USA > Kentucky > Franklin County > The history of Franklin County, Ky. > Part 21
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The next church of this denomination was organized near Bridgeport in 1805 and was known as the Lower Benson or Franklin Church. The Rev. Samuel Shannon was one of the chief organizers, and in a short time after the house was built he moved into the neighborhood and divided his time between the two churches. This church came under the supervision of the Frankfort church in 1834. The preacher in charge at Frankfort preached there in the afternoon of each Sunday. This arrangement continued until the close of Rev. John R. Hendricks' ministry, since which time the church has accom- plished but little.
The people in Frankfort were slow about organizing churches and erecting church buildings.
In 1808 there was an act passed by the Kentucky Legisla- ture granting a lottery franchise, with the object of raising $4,000 for the purpose of building a church; which was built in 1812. The building was used harmoniously for a few years and no efforts were made to organize a church, but as soon as the Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists commenced quarreling about who should have the right to use the build- ing each of them commenced a church organization. As the outcome of this religious controversy the Presbyterians were the first to withdraw from the contest and they commenced hold- ing their church meetings at the Love House, at that time the chief hotel in Frankfort. And in a short time (1815) the first church organization was effected, but there was no regular pastor called until 1817, when Rev. Eli Smith began a service which continued for about ten years. After he resigned the church was without a pastor for some time; the Ruling Elder also resigned and the church organization came very near be- ing destroyed. John J. Crittenden, John H. Hanna. Mason Brown and other public spirited men, who were not members
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of that denomination took the matter in hand and prevented the dissolution.
Some time after that Rev. John T. Edgar was prevailed on to accept the charge and in a short time thereafter there were sixty persons added to the church membership. His pastorate ceased in 1833 and in 1834 Rev. Daniel Baker was in charge for two years and the church continued to prosper under his ministry.
In 1837 Rev. Joseph J. Bullock became the pastor and he remained until 1846.
In 1847 Rev. Stewart Robinson commenced service and he resigned in 1853. From that time until 1854 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. John R. Hendrick. In 1855 Rev. J. P. Saf- ford accepted the charge for two years. He was succeeded in 1858 by Rev. B. F. Lacy, who continued in charge until 1861, when he accepted the position of chaplain in the Confederate Army, and the church thereupon dissolved the relationship existing between him and the church. In 1862 Rev. John S. Hays accepted the position which he held until 1867.
In 1867 Dr. J. McClusky Blayney commenced a service which lasted two years and Rev. J. H. Nesbitt succeeded him in 1870 and remained for six years.
In 1877 Rev. J. W. Pugh accepted the call and remained until 1882. After he resigned the church was without a pastor for two years. Dr. Blayney returned in 1884; his pastorate was a long and useful one. He was broad minded and liberal in his views and he did a great deal for the betterment of the city and citizens of Frankfort. He was one of the leaders in secur- ing the capital appropriation of a million dollars in 1904. Dr. Blayney resigned in 1906 and Dr. Jesse R. Zeigler accepted the charge in 1907. ITe, too, is a broad minded and philanthropic christian gentleman who is calculated to do much good in the work which he has undertaken.
In 1823 a lot was purchased on Wapping street, fronting 100 feet and extending back 200 feet. On this lot the first church was built in 1829. In 1849 this property was sold to the Catholic Church and other property bought, located on
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Main street. A handsome building was erected. It is one of the largest auditoriums in the city.
The earliest Catholic Church station in Frankfort was the house of Mrs. Ellen Barstow. This building stood opposite the Capitol. It is not known who said the first mass, but it is supposed, however, that it was Father Badin.
In 1826 Rev. Francis P. Kenrick preached occasionally in Frankfort. Rev. George A. M. Elder, who was located in Scott County, also preached occasionally. A dwelling house near the entrance of the tunnel was the first property purchased by the Catholics. This dwelling house, known as "the tunnel house" was fitted up for a church. This was afterwards sold for two thousand dollars and the sum expended in the pur- chase of a church building, which was erected some years be- fore by the Presbyterians and used by them for their Sun- day service. This property is located on Wapping street, near the Custom House and is still in use by the Catholics. The purchase was made by Rev. James Madison Lancaster, who was the first resident pastor of the church. Prior to this time the Catholics at Frankfort had been served by the pastors stationed at the church, St. Pius, in Scott County. This property was purchased in 1849 and in 1850 Father Lan- caster commenced the erection of the new church. The old church was very much smaller than the new, and it was left standing, and was used by the congregation while the new one was being built. The new one was built around and over the old one. When the new church was nearly completed the old one was razed. This church is still standing and it is known as the "Church of the Good Shepherd." Since it was first built it has been enlarged and improved and it is now consid- ered the handsomest church edifice in the diocese.
