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 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
In 1842, the Rev. John Burke, of Natchitoches, records the distribution of prayer books at Alexandria.
On the 5th May, 1844, the Bishop confirmed eight persons. A congregation was organized, " which," said the Bishop, "bids fair to be an inviting field for labor, and one of importance in the Diocese." The project of building a church was then mooted for the first time.
On the 15th June, 1844, the parish was admitted into union with the Convention.
Mr. Burke continued to visit Alexandria until October, 1844, when he resigned. His successor at Natchitoches, the Rev. Elijah Guion, continued his work at Alexandria, also.
There were twelve communicants in 1846.
On the 28th November, 1847. the Rev. A. D. McCoy became the first rector. The services were held in the court house. Each Sunday there were three services, that at night specially for the colored people, who attended in large numbers.
The meeting to accept the articles prepared for incorporation was held March 6, 1848. At this meeting Dr. John P. Davidson was elected senior warden; Dr. Stokes A. Smith, junior warden ; Smith W. Gordon, Dr. Thomas H. Maddox, Montford Wells, Willis Bonner, Otho W. Nally, Cary H. Blanchard, John K. Elgee,
88
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
Josiah Chambers, Henry Machen and Gwinn Harris, Vestry- men. A committee. Messrs. Wells, Machen, Bonner, Blanchard, Davidson and Harris, was appointed to procure subscriptions for the support of the rector and the building a church. Messrs. Samuel K. Johnson and O. W. Nally were subsequently added to the committee.
On the 1st April, Messrs. Davidson and Elgee were appointed to procure a building site, and the rector and Messrs. Davidson, Cummings, Maddox, Nally, Elgee and Williams, a building com- mittee. At the same meeting, the rector and Messrs. Gordon. Bonner, Blanchard. Wells, H. C. Weems, J. T. Flint and David- son were instructed "to raise funds to procure land and buildings, and to make all necessary arrangements for the establishment of a school for females at Cotile."
A lot was purchased at the corner of Second and, what was afterwards named, St. James street. There had been subscribed at this time for the building $4,200.
On the 7th August, 1848, the Rapides Academy went into operation under the Rev. Elijah Guion as principal.
On the 9th April. 1849, a contract was authorized for brick for the church, with Messrs. Ariail, at a price not to exceed seven dollars a thousand.
In 1849, a silver eucharistie service was purchased by the ladies, at a cost of $200. Apart from the intense interest eentred in these pieces of silver by reason of their continuous use to this day, they have a history of their own. On the occasion of the first invasion of the Federal army during the Civil War, they were secreted in his garden by Father Bellier, parish priest of St. Francis Xavier's Church, of the Roman obedience. And again, on the occasion of the second invasion, they were placed in the under- ground eistern at the residence of Dr. Davidson, and secreted by the falling, during the burning of the town, of a tin roof over the cistern. The same cistern now serves the rectory of the parish.
In 1849, mention was made of the very liberal aid extended by Mr. Meredith Calhoun towards the church and seminary.
In 1850, a Sunday school was organized, Mr. Hiram Hilton being superintendent.
89
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
The Rev. Mr. Guion resigned the charge of the seminary May 31. 1850. and the rector took temporary charge. Dr. J. J. Myers became principal in 1851.
The overflow of 1849, followed by those of 1850 aud 1851, retarded the progress of the building of the church by erippling the subscribers.
The corner stone of St. James' Church was laid November 1. 1851. Morning service was said at the court house. Then a procession was formed-the Rector, Church Wardens, Vestrymen, Police Jury, Mayor and Trustees of Alexandria, Oliver Lodge No. 84, F. and A. Masons. Rapides Lodge, I. O. O. F., and citi- zens. The processional was Psalm CXXII, Lactatus Sum. Ar- rived on the grounds, there was an exhortation and prayers, ceremonies of placing the corner stone, Psalm CXXV. Laudate Nomen, the Gloria in Excelsis, the Benediction. This was followed by Masonic ceremonies proper to the occasion.
