USA > Louisiana > The Diocese of Louisiana, some of its history, 1838-1888; also some of the history of its parishes and missions, 1805-1888 > Part 1
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Gc 976.3 D91d 1250615
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02305 2316 r
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/dioceseoflouisia00dunc
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THE
Diocese of Louisiana:
SOME OF ITS HISTORY,
1838-1888.
Also, some of the History of its Parishes and Missions,
1805-1888.
COMPILED BY THE
REV. HERMAN COPE DUNCAN, M. A.
Sc 976.3 Dald
NEW ORLEANS: A. W. HYATT, PRINTER, 73 CAMP STREET-42291.
1888.
.
1250615
THE DIOCESAN HISTORY.
THERE are six very clearly defined periods, or epochs, in the history of the Diocese of Louisiana, as an organization and apart from the history of its parishes, although, as a matter of course, that history is and can only be, chiefly but the aggrega- tion of their several histories-(1) the epoch marked by abortive efforts at organization, from 1830 to 1838; (2) that of organiza- tion, from 1838 to 1842; (3) that of development, from 1842 to 1861; (4) that of resuscitation from the effects of the civil war, from 1866 to 1874; (5) that of disaster produced by civil and political misfortunes, from 1874 to 1879; and (6) that of renewed development, from 1880 to and including the present.
THE FIRST EPOCH.
ON the 18th January, 1830, there assembled in Christ Church. New Orleans, a Convention called to consider the propriety of organizing a Diocese. There were but two parishes in the State, Christ Church, New Orleans, and Grace Church, St. Francisville, the congregation at Baton Rouge being then dormant. These two parishes were both represented by Lay Delegates. There were three clergymen then resident in Louisiana, the Rev. Messrs. Hull, Bowman and Fox, who were all present and participating. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Brownell, Bishop of Connecticut, was also present, and was requested to preside, which he did. The Rev. Mr. Bowman was elected secretary.
A Diocese was organized, and a Constitution and some canons were adopted. It is of interest to know that this Constitution was
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
submitted to that noted canonist. the Rev. Dr. Hawks, and was approved by him previous to its presentation to the Convention.
This Convention was attended. said Bishop Brownell. by the principal Church people of New Orleans and other parts of the State, as well as by the delegates from St. Francisville.
A Standing Committee and other officers were elected. A resolution was adopted in favor of the organization of a . South Western Diocese." or rather, as it should have been called, Prov- inee, composed of the Dioceses of Mississippi. Alabama and Louisiana, with a Bishop exercising equally his mission in each. Measures were also taken to carry out this design.
But when an application came to be made to the General Convention of 1832 for an enabling aet to authorize the proposed federation, the organization of the Diocese of Louisiana seems to have been forgotten. When that body enacted the requisite canon. it was entitled as one " authorizing the Dioceses of Missis- sippi and Alabama, and the churches in the State of Louisiana. to associate and join in the election of a Bishop."
It seems strange that the Diocesan organization in Louisiana should have been thus ignored. for the special canon was pre- sented by Bishop Brownell, the president of the Louisiana Con- vention. It was not on account of size, or we might say the lack of it. for Louisiana. while it did not have as many Missions or Parishes as Mississippi or Alabama, did have more communi- rants than either of those Dioceses, as many settled clergymen as Mississippi, and more than Alabama.
It was also an unfortunate oversight." for it gave birth to factions in Louisiana where none existed previously, and was a potent factor in the difficulty which postponed the establishment of the Episcopate in Louisiana for six years, in Alabama for twelve, and in Mississippi for eighteen years.
The origin of the difficulty, which became serious in after years. is to be found here. It may be accounted for only on the supposition that there was no one in attendance on the General Convention of 1832 to claim the admittance of the Diocese into the union, or else that those charged with the duty of maintaining the organization in Louisiana suffered it to fall into abeyance. This latter supposition is supported by the fact that the Vestry of Christ Church. New Orleans, passed a resolution, January 31. 1833. declaring it expedient. in view of action taken in Missis-
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
sippi and Alabama, to bring into existence the proposed South Western Diocese, "that the churches of Louisiana should unite for the purpose of reorganizing the Diocese of Louisiana."
