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 7
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In that year. the Rev. Edward A. Renouf, of Massachusetts, officiated for about six months. supported by the Foreign and Domestic Missionary Society. In this year. also. the Rev. JJohn Burke held several services.
In 1846. the Rev. Samuel G. Litton settled in Franklin. His first celebration of the Holy Eucharist was on Whitsunday, May 31st. Those who communicated that day were : Isaac Trowbridge. Mrs. Hall. Mrs. Carey. Mrs. Dwight Lent and Mrs. S. G. Litton.
The parish was organized in 1846. The vestrymen were : Isaac Trowbridge, Richard Wilkins. Judge Palfrey. Captain Gates and Dr. Lyman.
On the 14th April. 1847. the parish was admitted into union with the Convention of the Diocese, and was represented by Stephen Duncan and Isaac Trowbridge.
In 1847. a brick church was commenced. The pews. pulpit and desk were to be procured from the North. An attempt was made to establish a Sunday school, but failed. owing to inability to procure a suitable room.
In 1849, the church was nearly completed. On the 17th August. the rector died. Mr. Litton was greatly beloved and deeply lamented. His pious and amiable deportment and su- perior clerical talents accomplished much for the Church in that parish.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
The minister at New Iberia, Rev. W. H. Burton. began at once occasional visits : in January. 1850, regular services on alter- nate Sundays.
In October. 1850. the Rev. C. S. Hedges became rector. The Rev. R. G. Hayes came to Franklin also about this time, and established a school for boys. This school was in operation about a year.
In 1852, the ladies began to collect means for the erection of a rectory, and made ". most landable exertions to raise the funds."
On the 5th June, 1853. Mr. Hedges resigned. There were then sixteen communicants,
At Easter. April 16. 1854. Rev. W. H. Burton took charge of the parish, giving one Sunday a month to New Iberia. Mr. Burton resigned at Easter. April 8. 1855. and on the 1st June of that year. Rev. John Woart became rector. There were then fifty pupils in the Sunday school. In this year. the rectory was built. the first in Louisiana. and an organ was purchased. Subsequently. the rectory was enlarged. In this year. also. the church was painted-the entire interior, to represent oak : and the grounds were neatly enclosed. The necessary money was also raised to pay off the indebtedness.
In 1856. the rector reported preaching a number of times to the colored population in the neighborhood. and officiating onee a month. on week days, at Jeannerette and New Iberia. A mis- sionary collection was made the last Monday in every month.
On the 6th July, 1856. the church was consecrated.
In 1857. there was reported an increasing disposition of the people to sustain the Church. The Sunday school presented to the rector a marble font. In this font we have an illustration of the strange admixture in this world of the durable and the transi- tory. The font has passed safely through the fires and storms that carried ruin all around it. and still stands to be the laver of regeneration, at which many a soul receives the gift of a new life, that is everlasting. Yet its inscription ever preaches that what seems to give promise of longest indurance in this world is often but for a season. It was given to " John Woart." in evident expectation that he was to be the perpetual rector and baptizer. but he resigned December 1. 1857.
On the 1st January, 1858. Rev. J. Wood Dunn became rec- tor. In that year. he organized three congregations of colored .
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
persons ; one in Franklin, one on the Duncan, and one on the Porter estate. The ladies of the congregation gave a silver sacra- mental service.
In 1859. the rector organized the Rugby school for boys, using every means to make it an institution of high order, engaging teachers in numbers sufficient to instruct a large school.
In 1861. Mr. Dunn resigned the parish to devote his whole time to the school.
During the troublons time of the civil war. services were maintained. as regularly as circumstances would permit. by Mr. Homer H. Smith, a lay reader. The church and rectory remained unmutilated. being damaged only by neglect and the lapse of time.
On Sunday. April 9. 1865. the Rev. C. W. Hilton took charge of the parish. The Sunday school had been reorganized a few weeks previously. There were then seventeen communicants and one hundred pupils in the Sunday school. The rector was absent once a month. at New Iberia.
In January. 1867. the Bishop visited Franklin. ·· Few things." he says. " have caused me more regret than to learn that the church school in this parish, which owed its existence to the large heart and self-denying labors of the Rev. J. W. Dunn, was likely to succumb under the load of debt. Had this war been averted. this institution would have proved a great success."
In 1869, the number of communicants reached seventy-five.
