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 11
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On the 4th December. 1844. a parish was organized under the name of Zion Church. Efforts were made to build a church, and a considerable sum was subscribed. Irreligion and vice were reported as sadly prevalent.
Mr. Purdy resigned at an unknown date.
The parish was admitted into union with the Convention April 14, 1847.
The Rev. William H. Burton became rector November 1. 1848, in connection with his work at New Iberia. In 1850, he discontinued his ministrations, but resumed them in 1852. In 1853, there were seven communicants, of whom three were colored.
Mr. Burton resigned in December, 1853. At that time there was a subscription of $1.400, and a lot was seenred for the proposed church. There were then. however, only two white communicants.
The Rev. W. K. Douglas took charge of this work in con- nection with that at New Iberia, in 1859. He found that there had been no provision for "Protestant worship for a long time, being probably the largest city in our country thus situated."
Mr. Douglas resigned January 1, 1861. From date until 1870, there does not appear to have been any service. not even an Episcopal one. In that year the rector at New Iberia, the Rev. L. Y. Jessup revived the dormant parish. Arrangements were made for a monthly Sunday service by Mr. Jessup, and Mr. E. R. Knight, as lay reader, to officiate on all other Sundays. 1
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
Sunday school was commenced. Said Mr. Jessup : "Their willingness to work for Christ and His Church seems equalled only by their ability."
On the 22d March. 1871. eleven were confirmed, the parish re-organized and measures inaugurated for the erection of a church.
During the year the church was built, a neat Gothic edifice. costing about $2,000, and was entirely paid for. The interesting history of the building of this church can best be told by the beloved Bishop Wilmer, from whom we quote :
"November 22, 1872, visited Zion Church, St. Martinsville. *
* a faithful lay reader, whose services were unceasingly maintained in the absence of the minister, added much to the strength and stability of the parish, but the chief agency in the work was assumed by another faithful servant of the Church, who gave largely of his own slender means, solicited from others far and near. and wrought with his own hands in the construction of the church building. Indeed, none of this interesting congregation spared themselves in lending aid to the workmen. - the men in building. the ladies in decorating the interior of the edifice, until it stands complete in all its appointments. The consecration of the church was appointed for this day. The absence of Mr. Robertson was deeply deplored, but as the Bishop and clergy entered the vesti- bule, there he stood to receive them, having left his business in- complete and travelled more than a hundred miles by land and water to share in the solemnities of the occasion. I am careful to narrate this simple history, to vindicate the zeal of the laity."
In August, 1875, Mr. Jessup resigned. The Sunday school closed in November. The lay reader remained at his post, wait- ing for the better day.
Another long interval, and the Rey. R. S. Stuart takes charge in 1877 : but he resigns in 1878.
On the 1st JJuly, 1881, the rector at New Iberia, Rev. J. E. Brown, took charge of the parish. He resigned in January, 1886. and his successor at New Iberia. Rev. C. C. Kramer, took up this portion of his work also. February 1. 1886.
In 1888, the parish was reported as having suffered great losses in the preceding eighteen months by the deaths of the war- dens, James S. Robertson and E. R. Knight. Recently, Drs. JJ. P. Lynch and C. R. Mayer had removed from the parish. The for- mer had succeeded as senior warden, and the latter was a valuable secretary and treasurer of the Vestry.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION, NEW ORLEANS.
IN the year 1844. a number of gentlemen associated them- selves together for the establishment of a new parish, and procured from the Legislature, March 25, 1844, an act of incorporation.
The meeting, for organization under the charter. was held at the office of Thomas Sloo. Jr .. July 31. 1844. and Benjamin Lowndes. Joseph Callender. William S. Brown, E. W. Briggs. Chauncey M. Black and John P. McMillan were elected Vestry- men. Subsequently, Thomas Sloo. Jr., was elected senior warden. Benjamin Lowndes, junior warden, and Joseph Callender, treas- nrer and secretary.
On the 27th November, 1844, the Vestry called the Rev. N. O. Preston to be the rector. He accepted. and measures were at once taken to build a church.
On the first Sunday in Advent, December 1, 1814, the ser- vices of the parish were inaugurated in a small room at the corner of Race and Pacanier (now Chippewa) streets. At the organiza- tion of the Sunday school, that day, the rector, Thomas Sloo, Jr., and W. S. Brown were present as officers or teachers, and James M. Brown and Charles Yancey as pupils. The first congregation numbered about thirty-five. But in a month's time the congre- gation doubled in numbers, and by Easter one hundred and fifty- three pupils were enrolled in the Sunday school.
