USA > Kentucky > Fayette County > Lexington > Historical sketch of Christ Church cathedral : Lexington, Ky. > Part 2
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Mr. Ward married the daughter of Mr. John D. Clifford
In October of the year 1819, he removed to St. Louis, where he held the first Episcopal services west of the Mississippi River. Immediately Christ Church, St. Louis, was organized under him, and for a year and a half he remained with the Church, accomplishing there the same good work in organ- izing the parish that he had done in Lexington .. After his short stay he returned to Lexington on a visit and decided to remain here.
Mr. Ward organized, possibly in 1821 or 1822, a very successful school in this city. He had advanced views on the subject of education and became a teacher of wide celebrity. He believed in co-educa- tion, and therefore boys and girls were both admit- ted to his academy. It was situated on the South- east corner of Market and Second Streets. He employed two or three other teachers; and his pupils at times numbered as many as one hundred
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Historical Sketch.
and twenty. Among them were many who after- wards attained high positions in life; but, even while at school, it was said that "John Ward's gils" were famous Mrs. Abraham Lincoln was at one time a pupil in the school. A peculiar require- ment of the school was the early hours demanded of the pupils, one of them, who still survives, saying that she frequently was at school, to recite her his- tory, by 5 o'clock in the morning. An amusing little anecdote is told of one girl who, on her way to school in the early dawn, met a watchman, who, suspecting from her early rising an elopement, was not satisfied with her statement that she was going to school, and insisted upon accompanying her. Quite an excitement was created when she walked into school attended by the watchman car- rying his big club.
The academy was successfully conducted for many years, and even when, some time later, it was given up, Mr. Ward could not be satisfied to aban- don his teaching altogether. So he and his excellent wife continued to take a limited number of girls into their own house to board and to receive in- struction He was asked more than once to become president of Transylvania University, but always refused On the occasion of General Lafayette's visit to Lexington in May, 1825, Mr. Ward delivered an impressive and eloquent address of welcome at a banquet given, in the banqueting hall of the Masonic Lodge, in honor of the distinguished guest. During the cholera of 1833, Mr. and Mrs
Rev. J. S. SHIPMAN, D. D.,
Rev. THOS. ALLEN TIDBALL, D. D.
Rev. S. S. TOTTEN, D. D., Rector of Christ Church Seminary. Rev. E. H. WARD, D. D.
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Ward, together with Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Gratz, took the first steps towards the establishment of the present Orphan Asylumn. They rented a room, into which were gathered the many little ones who were left homeless by the terrible plague, and paid an old negro woman to take charge of them till better arrangements were made. From this humble beginning there grew the present admirable insti- tution in this city.
Mr. Ward served as assistant minister in Christ Church under Bishop Smith, and afterwards fre- quently officiated in the church. He served, too, as senior warden of the vestry for some years He died in this city in June, 1860, at the advanced age of eighty-two.
He was indeed a man of extrao dinary and most lovable character. He was amiable, but firm, hav- ing in his school remarkable discipline. He was benevolent and was most devoted to children.
On Mrs. Ward's death, shortly before that of her husband, she left to the Church thirty-five hundred dollars in bank stock, to be used in buying a rectory. Her husband was to have the use of the money during his life. At his own suggestion, the vestry released their claim on the bank stock, and Mr. Ward transferred to them, for their immediate use, the house on West Second Street, in which he was then living. This property was worth considerably The more than Mrs. Ward's legacy to them, and this transaction gave them the use of it at once. The same house has been used ever since as the Rectory,
Orphan Asylum.
Rectory.
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and in the suminer of 1897 was handsomely remod- elled. Mr Ward, at his death, bequeathed to the- Church nearly four thousand dollars. One of the memorial windows in the chancel was plac d there. in memory of this much loved man by his pupils.
Rev.
The Rev. Lemuel Birge officiated for Mr. Ward from September, 1819, to December of the same year, when the latter resigned as rector and the Lemuel vestry engaged Mr. Birge to take charge of the Birge. Church. Mr. Birge was a nephew of Mr. Ward, and had just been ordained deacon the preceding June by Bishop Chase, of Ohio. His connection with the Church lasted only a few months, for he died March 29, 1820
For a while the vestry made fruitless efforts to obtain a minister. In June, the Rev. George T. Chapman, from Massachusetts, a graduate of Dart- mouth College, was invited to visit Lexington and preach to the congregation for a few weeks. After- the second week of his stay a meeting of the pew- holders of the Church was held, and it was resolved unanimously to ask him to remain as the perma- nent pastor of Christ Church. He accepted in a beautiful letter, expressing his great liking for the place and the people, and his gratification at the unanimity with which he had been called. For several years, until 1827, in addition to his church duties, he was Professor of History and Antiquities® in Transylvania University. He was a man of great intelligence and learning, and he published a book in 1828 called "Sermons upon the Ministry,.