In May, 1852, the Bishop confirmed, at a visitation, one hun- dred and forty-six persons, the largest number ever presented by any one clergyman at one time in Louisiana. He held services on this visitation on the estates of Mr. E. H. Flint ; of the then late General Overton ; Dr. T. H. Maddox; at the Seminary, Cotile ; Cheneyville, estate of Mrs. Williams, and of Mr. Kelsoe.
In 1853, the rector made missionary visits to Opelousas, Washington and Natchitoches. He reported in April the rafters of the church roof in place. In that year, the Bishop stated that the number of the sons of Africa to whom the rector ministered, was larger than that of any similar mission in the whole country.
The church was occupied April 9, 1854. It was a Byzantine building, forty by seventy feet, with a gallery across the front end. All the woodwork of the interior was grained oak. The body of the windows was of French ground glass, and the borders variegated stained glass. The whole interior presented a very inviting aspect. The communicants were then thirty-seven whites and one hundred and sixty-five colored persons.
In April, 1854, the Vestry sold to Henry Robertson, who then owned the adjoining property, a piece of the church grounds, ten by two hundred feet in depth, for something over sixteen dollars a front foot.
The church was consecrated Tuesday, June 13, 1854. It stood a monument of the untiring devotion and zeal of the faithful
90
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
rector, to whose patience and faith and labor the people were mainly indebted for its erection.
In October, 1854, the Protestant Episcopal Association asked for the services of Mr. McCoy in collecting the endowment funds of the Diocese, and during his absence. the Rev. F. H. Holeman had charge of the parish, December 1. 1854 to March 1, 1855, and the Rev. N. C. Pridham from March 1 to June 1, 1855.
In 1855, a church bell was purchased for $300, by Ralph S. Smith and Hiram Hilton, as a committee.
On the 7th January, 1856, Dr. Myers was dismissed as prin- cipal of the seminary. The Vestry sold the property to Mr. James H. Dawson, and ordered a pro rata distribution of the pro- ceeds among the creditors, from which it is inferred, the school had consumed itself.
In 1856, St. James inaugurated her chapel system-Trinity, Cheneyville and Mount Olivet, Pineville, were established. In 1857. there were eleven congregations in the St James parish-at the parish church : in Cheneyville and Pineville ; seven of colored servants served by the rector, and an eighth, at or near where Colfax now stands, on the plantation of Mr. Calhoun, served by the Rev. N. L. Garfield, private chaplain, assisted occasionally by the rector.
On the 5th October, 1857, Dr. Davidson and Mr. Hilton were instructed to receive subscriptions for the building of a rectory on the church site, an object deferred, however, in its execution twenty-six years.
On the 23d November, 1857, the Rev. Caleb Dowe was elected rector, in place of the Rev. Mr. MeCoy, resigned. Thus ended the rectorship of Mr. McCoy, but not the grateful recollections of his works and labors of love. Zeal and faith consumed him, and his labors are yet themes of household talk, and the tale of them goes among the traditions of Rapides Parish.
On the 8th March, 1858. the Vestry purchased, for the sum of seven hundred dollars, between five and six acres in Pineville. It was then laid off as a cemetery.
In 1858, there were two hundred and seventy-four commmi- cants, of whom fifty-nine were white.
On the 9th April, 1860, the Vestry adopted resolutions of thanks to Mr. Thomas C. Manning, treasurer, for the efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties assigned to him.
91
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
Mr. C. Doll was engaged as organist at a salary of $200 per annum. Dr. Davidson was instructed "to find out the sense of the congregation and community on the subject of building a rectory and enclosing the church with a fenee."
In 1859. the chapel congregation at Cheneyville was organ- ized into an independent parish. and seven communicants were transferred from the register of St. James.
The parish was visited by Bishop Lay, at request of the Dio- cesan, July 26. 1863, when sixteen persons were confirmed.