Rev. James M. Lancaster was born in Kentucky in 1810. He was also educated in Kentucky, but he was ordained to the priesthood in Rome in 1836. In 1848 he was appointed by Bishop Spalding, pastor at Frankfort. He was an earnest, honest worker at the Frankfort station. For seventeen years he did much good and many were added to the church during his ministry. In 1867 he was called to Covington and in 1868
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he was transferred to that point. Father Lancaster was a man of more than ordinary talents. He had excellent conversa- tional powers and was greatly loved by his people. He was succeeded by Rev. Lambert Young who remained at the Frank- fort station until 1897, when he resigned and returned to his home in Ireland. Very few pastors of any church were ever regarded so highly by all the people of Frankfort as was Father Lambert Young. His refusal to testify in the United States District Court at Louisville, concerning information which he had obtained by reason of the fact that he was a christian minister, and on account of which he was sent to jail for several months for contempt of court, only increased the love and admiration of his people for him. The card which he issued at the time of his release from jail explaining why he had taken the course he did was almost universally com- mended, not only by the members of the Catholic Church but also by all other well informed people throughout the country.
The next minister in charge of the Frankfort station was Rev. James L. Gorey, who died in a short time, and was suc- ceeded by his brother, Rev. William E. Gorey, and in a few months he was succeeded by Rev. Edward Donley, who only served the Frankfort station a short time when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. William Cassander, who did not like Frank- fort, and in a few months he abandoned the position without leave of the Bishop. He was willing to accept such punish- ment as might be inflicted on him rather than to return to a position he did not like. In 1902 Rev. Thomas Major was sent to the Frankfort station where he remained until his death in 1911. Father Major was converted to the Catholic faith during the Civil War. He was a Confederate soldier. Ile was captured and sent to a jail in Chicago where he fell sick and was ministered to by some nuns. These sisters of charity converted him to their religion. He was not as well educated as the priests in the Catholic church ordinarily are but he was well thought of by both Catholics and protestants. Some of his warmest friends in Frankfort were not members of his church. The Rev. J. A. Flynn succeeded to the Frank- fort station in 1911. HIe seems to be well equipped for the
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position. He is regarded as an intelligent, well educated christian gentleman, less friendly, perhaps, than his predeces- sors, but fully awake to the needs of the church. There are about two hundred families, which average about four mem- bers to the family, under the watch-care of the Frankfort pas- tor.
The Episcopal Church in Frankfort was organized about 1835. Bishop B. B. Smith, then Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky, commenced work creating interest in a church building at Frankfort. Some one in New York sent him a thousand dollars to be used for that purpose. In the follow- ing year a lot on Washington street was purchased for $200; at that time it was a crab orchard with a lawyer's office near the center of the lot. B. B. Sayre had formerly taught school in the building and it was used for a church building for some time after Bishop Smith purchased it. The parish was or- ganized with eight communicants. The Rev. Mr. Purviance was in charge until 1841, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. F. Dobbs. In 1842 the corner stone of the church was laid. The building was thirty by sixty feet and it was patterned after the "Grecian Church of the Ascension," in Canal street, New York City. In the fall of 1842 the church was consecrated and the Rev. Mr. Presby was installed as rector. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Moses H. Hunter, and in 1846 the Rev. John N. Norton became rector. During the 23 years of his rector- ate the parish enjoyed the most prosperous years of its exist- ance. In 1850 the church was enlarged. On the 8th day of August the corner stone of the present building was laid. On the 12th day of August, 1852, the new church was consecrated by the Bishop, who was assisted by Rev. James Craik, of Louis- ville; Rev. Dr. Claxton, of Madison, Indiana; Rev. Thos. I. Trader, of Danville; Dr. Norton and Rev. Mr. Venable, of Frankfort, in the presence of a large congregation. The church and furnishings cost twenty thousand dollars, all of which was presented by Mr. John H. Hanna, a lawyer who was located at Frankfort. Mr. Hanna and his wife also endowed the parish school.
