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 6
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The church is cruciform in shape ; extreme length. one hun- dred and twenty-eight feet. and width. eighty feet ; height forty- five feet : height of steeple, one hundred and thirty-eight feet. It is of the English gothie order, is symmetrical and beautifully chaste. In the church, beside the memorial windows removed from the old church. Mrs. Ida Richardson has placed two ornate stained glass windows, one to the memory of her mother, Mrs. Cora A. Slocomb, for many years a devoted member of the parish. and the other to the memory of her brother, Cuthbert Harrison Slocomb. sometime a vestryman of the parish. There are also memorial windows to the memory of the Rev. Dr. Leacock and the Rev. Mr. Drysdale.
During the construction of the new church, the congregation rented and ocenpied Calvary church building, corner of Prytania and Conery streets.
On the 6th March. 1887. the Rev. Davis Sessums entered on his duties as the eighth rector.
The parish has been represented in the Councils of the Church by a number of gentlemen, those who have served five or more times as delegates, having been : Imeins C. Duncan, nine times ; Ambrose Lanfear, six times; Charles Harrod. ten times ; Dr. W. N. Mercer. six times ; James Grimshaw, twenty times : Greer B. Duncan, six times : Thomas 1. Dix, five times; Robert Mott. thirteen times; W. W. Howe, fourteen times ; B. F. Eshleman. six times, and Carleton Hunt, five times.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
ST. JAMES' CHURCH, BATON ROUGE.
In the year 1819, certain of the people of Baton Rouge applied to friends in Boston for assistance in securing the services of the Church. In response, they sent out Mr. William Jennison, a licensed lay reader. He conducted the services and taught the young about three years.
On the 16th. March. 1820. the Legislature passed an Act in- corporating "The Episcopal congregation of Baton Rouge." The incorporators were : William Jennison, John Reid, Cornelius R. French, Wright Converse. George Steer, William Wikoff, Adam Winthrop, P. Pailhes. Charles Bushnell. and Lloyd Gilbert. The duration of the corporation was limited to ten years.
In 1830, Bishop Brownell says that "the principal people of Baton Rouge are Episcopalians. and are now supporting a Presby- terian clergyman. for the want of one of our own communion."
Yet no clergyman of the Church visited Baton Rouge previous to 1839, twenty years after the first establishment of the public services.
In 1839, the Rev. William B. Lacey, D. D., was elected pres- ident of the college, and at the same time the Rev. R. H. Ranney was made professor of languages and mathematics. These gentle-, men permanently established the services of the Church, January 1, 1840, alternating in their duties. The first service was held in the Presbyterian church. In the spring the services began to be held at the barracks, under the kind invitation of Lieut. Dearborn and other officers of the garrison. Messrs. William and Adam Winthrop presented the congregation a quarto Bible and a ser- aphina.
On the 14th June, 1841, Dr. Lacey resigned and Mr. Ranney took the entire charge of the services. There were then but five communicants. Mrs. Esther French. Mrs. Timothy Fay. Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Barker.
A meeting was held, February 25. 1843. at the residence of : F. D. Newcomb. There were present, the Rev. R. H. Ranney, Adam Winthrop, Daniel D. Avery, I. Hueston, P. Mortimer Enders (who was the secretary), Morris Morgan, F. D. Newcomb,
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
Cornelius R. French. William Markham. William M. Fulton. Henry K. Newcomb. Alfred Gates. James W. Wikoff and Joseph Fowler. A petition for charter was drawn up and Messrs. Now- comb and Markham were named as wardens : and Messrs. French. Gates, Avery. Fulton and A. A. Williams, as vestrymen.
The Legislature granted the charter. March 25. 1844. under the name of "St. James' Church. Baton Rouge."
About $1.200 was subscribed for the building of a church and about 8825 was raised by fairs held January 8th. 9th and 10th, and May 5th. Services were held at the garrison, court house and Presbyterian church.
On the 11th March. 1843. J. M. Brunot. Alfred Gates. 1. Hueston. JJoseph W. Fowler and D. D. Avery were appointed a building committee.
After the Ist March. 1844. the services were held at the res- idence of the rector.
On the 10th June. 1844. the building committee was super- seded by Messrs. Avery. Gates and George S. Lacey.
On the 15th June, 1844, the parish was admitted into union with the Convention, and was represented by Messrs. F. D. New- comb and William Markham. Thereafter. Mr. Markham was a constant attendant of the Councils of the Church. He was a member of more of the Councils of this Diocese than any other layman. From that of 1844. to that of 1884, he was a delegate. Then he rested from his labors, for God took him.
