History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 90

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013

USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 90

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The congregation continued to meet in Jamieson's Hall until its completion, in September, 1860. Seats were made free, with permission to cushion and trim certain localities awarded the members. William F. Orr was made secretary, treasurer, and warden, with J. Shelby Williams, on Easter Monday, 1861. T. H. Eichbaum, C. W. S. Brown, Q. C. De Grove, D. Johnson, and J. D. Lindsey were also made vestrymen.

On the arrival of the Federal army the church was closed, and services were not again held until after the close of the war. It was then left in an almost bankrupt condition.

The church was reorganized with the advent of peace, and Rev. J. H. Bowles was made pastor. Mrs. David Wil- liams, now Mrs. Judge John D. Phelan, presented the church with a lot in Edgefield, to help pay its debts, and as an act of gratitude she was awarded the privilege of giving the church a new name. In response, she selected the present one of St. Anne. In February, 1866, Rt. Rev. Bishop C. T. Quintard presented the vestry five hundred dollars.

June 5, 1868, Rev. Mr. Bowles resigned. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. L. P. Tschiffely, who was pastor from Nov. 5, 1868, to Aug. 22, 1869. Rev. F. R. Holeman was rector from March 14 to Nov. 27, 1870; Rev. M. J. Ellis, July 1, 1871, to Oct. 31, 1872.

Meetings continued to be held regularly, but with no settled rector, until January, 1874, when Rev. A. O. Stanley became rector. His resignation was accepted July 17, 1878. During his rectorship the parish was much in- creased, and numbered one hundred and twenty at the close of his service.

The church was again without a rector until March, 1879, when Rev. T. F. Martin, of Berryville, Va., accepted the call to the parish. The membership now numbers eighty-two.

The lot upon which the church was originally built was, at the time of its erection, in one of the most populous por- tions of Edgefield. It is expected to soon build a finer church near the new centre of population.

The present official members are : Vestrymen, Dr. George R. Williamson, W. F. Orr, George M. Jackson, Judge John D. Phelan, John Orr, A. J. Francisco, John L. Dis- mukes, J. M. Anderson, J. W. Hopkins; Senior Warden, Dr. George R. Williamson ; Junior Warden, W. F. Orr; Treasurer, John Orr; Secretary, George M. Jackson.

LUTHERAN.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church .- Among the first pioneers of this State and county there were Lutherans. There are now about ten thousand Lutherans in Tennessee. Of these about eight thousand are in East Tennessee. They are divided into three Synods, who, according to age and strength, are the following: The Tennessee Synod, the Holston Synod, the Middle Tennessee Synod, the first named being oldest and strongest. Congregations were or- ganized as early as 1800. On Duck River, near Shelby- ville, the first Lutheran Church in Middle Tennessee, called the "Shoffner Church," was organized about 1825, by the late Rev. William Jenkins, who must be looked upon as the pioneer pastor of Lutheranism in these regions. For many years he watched the growing interests of the Lutheran Church in Nashville, until he succeeded, in 1859, at the meeting of the General Synod in Pittsburgh, Pa., in securing the Rev. Herman Eggers, then a professor in the Western University of Pennsylvania, at Pittsburgh, as pastor. Rev. Mr. Eggers came to Nashville in July, 1859. His first sermon was delivered in the Second Presbyterian church, on College Street, the members and pastor (Rev. Mr. Hays) of which had kindly granted the Lutherans the use of their church for afternoon services. The first sermon was preached on the last Sunday in July, 1859. An organiza- tion was soon effected, under the name of " The First Ger- man Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nashville." After- noon services in July and August were attended with so many difficulties that arrangements were made to hold ser- vices in the court-house. The services were well attended, and the work prospered till 1861, when the fury of the war made itself felt in all church organizations. Till the fall of Fort Donelson services were continued uninter- ruptedly in the court-house, when the Federal army took possession of it. At this juncture the German Methodists, whose pastor at the incipiency of the war had left his flock for a place in the North, tendered the use of their church, which was gladly accepted and the church used till the fall of 1863, when the Methodists received a new pastor from a Northern Conference. Services were next held in the council-room, but, as soldiers were quartered in the story above it, this was soon abandoned, and services were once more held in the Second Presbyterian church, whose pastor, Rev. Mr. Hays, was a warm friend of the Lutherans. Ef. forts were now put forth to build a church. The lot on which the church now stands was purchased for four thou- sand six hundred dollars, and the church erected at an ad- ditional cost of over nine thousand dollars. On Feb. 10, 1867, services were held for the first time in the present church, on North Market Street. In the fall of the same year Rev. Professor Eggers resigned and left. His immediate successor was the Rev. J. Bachmann, who served the church till 1869. Owing to ill health he resigned and returned to Germany, his native land, where he soon died. Rev. C. A. Nolte, now of. California, was next chosen pastor, and served the congregation about two and one-half years. Rev. Jo- hannes Heckel, now of the city of Charleston, S. C., was the fourth pastor, and labored four years in Nashville. The present is its fifth pastor. Rev. F. W. E. Peschan came to Nashville from Nebraska City, Neb., in September,