Mr. Hilton resigned January 1. 1870. Very soon afterward. February 21. fire destroyed the church building. Nothing being saved but the Bible, prayer books, altar service and font. The Bishop visiting there in March. service was held in the court house. " This calamity." he says. " following the recent loss of their minister. had east a gloom over the congregation, but their love and zeal had lost none of their fervor : a subscription had been already begun in the community for the restoration of the church."
The debris and brick were sold for $400, of which $250 was used to pay Miss Frazier for her claims on the church lot. The Ladies' Mite Society. up to April. 1871. collected $525 for organ and furniture for the new church. For repairs on rectory and fencing. $190 were paid.
The Rev. R. W. Micon was appointed to this charge. May 14. 1871. The services were held at first in the furniture warerooms
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
of Alfred S. Gates, the senior warden. and afterwards in Rugby school house, until April. 1872.
In September. 1871. the new church, of frame, was com- menced. The congregation raised 82.307 50, and $150 was con- tributed from beyond the parish. Especial praise was due to Messrs. Alfred S. Gates and Homer H. Smith. to whose energy and liberality the success of the building was chiefly attributable. The first service was held in the new church April 7. 1872. It was completed in September of that year. The whole cost was $7.000. all of which was raised in the parish. save $800. The Ladies' Mite Society gave the organ and the carpet: the Rev. Arthur Lawrence gave an Oxford Bible, and Miss Mary Porter the altar service and prayer books. The amount of indebtedness on the completion of the church was $1.421. of which $500 was due the Goodrich Fund. and 8921 to the wardens, who had gener- ously relieved the building from all outside claims.
On the 9th July, 1873. the church was struck by lightning and very seriously damaged. Among those who came to the assist- ance of the parish in this emergency. were Bishop Wilmer. Rev. Dr. Saul and Mr. Charles Morgan. All damages were repaired in the course of the year. and the debt to the wardens was reduced to $225.
Mr. Micon resigned April 6. 1874. The lay reader. Mr. Homer H. Smith, read the service during the vacancy. as also during subsequent vacancies, and thus the song of praise has been con- stantly maintained. The congregation did not relax their efforts. and this year paid off the debt due the wardens.
The Rev. R. S. Stuart took charge of the parish in April. 1875, and continued until January. 1876. During his incumbency the church was consecrated.
In 1876. the Rev. George R. Upton became rector. He also served New Theria. During this period of distress half the ree- tor's stipend was contributed by Mr. Libby, of New York. Mr. Upton resigned in 1876.
On the 21st January. 1877. the Rev. Caleb Dowe came to reside in Franklin. and on the 2d April was elected rector. During the year. the church and rectory were repaired and re- painted at a cost of $525.
Mr. Dowe left the parish June 30. 1878. but did not resign until December 1. The church was badly damaged by a storm.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
September 1. 1879. It was partially repaired at a cost of $400.
The Rev. L. Y. Jessup became rector July 1. 1880, but owing to illness did not re-establish regular services until November.
In 1881. the church was repaired and repainted at a cost of 8500, and furniture to the amount of $500 was placed in the rec- tory. In the spring of 1882, an unprecedented flood swept over the land and completely crippled the parish.
Mr. Jessup resigned July 1, 1883. There were then but twenty-four communicants.
The Rev. Julius W. Bleker took charge of the parish in July. 1885. and subsequently became the thirteenth rector.
In 1886, the chancel and aisles of the church were re-carpeted, the rectory roof re-shingled, and the interior improved; and in 1887. further repairs and improvements were made upon the-rec- tory. The present number of confirmed persons is seventy-two.
BAYOU SALÉ .- In 1850, the Rev. W. H. Burton was resident in Bayon Sale. and in 1851 he reports that he had been princi- pally engaged there and at Centreville. "The population on the bayon is thought," said he, "to be sufficiently numerous to call for most of his attention. They have a church edifice." There was, however, but one communicant. one candidate for confirma- tion, and one person had been baptized. In 1854, Mr. Burton became rector at Franklin, resigning in 1855, and then he resumed his residence on Bayon Salé. His work there was largely on the plantations of Mrs. Hurd and Mr. Benjamin Hudson. In 1856, he reported over one hundred baptisms. Mr. Burton continned his ministrations until he left the Diocese in 1860. Since that time, Bayon Sale has been recognized as a part of St. Mary's Church, Franklin, the people having been regularly ministered to by its rectors, and all official acts consolidated with the return from that parish.