On the 25th January. 1845. Colonel P. Hickey and F. D. Con- verse proposed to lease to the Vestry the two lots corner Main (now Church ) and Convention streets, for ten years, at fifty dol- lars a year. and to convey them for $1.000. The proposition was accepted, and Messrs. Markham. Gates and Lacey were authorized to make a building contract with A. T. Wood. architect. On the 4th of February following. however, the contract was cancelled except as to the corner lot.
On the 8th April. 1845. Mr. Ranney resigned.
Mr. Avery became treasurer March 31, 1845. and Richard I. Loucks, secretary. On the 24th May, 1845, Messrs. Gates, Mark- ham and Newcomb were appointed a committee to procure a com- etery. A committee was also appointed at the same time to ar- range for the laying of the corner stone of the church. It was laid by Rev. A. H. Lamon, of West Baton Rouge, June 26, 1845. He
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
also officiated for the congregation during the vacancy in the rec- torate.
The first service in the new church was the inaugural service of the Diocesan Convention of 1846. held April 22d.
On the 7th February. 1846. the Rev. John Burke began to hold regular services. He was elected rector October 29. 1846. and about that time opened a school for boys.
On the 21st October. 1846. the Vestry requested the ladies to interest themselves in establishing a Sunday school. On the 7th February. 1846. J. M. Brunot became senior warden ; April 18. 1846. he was succeeded by William Markham : Alfred Gates was made junior warden : Timothy Fay, treasurer, and P. II. Moore. secretary.
In 1847. the Bishop decided the Easter election void. for the reason that lady pewholders were excluded from suffrage.
The church was consecrated May 23. 1847.
On the 5th July. 1847. Dr. C. R. French became senior war- den and F. D. Conrad, junior warden. The reception of a gift of $200 from William I. Minor, of Natchez, was acknowledged.
In 1848, the rector reported a steady increase of the congre- gation. and earnest and praiseworthy efforts of the choir. result- ing in a much improved character of the music.
Mr. Burke resigned April 9. 1849. In that year. George S. Lacey was elected senior warden : Oscar Barbee, junior warden ; Robert G. Beale, secretary, and Timothy Fay, treasurer.
On the 20th August. 1849, the Vestry called the Rev. G. H. Linebaugh, and he entered on his duties November 13th.
In 1850, the congregation was reported as more than quintup- led. In that year an Erben organ was purchased; a choir loft was built. Mr. Avery gave. July 7. 1851. four acres of ground with- in the corporate limits. for a rectory. but his gift was never utilized. Mr. Markham became again senior warden in 1851.
Mr. Linebaugh resigned January 6. 1852. and the Rev. JJ. S. Chadbourne took his ministry April 1. 1852. In this year. the exterior of the church was entirely renovated.
Mr. Chadbourne died in June. 1853, and the Rev. Edward C. Benson. of West Baton Rouge, took temporary charge of the parish.
On the 29th January, 1854, the Rev. Elijah Guion began to hold regular services. He became rector July 1, 1854. A semi-
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
nary for young ladies was opened, and conducted by the rector and his wife.
In 1856. the ladies of the congregation raised quite a sum of money towards the erection of a rectory, and April 11, 1857, paid $750 for a lot of ground immediately in the rear of the church, and after doing this had $200 left towards the building.
Frederick D. Tunnard was elected junior warden June 11, 1857. The church lot was paid for in January, 1858. Mrs. M. J. Linton gave 8200 to this object.
In 1859, the parish was reported as more prosperous than at any former period. The pews were all taken, and there were ap- plications for more accommodation than could be furnished. The communicants numbered 74. Mr. Guion resigned July 18. 1860. and was succeeded October 1. 1860. by the Rev. John Gierlow. The rectory was completed in 1861. Mr. Gierlow resigned July 1. 1862.
During the war and for several years afterwards. it was due largely to Miss Cornelia French. that even the Sunday school was kept together.
On the 3d April, 1866, A. B. Payne was elected junior war- den ; and April 29. 1867, William Henderson was chosen senior warden, and R. M. Walsh, junior warden. The Rev. John Philson became rector April 29, 1867, resigning August 29th. Oscar Barbee was made senior warden June 23. 1867. On the 30th June, 1867, the Vestry ordered the organ removed to the southeast corner of the nave.
On the 30th December. 1867, William Markham was again elected senior warden.
The Rev. Henry N. Strong. D. D., LL. D., became rector, March 22. 1868.
In 1869. a recess chancel was added to the church through the liberality of Dr. T. J. Buffington. A bell and a font were pur- chased the same year.
