Knox County TN Archives History - Books .....Church History - Chapter XVII 1900
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Book Title: Standard History Of Knoxville

CHAPTER XVII.

CHURCH HISTORY.



The Pioneer Presbyterians—Rev. Samuel Doak—Knoxville's First Church—Early

Methodists—Bishop Asbury's First Visit—First Baptist Organization—Good Works of

Rev. Samuel Carrick—Rev. Isaac Anderson—Knoxville Churches Grow and

Multiply—Many Large and Flourishing Churches Now in the City.



THE effects of the religious sentiment and of religious teaching upon the minds

of men are often great and occasionally astonishing. These effects are equally

astonishing when we contemplate the higher end of the diapason of this sentiment

as when we contemplate the lower end. At the lower end of this range of

sentiment are seen many persons cruelly beaten, or scourged or burned to death,

by their contemporaries, merely for the reason that they entertained opinions

and sentiments upon religious and theological subjects that differed from those

entertained by their persecutors; while at the other or higher end of the scale

are found men and women who so construe the beautiful doctrines of "Peace on

earth and good-will toward men," to mean absolute non-resistance to all forms of

oppression and wrong against individuals, communities and nations, and to be so

thoroughly imbued with this construction as to refuse to defend themselves

against any kind of attack, and to believe that war in any of its forms and for

any possible purpose is wholly unwarranted because wholly un-Christian. The fate

of the Moravian Indians, so familiar to all students of American history, is a

most impressive commentary upon the practical workings of a non-resistance

creed. The Quaker religion of peace, which had been taught them by zealous and

indefatigable German missionaries, followers of Count Zinzendorff, and which

forbade them to play a true man's part in defending themselves against

aggressions on the part of the white man, led to the most dire results, which

fell not only upon themselves, but also upon their white foe. No greater mistake

can be made than to place a good man at the mercy of a bad one, the good man

having had it instilled into his mind until the doctrine becomes a part thereof,

that he must not on any account defend himself against the encroachments and

aggressions of the bad; for entire loss of property, family and friends and even

life itself may be the result.



  But on the other hand it may be said that if all men were alike indoctrinated

and actuated at all times by the spirit of peace and good will toward men, there

would be no aggression or wrong of any kind to resist, which is certainly true.

To- bring about this condition of things is perhaps the great mission of

religion and religious institutions. To so teach mankind that there shall be as

little aggression as possible, to so develop and build up the character that men

will not do unto others as they would not have others do unto them, and to do

unto others as they would have others do unto them, is a grand and noble work,

but so long as a large portion of mankind, even in those countries which are

included within the realm of Christendom, is actuated by what may be termed

human and selfish motives, so long as the rights of others are so frequently and

flagrantly violated and trampled under foot, just so long must every man, no

matter what his theories may be, be ready at all times to defend himself and

family, and others that may be suffering from aggression, and to recognize the

fact that sometimes in order to act on the defensive he must act on the

aggressive. Men can not all live in the world which is to a great extent as it

ought not to be, as if it were as it ought to be.



  It was about the time of the beginning of the French and Indian war of 1758-60

that the great wave of emigration, which has since then swept over the entire

territory of the United States to and even beyond the eastern shores of the

Pacific Ocean, first reached the eastern portions of what is now the state of

Tennessee. In the chapters devoted to the settlement of that part of Tennessee

more immediately tributary to Knoxville, the sources whence sprang the

emigration to this state and the character and characteristics of the early

settlers have been sufficiently dwelt upon. In this chapter an attempt is made

to depict their religious characteristics only. From the time of the beginning

of settlements in the then wilderness of Tennessee until the Indian tribes were

completely dispossessed, the dangers were numerous and great. Many of the brave

and hardy pioneers were killed from ambush and in open warfare; but it is

altogether probable that the question of danger was of secondary consideration.

It was in 1766 that Col. James Smith made his famous exploration of the valleys

of the Cumberland and the Tennessee rivers, and upon his return to his home in

Western North Carolina, by his graphic accounts of the beauty and fertility of

the valleys which he had visited he excited in the minds of the people of North

Carolina. Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania an urgent desire to emigrate to

this new El Dorado of the West. The settlers who first came to this state were

to a considerable extent hardy backwoods pioneers from the four states above

named. From the watershed that separates the headwaters of the streams that flow

into the Atlantic from those that flow into the Ohio river, the emigrants to a

great extent from one state resembled those from another. The backwoodsmen from

Pennsylvania had little in common with the peaceful Quakers that lived between

the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers: nor had their near kinsmen of the Blue