In May. 1864. a large part of Alexandria was burned by the retreating Federal army, and in the conflagration perished St. James. The eucharistie service alone was saved, as narrated above.
There were no Vestry elections during the war, and the parish was not reorganized until April 2, 1866. The record of the ser- vices of the laity, previous to the reorganization, is as follows : Dr. Davidson was the only senior warden. serving eighteen years. The position of junior warden was held by Dr. Stokes A. Smith, four years : by Hiram Hilton, six years, after serving as a Vestry- man three years : and by Ralph S. Smith, eight years, after being a Vestryman three years. The service of the Vestrymen was : Smith W. Gordon, four years ; Dr. Thomas H. Maddox. four years ; Montford Wells, four years ; Willis Bonner, four years ; Otho W. Nally, two years : Cary H. Blanchard, four years ; John K. Elgee, four years ; Josiah Chambers, eighteen years ; Henry Machen, five years; Gwinn Harris, twelve years ; H. Lynch, four years ; Manna R. Ariail, four years ; Jacob Ring- gold. six years : John Kelsoe. two years; Gen. George Mason Graham, one year : Thomas K. Scot. three years; Milton M. Rhorer, eleven years; J. H. Maddox, two years: Thomas C Manning, eight years ; Dr. George E. French, six years : John R. Williams, five years, and Dr. Diffenderfer, five years. The posi- tion of parish clerk was held by Gwinn Harris eleven years, and M. M. Rhorer, two years. The treasurers were : J. K. Elgee, four years ; Thomas K. Seot, three years: M. M. Rhorer, one year ; Jacob Ringgold. two years, and Thomas C. Manning, eight years.
On the 2d April, 1866, the Vestry was reorganized by the election of Dr. George E. French as senior warden ; Dr. Diffen- derfer as junior warden ; Dr. Henry St. John, Frederick Seip,
92
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
Joseph H. Hynson, E. M. Wells, Charles Williams and John M. Barrett as Vestrymen. The wardens were the only members of the anti-bellum officers re-elected. In May, $500 was expended in enclosing the cemetery with a fence.
The first service subsequent to the war was at the assembling of the children and reorganization of the Sunday school in the Town hall, March 4, 1866. The teachers were Miss Annie E. Culbertson, John M. Barrett, William Rogers, Mrs. Texie Cul- bertson, Miss Mollie Fellows, and Miss Rowena Lacoste. There were eighty pupils, including a number from Pineville.
The Bishop visiting the parish, April 14. 1867, said, "it is impossible to stitle the feelings of sadness awakened by a visit to this magnificent country, once the abode of peace and plenty and Christian eulture, now covered with the sad memorials of a war that spared neither age nor sex, nor defenceless houses, nor the sacred temples of God, in its devastating march."
The rector officiated at this time, once a month, at Cheneyville and at the State seminary.
The Rev. Caleb Dowe resigned July 4, 1867. The services in Alexandria up to this time had been held in the Town hall.
On the 29th September, 1868, a meeting was held in the "Ice House Hotel," at which General Graham presided, and John M. Barrett was secretary. This meeting formed an associa- tion to rebuild the church, and several hundred dollars were raised.
In 1869 Mr. McCoy was elected rector, but his impaired health would not permit his work, and shortly afterwards he relinquished the charge. His services were in the Town hall.
On the 20th February, 1870, the Rev. Spruille Burford was elected rector, and he entered on his duties May 1st. " He found the parish without a church building, and the congregation wor- shiping in the hotel. Although there had been no reetor for sev- eral years, the members of the Church were found actively engaged in preparations to rebuild their church. Rallying around their chosen leader and pastor, plans took form on the 25th July, St. James' Day, and the first stroke was made on the foundation of the new church. The work progressed with marked success, so that in October we found ourselves worshiping in the nave of the new church. Steadily the work progressed until the chancel and tower were completed. The church building was richly dec-
93
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
orated with stained glass windows, twelve of which were public and private memorials." The Building Committee was Dr. Henry St. John. Dr. Powhatan Clark and John M. Barrett.