On the 7th April, 1872. Jacob West MeMain was made junior warden.
On the 29th March, 1874, the church was declared free.
Dr. Strong resigned April 10, 1876. Frederick D. Tunnard was elected junior warden in 1876. and John A. Dougherty in 1879.
The Rev. Charles Stewart became rector November 19, 1876. He resigned April 20, 1879.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
In 1879. Miss E. M. Waterbury, of New York, collected by subscription, a sufficient sum to purchase an elegant siver euchar- istic service.
On the 21st April, 1879, the Rev. Charles Goodrich, D.D .. became rector. R. S. Mccullough was elected junior warden June 9, 1879. The "Earnest Workers " gave $150, June 28, 1880. to paint the church. During the summer of 1880. the Rev. T. R. B. Trader had charge of the parish.
In 1881, the sum of three hundred dollars was spent on im- provements about the church, and in 1882, the church was re- painted at a cost of $170, and the rectory repaired at a cost of 8174. W. H. Stroube was elected junior warden April 10, 1883.
In 1884, a new organ was purchased for $500, and new win- dows for $500. On the 12th January, 1885, the Vestry ordered a tablet erected to the memory of William Markham, who for forty-four years had served the parish faithfully and well, and who had then lately fallen asleep. W. H. Stroube was elected senior warden in 1885, and W. M. Rhodus, junior warden ; and in 1886, Mr. Rhodos became senior warden, and S. W. Bacot. junior warden.
Dr. Goodrich resigned June 17, 1886, and was succeeded, October 28, 1886, by the Rev. Frederick S. DeMattos as the twelfth rector.
On the 20th January, 1887, a new altar was dedicated, the old one being given, as was subsequently the font, to Christ Church, Port Allen. A handsome granite font was received in October, 1887; a gift in memory of Thomas Williams, major 5th U. S. Ar- tillery, and brigadier general U. S. volunteers, killed in battle. near Baton Rouge, August 5, 1872. The basin of this font is six- teen by thirty-two inches. The gift is said to have cost $400.
In 1887, S. W. Bacot was elected senior warden, and G. N. Lamon, junior warden.
In 1888, S. I. Raymond was elected junior warden.
The work of the present rector and the progress of the parish are told by the increase of the communicants. There were sixty- one in 1886 ; there are one hundred and sixty-two in 1888. The present number of confirmed persons is one hundred and eighty- seven.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
GRACE CHURCH, ST. FRANCISVILLE.
THE Rev. William R. Bowman began the work of the Church in St. Francisville. in 1826, and his was the first clerical work in Louisiana, other than that of Mr. Chase and Mr. Hull in New Orleans.
At a meeting of the parishioners held March 15. 1827. a parish was organized. Thomas Butler and William Flower were the wardens, and Dr. Ira Smith. Dr. Edward H. Barton, Henry Flower. Francis Dabney. Robert Young, John Munholland, Lewis Stirling. Benjamin Muse House. Levi Blunt and John L. Lobdell, were the vestrymen.
At a meeting of the Vestry, held March 31st, Mr. Bowman was elected rector. In May. same year, Ira Smith. Edward H. Barton, William Gayoso Johnson, John Stirling and John L. Lobdell were elected a building committee. They made a contract with Mr. Willis * to erect. build and construct a church of briek, in a good substantial manner, with a solid foundation for such a build- ing, the said church to be twenty-one feet in height to the square. the walls to be eighteen inches in thickness, fifty feet long. thirty- eight feet wide, with a vestry room in the rear of brick: balcony in front. eighteen feet high; the front to be of brick, the remainder of wood; the roof of said vestry room and church to be covered with good shingles: good plained plank floors in the body of the church, in the negroes' department, the vestry room and the organ gallery; thirty-eight pews; one large double folding front door: two side folding doors entering into the negroes' apartment, and two doors to the vestry room, to be made of paneled work with mouldings. The sides of the building to have each four circular windows, with sixty lights each. the inside with monklings also, the circular banister and railing round the chancel, the stairway and the negroes' apartment. also the stairs leading to the organ gallery- to be finished on or before December 25. 1828. The sum of $3.217 to be paid to the said architect."
On the 10th September, 1827, the Vestry adopted a resolution declaring it expedient and proper to have the corner stone of the church laid with Masonic formalities. B. M. Honse, E. H.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
Barton and John L. Lobdell were appointed to carry the purpose of this resolution into effect.
The church, without ceiling, blinds or paint. was occupied in 1828 or 1829.
The original plot of ground. three hundred feet square. was a donation from Judge Chinn and Dr. Ira Smith.