Ridge and Hawks mountains any closer affinity of disposition and manners with

the aristocratic planters that lived near the Atlantic coast in Eastern Virginia

and Eastern North Carolina, The backwoodsmen above mentioned were by birth

Americans, but of mixed race, the dominant strain being that of the Pennsylvania

Irish, often called Scotch-Irish, and they were in the main believers in the

doctrines of John Calvin and John Knox. They were in the main descended from the

Scotch, yet there were among them Englishmen, a few French Huguenots, and some

of the ancient Milesian Irish. Andrew Jackson, Samuel Houston, David Crockett

and James Robertson were of Presbyterian Irish ancestry: John Sevier was of

French Huguenot descent; Shelby was of Welsh extraction, and Daniel Boone and

George Rogers Clarke were of English blood.



  The early Presbyterians were extremely obstinate in their views. They despised

the Catholics, whom their ancestors had conquered, and had but little affection

for the Episcopalians, by whom they had themselves been oppressed. They took

especial pride in the warlike renown of their forefathers who had fought under

Oliver Cromwell, and who had taken part in the battle of the Boyne. The great

fact in connection with the early settlement of East Tennessee and Western North

Carolina was this—that the immigrants to those two portions of these two states

came principally from Western Pennsylvania and secondarily from the Carolinas,

and that they differed essentially from the inhabitants of the seacoast counties

of the states in question, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina. They were

in the main Irish Presbyterians. They were related to the Covenanters; they

interpreted the Bible to suit themselves, and chose their own clergymen. In the

stern warfare of the frontier they may have lost much of their religion, but

still they had meeting houses and school houses. The Episcopalians, the Baptists

and the Methodists did not begin to appear in these frontier Western settlements

until about the time of the breaking out of the American revolution, and when

they did appear they were of a different mold from their Presbyterian

predecessors, who were often gloomy, zealous and earnest, often narrow-minded

and even bigoted, but still they were a great power for good in the communities

in which they labored.



  Perhaps there was nowhere greater necessity for the exercise of their

influence, for in the backwoods there were many lawless people, who hated that

which was good because it was approved of by others, and did wrong for the sake

of doing wrong. They lived lives of abandoned wickedness, and often formed

themselves into half-secret organizations and drove out both magistrates and

ministers and killed without scruple those who dared to interfere. Under such

circumstances the good men of the communities found it necessary to form similar

associations and to put down the wicked with ruthless severity. In such cases

had the peaceful principles of the Quakers been allowed by the good people to

have full scope, the good people themselves would have been exterminated. But

when the true nature of the great majority of these backwoodsmen was discovered

it was found that they were at heart deeply religious as well as to a great

extent superstitious. Many of their cabins contained Bibles and most of them

refrained from labor and even hunting on Sunday. As has been stated, they

generally preferred Calvinism to Episcopalianism, and they preferred the latter

to Catholicism; but with all of this their hearts were not stirred to the depths

until Methodism worked its way into the wilderness.



  The early preachers, in common with the other early settlers, tilled their

fields, with rifles in their hands, and on Sunday they delivered their

discourses with as much earnestness and eloquence, if not with as much

scholarship and elegance, as do their successors of the present day. They firmly

believed they were carrying out the will of the Lord in dispossessing the

Canaanites in the form of the Red Man, and that they were conquering the country

for the occupancy of the truly chosen people and the only true believers in the

Word.



  If we are to follow Phelan, the first minister that came to live in East

Tennessee was the Rev. Samuel Doak, who was a son of Samuel and Jane (Mitchell)

Doak, who had emigrated from Ireland, settled in Chester county, Pa., removed

thence to Augusta county, Va., and who were "old side" Presbyterians. Rev.

Samuel Doak was born in 1749, married Esther Montgomery, sister of Rev. John

Montgomery, and was for two years tutor in Hampden-Sidney College of Prince

Edward county, in which institution he studied theology. Having been licensed by

Hanover Presbytery, and having preached for some time in Virginia, he removed to

Sullivan county, Tenn., and thence in a short time to Washington county, where

he purchased a farm upon which he built a church, which some say was the first

church building erected in the state. He founded Salem congregation and preached

in the eastern part of the state for many years.



  Other early Presbyterian preachers were Rev. Samuel Houston, Rev. Hezekiah

Balch and Rev. Samuel Carrick, all of the Hanover Presbytery, and all of them of

Scotch-Irish descent.