Rev. G. T. Chap- man.
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Worship and Doctrines of the Protestant Episcopal Church," which was dedicated to the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, D. D., Bishop of New York. It was at that time the means of bringing many into the Church, and is still recommended to those wishing for information about the history and doctrines of our Church, as one of the best arguments on the subject. He also published a volume of "Sermons to Presbyterians of All Sects," which was very much read, and passed through several editions.
Early in Dr. Chapman's ministry a larger and more church-like edifice was erected on the same Third site which had been occupied by the two previous buildings. This was the building Mr. Morton and Mr. Clifford tried to have erected in 1814, but the ex- ecution of their plan had been long delayed. It was of brick, stuccoed to imitate stone. On the chancel wall were two marble tablets, on which were written the Ten Commandments; and a few slabs and tablets were, in the course of time, placed in the aisles and on the walls in memory of de- parted ones buried in and around the church. It was always thought that this building was badly constructed, that the front wall had sprung and the cupola was insecure. Some historians even at- tribute the slow growth of the congregation to this cause. But no accident ever happened, and in 1832, when a committee from the vestry and several ex- pert mechanics examined the roof and walls, they were pronounced safe and plumb, and subscriptions to the amount of between eight and nine hundred
Church Building.
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Historical Sketch.
dollars, which had been raised to remedy the trouble, were cancelled.
The church building had not been consecrated, for lack of a bishop to officiate, and for many years was offered to the Transylvania University for its annual commencement exercises. On such an oc- Transyl- casion a platform was erected over the chancel, on vania which the youthful orators and their proud in- Com- structors sat, and the body of the church was mence- crowded with interested spectators, for it was one ments. of the great events of the year At one commence- ment a stove-pipe fell and the cry arose that the building was falling. Quite a panic ensued, many people crowding for the door and jumping from the windows before it was discovered that there was really no danger.
In 1821 the vestry was asked to grant the use of the building for a Fourth of July celebration. Sev- eral members were opposed to doing so " on account of the military parade attending such entertain- ments," but it was finally decided to accede to the request, on condition that this action did not estab- lish a precedent.
In those days pews of "delinquents" were put up and sold at public auction, and the sexton was re- quired, not only to own a pew and pay a tax onit, but "to attend in person during divine service to prevent noise and confusion in the Church." They seemed to have some trouble with the sexton about the time that resolution was passed, for, at the next meeting of the vestry, his resignation was
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Historical Sketch.
tendered and accepted. But after a short trial of a new man, the old one was persuaded to resume his duties. Soon, however, the vestry resolved "that the floors be washed four times and the windows once a year, in addition to the usual sweeping and dusting," and the sexton resigned again.
It was in Dr Chapman's time, and largely due to his noble efforts, that the important work of or- ganizing the Diocese of Kentucky was accomplished. We find the first movement towards such an end in an old record of the vestry. where it was re- solved "that the pastor be requested to visit Dan- ville, Louisville and Cincinnati on business of the Church, and that an extra allowance for his ex- penses be made "
On June 19, 1829, the wardens and vestrymen of Christ Church met with Dr. Chapman at his home and received a verbalaccount of his visits. Hehad Organi- organized Trinity Parish at Danville and had gotten zation of it and the Church at Louisville to promise to send the Dio- delegates to a primary convention to be held at cese. Lexington, July 8, for the purpose of effecting an organization of the Diocese. The delegates to rep- resent Christ Church at that first convention were then appointed : John W. Hunt, J. E. Cooke, Will- iam Morton, Thomas Smith, A. Dumesnil, R. Ash- ton, Josiah Dunham and Charlton Hunt. And it was resolved that Rev. Mr. Chapman be asked to perform service and preach a sermon on that oc- casion, the exercises to begin at 8 a. m.
At the primary convention held in Christ Church,
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Historical Sketch.