An organ was also purchased at a cost of $600, of which amount Mrs. Bowman. wife of the rector, contributed one-half.
On the 7th February. 1829. the charter granted by the Legis- lature was promulgated. The Vestry remained the same as in 1827. with the exception of the substitution of JJames Turner, John Hanslock and John Stirling for Robert Young. JJohn Munholland, Levi Blunt and Lewis Sterling. The official title was " The Rector. Church Wardens and Vestrymen of Grace Church of the Parish of West Feliciana. in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America." This charter gave the Church authority to run a lottery, but in 1845 this provision. on the petition of the Church, was repealed.
On the 1st January, 1830. Bishop Brownell visited the parish. The next day. being Sunday, services were held. the Rev. John C. Porter assisting in them. The Bishop notes that there were "en- couraging prospects of success." This visit had a "salutary effect." and the next day $1. 100 was raised. a sum sufficient to complete the church.
This parish was represented by lay delegates in the Conven- tion held JJanuary 18. 1830, to organize the Diocese, and assisted in that act.
The ill health of the rector caused an interruption of the ser- vices from about the middle of September. 1833. to near the 1st May, 1834.
The parish, represented by Dr. E. H. Barton, also took a part in the Diocesan Convention of January 20. 1835. In that year there were " eight or ten communicants."
On the 30th August. 1835, the Rev. Mr. Bowman died.
Subsequently, for a few months, the Rev. N. W. Monroe had charge of the parish. From May 14 to November. 1837. the Rev. R. H. Ranney was in charge. He accepted the rectorship March 2. 1838, resigning it June 1, but remaining in charge until March 1. 1839. The Rev. Spenser Wall held two services for him during this time.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
The church was consecrated by Bishop Kemper, February 15. 1838. In this service. the Rev. D. S. Lewis assisted the Bishop.
The parish was one of the three uniting in the Convention of April 28. 1838, that organized the Diocese. It was represented on that occasion by Thomas Butler and William D. Boyle.
The first visit of Bishop Polk was made May 3. 1839. when he confirmed three persons.
On the 10th July. 1839, the Rev. Daniel S. Lewis took charge of the parish.
On the 10th May. 1840, there were ten confirmed at the second visit of Bishop Polk. In the interval of his absence, the church had been enlarged and refitted, giving it "a very handsome appear- anee." A communicant had also given a very superior organ. There were then twenty-five communicants.
In 1842. a service of plate, for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. was presented to the Church.
In 1844. the Sunday school library received a liberal dona -. tion from Mrs. Sargeant, of Philadelphia, and about $1,000 was raised by a fair and applied towards discharging a debt.
In 1845. services for the colored people were reported as held nearly every Sunday evening.
In September, 1847. the senior warden. Hon. Thomas Butler, died. He was a good man, and devoutly loved his Church. His unaffected piety and conciliatory disposition. his sound Church principles and discriminating judgment. will long be remem- bered. He died while on his way. as a delegate. to the General Convention.
In 1850. died his successor in office. Dr. Ira Smith. Uniform liberality and devoted love of the Church were eminently charac- teristic of him. In the same year died also John D. Powell. The parish lost in him, one, whose devoted Christian piety. sound Church principles and an uncommonly amiable disposition, united with a refined and highly cultivated mind. had given promise of extensive usefulness in the Church of Christ.
In November, 1854, the Rev. Caleb Dowe became assistant minister, and was assigned to the care of gathering and organizing a chapel in the upper part of the parish. This congregation after- wards organized as a parish, and its history will be found under the head of St. Mary's Church. West Feliciana.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
In 1855. the church grounds were enclosed with an iron fence of adequate strength and great beauty. and were also otherwise improved at an expense of $6.000. Within the enclosure sleep the precious dead. The original church had. in the meanwhile. been enlarged.
In October. 1856. the Rev. Mr. Dowe resigned. and the rector took charge of all the parish services, those of the parish church. of St. Mary's Chapel and of two congregations of colored persons on the estates, respectively. of Mrs. Ira Smith and Mrs. H. Mathews. About a year subsequently. the chapel became an independent parish, with its own rector.
In 1858. many handsome memorials of the dead were placed in the grounds, noted already for their great natural beauty. It was also determined to erect a new church of enlarged dimensions, and in a chaste and beautiful style.
On the 9th June. 1858, the Bishop laid the corner stone of the new church. near the place where the old church had been stand- ing.
The destructive forces of the civil war spent themselves in full force upon the church and parish. The church was a target for gunboats, and their shells worked no small havoe within the sacred walls. The congregation was dispersed and services even were held, only occasionally, in private houses. The people were reduced from affluence to comparative want. In 1861. there were seventy white and twenty-seven colored communicants: in 1866. thirty white and two colored communicants.