Be it as it may, the Vestry of Christ Church. New Orleans. adopting the foregoing as a preamble, on the said 31st January. 1833. passed a resolution appointing the Rev. Mr. Barlow. Joseph Lovell and R. M. Welman, a committee "to correspond with the churches in this State, recommending them to meet in convention at the City of New Orleans, on the last Tuesday in March of the present year [1833], for the purpose of forming a Constitution for this Diocese, and appointing delegates to meet in convention the Dioceses of Alabama and Mississippi." The Vestry appointed as delegates to the proposed Convention. Joseph Lovell. L. C. Duncan and R. M. Welman. The Vestry also passed a resolution recom- mending that "the meeting of the South Western Diocese take place in New Orleans, on the last Wednesday in March of the present year [1833]. at 10 o'clock, and that they proceed forthwith to the formation of a Constitution of the South Western Diocese and the election of a Bishop." The Vestry also advised "the Con- vention of the Diocese of Louisiana to appoint delegates to the South Western Diocese, and that each church be represented by one Clerical and three Lay Delegates." They also authorized (sic ) the Committee of Correspondence of the Vestry to extend their cor- respondence to the Dioceses of Alabama and Mississippi, and to "inform them of the proceedings as had. and invite them to carry into effect the object of the resolutions as respects the assemblies of the South Western Diocese and the election of a Bishop."
On the 26th March. 1833, the Vestry of Christ Church. New Orleans, met to " add additional delegates to those named at meet- ing held JJanuary 31st. to meet in convention the churches of Louisiana to be held this day-Messrs. Isaac Ogden. John Nicholson. R. Layton. Robert Pritchard. William Flower. G. Vance. N. Cox. W. Alderson."
No record can be found of the meeting for which the foregoing preparations were made. It may be surmised that it was held and the Diocesan organization dissolved, for on no other supposition can the action of the Vestry of Christ Church. New Orleans, of May 24th. two months subsequently, be reasonably explained. when they took action which they certainly would not, or ought not to have taken. if bound up in a Diocesan organization. It must.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
however. be distinctly understood that this is only a surmise. The facts can only be disclosed by a discovery of the lost minutes.
It would appear that about this time doubts were developed as to the propriety of the action of the Churchmen in Louisiana under the special canon of the General Convention of 1832. This canon authorized the joint action in the election of a Bishop of the Dioceses of Mississippi and Alabama and the churches in Louis- iana. To make such election valid must "the churches in Louis- iana" be directly represented. or might those "churches" be represented by delegates chosen by ONE CHURCH, or Diocese, into which said churches might consolidate themselves-in a word. did the canon forbid the organization of a Diocese in Louisiana ?
Two years afterwards this question of interpretation divided the Churchmen of Louisiana into factions. The Vestry of Christ Church. New Orleans, had evidently failed to see any such incom- patibility when in meeting January 3ist. or March 26th. 1833. for they adopted measures for the election of a Bishop under the canon by an assembly of the South Western Diocese in which Louisiana should be represented by delegates chosen by a Conven- tion of an organized Diocese of Louisiana.
Subsequent to the last named date that Vestry changed its opinion, and thence ouward to the ending of the scheme. adopted the other interpretation. To what influence they bent it is impos- sible to state : certain it is, the peenliar wording of the canon would require, by strict construction. the adoption of the second thought of the Vestry-delegates to the assembly of the South Western Diocese must be named by the Diocesan Conventions of Mississippi and Alabama respectively, and directly by the parish churches in Lonisiana.
The question was also raised. by what vote. and taken in what manner. conkl a Bishop be lawfully elected. By some it was contended that a majority vote of the Convention, a quorum being present. would suffice, while by others it was contended that a Bishop could only be lawfully elected by a concurrent vote of the clergy and of the lay representatives of each State, and that should a majority of the clergy, or of the lay delegates, from one State, or Diocese, not vote with the majority there would be no cleetion. And again, it was held that the canon of 1832 was unconstitutional: the jurisdiction of the General Convention being confined to the Dioceses entering its union. that body could not legislate for terri
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
tory beyond its jurisdiction. much less provide for the election of a Bishop. part of whose jurisdiction would be under the authority of the General Convention. Mississippi and Alabama, and part be- vond it. Louisiana, and in support of this view appeal was made to the action of the General Convention itself in 1817. when it de- clared. "That though the measure of a convention compr sing sundry States in the Western country. may be a measure of tem- porary expediency, it cannot be authorized by this Convention consistently with the General Constitution of the Church. which recognizes only a Convention of the Church in each State."