  "In 1788 the Presbytery of Abingdon, formed in 1785, was united with the synod

of Carolina. Here we see the first introduction of Presbyterianism into

Tennessee, for the Abingdon Presbytery lay almost entirely in this state. It was

first upon the ground and in it were leading figures of the state. They were men

of strong characters and the minds of men had not yet been turned to spiritual

affairs. Besides this they were practical school-teachers. Subsequent events

alone prevented the complete ascendancy of Presbyterianism in Tennessee and the

Southwest."*



*Phelan.



  The Rev. Charles Cummins (Cummings) deserved mention earlier in this sketch.

His experience was similar to that of other early pioneer preachers. According

to Ramsey. it was the custom of Mr. Cummins on Sunday morning to dress himself

neatly, put on his shot pouch, shoulder his rifle, mount his horse and ride to

church, where he would meet his congregation, each man with his rifle in his

hand. Entering the church he would walk gravely through the crowd, ascend his

pulpit, and after depositing- his rifle in one corner of it, so as to be ready

for any emergency, commence the solemn services of the day.



  When Knoxville was laid out a lot was reserved for the site of a church, which

church was built in 1810.



  In 1788 the members of Abingdon Presbytery were Charles Cummins, Hezekiah

Balch, John Cossan, Samuel Houston, Samuel Carrick and James Balch. Rev. Samuel

Doak joined in 1793 and Gideon Blackburn in 1794.



  One of the first difficulties in connection with religious opinion arose in

1792, when "the General Assembly determined, in answer to a question from the

Synod of North Carolina, that those who professed a belief in universal

salvation through the mediation of Jesus Christ, should not be admitted to the

sealing ordinance." In 1796 great excitement existed in Abingdon Presbytery

because of the publication by Hezekiah Balch of certain articles of faith which

greatly scandalized many members of the church. The result of this excitement

was that Charles Cummins, Edward Crawford, Samuel Doak. Joseph Lake and James

Balch withdrew from Abingdon Presbytery and formed an independent presbytery.

Later when Hezekiah Balch had been suffered to go without discipline, by merely

apologizing for certain abusive epithets, the Independent Presbytery withdrew,

but afterward by submission was reinstated.



  Abingdon Presbytery was then divided into two, Doak, Cummins, Lake, and James

Balch being members of Abingdon, and Hezekiah Balch, Cossan, Carrick, Henderson

and Blackburn being members of Union Presbytery.



  This division in the Presbyterian church showed that when men had time to

think for themselves upon doctrinal points, uniformity of belief on theological

subjects is uniformly dispelled, because men are differently constituted and

differently educated. It was in this way that the Reformation came, afterward

the Presbyterian Covenanters, later the Methodist revival in England, and still

later the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Tennessee. All of these were

perfectly natural movements or evolutions of thought in the minds of men, and

yet none of them perhaps is the ultimate belief of mankind upon religious or

theological subjects.



  In 1783 when Holston circuit embraced East Tennessee and a portion of

Virginia. Rev. Jeremiah Lambert was appointed thereto, the first Methodist

preacher in this state. At the end of his first year he reported seventy-six

members. In 1784 Rev. Henry Wills succeeded Mr. Lambert, and although he did not

increase the membership, yet he was a useful man. In 1785, the year in which

Methodism in America was placed upon an independent footing, Mr. Wills was elder

in the district embracing Holston, and Richard Swift and Michael Gilbert were on

the circuit. Other early Methodists were Revs. Mark Whitaker and Mark Moore. In

1787 Holston circuit was divided into Holston and Nollichucky circuits, and the

next year two more were added.



  The general history of the times fully informs us as to the tumult and discord

into which the people were thrown over the question of the continued existence

of the state of Franklin, and it was in 1788, while these troubles were pending,

that one of the great historic characters of the religious world opportunely

arrived on the scene. This man was Francis Asbury, who reached the head of

Watauga, April 28, and who in his journal says: "The people are in discord about

the old and new state, two or three men having been killed," etc. Bishop Asbury

arrived at Nelson's, and preached from Hebrews vi:11, 12. Later he reached

Owen's, and Huffacre's and Keywood's, holding conference at the latter place for

three days. This was the first conference west of the mountains. Ramsey says:

"The novelty of such an assemblage in the wilds of Watauga, its mission of

benignity and peace, the calm dignity and unpretentious simplicity of the

venerable Bishop, all conspired to soothe and quiet and harmonize the excited

masses, and to convert partisans and factionists into brothers and friends."