Lexington, there were present two priests, one dea- con and sixteen lay delegates. Dr. Chapman, the sole rector in the Diocese, was chosen to act as President, and Rev. Benjamin O. Peers as Secretary. The other priest present was Rev. Samuel Johnston, Rector of St. Paul's, Cincinnati. In those days of no bishop and few priests, the Church owed its existence and its continuance to the efforts of such devoted laymen as were present on this occasion, viz., Dr. John Esten Cooke, Richard Barnes, the moving spirit of Christ Church, Louisville; John Bustard, Dr. Ephraim McDowell, H. J. Cowan and Frederick Yeiser, of Danville. Proceeding to busi- ness, the convention adopted a constitution and appointed delegates to the General Convention. It was resolved to employ lay-readers for the parishes that had no minister, and also "to recommend daily family worship in all families of the Church in the Diocese."
Dr. Chapman had learned that Bishop John Stark Bishop Ravens- croft. Ravenscroft, of North Carolina, that "Coeur de Lion" of the Church, was in Nashville. So he sent him an invitation to visit the new Diocese. This the good Bishop accepted, being in Lexington, Sun- day, July 25, 1829; and on that day and the Tues- First Con- day following he confirmed in Christ Church ninety- firmation. one persons.
To us that occasion seems in the dim past and only to be remembered as a matter of history ; but there is living a dear little lady, to whose mind the events of those far-off times seem as clear and fresh
CHANCEL OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL.
·
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Historical Sketch.
as those of yesterday to us. Mrs. Mary H. Pinck- ard, the oldest living communicant of Christ Church Cathedral, was a member of that first confirmation class. She can remember the church as it was then and how Dr. Chapman looked as, having removed his white surplice, he ascended the pulpit and preached in his black gown and black silk gloves. And she recalls how Mr. Palmer, the clerk, who kept a book-store and whose wife was a Roman Catholic, had a desk in the gallery, opposite the pulpit, from which elevated post he surveyed the members of the congregation and did their duty for them, calling out over their heads the responses, as the minister read the service. The organist then was Miss Abby Hammond, who taught music in Col. Dunham's school and afterwards married Mr. David A Sayre The two were loved and respected by everybody because of their great. benevolence and invariable kindness to people of all classes, and were called familiarly and affectionately by nearly all their younger acquaintances, "Uncle Davy and Aunt Abby."
In the Church at that time there were no hymnals, the singing consisting mostly of the chanting of the psalms; and it was considered quite an inno- vation when a few hymns were introduced in the back of the prayer book.
Bishop Ravenscroft, on his visit to Lexington, won many warm friends and admirers; and when news of his death, on March 30, 1830, reached here, the vestry of Christ Church passed resolutions of
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Historical Sketch.
respect and sorrow, and agreed to adopt "the usual badge of mourning" for thirty days.
Dr. J. E. Cooke.
After the organization of the Diocese in 1829, Dr. John Esten Cooke was the first and only delegate from Kentucky to attend the General Convention held at Philadelphia. This man's entrance into the Episcopal Church was considered one of the great events of Dr Chapman's ministry. He was a "' medical philosopher" from Virginia, and occupied the chair of Theory and Practice of Medicine in Transylvania University. Being aroused by Dr. Chapman's sermons on the Church to consider the question, which church of all the denominations most nearly carried out the idea of Christ and the Apostles, he made a most exhaustive study of the matter. He ransacked libraries and read every- thing recommended to him for light on the subject, and would attend no church until he settled the question with himself. At last he became convinced of "the apostolicity and catholicity of the Episco- pal Church." and wrote a powerful and learned argument on the subject, which was celebrated in England as well as in this country. And he lived up to his convictions, becoming a most devoted and zealous worker in the Church.
Near the close of the year 1-29, Bishop Brownell, of Connecticut, came to Kentucky by request of the General Convention. In his private note book, en- titled "Itinerary," he says: "Lexington is the Athens of the West. The country around within a radius of twenty miles, the finest in the world. The
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Historical Sketch.
society highly intelligent, yet plain and simple in their manners. Dr. Chapman's congregation em- braces the most valuable part of it. Remember Robert Wickliffe, Dr. Cooke, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Morton, Mr. Harper, Mr Smith, Mr. Smeads, Mr. Warner, etc. Kentucky is a noble state; fertile soil; fine race of men."