On Easter day, in 1866. the church having been partially re- stored. services in it were resumed. The Rev. Dr. Lewis resigned in November of that year.
Writing in February. 1867. the Bishop notes that under the most adverse circumstances the congregation were laboring to pro- vide for the accommodation and maintenance of a clergyman.
In 1867. the Rev. Richard Johnson took charge of the parish, together with four other congregations. Ile resigned in 1869.
On the 1st February. 1870. the Rev. M. M. Dillon became rector. He found the parish in a sad state of disorganization. Mr. Dillon resigned March 1. 1872. In his last report he stated that there had been a great and marked improvement in the spir- itual condition of the parish. There were then one hundred and ten communicants.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
The Rev. A. G. Bakewell became rector of Grace Church. and parts adjacent, in September, 1872.
The Ladies' Aid Society was organized in 1874. and at once began a great. good work.
In 1880, the outside of the church was put in thorough re- pair.
In 1881. Mr. Samuel MeC. Laurason was appointed lay reader.
In 1882, a Church Repairing Association was formed. Mrs. L. B. Johnson was president and treasurer; H. C. Leake, secretary. The Executive Committee was S. Me C. Laurason. R. E. Butler and Angust Fisher. More than thirty members united with it. and one of the contributions was a hundred dollars, from a lady.
In 1883, the parish received a bequest of $12,000 by last will of Mrs. Laurason, and, as paid in, this amount was used in the restoration of the church edifice, etc.
Mr. Bakewell resigned in January, 1884.
In 1885. the neat and commodions rectory was built.
During the vacancy in the rectorship, the Rev. E. W. Hunter held a number of services.
In April. 1886, the Rev. William K. Douglas. S. T. D .. be- came the seventh rector.
During the year ensuing. the work of restoration was contin- ued. The organ was rebuilt, the church furnished with a pair of gothic chairs and a marble altar cross, the gift of a zealous pa- rishioner, and altar candlesticks, also a gift. A society of little girls, this year, contributed more than one hundred newly made garments to the Diocesan Orphans' Home, and the ladies sent out "a box." under direction of the Woman's Auxiliary, to the Board of Missions, besides presenting the rector a horse, saddle and car- riage.
The parish has been represented in the Councils of the Diocese four or more times. by Thomas Butler, seven times : Dr. Ira Smith, four times; Joseph J. Weems, four times: John Dale Powell. four times: W. D. Hatch, four times ; Pierce Butler. four times.
GOOD SHEPHERD MISSION .- Services were held first in 1875. in the house of Mr. Abner Robert, on the Big Bayou Sara. Frank E. Evans was appointed lay reader, and services were held every Sunday. Soon afterwards a chapel was built at a cost of less than
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
$70 00. In 1879, the rector at Woodville. Mississippi, the Rev. J. W. Turner, took charge of the mission. but shortly afterwards it was discontinued on account of the removal of the families in attendance.
TUNICA .- This mission was commenced in 1876. Service was held in the Tunica Hills, at the residence of Mrs. Row. It has been discontinued.
AFTON VILLA .- The boarding school near St. Francisville. under this name. was the place of this mission. The rector began to hold a monthly service there in 1877. It is not now main- tained.
ST. BARNABAS'. LAKELAND .- Services were held first in 1878. They were continued until 1882, when they were suspended on ae- count of overflow. They have not since been renewed.
ST. PHILIP'S .- This mission was established in 1879, but not long maintained.
THE CORNER. - Services were first held at the confluence of Big and Little Bayons Sara. in a private house. in 1879, but were not continued.
COOLEY'S .- The mission was opened in 1879. It was near. though not quite on the ground. occupied many years before by St. Peter's Church, Morganza. At the time of the re-establish- ment of the services, there had been none for twenty or thirty years. They were held in a private house. The high water of 1882 caused a cessation of the services, and they have not since been revived.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
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ST. MARY'S CHURCH, FRANKLIN.
IN 1830. by the advice of Bishop Brownell, then in New Or- leans, the Rev. Spenser Wall went to Franklin. He held services in the court house. He resigned in 1834. Then there is a long period without service-ten years, until May 19. 1844-when the Bishop officiated, baptizing two infants. He takes note that "in Franklin and vicinity, there are many persons who prefer the services of our Church to those of any other; and who have re- solved to take measures to erect a church edifice and provide means for the support of a clergyman. The character of the population warrants the expectation, that the day is not distant when a flourishing congregation may. under the Lord's blessing, be established."
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