In 1864 the Ladies' Guild of Ascension Church was or-
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ganized for the purpose of building a rectory. They pur- chased a lot for a thousand dollars and built the rectory and furnished it. In 1867 the church was enlarged by building a transept and a new chancel, and the Diocese purchased a house and lot adjoining the church, on the opposite side from the rectory, as a home for the Bishop. In 1870 Dr. Norton re- signed. He was a thoroughly educated man who did a great deal of good while in Frankfort. He not only looked after his church work but he also wrote several books and almost an endless amount of tracts which he distributed throughout the county. Rev. Lucien Lance was the succeeding rector. He remained two years and was succeeded by Rev. Henry T. Sharp. He remained six years, when he resigned, and for ten months there was no rector but services were held by Wm. H. Hampton, who was afterwards ordained.
In April, 1880, Rev. E. A. Penick was installed and he re- mained for thirteen years. The Rev. R. L. McCready suc- ceeded him. Rev. A. B. Chinn succeeded Rev. McCready in 1904, and Bishop C. C. Penick became rector November 9, 1908, and resigned November 9, 1912.
Under the administration of Rev. R. L. McCready the old mission of "St. John's in the Wilderness" was revived and the Bishop's residence purchased from the diocese and converted into a parish house, which was made a home for the parish school and orphanage. On Nov. 1st. 1906, the church was badly damaged by fire, but it has since been refitted, and as a memorial there were erected a handsome pulpit and altar, with its furnishings. A legacy of $5,000 was left to the church by John and Lewis Harvie. Miss Fannie Williams also left some money with which to build an orphanage. There are at present (December, 1912) about three hundred members of the church in good standing.
The Disciples' or Christian Church of Frankfort was or- ganized December 2, 1832, by Elder P. S. Fall, assisted by Elder John T. Johnson. The charter members were P. S. Fall, Nancy Fall, Ambrose W. Dudley, Eliza G. Dudley, Eliza- beth Bacon, Elias B. Myers and O. L. Leonard.
Rev. Mr. Fall came to Frankfort from Nashville, Tenn.,
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where he had been preaching for five years, and established a young ladies' seminary at Poplar Hill, three miles northeast of Frankfort. Prior to that time only a few preachers of that denomination had preached in Frankfort. John Smith, who was known in that day as "Raccoon John Smith," had preached at Frankfort some years before that. He was a very rough and uneducated man but he had a great deal of natural ability and shrewdness, and he was a good debater. His reputation had preceded him and all the churches were closed against him, but he secured the court house, which was packed with legislators, lawyers and other professional and business men. His text was, "And when John came to Frankfort his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city wholly given up to sectarianism." The church was organized in the court house and for some time their meetings were held there; after- wards John L. Moore's residence was used as a meeting place. Their first church was built in 1842 on the present site at a cost of $4,531.31. It was burned November 2, 1870, after which there was no preacher or church building for two years.
In 1872 the church was re-built at a cost of $26,000. Mrs. Emily Tubman, who had been raised in Frankfort, fur- nished the necessary means with which to build and furnish it. It was dedicated August 11, the Rev. Isaac Everett preached the dedicatory sermon. From the organization of the church to 1857, a period of twenty-five years, Mr. P. S. Fall was the only regular preacher. Several other preachers occupied the pulpit for one or two Sundays in the month dur- ing a part of this time. Among these were Enos Campbell in 1845, L. L. Pinkerton in 1846, Samuel Pinkerton, 1848, Car- roll Kendrick, 1850, and John G. Thompkins in 1851, but Mr. Fall did most of the preaching and he did it without any com- pensation. He returned to Nashville in 1857. At that time the membership of the church numbered 221, of this number 83 of them were received by baptism.
Rev. W. T. Moore succeeded Mr. Fall as pastor. He commenced his service on October 1, 1858, and continued for about five years. During his ministry ninety-six members
1
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THIE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
were received into the church, forty-four of whom were by baptism.
Rev. W. S. Crutcher became pastor in 1865 and remained for only one year, but during the year there were twenty-five additions to the church membership.
Rev. T. N. Arnold was the pastor in charge for about eighteen months, when he was succeeded by Rev. Aylett Rains for a period of one year. During his service there were thirty additions to the church.
Rev. J. L. T. Holland then preached for about seven months; his service ended June 30, 1869.