On the 10th Jannary. 1845, a Sewing Society was organized by Mrs. M. E. Brown, Mrs. Bartlett. Mrs. Walton and Miss C. Talbot.
Easter Day, March 23, 1845, the Holy Eucharist was admin- istered for the first time. Those who communicated were James Collins, Charles Pollard, - De Wolf. - Wingate, Miss Rebecca Sloo, Mrs. C. Southmayd, Mrs. A. Goodrich. Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. M. Pollard. Mrs. Collins, Miss R. Dackney, Miss Radie and Miss Sturgis.
On the 3d April, 1845, the parish was admitted to union with the Convention.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
On the 4th May, 1845. the first confirmation was held and Mr. Morgan, Miss E. Collier and Miss D. Collier were confirmed.
During the year 1845, two lots of ground, corner of Orange and Pacanier streets, fronting Annunciation square, were pur- chased. and a church, with a seating capacity of six hundred and fifty. erected.
On the 7th January. 1846. the Ladies' Benevolent Society of Christ Church, New Orleans, presented the parish a silver com- munion service. "as a token of love and good wishes."
On Sunday, March 22, 1846, the church was consecrated. Those assisting the Bishop in the services were the Rev. Dr. Hawks and the Rev. Messrs. Goodrich and Fay. Thus in fifteen months and twenty-two days the parish. with its beautiful church, was builded and completed.
On the 3d February. 1847. an Auxiliary Missionary Society was formed.
In 1848, heavy expenses were incurred in the repair of the church, Thomas Sloo. Jr., donating $817 to this object. conditioned upon the parish, at its convenience, giving $200 to the assistance of other parishes, which was afterwards fulfilled by donations to Mount Olivet, Grace and other churches.
On the 31st May, 1852. a donation of 8600 was made the parish by Mr. Leonard Mathews.
The parish did much for others. In 1853, there was given to foreign and domestic missions, $61; city missions, $251 75; the South Western Bible Society. $77 50.
In 1854. there was expended $900 in painting and refurnish- ing the church.
On the 1st July, 1855, the Rev. N. O. Preston resigned. His resignation was regretfully accepted July 4th. and at the same meeting the Rev. C. F. Rodenstein was elected rector.
On the 8th December, 1857. by an unanimous vote of the Vestry, pew renting was abolished and all seats declared free.
About 4:30 o'clock on the morning of the 19th April, 1858. flames were discovered issuing from the church, and before assist- ance could be rendered by the fire department. the fire had made such progress that it could not be arrested. Fortunately, the church was insured for $9,000 on the building and $1,500 on the organ. The papers of the day declare that the destruction of the sacred edifice was the act of an incendiary.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
On the 28th April, 1858. the rector resigned. his resignation to take effect December 1st. On the 14th May, 1859, the lots were sold for $3.000.
On the 29th September, 1860, the purchase by the senior warden, Thomas I. Dix, of the lots at the southwest corner of Camp and Race streets, was confirmed, for the sum of $6,500, cash.
This was the last meeting of the Vestry until after the con- clusion of the Civil War. The names of the following gentlemen appear as having served as Vestrymen up to that time. to wit : Thomas Sloo. Jr .. Benjamin Lowndes. William S. Brown, Joseph Callender. E. W. Briggs. Channcey B. Black. John P. McMillan, - Trezevant, P. M. Ozanne. E. L. Nimmo, Samuel S. Green, J. H. Rodenberg, Giles M. Mallett, - Baxter. Adam Giffen, S. B. Day, Newborn Leiper, J. O. Pearson, Thomas M. Converse, Thomas I. Dix. Charles C. Peck. J. F. Girault. George S. Kansler, J. K. Dennett. D. L. Mitchell. J. A. White. - Hunter. E. B. Smedes. J. A. Mitchell, W. S. Donnell, W. H. Pierson and Michael Moore.
After an unavoidable interval of five years. caused by the tumult and disasters of the war, a meeting was held, October 18, 1865, at the office of Thomas I. Dix, Tchoupitoulas street. There were present Thomas I. Dix, James A. White. W. H. Pierson and George S. Kausler. Thus the work was again taken up by these faithful Vestrymen. W. S. Brown was elected junior warden in place of Michael Moore, deceased.
On the 20th October, another meeting was held: present as before, and with the addition of W. S. Brown and Adam Giffen. This meeting placed the parish in charge of Rev. John Percival. then a deacon and principal of the Boys' High School. He accepted the charge without stipend.