In this connection it might be well to direct attention to the fact that the provisions of the Constitution and Canons of the Church in the United States relative to the organization of Dioceses and the election of Bishops, were not in the days of which we are writing the same as they are now.
To resume the narrative: On the 24th May. 1833. the Vestry of Christ Church. New Orleans, met in special meeting. called to consider a letter from Rev. James A. Fox. President of the Diocese of Mississippi. on the expediency of holding a Convention of the Dioceses of Mississippi. Louisiana and Alabama. for the purpose of electing a Bishop. At this meeting the Vestry resolved to " con- eur in the proposition contained in said letter for calling a Conven- tion to be held in this city on 31 Wednesday of June next. and moreover. consent to receive. as Rector of Christ Church. the person who may be appointed Bishop, provided he shall be approved by the congregation."
Thus far the new interpretation does not appear to be domi- nant. but it does immediately take such position by the adoption of a second resolution, whereby Messrs. Richard Relf. Benjamin Chew. R. M. Welman. L. C. Duncan and William Christy were " appointed delegates to said Convention."
There is no record that the Convention was held. It is almost certain that it was not.
In 1835, party lines were sharply drawn on the question of the propriety of having a Diocese of Louisiana. Christ Church, New Orleans, upon whom all extra parochial enterprise largely de- pended for success, was herself divided on this issue. The Vestry, or a majority of it. held against it-certain pew holders held for it. A call was issued for a Convention to organize anew the Diocese. and on Sunday. the 18th January. 1835. a meeting of pew
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
holders of Christ Church, New Orleans, was held, to which Mr. Richard Relf stated that such Convention would assemble on the 20th inst .. and " proposed that three Lay Delegates be now appointed to represent Christ Church in said Convention. Whereupon, the following gentlemen were duly elected as such : Joseph Lovell. R. M. Welman. Robert Layton.
At a meeting of the Vestry. on the other band, held March 2d. 1835. Bishop Brownell informed them that "the Diocese of Alabama has elected her clergy and six Lay Delegates, and the Diocese of Mississippi has elected the Rev. Pierce Connolly and seven Lay Delegates to meet the delegates from the parishes of Louisiana, in the City of New Orleans, on Wednesday, March 4th, inst .. for the purposes of carrying into effect the objects content- plated by the special canon."
Thereafter, the Vestry adopted a series of resolutions repealing those of January 31st and March 26th. 1833 ; approving ( sic) the special canon of the General Convention : electing Messrs. Isaac Ogden. L. C. Duncan. Joseph Lovell. Richard Relf. R. M. Welman and Win. Christy, "delegates to meet the delegates from Mississippi and Alabama, and from the Parish of St. Francisville. in this City, on Wednesday next, for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of the aforesaid special canon." and request- ing Bishop Brownell. then performing the duties of rector. "to represent the interest of this church at the Convention."
As this special canon of the General Convention appears Do- where in the archives of the Diocese, and is not printed. except by title, even in the Journal of the General Convention itself, it is here printed as copied from the Minute Book of the Vestry of Christ Church. New Orleans :
" The Dioceses of Mississippi and Alabama and the clergy and churches in the State of Lonisiana are hereby anthorized to associate and join in the election of a Bishop : anything in the canons of this Church to the contrary notwithstanding: the said association to be dissolved on the demise of the Bishop, and not before, unless by consent of the General Convention."
To return a short space -- the Convention called to organize anew the Diocese of Louisiana met Tuesday, January 20. 1835. in Christ Church, New Orleans, at 4 o'clock. P. M.
There were present the Rev. Messrs. Bowman. Fox and Hen derson, all the clergymen resident in the State. Messrs, Lowell
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
Welman and Layton, from Christ Church. New Orleans, and Dr. E. H. Barton. from Grace Church. St. Francisville. These two were then the only churches of our communion in Louisiana. Mr. Bowman was elected president and Mr. Henderson. secretary.
A constitution was adopted and two canons. Parochial re- ports were presented from Grace Church, St. Francisville. Christ Church. New Orleans, and the " French Church." New Orleans. Joseph Lovell was elected treasurer, the Rev. Messrs. Fox. Bow- man and Henderson, and Messrs. Welman, Relf and Dr. Barton the Standing Committee : application was made for admission to union with the General Convention. and the Rev. Messrs. Bow- man. Fox and Henderson, and Messrs. Thos. Butler. Joseph Lovell and Isaac Ogden. deputies thereto ; and. also, a resolution authorizing . the clergy of this State, together with the delegates from the churches, to act on behalf of this Convention in the for- mation of a South Western Diocese." This last resolution was evidently intended to meet the views of the two factions divided on the interpretation of the special canon. As a compromise measure it was not accepted by the other faction.