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

1878. Ile has introduced English services, and has added fifty-six to the membership of the church in the eighteen months of his residence and labors here. The congrega- tion numbers now about two hundred and twenty-five com- municants, and the Sunday-school has on its roll two hun- dred. A second Lutheran Sunday-school was organized in South Nashville last fall, which reached one hundred. The parochial school kept up for many years was given up a few years ago. The work and interests of Lutheranism here are in a prosperous and encouraging condition.

At Paradise Ridge in Davidson County, there are twelve Lutheran families, who are occasionally visited by the Nashville pastor. On every leading pike some Lutherans are living. In every Protestant church in Nashville there are some who once were Lutherans, and we might say the same of the Protestant churches of the whole country. Never yet has the Lutheran Church of the United States had enough ministers to supply the fields of labor open to her among her own people, though she is now the third in strength among Protestants in this country, numbering over three thousand ministers and eight hundred thousand mein- bers, and though she is as strong in the world as all other Protestant churches put together, as she numbers forty millions in Germany, Australia, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and other countries.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The Union Church of Fisk University, the only church of the denomination within the county supplied by a white pastor, is composed of students, and numbers one hundred male and fifty-seven female members. Prof. H. S. Bennett, a gentleman of culture and ability, is pastor and was its organizer. His last report to the Central South Confer- ence, of which it forms a part, states that " there is a better class of students at the university than ever before. There exists a tender religious interest. Since September seven have been converted, and twelve or fifteen during the last year."

Two theological classes have been formed,-one in church history and one in the study of the harmony. A mission- ary society for the evangelization of Africa holds monthly meetings and maintains a lively interest in missionary work. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Bennett, is superintendent of a Sab- bath-school among the convicts in the penitentiary, through the influence of which about forty prisoners were converted during the past winter.

There is also a Young Men's Christian Association, com- posed of colored members, connected with this church. There are stationed at the university the following-named ministers who have no pastoral charge: Revs. E. M. Cra- vath, A. K. Spence, F. A. Chase, C. C. Painter, and L. C. Anderson.

Howard Chapel is a neat little brick building on Knowles Street, near the Chattanooga depot. The congregation is mostly composed of young people. It is reported on the minutes as " Knowles Street Church." The organization was effected chiefly through the efforts of its young and energetic pastor, Rev. G. W. Moore, on Nov. 2, 1876. It has a Bund of Hope of about one hundred members, and a flourishing Sunday-school. The membership has been

much reduced by Western emigration during the past year, and now numbers but twenty-eight. Rev. Mr. Moore is now pursuing a course of classical and theological studies at the university, preparatory to a more thorough work in the ministry.

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.