The Ladies' Mite Society was organized in May, 1870.
In 1871, St. John's chapel was inaugurated.
In October, 1871, the report was made of the completion of the church. The cost was over $7,600. of which $400 came from beyond the parish.
On the 18th January, 1871, the Vestry sold twenty-five front feet of the property for $500.
In 1871. a class for colored children was organized in the Sunday school.
On the 24th May, 1872, a tornado swept away the church. On the 5th June, the rector left on leave of absence, and the Rev. A. N. Ogden took charge of the parish.
The Bishop gave his personal attention to procuring assist. ance to rebuild. Chief among those who contributed were Miss Wolf, and Mr. Edward Mathews. of New York, and Mr. Spalding, of Riverdale. Subsequently, Mr. Donald Cameron, of Pennsyl- vania, was a large contributor.
On the 15th April, 1873, the resignation of Mr. Burford was accepted, and Mr. Ogden was elected rector. A Building Com- mittee, John A. Williams. George W. Bolton and Dr. Henry St. John, was appointed.
The Sunday school was now meeting in the school house of Dr. St. John. On Whitsunday, June 1, 1873, St. James' Mission Sunday school for colored children was established.
On the 1st September, 1873, the congregation of Mt. Olivet chapel was organized as an independent parish.
On the 3d March, 1874. the church property, with a frontage of seventy feet, was sold for $500, and the square next below. bounded by Second Third, Winn and Fulton streets, was pur- chased for $1,000, from Dr. J. P. Davidson.
The corner stone of the new church was laid by Oliver Lodge, No. 84, F. and A. Masons, May 25, 1874.
The church was occupied in October, 1874. It cost about $5,000. The altar, chancel, furniture and pews had been saved from the wreck of the former edifice. This sketch would be incomplete without a note of the very valuable services rendered by Dr. St. John to the parish at this time. He was the stay of
94
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
the Sunday school. He was the propelling power that foreed the church on to completion. It was his taste that brought about the symmetry. order and chaste beauty of the sacred edifice. Nor should the indefatigable zeal and wise administrative powers of John M. Barrett, lay reader and Sunday school superintendent. go unmentioned. The services of Mr. Barrett in both of these positions have been invaluable. Although the rector is absent frequently at one of the chapels, the regular round of Sunday services is never broken, for the lay reader is ever at his post. The order of efficiency of the Sunday schools. St. James and St. Mark's, is due, almost exclusively, to Mr. Barrett, for the teach- ers and other officers have all been pupils under him.
Mr. Ogden resigned April 13. 1879. The lay reader, how- ever, maintained regular services for a year. occasional assistance being rendered by the Rev. Oliver Wilson and the Rev. Charles Stewart.
The Rev. Herman C. Duncan became rector April 17, 1880.
On the 19th April, 1880, the Mt. Olivet congregation of Pineville returned to the mother parish.
On the 31st May, the Ladies' Mite Society was enlarged into St. James' Guild.
In this year stained glass windows were placed in all the frames of the church.
In October, a horse and carriage was presented to the rector. The cemetery was cleaned of all undergrowth and all pine trees cut down.
At Advent, regular Wednesday and Friday evening services and forenoon celebrations of all holy days were established and have been since maintained.
In February, 1881, a semi-monthly celebration of the Holy Eucharist was established.
In March. 1881, the chancel of St. James was remodelled and improved.
On the 3d April. 1881. the congregation of the Bishop Wilmer Memorial Chapel, Kanomie, was received into the parish.
On the 3d September. 1881, additional pews were placed in the church, filling it to its capacity.
The Rev. Ralph H. Prosser became assistant October 1, 1881. In July, 1882. a new Carpenter organ was purchased.
Mr. Prosser resigned July 1, 1882.
95
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
In the fall of 1882, the accumulation of a rectory fund was commenced.
On Sunday, May 27, 1883. St. James' was consecrated.