CENTREVILLE .- As noted above, services were first holden here by Rev. Mr. Burton, and after his departure the congrega- tion was taken in charge by the rector at Franklin. In 1867, Mr. Hilton stated that most of the baptisms reported that year for the parish were for that congregation.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
L'ÉGLISE DE LA RÉSURRECTION. NOUVELLE ORLÉANS.
Otherwise. FRENCH EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CHURCH.
There was established abont. or perhaps previous to, 1830, a congregation of French speaking Protestants. They worshipped in a brick church. corner of Rampart and Bienville streets. They had been served by the Rev. Messrs. Du Fernex and C. Leiris. ministers not in Holy Orders. Of Mr. Leiris we only know that he was a Switzer. his wife a native of Lausanne. He maintained a parochial school. The interior of the church. we learn. was very plain. with a " sentry box " pulpit.
This congregation. in 1834. invited the Rev. Raymond A. Henderson, a priest of the Church, to minister to them. He arrived in New Orleans in the company of Bishop Brownell. De- cember 3. 1834. " His labors, " he said. " were commenced under circumstances of peculiar difficulty and discouragement." There was a debt of $6.000, "which, though small compared to the value of the church edifice, the parsonage and ground. threatens to destroy this important institution."
Services were held in both French and English. and instrue- tion given in the Sunday school to fifty pupils in French, Spanish and English.
The Diocesan Convention of 1835 passed this resolution :
" Resolved, That the French Evangelical Church in this city (New Orleans), on acceding to the Constitution and Canons of the' Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of Louisiana, be admitted into union with this Convention, under the name of the Church De La Résurrection in the city of New Orleans."
This odd mingling of the tongues is a true copy from the original.
Shortly after this, the congregation seems to have gone to pieces. Their organ was sold to St. Paul's Church, and afterwards a debt due on it was forgiven. This latter action was taken in 1842. The organization was. therefore, evidently maintained.
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
On the 1st April. 1847. the Rev. Thomas D. Ozanne began a weekly service. in French. on Sundays. at 1 P. M .. in Christ Church. The old building appears, therefore, to have been lost.
On the 3d May, 1848, the congregation was admitted to union with the Convention under the title " L' Eglise Protestante Française."
The Consistory. or Vestry, secured the old building and sue- ceeded in fitting it up. Services were resumed in the church November 1, 1848.
On the Ist April, 1849. Mr. Ozanne resigned.
In December. 1849. the Rev. C. H. Williamson became rector.
In 1851. there were forty-five communicants. In 1853. the church was greatly improved, through the liberality of wealthy citizens.
Mr. Williamson resigned in September, 1856. In March, 1857, Mr. François Louis Michel. a Switzer, was appointed lay reader.
This congregation was made up of such Protestants, of various names, as had the French for their mother tongue. Fearing ex- tinction in isolation, they sought protection by mion with the Church. They were received with cordiality. provided with the means for reclaiming and repairing their house of worship, and clergymen secured for them, natives of Guernsey and France. During their connection, over $10,000 was spent by the Church on the mission. A great difficulty lay in the fact, that most of the congregation were familiar with a liturgy different from ours, and found it difficult to accept the translation of our liturgy. They accordingly applied to the Bishop for permission to use their own liturgy. The Bishop could find no power under the canons to grant the request. " notwithstanding the seriptural and otherwise unexceptionable character of their liturgy."
It then became a question with Mr. Michel how far. what he esteemed his duty to God and his countrymen, required him to persist in his purpose to receive Holy Orders. He finally concluded to withdraw from candidacy, and organize the congregation on the Swiss model. To this the Bishop could interpose no objection. The Vestry loaned the church to the congregation, and as inde- pendents they started on their career. It was a short one, ending in disaster, the sale of the church and the dispersion of the con-
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gregation. Subsequent to Mr. Miehel's pastorship. Professor Mare Roux had charge of the congregation.
What a pity the idea was not more prevalent then that the Bishop and the Church are more than is implied in the name by which we are known in official correspondence. A broader concep. tion of duty and responsibility might have saved that congregation- As a parish in union with the Convention. the Bishop could not do otherwise than enforce the use of the Book of Common Prayer. It was right that the bond of union with the Convention should be severed. It was not right that they should forsake the communion of the Catholie Bishop of Louisiana. A modus vivendi ought to have been found. It might seem quite impossible to the Church- men of that day it would, thank God, be readily discovered now, for we have found that to be the best Episcopalians, we must be something more than Protestants-Protestants. but more than Protestants.