First Christian Church of Nashville .- When constituted, the congregation who worshiped in the Church Street meet- ing house was a Baptist Church. The record book of its earlier days is entitled " The Records of the Baptist Church of Nashville, July 22, 1820," and the constitution declares that " it is to be denominated the Baptist Church of Nash- ville," without any prefix to the word " Baptist." The constitution reads as follows : " Finally, it is not the duty of the church to bind the consciences of the weak, but to receive the weak with the strong, and so keep up, and to do whatever is agrecable to sound doctrine." The third rule for the government of the church provided for any neces- sary alterations as follows : "The moderator and five of the white brethren shall be deemed sufficient to transact any species of church business. That done by a smaller num- ber shall require the confirmation of the church in session." It will be seen from these quotations, and explanations of government and principle, that the old First Baptist Church, not anticipating future dissensions in opinion, was liberal in defining its lines, and not of the strict Calvinistic type supposed to be predominant at that day, and it was only the unanticipated questions afterwards discussed which caused the various shades of opinion to become a matter of record, as the old church branched off in the various di- rections of Mission, Anti-Mission, and Frec-Will Baptists, and Christians. The first constitution of the old Baptist Church of Nashville provided " by the above rule of gov- ernment for any progress it might make in scriptural knowl- edge," and it is claimed by the Christians that this was regarded as the birthright of every Baptist Church then, as now, and that its internal concerns were subject to no control from without. Accordingly, on the fourth Satur- day in December, 1822, it added an article to its constitu- tion recognizing the doctrine of the Trinity, which was not named in the first draft of it, except by the church. This was done in a session composed of seven members.

Rev. Philip S. Fall visited Nashville in 1821, and was invited by the church to settle as their pastor. The call was accepted, but he was unable to close existing engage- ments in Kentucky. In 1825 this call was repeated, and a chair was offered him in the female academy. Both ap- pointments were accepted, and he entered upon his duties early in 1826. Two years before leaving Kentucky his mind had undergone a radical change as to the proper method of reading the Scriptures and of teaching them, as well as to the authority for denominationalism. He became fully convinced that baptism as a system was not identical with Christianity as a system, but believed that the Baptists, as a people, were nearer the Scriptures than any others, and that they would welcome a still closer con- formity to the sacred Model. He says of himself at that time, " I had no idea of separating from them. It was well known to the principal members of the church in Nashville that this change had taken place, and that my

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

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CITY OF NASHVILLE.

convictions had been openly announced to the Baptist churches in Kentucky, at an Association. This had some- thing to do in the invitation given me; indeed, the thought- ful members of the church had anticipated me iu the return to the Scriptural statements as to the structure and life of a congregation of Christ. I entered on my work in Nash- ville as the known defender of Apostolic Christianity, as contrasted with its modern exhibitions."

On the day of his appointment as overseer of the church, he stated his full conviction that no congregation worshiped according to the New Testament that did not attend to the Lord's Supper on every Lord's day. The subject thus broached was studied carefully, and at length, in August, 1827, it was considered to be the duty of the church- three only dissenting-to attend regularly to this act of di- vine worship. Rev. Mr. Fall, in his " History of the Church," says, " In the exercise of its inherent right, and in obedience to the authority of the Scriptures, changes were made gradually which brought the church in full ac- cord with those who advocated a return to Apostolic Chris- tianity as developed in the New Testament.".

All discussions related wholly to the structure, the wor- ship, and the government of the church of Christ, and the changes made were considered to be within the scope of that liberty asserted by every Baptist Church " to manage its internal concerns" according to the word of God. A few members were not satisfied with what had been done, although one hundred and fifty-one members concurred. Resolutions were introduced abolishing all the innovations, together with the constitution and rules of decorum, with a view to entire reconstruction of the church, but failed to pass. Dissenting members were offered letters of dismis- sion within two months, the failure to call for which was to be considered as an assent to the action of the church. Two persons only asked and were granted letters of dismis- sion. Some others asked for letters, but never called for them, and remained in the church as dissenters.

Oct. 15, 1830, four of these dissenting members asked permission to withdraw, they having on October 10th united with another church. Another member, leaving without letter, united with a new organization, claiming to be the original church, under the name of United Baptist Church of Nashville.