  The influence of the Methodist preacher upon the early and later life of the

people in Tennessee is thus depicted by Phelan:



  "The observant traveler who passes through Mexico and who sees the little

shrines along the roadside, the smoothfaced priests, or the mendicant friar with

pendent rosary and bare feet upon the streets, need not be told the religious

life of the people. In like manner the signs of Methodism, though in a measure

now fading away before the incoming tide of a general laxity of faith, are

equally apparent to him who studies the history of the present. What the

Catholic church is in Mexico, the Methodist church is in Tennessee. To follow

its footsteps would be foreign to our purpose, but it would be impossible to

understand the inner life of the people and the organization of society unless

we know the great instruments which first gave bent to the religious impulses of

the early settlers. Perhaps it would be proper to say instrument, for without

doing injustice to the able and learned successors of Craighead, and without

overlooking the Tennesseeans who added a powerful branch to the already numerous

Protestant denominations in America, it may be said that the religious life of

the state is to-day the direct outcome of the exertions of the early Methodist

itinerants. Other denominations have followed in the wake of civilization. The

Methodist circuit rider led it. What the friar, the adventurous padre, was in

the early day of Mexican settlement, the circuit rider has been in this state,

and the evidences of his work and influence are upon every hand. The Sunday of

to-day is the Sabbath which we inherit. The silent theater, the houses from

which the sound of music and mirth are banished, the empty streets, the calm

stillness of the day. in these things we see the signs of his influence. The

career of the circuit rider both individually and collectively renewed in a

great measure the romantic memories of the medieval church militant. * * * The

circuit rider was the embodiment of a sacred and enthusiastic zeal which held in

light esteem both the dangers and allurements of the world. And indeed he was a

man whose like has not often been seen. His limitations were decided and

palpable, but they were not repulsive. He was bigoted as a Christian, but

tolerant as a churchman. He believed in the Bible with a literal faith, which in

the present day of Renan and Strauss seems to have disappeared from the face of

the earth," etc., etc.



  The Baptists were also early on the ground. Rev. Tidence Lane organized a

congregation in the eastern part of the state in 1779. But it was not until

about 1790 that they began the work of organizing churches in Knox county. The

oldest Baptist church in Knox county, still in existence, is Little Flat Creek

Church, which was organized in 1796. Among the earliest Baptist ministers in

Knox county the following names are given: Revs. William Johnson, Isaac Barton,

Richard Wood, Elijah Rogers. Thomas Hudiburgh, Duke Kimbrough, Robert Fristoe,

Thomas Hall, Richard Newport and West Walker. These men, like their Methodist

brethren, were of limited education, but their religious zeal and fervid

eloquence were well adapted to the majority of their congregations, and the

numbers in these congregations increased probably more rapidly than they would

otherwise have done. In fact, the membership of the Baptist churches, in the

aggregate, soon outnumbered that of both the Presbyterians and Methodists, and

it is still in the lead.



  But as the Presbyterians were first in evidence in East Tennessee, and as they

have for this reason been given the preference in treating of the various

religious denominations in this work, the history of the individual Presbyterian

churches will now be briefly traced, the other churches coming in their regular

chronological order.



  With reference to the organization of the first Presbyterian church in

Knoxville, Ramsey says: "With pious regard and consideration for the church and

religion of his fathers, the proprietor of Knoxville designated a lot for the

erection of a house of public worship. The barracks, the court house, the grove

above the mouth of White creek, on the river bank, were at first substituted for

this purpose, and it was not until 1810 that a church edifice was erected on

this lot. An adjoining square was afterward designated to a purpose scarcely

less important—the instruction and education of youth—the entire square between

Gay and State streets, and State and Boundary streets, being appropriated to

Blount College."



  In 1789 or 1790, Rev. Samuel Carrick preached to a very large congregation at

the Indian mound which stood at the fork of the French Broad and Holston rivers.

A second sermon was preached there immediately after the conclusion of the

first, the second by Rev. Hezekiah Balch. Soon afterward other religious

services were held at the same place, and a church was organized there by the

Rev. Samuel Carrick, which was named Lebanon-in-the-fork, which name was later

abbreviated to Lebanon. Soon after becoming pastor of the Lebanon Church, Rev.

Mr. Carrick organized the First Presbyterian Church at Knoxville, most of the

first members of this church having been members of the Lebanon Church. The

first ruling elders of the Knoxville Church were James White, George McNutt,

John Adair, Archibald Rhea, Sr., Dr. James Cozby and Thomas Gillespie. Rev. Mr.

Carrick continued pastor of this church until his death, in 1809, and the church

was then without a pastor until 1812, when Rev. Thomas H. Nelson was installed.

