sounded as a voice from the dead, in the ears of successive generations of the people of Louisville .*

Right Rev. BENJAMIN BOSWORTH SMITH, D. D., first Episcopal bishopof Ken- tucky, was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, June 13, 1794; graduated at Brown University, 1816; was ordained a deacon, April 17, 1817, and priest in 1818; rector in Virginia, 1820-23; in Middlebury, Vermont, 1823-25 ; of a mission in Philadelphia, and editor of Episcopal Recorder, 1828-30; rector of Christ Church, Lexington, Ky., 1830-37, during which time, at the 4th annual con- vention, June 11, 1332, he was elected bishop, and was consecrated at St. Paul's Chapel, New York city, Oct. 31, 1332, at the same time with the late Bishops Mellvaine, of Ohio, and Meade, of Virginia-but being the first of the three upon whom the consecrating hands were laid, obtained precedence ; was superintendent of public instruction in Kentucky, at the head of the common school system, 1840-42, and lectured in 76 out of the 90 counties in the state. Since the death of Bishop Hopkins, of Vermont, 1872, he has been the senior and presiding bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States. He is still living (June, 1873), in his 80th year.

Right Rev. GEORGE D. CUMMINS, D. D., assistant bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, was born in Kent co., Delaware, Dec. 11, 1822; gradu- ated at Dickinson College, l'a., 1841; was ordained deacon, 1545, and priest, 1847; rector at Norfolk, Va., 1847 ; at Richmond, Va., 1853; at Washington city, 1855; at Baltimore, 1858; and at Chicago, 1863; chosen assistant bishop

Historical Sketches of Christ Church, Louisville, pp. 77-82.

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of Kentucky, June 1, 1866, and consecrated in Christ Church, Louisville, Nov. 15, 1866; now (1873) in his 51st year.

Rev. JAMES CRAIE, D. D., was born at Alexandria, Va., Aug. 31, 1806 ; practiced law for several years in western Virginia ; determined to change his profession, and after a thorough study of the prescribed course, was or- dained by Bishop Meade, 1839; exercised the duties of the sacred ministry in the region where he had practiced law-in Charleston, West Virginia, and a large extent of neighboring country, until Aug., 1844, when he removed to Louisville and entered upon the rectorship of Christ Church, to which he had been unanimously elected, May 27, 1844, and where he still ministers (June, 1873), in the 29th year of his pastorate.

His " Pastoral Letter to the Congregation " in Aug., 1854, reviewing the 10 years of his ministry just closed, shows that during that time the baptisms in Christ Church were 538, there had been confirmed 219, and the additions to the communion had been 271. The parochial statistics for the next 8 years, to 1862, were-Baptisms 342, confirmations 249, and 254 added to the list ot communicants .* The report of the same to the annual convention in May, 1872, shows baptisms 162 and confirmations 91, within the year previous, and a total membership of 554, of whom 106 were added within a year. A wonderful record of faithful labor and its blessing!

Dr. Craik has been president of the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies at each of the sessions of the General Convention from 1862 to 1871, inclusive; and has spared time to make the following valuable contributions to church literature : " The Divine Life and the New Birth," "The Incarnation, a Sup- plement to 'The Divine Life and the New Birth,'" " Old and New," and "Sketches of the History of Christ Church, Louisville."

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Collins historical sketches of Kentucky. History of Kentucky: Vol. I, Part 85

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn Publication date: 1874 Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Collins, Lewis, 1797-1870. cn; Collins, Richard H., 1824-1889. cn
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Covington, Ky., Collins & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452