On the 29th October. 1865, the first service of the revived work was held in a school house of the Methodist Church. corner of Felicity and Chestnut streets. Very shortly afterwards a room, 125 Prytania street. between Euterpe and Polymnia streets, was procured and fitted for Divine worship. It was occupied at Advent.
On the 7th April, 1866. the new Vestry were elected : W. S. Brown, senior warden; A. G. Semmes, junior warden ; Adam Giffen, treasurer; J. A. Pickert, Ulric Bettison. secretary ; James A. Gresham and Alfred H. Pierson.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
During the administration of this Vestry the building now used as a chapel was purchased from the Felicity Street Methodist Church, for $1,400, and at considerable expense was moved to the church lots. A chancel, vestry room and porch were added, and the church was opened, by the Bishop, November 10, 1866.
In 1867. through the instrumentality of Mr. Richard Rhodes. a handsome stone font and an oak lectern were given the church by Mr. Robert Bleakly, and a valuable communion service by Mr. Isaac Parker, of New York. The election of Vestrymen resulted this year in the choice of W. S. Brown. as senior warden : Richard Rhodes, junior warden ; E. F. Briggs. JJ. C. Stickney. F. V. Hopkins, A. H. Pierson and Thomas Kelly.
The year 1868 witnessed the extinguishment of the debt; the replacement of the benches by neat black walnut pews : the pur- chase of chancel chairs : a library for the Sunday school; furni- ture for the vestry room : the repainting of the church-the ladies furnished a reading desk, carpet and gas fixtures.
In 1869. the Bishop said : " In none of the churches have I more cause to rejoice in the efficiency of the minister, who has struggled long and successfully. * It is a signal success."
On the 1st July, a stated stipend of $100 a month was voted the rector-elect.
On the revival of the parish many of the surviving members of the old parish returned to their places in the congregation. and under the care of the Rev. Mr. Percival, there was a steady growth of new members. Various auxiliary societies were formed, among which may be prominently mentioned the Ladies' Parish Aid Society, presided over. successively, by Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Heath. Mrs. Luzenberg, Mrs. Netherton and Mrs. Dennett ; the Gentlemen's Benevolent Association, and the Young Ladies' Parish Debt Association. Of the latter Miss Carter was the efficient head. These societies were organized into various com- mittees, and rendered invaluable services in raising money for the support of the parish, and for church building, visiting the sick, helping the poor and teaching in the Sunday school.
A parochial day and night school. in connection with a mis- sion school. was opened on the levee, and afterwards moved to St. Mary and Laurel streets. Mr. R. Rhodes procured donations of books, slates, stationery, chairs and tables, sufficient to equip the school. The night and Sunday mission schools were supplied
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
th volunteer teachers. Mr. George R. Upton. then a candidate 10. Holy Orders, was for some time employed as teacher of the day school at a stated salary, and was succeeded by Miss Helm. n acknowledgment is due to Trinity Benevolent Association r pecuniary aid in supporting these schools.
The night school having been discontinued. the parochial day chool and Sunday Mission school were removed. in the spring of 1871. to a building erected for the purpose, on the church lots. at a cost of about $600. Mrs. Pinching. an old and valued member of the parish, was employed as teacher of the parochial school. Mrs. Heath also rendered valuable services in teaching.
Active measures were inaugurated in 1873 for the building of a new church, and April 7th, a Building Committee wasappointed : W. S. Brown, Thomas F. Walker, James Edward Reade. W. L. Cushing and G. P. Harrison. On the 4th June. the committee reported a contract made with P. R. Middlemiss, builder. for the erection of the new church, for the sum of $13.450.
On the 3d December. 1873. the first service was held in the new church.
The new church is a neat, chaste building, showing nave, clere story and aisles in the interior. " The patient and untiring efforts." said the Bishop. " to erect this church have been crowned with signal success. The church deserves to be ranked among the ecclesiastical edifices that do honor to the city."
The cost of the building, which has a seating capacity of six hundred and fifty. was, including the east window. $16. 100 85.
The completion of the church left the parish burdened with a debt of $9.502 30. bearing eight per cent. interest.
On the 28th November, 1873. the stipend of the rector was increased to $150 a month. and subsequently. January 1st, 1878, to $175.
In the epidemic of 1878, when the rector and his family were prostrated. the Rev. Dr. Hedges took charge of the parish and rendered very efficient service.
In February. 1881. a handsome organ. built by Jardine, of New York, was placed in the west end of the church. a beautiful gallery having been erected to receive it. This involved an outlay of nearly $3.000.