Bishop
Brownell.
He consecrated Christ Church, Louisville; and we have the authority of Dr. L. P. Tschiffely, in an ar- ticle in the "Church Cyclopædia," for saying that he also, on that visit, consecrated Christ Church, Lex- ington. The Bishop confirmed three persons here, and it is said he stirred up everywhere great inter- est in the Church "by the dignity and suavity of his manners and the elevation of his piety."
In 1831 Bishop Meade, of Virginia, the Assistant of Bishop Moore, made a more extended tour of Kentucky, baptizing and confirming, and conse- crating Trinity Church, Danville.
Dr. Chapman continued as Rector of Christ Church exactly ten years. resigning in July, 1830. He was a man who possessed unusual talents and attrac- tions. He was much loved and respected through- out the community, and he and his congregation parted with mutual sorrow and regret. Removing to the East, he lived to the good old age of eighty- four, dying at Newbury, Massachusetts, October 18, 1872.
The Rev. Mr Peers and the Rev. John Ward, who was still living here, were asked by the vestry to hold service in the church until a new minister ·could be secured.
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Historical Sketch.
Rev. B. B. Smith.
At a meeting of the pew-holders held August 5, 1830, it was unanimously resolved to invite Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, then in Philadelphia, to take charge of the Church. At first he declined, but they wrote again, explaining the trials and pe- culiar situation of the Church in this region, and urging him to reconsider their offer. If he found it impossible to come, they asked him to recommend some suitable person for the place. So Mr. Smith made up his mind to accept, and moved with his family almost immediately to Kentucky. He was a native of Bristol, Rhode Island, born in June,. 1794. He graduated from Brown University in 1816, and was ordained priest in 1818.
The second convention in the Diocese was held in First Danville, May, 1830. At the third, held in Louisville, Bishop of June 10, 1831, the new Rector of Christ Church,. Kentucky Lexington, was chosen Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky ; but, because of some informality in the proceedings, he declined the honor. The next year, at Hopkinsville, however, Mr. Smith was again elected Bishop unanimously, and he accepted.
When Mr. Smith came to Kentucky, not a parish had a set of communion vessels, and but one. the Church in Lexington, had either a bell or an organ; and "for more than twenty years the offerings of the Diocese did not exceed the Bishop's traveling expenses to and from the General Convention."
Mr. Smith was consecrated Bishop in St. Paul's. Church, New York City, October 31, 1832. He re- tained his position as Rector of Christ Church, in! addition to his duties as Bishop, until 1838 .;
Rt. Rev. LEWIS W. BURTON, D. D., Bishop of Lexington.
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Because of the dreadful cholera epidemic of 1833, no convention was held until the October follow- ing, when a "Day of Humiliation" was observed by the delegates. In this scourge fully one-fourth of the entire number of communicants in the Dio- cese died ; and the same year many more emigrated to Illinois and Missouri. It is said that Bishop Smith and the Roman Catholic priest were the only servants of God in Lexington who always reported for service during those dreary days. The Bishop had even greater sorrow to bear than that caused by deaths in his congregation : his own family was one of the first attacked by the cholera, and his wife died of it. But the "beloved Bishop" was spared, and remained here faithful to his flock, burying the dead and comforting the desolate ones who were left.
In 1831, before he was made Bishop, the new Rector of Christ Church made arrangements to re- ceive a few theological students. First a single room was rented for their use, then a small house near the church.
In February, 1834, the Episcopal Theological Sem- inary was incorporated, and the existence of what promised to become a flourishing institution was begun. The beautiful house on Second Street, now owned by Mr. Joseph Clark, was purchased, with two acres of ground. The place was bought from Rev. Benjamin O. Peers, who had been conducting a remarkably successful academy or institute there, which he gave up to accept the presidency of Tran-
Episcopal Theolog- ical Sem- inary.