Religious services had up to this time been held in the barracks and in the

court house, but during the year 1811, under the inspiration of a sermon

preached by Rev. Samuel G. Ramsey, three commissioners were appointed to

contract for and superintend the erection of a church edifice, these

commissioners or building committee being John Crozier, Joseph C. Strong and

James Park. This duty they performed, the work upon the meeting house, which was

of brick, beginning in the fall of 1812, and the work upon the building being

sufficiently far advanced to permit of the occupancy of it that fall, though it

was not completely finished and furnished until 1816. When thus completed there

was a debt upon the congregation of $529.17, which was assumed by the three

members of the building committee mentioned above. The lot, as stated earlier in

this chapter, had been donated by Col. James White.



  Rev. Mr. Nelson remained in charge of this church as pastor until his death in

1838, under his ministrations 204 names being added to the rolls. The following

elders had been elected during his incumbency: Thomas Humes, James Campbell,

John Craighead, Moses White, Robert Lindsey, James Craig, Dr. Joseph C. Strong,

James Park and William Bark.



  During this long pastorate, however, all had not been peace and harmony in

this congregation. Soon after the completion of the house of worship, as above

narrated, a disaffection arose among the members, and in 1818 those thus

dissatisfied sent up a petition to Union Presbytery for permission to organize a

new congregation, giving as a reason the insufficient accommodations of the

church building. By the other members of the church this was considered as a

mere pretext, the real reason being, as they saw it, the tendency in the minds

of those desiring to withdraw being toward "Hopkinsianism."



  Hopkinsianism is a peculiar form of Calvinism, which, though it embraces most

of the doctrines of Calvin, yet it entirely rejects the doctrine of imputation,

both the imputation of the sin of Adam and of the righteousness of Christ. But

the fundamental doctrine of Hopkinsianism is that ail virtue and true holiness

consist in disinterested benevolence, and that all sin is selfishness. That form

of self love which leads men to give their first regard to their own eternal

welfare is condemned by those who hold to this system as sinful.



  The petition for a separate church organization was refused by the presbytery,

and it then went up to the synod of Tennessee on appeal. A remonstrance was also

sent up, which the synod disregarded, overruled the decision of the presbytery

and ordered the petitioners to organize the Second Presbyterian Church. An

appeal was taken by the First Presbyterian Church to the General Assembly of

1820, but the decision and order of the synod were allowed to stand.



  After the death of Rev. Mr. Nelson, as related above, the pulpit of the First

Church was supplied successively by the Revs. Samuel Y. Wyley, Joseph I. Foot,

Charles D. Pigeon and Reese Happersett, but none of them remained more than a

few months. In 1841 Rev. Robert B. McMullen, at that time a professor in the

East Tennessee University, became pastor, and remained with the church until the

latter part of 1858, when he resigned to become president of Stewart College at

Clarksville. In 1859 the Rev. W. A. Harrison was elected pastor and he remained

until February, 1864, when he was sent South by the Federal military authorities.



  In March, 1855, a new church edifice, which had been begun in 1852, upon the

site of the old building, was completed and dedicated, and this building was

used by the United States military authorities from November, 1863, to May 1,

1866, first as a hospital, then as barracks, next as quarters for refugees from

upper East Tennessee, and finally for the necessities of the Freedmen's Bureau,

by whom it was used as a school house for colored children.



  Rev. James Park was invited to preach to this congregation in February, 1866,

he having then recently returned from Georgia. Upon his own responsibility he

rented the Baptist church building, then vacant, and in this building continued

to hold services until the succeeding May, at which time the church belonging to

the congregation was restored to it. It is natural to suppose that because of

the war the membership of the church had been reduced, thirty-nine being the

number that greeted Rev. Mr. Park's return, and the elders at that time were

David A. Deaderick, William S. Kennedy and George M. White. Dr. Park was,

however, a successful pastor, and under his care the membership steadily

increased. The church building was repaired and refurnished in 1869, and the lot

was improved, all at a cost of upward of $5,000. Dr. Park was again elected

pastor May 21, 1876, and still remains in charge. The membership of this church

at the present time is 380, and of the Sunday-school, of which Dr. A. R. Melendy

is superintendent, 250.