From the revival of the parish. in 1865. to this date, a well organized Sunday school has been faithfully maintained under the
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
supervision of the rector, Mr. Rhodes being his faithful assistant for the past twenty years, except for some two or three years. in which other gentlemen filled the position. In 1873, the mission school was merged in the parish Sunday school.
From November, 1865, to the date of occupancy of the new church, December 3, 1873, the music of the church was rendered by a volunteer choir, Miss Brown, an accomplished musician, serving gratuitously as organist. Since 1873, it has been found expedient to employ a paid organist.
To provide from purely voluntary and benevolent sources for the building debt of $9,502 30 and interest, to meet current expenses, amounting to about $3.000 per annum, and to raise means to pay for the organ was, under all the circumstances of the times, a large undertaking. It has in all these years required the unremitting toil and unwavering devotion of the rector. the Vestry and the people.
The history of the work could furnish many examples of self- denial and loving devotion for Christ's sake, but amongst many faithful workers, it would seem invidions to mention a few. It is proper, however, to state, that through the instrumentality of the rector. many liberal donations have been received from persons beyond the parish, amongst which may be specified, those of Mrs. Newcomb, of New York, amounting, in the aggregate, to $825. The church contains many tokens of love and devotion. The handsome oak pulpit was presented by Mr. James E. Reade, a former Vestryman and member of the Building Committee. The beautiful carpet that covers the floor of the church and chancel. costing over $600. was the gift of the Young Men's Guild. The Young Ladies' Guild rendered very efficient aid in the final pay- ment of the church debt.
On the 11th June, 1887, the church was consecrated. An interesting incident of this service was the reading of the lessons by the Rev. Dr. Goodrich, the clergyman who had performed the same office at the consecration of the first church. forty-one years previous.
The names of the following gentlemen appear as having served as Vestrymen since the reorganization of the parish. in 1865, to-wit : Thomas I. Dix, W. S. Brown, George S. Kausler. James A. White. W. H. Pierson, Adam Giffin, A. G. Semmes, J. A. Pickert, Ulric Bettison, James A. Gresham, Alfred H. Pier-
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
son, Edwin F. Briggs, J. C. Stickney, Thomas Kelly, Richard Rhodes. C. N. Pasteur. L. E. Collins, George P. Harrison, W. T. Fairchild, Thomas F. Walker, W. L. Cushing, James E. Reade, George Wigg, Joseph P. Hornor, R. R. Decan. John A. Watkins, Reuben G. Bush, James B. Anderson, L. C. Arny, W. F. Walshe, T. R. Roach. Gov. F. T. Nicholls and H. D. Forsythe.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, VERMILLIONVILLE, ST. MICHAEL'S, LAFAYETTE.
IN Easter week. that is to say. in the latter part of March, 1845, the Rev. Lucius M. Purdy, then resident in St. Martinsville, organized a parish at Vermillionville, as Lafayette was then called, under the name of St. Luke's Church.
On the 14th April. 1845, the parish was admitted into union with the Convention.
Then there was an interval, a very long one, of twenty-four years, when Bishop Wilmer arrived March 22, 1871. He held two services and confirmed six persons.
On the 23d November, 1872, the Bishop again had a service in the court house. On this visit, the good Bishop was tempted, as he said, to indulge in a little street preaching. Having been accosted by one of the citizens, who wished to know the motives which prompted an annual visit to a place where there was already one church, large enough for the population, he explained to the listening crowd, which grew in numbers as he proceeded, the ancient and Catholic principles of this Church. The effect was soon visible. The satisfaction of the audience, including his ven- erable monitor, was loudly expressed -- he learned that there was a Catholic church, which did not exact confession to a priest and did not interdict their favorite institution of Masonry. After striking this responsive chord, other explanations followed, of more vital interest, and his street message was welcomed with the prediction, that the old church would soon empty the modern church of a people, longing to be free. without ceasing to be Catholics.
The Council of 1874 dropped this parish from its register, as non-existent as such.
Another interval elapsed, eleven years, and the Rev. E. W. Hunter, in 1885, re-established the services, the first in forty years of a stated character. The devoted Churchmen of this place declared their willingness to renew the work, and under the name of "St. Michael's Church," the seed of a parish is sown once again. The services are held in a Presbyterian house of worship. There are now seven confirmed persons in the mission.
CIRCULAR.
I have not tried to spoil this book with a Preface, but it seems nec- essary that a few words should be said somewhere between the covers by way of introduction. This is written then in this form so that the reader will have the option of preserving it or throwing it in the waste basket, at pleasure.