The Convention of the South Western Diocese met March 4th, 1835, and continued in session to the 5th. None of the clergy of Louisiana attended, and the delegates from Christ Church. New Orleans, R. M. Welman. Joseph Lovell. William Christy. L. C. Duncan and Isaac Ogden. were the only laymen of the State present. The Rev. Pierce Connolly. of Mississippi, was presi- dent, and the Rev. Caleb. S. Ives, of Alabama, secretary.
They elected the Rev. Francis Lister Hawks. D. D., Bishop. and on the 11th May, Christ Church, New Orleans, completed the compact that had been entered into by electing him rector. with a stipend of $4000. with the use of parsonage.
This election Dr. Hawks declined.
The deputies elected by the Convention of January 20. 1835. applied for admission on behalf of the Diocese to the General Convention of that year, and found lodged against them a protest from the Vestry of Christ Church. New Orleans. The committee to whom the papers were referred reported. that "in view of this difficulty it was inexpedient to admit the Church in Louisiana." and this report was adopted as the sense of the Convention.
Thus the schemes of both factions mutually destroyed each other. No doubt both parties acted conscientiously. and the im-
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partial historian can only place the fault. if fault there was, to the unfortunate wording of the canon, which placed the Church- men of Louisiana on a different footing from those of their breth- ren with whom they were to be associated. A single clause. making provision for the organization of the Diocese before. or after. the election of the Bishop, and providing for a proper basis of representation in the Convention of the South Western Diocese would have saved a wrangle. The plan was evidently crude and ill considered, and no doubt Providence moved the declination of the Episcopal election and the failure of the scheme.
The House of Bishops, on the Ist September. 1835. nominated, as a Missionary Bishop, the Rev. Dr. Hawks, "to exercise Epis- copal functions in the State of Louisiana and in the Territories of Arkansas and Florida." The House of Deputies the same day elected him Bishop of "Arkansas and Florida." The evident error in title was the fault, we may presume, of one of the secre- taries. Subsequently. October 14th, Dr. Hawks declined the election. Had he accepted and been consecrated. what would have been his jurisdiction ? He was nominated for Bishop of Louisiana, but not elected as such.
And thus ended the abortive attempts to organize the Diocese of Louisiana.
THE SECOND EPOCH.
Wirn the failure of the scheme for a South Western Diocese. the subject of contention, the special canon, sunk from view, and as the time for another General Convention approached, opinions solidified in the direction of the organization of the Churchmen of Louisiana as an independent Diocese.
On the 20th April, 1838, the Vestry of Christ Church, New Orleans, mmanimously declared it expedient, and appointed the rector and Messrs. Richard Rolf and L. C. Duncan, delegates to "a Convention to be held at such time and place as may be mutually agreed upon, with full power, in conjunction with the delegates from the other churches in Louisiana, to adopt the Constitution of the Diocese, and to take all such measures as may be necessary to procure its admission to and union with the General Conven- tion."
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
The proposed Convention assembled in Christ Church, New Orleans, April 28, 1838. "After appropriate Divine service," performed by the Rev. Dr. Wheaton, the Rev. N. S. Wheaton, D. D .. was called to the chair. and W. F. Brand was appointed secretary.
This Convention was composed of the Rev. Dr. Wheaton and the Rev. R. H. Ranney, Thomas Butter and Win. D. Boyle, of Grace Church, St. Francisville, Richard Relf and L. C. Duncan, of Christ Church. New Orleans, and Win. F. Brand. of St. Panl's, New Orleans.
The Rev. Mr. Ranney and Hon. Thomas Butler were ap- pointed a committee, who presented a draft of a Constitution, which was adopted. The Rev. Dr. Wheaton and the Rev. Mr. Ranney and Messrs. Thos. Butler. L. C. Duncan. Joseph Lovell and George Lawrie were elected deputies to the General Conven- tion. and the Rev. Dr. Wheaton,, Rev. Mr. Ranney, and Messrs. L. C. Duncan. Thomas Butler and Richard Rolf. the Standing Committee.
A resolution was adopted asking admission into the union of Dioceses represented by the General Convention ; also. request- ing the Standing Committee to prepare and submit to the next Convention a Code of Canons.