Investigation was made, in 1871, into the claims of the Church on the property, and in 1872. it was reported to the Council that it was a matter of record that the property "had been regularly sold under mortgage during the war." and that it was impossible that it could be reclaimed. It is not known whether an account- ing was ever made by the corporation in liquidation.
In 1874, the parish was dropped from the register.
The congregation were represented from time to time in the Convention of the Diocese, by Messrs. L. C. Duncan. three times; G. B. Duncan, twice; Engene Monneron, Eugene Bonnet, Emile Hirsch and A. Barbey.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
TRINITY CHURCH, NEW ORLEANS.
ON the 19th April, 1835, the Rev. James A. Fox began this mission. The first service was held in " Paulding's Church," on Lafayette Square, opposite the present site of the City Hall. The communicants that day were Mrs. Ann Morton, Miss Maria Foar- niquet, Miss Leah Dow, Mrs. Emma L. Fox, Mrs. Amy B. Ran dolph, Mrs. Hutchison, Miss Whitlock, Miss Hutchison, Miss Watrous, Mrs. Gow, Mrs. Brown. Mrs. McCormick and Mrs. Mar- tin.
Services were maintained in the above place until July, when they were moved to the rector's residence, southeast corner of Carondelet and Lafayette streets. There they continued until September, when they were "suspended pro tempore." But they were never afterwards revived.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, NEW ORLEANS.
In 1836, the Rev. J. T. Wheat was apppointed, by the Mis- sionary Society, "a missionary in the upper portion of New Or- leans." He entered on his duties in November, 1836. Several gentlemen of ardent piety rallied to his support. Chief among them was William F. Brand, afterwards a distinguished priest in Maryland, Judge Thomas N. Morgan and Major Grayson, U. S. A. Services were first held in a schoolroom near Tivoli Circle, now Lee Place, and from the beginning there was a respectable eon- gregation. Mr. Charles Goodrich, then a theologieal student, being on a visit to New Orleans, where he had grown up, gave valuable assistance, and thus, even before ordination, his name was connected with the active work of the effort, an effort which, as we shall see presently. failed. but was again revived by him and then carried on to success.
Services were moved after a while to a warehouse on Julia street, and finally, to Camp street, where a parish was first organ- ized. The Vestry were John Messenger, senior warden ; Augus- tine Slaughter, junior warden : John H. B. Morton, Thomas N. Morgan and John B. Grayson. Subscriptions, to the amount of $40,000, were collected to build, when the financial crisis of 1837 fell upon the land, and the largest subscribers were among the heaviest sufferers. The indefinite postponement of the enterprise was the result. Mr. Wheat resigned July 25, 1837.
The organization was, however, preserved intaet, and the parish was one of three that organized the Diocese on the 28th April. 1838.
In 1838, the Rev. Charles Goodrich was invited to revive the work. On his arrival in the fall, services were re-established in a school house on Clio street.
In the Convention of 1839. the parish was represented by Mr. Brand and Mr. Thomas Sloo, Jr., who for many years bore a most prominent part in the history of the parish.
During the summer of 1839, a church building was erected at the corner of Camp and Bartholemew, now Gaiennie, streets. The building was a very neat and convenient edifiee, The organ
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
was purchased from the French Evangelical Church. The silver used in celebrating the Lord's Supper was kindly loaned by Mrs. George W. Pritchard.
The parish was incorporated February 14, 1840, the incorpo- rators being William M. Goodrich. George W. Pritchard, John B. Grayson, Richard Swain, Robert Layton, Charles Henshaw, C. Adams. Thomas Meux. Thomas N. Morgan, John Messenger. Thomas Sloo, Jr., and William F. Brand.
The church was consecrated March 29, 1840. There were then thirty-one communicants.
In the report for 1842. notice is taken of the release of the parish from the debt of $500 due on the organ. This gift was procured, said the rector, by L. C. Duncan, Esq.
In 1843, the Ladies' Sewing Circle raised $2,200 at a fair.
In 1845, a large school house for the Sunday school was erected. .
In 1846, classes were set apart in the Sunday school for col- ored children, numbering twenty-five, which increased in 1847 to forty.
On the 1st August, 1847, the Rev. Mr. Goodrich, on account of sickness in his family, accepted a leave of absence, and the Rev. Charles Fay took charge of the parish. In the year following. the rector resumed his duties.