On the 13th October, 1884. the Guild was subdivided into chapters-the Mite, Working. Choir. Church and Yard. Cemetery and Ministerial Support. In July of this year, a Sunday school Guild had also been organized.
On the 22d December, 1884. a contract was let for the rectory. The wing was occupied May 1. 1885. The Sunday School Guild contributed largely to this work. They put in the window sash and blinds and doors, and paid for the papering of the house.
In August. 1886. the cemetery was refenced, and in 1887 the roads were thrown up and proper bridges built.
The Rev. Robert S. Stuart was the efficient assistant minis- ter from February to July, 1888. He taught a private school at Lamothe's Bridge, and officiated on alternate Sundays at the parish church and at St. John's chapel.
The record of the service of the laity in the Vestry, since the reorganization in 1866, has been as follows :
The office of senior warden has been held by Dr. George E. French, thirteen years, having been a vestryman for six years previously ; Dr. Henry St. John, his successor, is now in the tenth year of service, having been junior warden one year and Vestryman twelve years. Dr. J. W. Diffenderfer was junior warden one year, Vestryman five years; E. M. Wells, junior warden four years and Vestryman one year; John M. Barrett, now in his sixteenth year as junior warden, has served also seven years as Vestryman : James Barron was junior warden one year and Vestryman one year. The position of Vestryman has been held by Frederick Seip, two years: Joseph H. Hynson, three years; Charles Williams, one year; Dr. P. Clark, five years ; James G. White. eighteen years ; Dr. James S. Fish, two years ; John A. Williams, five years; Lewis E. Texada, four years ; George W. Bolton, four years: W. W. Whittington, Jr .. four years ; W. S. L. Bringhurst, one year ; A. W. McLaurine, one year ; W. F. Blackman, two years ; R. C. Rogers, five years ; I. C. Miller, nine years; James F, Graham, six years; B. C. Duke, one year; W. M. Polk, one year; John J. Ferguson, one year ; George O. Watts, ten years : James F. Ringgold. two years ; J. M. Hatherwick, four years ; P. H. Hynson, one year ; Ben
96
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
Turner, seven years; R. L. Bringhurst. four years; J. W. Compton. 1 year, and James T. Flint, two years.
The clerks have been. John M. Barrett, 1866-1871, and 1876- 1879: John A. Williams. 1871-1872; W. W. Whittington, Jr., 1872-1873 ; W. S. L. Bringhurst, 1873-1874 : R. C. Rogers, 1874- 1876; P. H. Hynson, 1879-1880, and George O. Watts, 1880- 1888.
The treasurers have been, Dr. Henry St. John, 1866-1879; J. M. Hetherwick, 1879-1882, and James G. White, 1882-1888.
There have been 2,484 baptisms, of which fourteen were ad- ministered before there was a rector ; 1,153 under rectorship of Mr. McCoy : four hundred and ninety-two under that of Mr. Dowe : one hundred under that of Mr. Burford ; one hundred and ninety- six under that of Mr. Ogden. and five hundred and twenty-nine under that of Mr. Duncan.
Of the aforesaid persons baptised, 1,022 were white-one hundred and eighty-three by Mr. McCoy, two hundred and five by Mr. Dowe, eighty-eight by Mr. Burford, one hundred and eighty-three by Mr. Ogden and three hundred and forty nine by Mr. Duncan. The others were colored-nine hundred and seventy by Mr. McCoy, two hundred and eighty-seven by Mr. Dowe, twelve by Mr. Burford, thirteen by Mr. Ogden and one hundred and eighty by Mr. Duncan.
There have been seven hundred and twenty-nine persons con- firmed. eighteen before there was a rector; two hundred and forty- seven under Mr. McCoy ; ninety-seven under Mr. Dowe: seventy- five under Mr. Burford ; one hundred and twenty-two under Mr. Ogden, and one hundred and seventy under Mr. Duncan.