The volume is what it purports to be-a compilation of all that I know about the Diocese of Louisiana. It is as complete a history as I have been made capable of writing. It does not purport to be exhaustive. The Diocesan chapters are believed to be reasonably so. The compiler has been assisted in the gathering of the history of the most of the par- ishes. There are, however, some of the parochial sketches that seem to him very dry reading, a mere string of dates, noting the beginning and the ending of rectorate after rectorate. The compiler does not apologize for such dryness, but he wishes to explain it. It arises from one of two causes in every instance. Those dates are the only historical items made in those parishes, or the correspondents of the compiler have failed to put him in possession of other items. He avails himself, therefore, of this means to request that he be informed of omissions, in order that should other editions be demanded, the additional informa- tion may be inserted.
One word more must also be written. The promise was made a year ago that the volume should not cost over one dollar. Subsequently the amount of material was found to be considerably larger than the esti- mate. The choice had to be made between omissions and suppressions or an advance in the price. I have elected to follow the latter course as probably the most satisfactory. The price of the volume is $1 30. This covers the cost of production and distribution and leaves a margin of a fraction over one cent for contingencies. The compiler, therefore, reaps no pecuniary benefit. He thinks that he may reasonably ask that an effort be made to prevent his suffering any pecuniary loss, which he will do if the edition is not all sold. He relies on active co-operation of all Churchmen in the sale of the volume.
HERMAN C. DUNCAN.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
GRACE CHURCH, NEW ORLEANS.
Ox the 18th January. 1846, the Rev. Charles Fay began to hold services at the corner of Carondelet and Perdido streets. New Orleans. There were eighteen families and twenty-four communicants connected with the mission. Soon afterwards, Mr. Fay resigned.
The Rev. William R. Nicholson took charge of the mission February 14, 1847. In that year a parish was formed under the name of Grace Church.
In 1848, there were ninety communicants and one hundred and twenty pupils in the Sunday school.
The parish was admitted into union with the Convention May 3. 1848. being represented by A. P. Cleveland and John A. Mitchell.
Mr. Nicholson resigned in 1849, and was succeeded, after the lapse of about a year. in 1850. by the Rev. William C. Crane.
In 1851. it was stated that $15,000 had been subscribed towards the erection of a church. Mr. Crane resigned in July, 1851.
In 1853, the Rev. D. G. Estes had charge of the congregation
These were the last services held for the parish. Dissension had arisen relative to the proposed site for the building of the church, and it seemed impossible to find a rector. The scheme was abandoned and the money paid on subscriptions was returned.
The name of the parish was carried on the roll. however. until 1872, when it was dropped.
The parish had been represented in the Conventions of the Diocese by A. P. Cleveland. John A. Mitchell. Thomas I. Dix. Samuel H. Turner and L. S. Smith.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
THE CHURCH IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH. EMMANUEL CHURCH; CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEP- HERD. UNION SETTLEMENT.
IN 1830, Bishop Brownell, when in New Orleans, was in- formed by Mr. Bradish that a clergyman was needed in Plaquemines parish. Mr. and Mrs. Osgood, and others, uniting in the applica- tion. Mr. Bradish said that he would give sixty acres of excellent land for a glebe, and that he and his neighbors would unite in building on it a good brick church and brick parsonage. The Rev. James A. Fox was assigned to them. The fair prospect, however, was dissipated, how and for what cause cannot be de- termined. Certain it is, that Mr. Fox did not become resident there until some fourteen years subsequently.
About the year 1844 or 1845. Mr. Fox procured for himself a small place at Pointe-a-la-Hache, residing there some two years. The Wilkinson family built a small chapel at Pointe Celeste, where service was held regularly. The table used for the altar, the chalice and the paten for the celebration of the divine mysteries, are now at Bovina, Mississippi, in the possession of the widow of Mr. Fox. He retired from the work on the death of his wife, the first Mrs. Fox. in the spring of 1846.
In 1847, the Rev. R. H. Ranney opened a mission at the Balize and Pilot Town. He established a school, and in 1848, was reported laboring acceptably.
On the 16th December, 1849, the Bishop made his first visit to the parish.
The Rev. A. B. Russell took charge of the work JJanuary 5, 1850. Services were held for the colored people on the plantations of Messrs. White and Trutant, of Mr. Bradish and on the Myrtle Grove place. Eight subscriptions of one hundred dollars each were made to build a church, and JJames A. White, Stephen MeCuteheon, R. A. Wilkinson and G. W. Johnson were appointed a Building Committee. The corner stone was laid by the rector June 12. 1850. The church was completed at a cost of $2.000, and the first service was held in it Christmas Day. 1850.
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