In 1853, a contract was let for a new church edifice on the lot occupied by the first church. It was to be of brick, in the Nor- man style of architecture, clere-story, open-timbered ceiling; the cost to be $45,000. By the liberality of one or two members of the parish, four lots were purchased on Hercules, now South Ram- part, and Euterpe streets. and it was determined to remove the materials of the old church and re-erect them for the use of a new parish to be called "St. John's." This was done, and the parish was constituted under the name of " St. Luke's."
The first service in the new church was held December 24, 1854.
In 1859, a new organ was purchased at a cost of $4,300.
In October, 1862, the rector was interrupted in his ministra- tions by military order and exiled. During his absence, the Rev. Elijah Guion had charge of the parish. This arrangement con- tinued from January 1, 1863, to September 1, 1865, when the rector resumed his office.
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The condition of the parish then was very discouraging. The congregation had been dispersed. Those that remained were nearly all greatly impoverished by the war. But by faithful work the rector gathered again his sheep and restored the parish to a position of strength.
He found it necessary, however, to ask a leave of absence in 1867; and July 1st, the Rev. William F. Adams took charge of the parish. In 1868, Dr. Goodrich resigned. and Mr. Adams was elected rector.
In 1869, tribute was made to the very fine choir, who cheer- fully and in all weathers, withont money and without price, led the anthems of praise with heart and voice and cultured skill. The Sunday school at this time was in the charge of Messrs. James MeConnell and E. Wallace Hunter. The senior warden, Mr. Thomas Sloo, venerable in years, did much service in all depart- ments of church work, but none more than in the Sunday school. His punctual and constant attendance and his guileless spirit did much for the children by way of example. The teach- ers of the school were blessings to the rector. Reared beneath the gentle and loving pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Goodrich, they taught the love of God not alone with their lips.
In 1869, the Parish Aid Society placed in position a large and ornate chaneel window, at a cost of $2, 400, and improved the chan- cel at an expense of some $600 additional. A parish school was also established.
On Ascension Day, May 26, 1870, the church was conse- crated.
In 1870, the Sunday school presented a handsome font of Italian marble, and the church was re-carpeted.
On the 17th January, 1875, Mr. Adams was consecrated Bishop of New Mexico. and resigned the parish.
During the vacancy that followed. the Rev. G. R. Upton had charge of the parish.
In 1875, the Rev. H. H. Waters became the fourth rector.
In 1877, the indebtedness of the parish was reduced by $4, 721. and by smaller sums, until the year 1882, when $12.689 67 was contributed to that object.
In 1882-1883, the Rev. H. MeN. Minton was assistant min- ister.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
In 1883, a rectory. No. 10 Polymnia street, was acquired.
In 1885, the church was enlarged by the addition of a com- modious study.
In 1886. the Rev. Dr. Goodrich, who may well be said to have made St. Paul's, was elected rector emeritus.
St. Paul's has been noted for the Episcopal elections held within its walls. On the 18th May, 1866, Bishop Wilmer was elected in St. Paul's: January 30. 1879, Bishop Wingfield; No- vember 12. 1879, Bishop Galleher. The first Convention presided over by Bishop Polk. that of 1842, also met in St. Paul's.
The parish has been represented in all the Councils of the Diocese by forty-five gentlemen. of whom the following have served four or more times, to-wit : Messrs. Thomas Sloo, four times: J. W. Andrews, four times; John B. Murison, twelve times; James McConnell, twenty-nine times ; Thomas Henderson, eight times; B. Biscoe, thirteen times; W. G. Coyle. seventeen times : Sawyer Hayward, seven times, and Samuel R. Rogers, C. M. Whitney and Edwin Belknap, four times each.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
ST. JAMES CHURCH, ALEXANDRIA.
Bishop Brownell. in 1830. makes mention of Alexandria as a place where the Church could probably be established.
In 1838, the Board of Missions, in reporting to the General Convention, said, under the head of Louisiana : "There is but one station recognized at present in this State, Alexandria and Natch. itoches, and that is without a missionary." Nothing can be found among the archives of the Board or the local traditions to explain who the missionary was that established the station, or what he did ; but it would scarcely have been recorded unless estab- lished by some one.
On the 4th April, 1839, Alexandria was visited by Bishop Polk. He learned that "the friends of the Church were few, but desirous of the services of a minister."
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