There have been eight hundred and thirty-four persons en- rolled as communicants, of which fourteen were registered before there was a rector ; three hundred and eight under Mr. McCoy ; one hundred and sixteen under Mr. Dowe : sixty-two under Mr. Burford ; one hundred under Mr. Ogden, and two hundred and thirty-four under Mr. Duncan.
There have been four hundred and five marriages, of which there were one hundred and eighty solemnized under Mr. McCoy ; eighty-four under Mr. Dowe; twenty under Mr. Burford ; fifty- seven under Mr. Ogden, and sixty-four under Mr. Duncan.
There have been three hundred and seventy-three burials, of which twenty-seven took place under Mr. McCoy ; ninety-four
97
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
under Mr. Dowe ; fourteen under Mr. Burford ; seventy-eight under Mr. Ogden, and one hundred and sixty under Mr. Duncan.
PINEVILLE .- Several ladies, in 1856, began a Sunday school at the residence of Mr. Abadie. Mrs. McCoy was in the lead in this good work. She opened a day school, that she might earn money to build a chapel, and she did. In 1857, there was $700 on hand. Pineville was then a village, the inhabitants of which were not in possession of much worldly riches, but they showed the most eager desire to learn the truths of God's word. The Bishop visited this work on the 17th April, and said of those in charge of it. what there has been so many occasions to repeat, of the Pineville congregation, "They have done what they could."
In 1858, Mount Olivet Chapel was built, and June 29, 1859, consecrated. It is a beautiful Gothic church, built upon plans of Upjohn. The roof is open timber, and the whole interior is dressed. It cost about $1,300.
In 1861, the Rev. Anthony Vallas assisted the rector occa- sionally. He was a professor in the State seminary. In the fall of that year, the seminary being closed, he officiated statedly and so continued until May 1862, when the seminary was re-opened. He departed in April. 1864.
Some parties took possession of the chapel as a school about this time and continued until the Vestry was reorganized, when the chapel was reclaimed.
On the 1st September, 1873, the congregation was organized as an independent parish, under the name of St. Peter's Church. They continued under the rector of St. James and in the use of Mount Olivet Chapel. W. B. Harper was senior warden ; G. W. Bolton, junior warden; Christian Baden, George Seton Johnson, A. Jarreau, Louis Lawrence, E. J. Hardtner, John L. Walker and E. G. Hunter, Vestrymen.
The parish was admitted into union with the Convention April 18, 1874.
The congregation maintained its independent existence until 1880. During this period the church was re-covered ; brick pil- lars built under it ; the building extended so as to make three rooms in the rear ; an organ was purchased.
On the 19th April, 1880, the congregation resumed its posi- tion as a part of St. James' parish. 7
98
HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF LOUISIANA.
In March, 1881, the rear wall was cut and the opening arched. one of the rooms in the rear being converted into a recess chancel.
The new chancel was blessed and consecrated July 10. 1881. In 1883. new chandeliers were purchased. In 1886. extensive repairs were made on the church, and the chancel was re-furnished.
COTILE AND LAMOTHE'S .- In 1871, services were commenced on Bayon Rapides. They were held in different private resi- dences, but generally in that of Captain Joseph W. Texada. In 1877. St. John's Chapel was built on the Castile plantation of Captain Lewis E. Texada. It cost some $700.
In March, 1881. the window sash. altar and altar rail were purchased or made. The chapel was also the recipient about this time of the communion service and font of the late Emmanuel Church, New Orleans.
The chapel was consecrated May 26, 1883.
In March, 1887. services were discontinued at the chapel, and April 30th, resumed at a storehouse at Lamothe's Bridge. kindly loaned by Mr. L. C. Sanford. The next day a Sunday school was organized. A Building Committee was appointed : the rector. Dr. James H. Cruikshank. P. H. Davidson and Clinton Haworth. This change in the place of service was occasioned by a portion of the congregation uniting with the mission at Boyce, and the con- sequent change in the centre of population of those who remained.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.