On the departure of Rev. Dr. Fall, which was announced June 19, 1831, by R. C. Foster, chairman of the commit- tee for that purpose, he was presented with a very affec- tionate and flattering testimonial from the church.

He was succeeded by Rev. Jesse B. Ferguson, and after- wards returned and conducted the services through the troublesome war period, by his constant exertions and zeal sustaining the congregation, and preserving the house of worship from the destructive occupation incurred by the other churches of the city.

The old Baptist church on Church Street continued to be occupied by them until during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Ferguson, when a new house of worship was built on Cherry Street, near the old post-office. This was destroyed by fire in 1855. The old building was then reoccupied, and soon after refitted, and the pulpit removed from be- tween the two front doors to its present position. The

house and grounds are now valued at twenty-five thousand dollars. The trustees are John H. Ewen, John G. Hous- ton, and S. S. Wharton. Rev. Samuel A. Kelly was Rev. Mr. Falls' second successor, and remained until his death, which occurred Sept. 18, 1879. Rev. R. C. Cave became pastor in April, 1880. The church numbers three hundred and fifty members. Mr. W. A. Eichbaum was the first clerk of the church after adopting the doctrines advocated by Rev. Mr. Fall.

The present officers and the dates of their appointment are : Elders,-John G. Houston, 1870; John H. Ewen, W. B. Dortch, A. D. Wharton, 1879. Deacons,-George W. Shields, T. D. Flippin, O. Ewing, S. S. Wharton, 1876 ; J. C. Wharton, Ewen Goodwin, Jacob Anthony, Willis Bonner, 1879.

Edgefield Christian Church was organized on the first Sunday in May, 1872, under the preaching of Elders E. G. Sewell, David E. Lipscomb, and R. M. Gano, in Odd-Fel- lows' Hall. This hall was regularly occupied for worship until the erection of a house of worship on Woodland Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets. This house was dedicated on the first Sunday in July, 1878, by the late Rev. S. A. Kelly, of the First Church in Nashville.

The society, which organized with less than twenty members, now numbers one hundred and eight. Among the first members were E. C. Hall, J. H. Farrar, and David Lipscomb. Rev. E. G. Sewell, one of the publishers of the Gospel Advocate, has been the regular teacher, or pastor, since the organization, in 1872. The officers of the church are E. G. Sewell, D. C. Hall, and W. A. Corbin, Elders ; and B. J. Farrar, C. H. Brandon, T. C. Cobb, and Frank R. Handy, Deacons.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

In the early part of May, 1821, Rt. Rev. Bishop David, coadjutor of Bishop Flaget, of Bardstown, Ky., started on his first visit to Nashville, which was at that time, with the States of Tennessee, Kentucky, and extensive territory to the west, included in the diocese of Bardstown, and had constituted the bishopric of Rt. Rev. Bishop Flaget since 1810. There had up to this time been but four missionary visits made to the State since the early French settlements. Bishop David and his party arrived at Nashville May 10th, and were cordially received by M. Demonbreun, who enter- tained them at his house. Here the first mass offered in Tennessee was said the next day. The number of Catho- lics at this time in Nashville did not exceed sixty.

On the proposal to establish a congregration here a liberal petition was taken up and signed by Protestants as well as Catholics. A lot for a church seventy by one hundred feet was offered by Mr. Foster, who was Grand Master of the Masons. Hon. Felix Grundy and other prominent men received the bishop and his associates with polite courtesy, and he was invited to tea by Rev. Mr. Camp- bell, of the Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Father Abell, who accompanied the bishop, preached every evening in the court-house, where he had many atten- tive Protestant hcarers.

The church was built on the north side of the grounds now occupied by the State Capitol in 1830.