Rev. T. N. Arnold returned in 1870, and he was in charge when the church was burned. Perhaps the stormiest period of the church was during the ministration of Mr. Arnokl. The question of whether or not the organ or other musical in- strument should be used in the church was the one on which the congregation divided. Mr. Arnold took the position that no music, except that of the human voice. should be used in the worship of God. Many of his congregation differed with him and for some time a split in the church seemed impend- ing. On January 5, 1873, Rev. B. B. Tyler became the pastor and remained for three years. During his time. there were one hundred and one additions. Rev. L. N. Early succeeded him, but he remained for only a few months.
Rev. George Darsie was called to this station in 1872 and remained until his death, June 4, 1904. He went to Boston dur- ing this time but he was not satisfied there and he came back as soon as he could make his arrangements to do so.
Rev. C. R. Hudson became the pastor in 1905 and resigned in 1911, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Roger T. Nooe, the present pastor.
From the organization of the church to 1882 there were received into the church 640, and there was lost by death, re- moval, etc., 390. At the present time (1912) there are about nine hundred members.
Rev. George Darsie was greatly loved, not only by the members of his own church, but also by the people of Frank- fort generally. At the time of his death it was thought that
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no one could acceptably supply the vacancy, but the ability and christian spirit of his successor endeared him to his people to such an extent that they felt they had sustained an irreparable loss when he resigned. The present incumbent seems en- dowed with the same christian graces of his predecessors and in a short time will doubtless be regarded as highly as were those who preceded him.
Protracted meetings have been held in this church by several noted preachers, among whom can be named, John Smith, Curtis J. Smith, Barton W. Stone, John T. Johnson, John Rogers, D. S. Barnett, Jacob Creath, Sr., William Mor- ton and Alexander Campbell. . The Rev. Alexander Camp- bell was at Frankfort on three different occasions, to-wit: 1835, 1836 and 1842. When he first came to Frankfort all of the churches were closed against him except the Methodist, who offered him the use of the church build- ing, which he accepted. The doctrines preached by him were bitterly opposed by the other denominations and his fol- lowers were called in derision, Reformers or Campbellites. The Baptists were especially bitter against him, as well they might be, for he split nearly every Baptist Church in the county. The prejudice engendered against him did him a great injustice. His book, titled "Alexander Campbell's Christian Preacher's Companion," or "The Gospel Facts Sustained," stamps him a great man. Succeeding generations will and should rank him with Martin Luther, John Wesley and other great reformers. Ile was Irish by birth and was educated for the Presbyterian ministry. He withdrew from the Presby- terian Church and joined the Baptist. In 1823, during a de- bate in Mason County, Kentucky, he avowed the doctrine of "Baptism for the remission of sins." This doctrine separated him from the Baptist Church. The Baptist Churches in every section of the State became disrupted, in some instances whole congregations followed him and for a while the very existence of the Baptist Churches in the State seemed imperiled, and the other churches throughout Kentucky were, more or less, affected by the spirit of "heresy" so termed by the other denomina- tions.
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When the Methodist Episcopal Church, in America, was organized in 1784, the Episcopal Church had been in exist- ence, in this country, one hundred and seventy-seven years. The Baptist Church for one hundred and forty-five years and the Presbyterian Church seventy-nine years.
At a conference held in the city of Baltimore in 1786, Bishop Asbury sent James Haw and Benjamin Ogden to the Ken- tucky Circuit; they reached the territory of Kentucky in the latter part of the summer of 1786. In 1787 the work in the west was divided into two circuits, one of which was known as Kentucky and the other was called the Cumberland. In that year James Haw was returned to the Kentucky Circuit, and Thomas Williams and Wilson Lee were appointed his col- leagues. 1 report of the conference of 1787 showed a mem- bership of ninety in Kentucky. In 1788 the conference was again held at Baltimore. Thomas Williamson, Peter Massie and Benjamin Snelling were sent to the Lexington Circuit, with Francis Poythress as the Presiding Elder. At that time there were no stationed Methodist preachers in the western country. The Lexington Circuit embraced the section of the country afterwards known as the counties of Fayette, Jessa- mine, Woodford, Franklin, Scott and Harrison. The first conference held in Kentucky was at Masterson's Station, five miles from Lexington, in the year 1790 .. There were only six members of the conference present. Henry Burchett was sent to the Lexington Circuit, where he remained until 1793, when John Ball and Gabriel Woodside were sent for two years. In 1796 Aquilla Sugg was in charge, but in the latter part of that year his health failed so that Thomas Scott was sent to take his place. The circuit at that time included Lexington, Versailles, Frankfort and sixteen other stations. Organizations or societies had been previously formed at each of these points and the Rev. Mr. Scott reported that most of them were in a healthy condition. Thomas Scott afterwards left the min- istry and practiced law and held political positions for the re- mainder of his life.