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sylvania University Donations for the support of the Seminary had been solic ted in Philadelphia and New York by Dr. Cooke and the Bishop. A library of thirty-five hundred volumes was obtained, mostly through the generosity of Dr. Peers, who remitted one thousand dollars of the price paid him for the house, to be devoted to that purpose. Dr. Thomas W. Coit, an Episcopal minister, and Dr Cooke served gratuitously as professors in the Seminary. Dr. Henry Caswall, an Englishman, and the first ordained graduate of Kenyon College, was the Pro- fessor of Sacred Literature, and his salary for three years was contributed by the parishioners of the Church of the Ascension, New York City. This Dr. Caswall was, for a while, the Assistant Minister of Christ Church, Lexington. He tells us that, during the Bishop's eleven months' absence in the East, besides his duties as professor and the daily morn- ing and evening prayer in the Seminary, he read service and preached twice on Sunday, conducted the Sunday-school and lectured every Wednesday evening. He adds, "In reviewing these numerous duties, I am disposed to wonder that I did not en- tirely sink under them, in a climate where the thermometer in summer rises to 100° in the shade, and in the winter, although in latitude 38°, sinks to 40° or 50° below freezing." That migration toward Lexington may not be interrupted, and especially that good Churchmen may not be discouraged from settling in our Parish, we venture to remark that the climate has certainly changed since Mr. Cas-
Rev. Henry Caswall.
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wall's day, or that the extremes he mentions are of rare occurrence His salary was very small, but he said his labor was its own reward; for the number of students increased, and there were some bright, interesting young men among them. He found most of his pupils sadly behind in the languages. He taught them Latin and Greek, so that they could read their testaments and follow the service in Chapel in these languages. After this they went five or six times through an excellent Hebrew gram- mar and were able to read the Hebrew Bible. They studied a Chaldee grammar, too, and "one young man of fine talents afterwards commenced the Syriac grammar and read many chapters in the Syriac New Testament. It was also his intention to study Arabic, but unhappily he was induced to abandon theology, and thus his promising abilities were entirely lost to the Church "
Mr. Caswall went from here to Indiana, and in 1839 returned to England. After ten years there, he came back to this country and died in Pennsylvania. His book, "America and the American Church," is entertainingly written and attained a wide popu- larity.
Dr. John Esten Cooke was a warden in Christ The Church and a professor, without pay, in the Semi- Church nary . In 1835 he began, at his own risk, the Advocate publication of a Diocesan paper called "The Church Advocate." It was issued once a fortnight and was quite a success for a few years, being continued by Dr. Caswall after Dr. Cookegave it up. The follow-
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ing is the beginning of a quaint little poem, copies of which were "distributed by the little boy who carried the paper to subscribers living in the town:"
"Christmas Address of the Carrier of the Church Advocate to its Patrons."
"Old Thirty-five is nearly gone, Good Churchmen all, in Lexington ! Soon Thirty six will be our date, Good patrons of the Advocate! We pray you, lend a little time, To listen to our humble rhyme, And get a little information, Without much trouble or vexation.
" 'What is the Church?' all men inquire: Some say, 'A building with a spire, Where gentlemen and ladies go To lounge away an hour or so.' Some say, 'The Church, the Kingdom come, Is every sect in Christendom, Quakers and Shakers and Socinians, As many Churches as opinions ' Some say (to whom great praise is given)
' 'Tis all goods folks in earth and heaven, But who they are we cannot tell, The Church is quite invisible.' If such be then their doubtful state, What says the 'little Advocate?'
"The Church is all that mighty host, In every land, in every coast, Baptized and taught (through heavenly love) By those commissioned from above To spread the tidings of salvation, In every age and every nation.' "
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For the few years succeeding 1832, the prospects for the Episcopal Church here were very bright. A Theological Seminary had been established with an able faculty and a valuable library ; a Church paper had been started and was well conducted; and a circle of truly brilliant churchmen had gathered here :- the Bishop of the Diocese, Rev. Mr. Peers, Dr. Thomas W. Coit, President of Transylvania. after Mr. Peers; Rev. Dr. Caswall, Dr. John Esten Cooke, Rev. William Leacock and Hamble J. Lea- cock. afterwards celebrated as the brave missionary to Africa and called the "Martyr of the Pongas;" and, besides these, many more well known and highly intelligent members of the Church. But, in- stead of the great growth and progress we should have expected as the result of the work of such a company, we find, in 1837, trouble and division in the parish over matters of small importance, and a part of the congregation withdrawing, adopting the name St. Paul's, and worshiping in Morrison College. One authority says, "The effort made at that time for the extension of the Church in Ken- tucky involved too much centralization. The large ecclesiastical force concentrated in Lexington was utterly disproportioned to the condition and strength of the Diocese. It was an enormous. head without a body."
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