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HISTORY OF DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

In 1834 the diocese was reduced to Kentucky and Ten- nessce by the organization of new territory to the south and west. Sept. 16, 1838, Rt. Rev. Dr. Richard Pius Miles, a native American, and descendant of a Maryland family, was consecrated the first bishop of Nashville, and the State of Tennessee was made a separate diocese. Bishop Miles made his residence with Mr. J. H. Buddeke, a Ger- man Catholic, until he became settled in his diocese. Rt. Rev. Bishop James Wheelan was appointed coadjutor to Bishop Miles, with right of succession, and consecrated in May, 1859. On the death of Bishop Miles, which oc- curred Feb. 1, 1860, he entered upon his duties, and re- mained until his resignation, in 1863. He then returned to his former home in Ohio, where he died in 1878. St. Mary's church, on Capitol Hill, was the first Roman Cath- olic church in Tennessee. Rev. Father Maguire was the earliest priest. The present grand cathedral was erected by Bishop Miles in 1855. On his death his remains were de- posited in its vault. The parochial residence, joining the cathedral, was purchased by him.

After the resignation of Bishop Wheelan, Rev. Father Kelly, a Dominican priest, succeeded him as administrator of the diocese until November, 1865. Father Kelly was afterwards favorably known for his charitable works in Mem- phis and elsewhere during the yellow fever. These incum- bents of the bishopric were all previously Dominican priests.

Rt. Rev. Patrick A. Feehan, of St. Louis, a native of Ireland, was consecrated in the old cathedral of St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 1, 1865, and at once entered upon his duties, relieving Father Kelly.

Rev. John Veale was succeeded as pastor in charge of St. Mary's by Rev. Richard Scannel in 1880, and is assisted by Rev. Father Veale and Rev. Patrick Gill. This church has now a congregation of about three thousand members.

The first cemetery was opened when the church was es- tablished, joining the city burying-ground. It included four acres of ground. Becoming filled, a second one was opened, joining Mount Olivet, in 1868, and given the name of Calvary Cemetery. This ground is, like Mount Olivet, one of the most sightly spots to be found near the city. It is fifty acres in extent, and cost fifteen thousand dollars. Many families removed their dead from the old ground to their new lots, and have siuce beautified the new ground by many fine monuments. All the Catholic dead from the various churches within the county are buried here.

The Church of the Assumption (German) was consti- tuted in 1858, and a brick edifice for worship was built on the corner of Vine and Monroe Streets. J. H. Bud- deke and G. H. Wessel were leading and liberal movers in this enterprise. The pastors since the war have been Rev. Fathers N. J. Konen and L. Schneider, to 1867 ; W. J. Revis, to August, 1871; Philip Rist, August, 1871, to February, 1872; Joseph Uphaus, to June, 1875; F. Xavier Griesmayer, to December, 1875; and Rev. Mathias Kenk, until the present time. This church numbers fifty- two families and two hundred communicants. A large chapel has been erected beside the church since Rev. Father Kenk became pastor.

St. Columbia Church was built by Rev. Father Meagher, in 1873, on Main Street, near South Fifth. Father Meagher

died of yellow fever in Memphis while attending to the sick, and Rev. Eugene Gozzo, the present pastor, succeeded him. This church has about one thousand members, some of whom are scattered through the surrounding country.

St. Patrick's Mission Church, at Edgefield Junction, was built in 1868. There are here about one hundred members, farmers and laborers, under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. A. Coughlin, of McEwen's, Humphreys Co.

The leading Catholic charitable institutions are the St. Mary's Orphans' Asylum and Free School.

This asylum occupies seven acres in the south part of the city, which, with the buildings, is valued at about twenty- five thousand dollars. It was founded by Rev. Father Kelly, in 1864, and is in charge of the Dominican Sisters. Boys are kept here to the age of twelve, and girls fourteen, years, under a system of moral and mental training, from which they go forth to enter homes in families or become apprentices to trades. The inmates are mostly Catholic children, and are usually about eighty or ninety in number. This institution is under the immediate care of the bishop, and is sustained by annual fairs.

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History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 90

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford) Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1013

Author: Clayton, W. W. (W. Woodford)
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1013