John Buxton was sent to the Lexington Circuit in 1798. In 1800 James Haw, one of the first Methodist preachers in the
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western country, had some trouble with Bishop Asbury and on that account withdrew from the Methodist Church and became a preacher in the Presbyterian Church.
The preachers who were sent to the Lexington Circuit while Frankfort was in the circuit from 1800 to 1820, were as follows: Thomas Wilkinson, 1800; Lewis Hunt, 1801-2; Miles IIarper, 1803; John Sale, 1804-5-6; Joseph Hays, 1807; Caleb W. Cloud, 1808-9-10; Nathan Stamper, 1811 : Thomas D. Porter, 1812; William Patterson, 1813-14; Thomas D. Porter, 1815-16-17; William Adams, 1818; Josiah Whittiker, 1819. David Gray became the last circuit rider in 1820. The first pastor stationed at Frankfort was Nathaniel Harris, 1821. Wil- liam Holman, 1822-3-4-5; B. T. Crouch, 1826-7; George C. Light, 1828-9: B. T. Crouch, 1830: Henry S. Duke, 1831; H. HI. Kavanaugh, 1832; Thomas W. Chandler, 1833; Thomas C. Cropper, 1834; George W. Kelso, 1835-6; Henry N. Van- dike, 1837; A. D. Fox, 1838, died while at Frankfort that year ; Peter Taylor, 1839-40; W. Atherton, 1841; James D. Holding, 1842; C. P. Parsons, 1843; W. H. Anderson, 1844; Drum- mond Welburn, 1845: Joseph A. Waterman, 1846-7; George W. Brush, 1848-9: George W. Smiley, 1850-1; George W. Brush, 1852; John II. Linn, 1853-4; John M. Bonnell, 1855; John C. Harrison, 1856-7-8; Joseph Rand, 1859; William McD. Abbett, 1860-61; Daniel E. Stevenson, 1862; S. R. Robertson, 1863-4-5-6; II. A. M. Henderson, 1867-8-9; T. J. Dodd, 1870-1-2: D. 1. Beardsley, 1873; Robert Hiner, 1874-5; J. W. Mitchell, 1876; C. W. Miller, 1877-8-9-80; E. L. South- gate, 1881; Morris Evans, 1882-3; Gilby C. Kelly, 1884-5-6- 7; H. C. Morrison, 1888-9; II. G. Henderson, 1890-1-2-3; S. F. Pollett, 1894-5: George H. Means, 1896-7 ; T. F. Taliaferro, 1898-9; J. R. Savage, 1900-1; J. O. A. Vanght, 1902-3-4; C. J. Nugent, 1905-6; J. S. Sims, 1907-8-9-10; IT. G. Turner, 1911-12.
Thomas Wilkinson was one of the greatest preachers of that day. He dressed in plain homespun clothes, and could not be induced to wear black. He would often have his whole audience in tears.
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Caleb W. Cloud left the ministry and practiced medicine in Lexington, Kentucky, for many years.
William Holman found no church building in Frankfort when he came in 1822. In the following year, April 15, 1823, Benjamin Hickman transferred to the trustees of the Methodist Church a lot fronting 50 feet on Ann street and ex- tending back the same width one hundred feet. On this lot was built a small frame church which remained there until 1849, when it was torn down and a brick church was built. In the year 1854 this structure was destroyed by fire. In that year the lot on Washington street was purchased and the pres- ent church was built. During the pastorate of Gilby C. Kelley in 1886, this building was improved by the erection of the stone front and other improvements. The evangelist Sam Jones preached the sermon re-dedicating the church. An im- mense crowd was present.
The greatest preacher who was ever stationed at Frankfort was H. H. Kavanaugh (1832). IIe was afterwards a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
William McD. Abbett was a strong union sympathizer. While stationed at Frankfort in 1861, took occasion one Sun- day morning to pray very earnestly for the success of the Union Army. To his great surprise more than half of his con- gregation arose from their knees and left the church.
There have been several able preachers located at the Frankfort station during the past quarter of a century, but for some reason the church has not flourished to any great extent. In 1912 there are only about three hundred members, the most of whom are poor. The minister in charge is an able, carnest man who is calculated to do much good, but the church or- ganization does not have that aggressiveness which brings suc- cess.
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