On the 7th September, 1838. the House of Deputies of the General Convention passed a resolution receiving the Diocese of Louisiana into its union, and on the next day this resolution was concurred in by the House of Bishops. Whereupon. the Rev. Dr. Wheaton and Joseph Lovell took seats as her repre- sentatives. A memorial was received about the same time from the Diocese of Georgia and from representatives (in part) of Alabama. Mississippi. Florida and Louisiana. praying for Epis- copal supervision by Missionary Bishops. In response, the canons were so amended as to empower a vacant Diocese to secure the regular service of a Bishop of another jurisdiction, and it was agreed to elect a Missionary Bishop of Arkansas. with the under- standing that any or all of those Dioceses might place themselves in his charge.
In furtherance of this understanding, the House of Bishops, September 15, 1838, nominated the Rev. Leonidas Polk to be Bishop of Arkansas, and the same day the House of Deputies electel him thereto.
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The " First Convention of the Diocese of Louisiana," as it was called, met in Christ Church. New Orleans, January 16. 1839. Its predecessor of 1838 was reckoned as a Preliminary or Special Convention. Of the Convention of 1839 the Rev. Dr.
Wheaton was president, and Win. F. Brand. secretary. The Standing Committee, through Lueins C. Duncan, presented a Code of Canons, which was adopted. The Convention also passed a resolution declaring that the Diocese should be and was thereby . placed under the full Episcopal charge and authority of the Rt. Rev. Leonidas Polk. D. D .. Missionary Bishop of Ar- kansas." and requesting him to accept the same. This he did. and entered on his duties March 18, 1839. begining his work at Shreveport. for an account of which reference should be made to the history of that parish.
The Second Convention met in Christ Church, New Orleans, January 15, 1840. The Rev. Dr. Wheaton was president, and Thomas N. Morgan, secretary. Bishop Chase, sometime rector of Christ Church, was present, and by request of the president. pre- sided. This Convention received a letter from Bishop Polk under date of February 14. 1839. replying to the request of the Conven- tion of 1839. In it he said that he would accede " to the wishes of the Convention with much pleasure," and would contribute whatever services he could. consistently with other engagements.
The Third Convention also met in Christ Church, New Or- leans, January 20, 1841. Only routine business was transacted.
On the 5th May. 1841. the Standing Committee issued a call for a Special Convention of the Diocese. "for the purpose of requesting the General Convention to elect a Bishop" for the Diocese.
The canon under which it was proposed toact, provided that any Diocese, having at the time less than six officiating presbyters residing therein, regularly settled in a parish or church, and qual- fied to vote for a Bishop. might. by a vote of the Convention thereof. request the General Convention to elect a Bishop for the same. The Special Convention met in Christ Church, New Orleans. May 20. 1841, at 5 o'clock, p. M .. and took action by adopting a resolution requesting the General Convention to elect a Bishop over the Diocese.
On the 16th October, 1841. the House of Bishops unanimously nominated Bishop Polk to be Bishop of Louisiana. At a later
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hour of that day. the House of Deputies elected him, also unani- mously: and that same evening. in person. he tendered his resig- nation of his Missionary jurisdiction. It was accepted. and he thereupon took upon him the office of Bishop of Louisiana.
Thus was happily completed the organization of the Diocese.
THE THIRD EPOCH.
THE Diocese then, being fully equipped for independent life. began its development. At the time of the acceptance of the Dio- cesan Episcopate by Bishop Polk, there were six other elergymen resident in the Diocese, two of them engaged in teaching, one at Jackson, the other at Baton Rouge, but ministering on Sundays at those places. Christ Church and St. Paul's, New Orleans, and Grace, St. Francisville, had their rectors, and there was a mis- sionary stationed at Natchitoches, who did work occasionally at Donaldsonville, Alexandria and Shreveport. There were reported two hundred and twenty-two communicants.
Soon the Bishop began to lead in missionary enterprise, and many places received the ministrations of the Church first at his hands: parochial and academic schools were organized here and there. Churchmen were called together for united labor in the establishment of new enterprises-the rearing of new parishes and the accumulation of capital as endowment for the several needs of the Church. But as each of these departments of enter- prise has a history of its own. it is more convenient to give the record of their development in separate chapters. To read fully the history of those days, one must examine what is said under the headings of the Episcopate of Bishop Polk. Missionary Opera- tions and Fiduciary Support.
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