  John H. Crozier wrote as follows of the Rev. Samuel Carrick:



  "Rev. Samuel Carrick was the first clergyman who also ministered to one or

more churches in the country. He was an accurate Greek and Latin scholar, and

was president of Blount College. He was a Calvinistic Presbyterian of the

strictest sect; believed in predestination and election, and that infants who

died without baptism would suffer eternal perdition on account of this neglect

of their parents. * * * He was a brave, honest, upright man and a sincere

Christian, and had great influence over his congregation, though many of his

tenets would not at the present day be very cheerfully acquiesced in by numbers

of his own denomination."



  Following is the inscription in full upon' the monument erected to his memory:

"Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Samuel CZR. Carrick, who died August 17, 1809,

aged forty-nine years 1 month. He first planted the Presbyterian religion in the

wilds of Tennessee: he was the founder and the first pastor of this church, and

the first president of E. T. College."



  The Second Presbyterian Church of Knoxville was organized in the manner

mentioned in connection with the sketch of the First Presbyterian Church: but in

this place it is proper to present more of the details. Near the close of the

last century the Rev. Dr. Isaac Anderson, one of the ablest men that ever

preached the Gospel in Tennessee, organized Washington Presbyterian Church on

Rosebury creek, and he also established a school known as Union Academy, for it

was the custom then of the Presbyterian ministers to teach as well as preach. In

1803 Rev. Samuel Carrick resigned the pastorate of Lebanon Church, and from that

time on until 1813 Rev. Dr. Anderson preached to both Washington and Lebanon

congregations. Rev. Dr. Anderson was the principal agent in establishing the

Southern and Western Theological Seminary, which was in 1821 incorporated as

Maryville College. Dr. Anderson was one of those in East Tennessee, Rev.

Hezekiah Balch being another, who had adopted the peculiar form of Calvinism

known as Hopkinsianism, mentioned in the history of the First Presbyterian

Church, and under his preaching many of his hearers, not only of his own

congregation, but also of the members of neighboring churches, were converted to

his belief. By some of the members of the First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville

he was invited to preach to them, in 1818, and accepting the invitation, the

result was the petition elsewhere referred to, and the organization of the

Second Presbyterian Church, which was effected October 24, 1818. The elders

chosen at that time were Archibald Rhea, John McCampbell, Thomas Craighead,

Joseph Brown and John Taylor. A piece of ground containing one acre was

purchased of Gideon Morgan, and the erection of a house of worship immediately

begun, and the work was so far completed that the building-was dedicated by Dr.

Anderson in April, 1820. The walls remained unplastered for nearly ten years.



  Dr. Anderson continued with the church until 1829, the membership being

increased by the addition of 153 new names. The next regular pastor was the Rev.

Jefferson E. Montgomery, who was with the church from 1831 until 1838, and in

October, 1840, the Rev. William Mack became pastor, remaining until 1843, when

he resigned. In February, 1845, Rev. John W. Cunningham was installed, remaining

about one year, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Meyers, who remained until

April, 1847. Rev. J. H. Martin was then pastor from July, 1847, until October,

1863, the present church being erected in the meantime at a cost of $14,236.84,

the dedication occurring: November 11, 1860. During this year a chapel was built

from the materials of the old church, for the purpose of holding prayer

meetings, Sunday-school, etc.



  For two years during the war the church was without a pastor, but in October,

1865, Rev. Nathan Bachman became pastor and remained until 1876, when he was

succeeded by Rev. F. E. Sturgis, who, in 1885, was succeeded by Rev. T. S.

Scott, who was called here from Rockford, Ill., came and remained about two

years. On September 11, 1887, Rev. Dr. R. R. Sutherland began his pastorate

here, being installed October 2, and remained nine years, preaching his last

sermon March 15, 1896. An incident worthy of note occurred in this church

November 4, 1894, when Mrs. Julia Ward Howe addressed the congregation, during

her address saving there was once a time when women were obliged to leave the

church before the benediction was pronounced, because it was thought they had no

souls, but "now they are permitted to remain and pronounce the benediction."

After the resignation of Dr. Sutherland several ministers occupied the pulpit

with a view of becoming pastor, until at length the present pastor, Rev. Robert

L. Bachman, then of Utica, N. Y., a native of Tennessee and a graduate of Union

Theological Seminary, was called, preaching his first sermon September 27, 1896,

and being installed December 2, following.



  The membership of this church is now 425, and of the Sunday-school, of which

E. G. Oates is superintendent, 350, including a membership of 100 in the home

Sunday-school. The elders of the church are W. P. Washburn, A. A. Barnes, Judge

S. T. Logan, Judge T. A. R. Nelson, N. D. Barrows, W. E. Gibbins, John L. Rhea,

James Lynn and J. B. Minnis. Among the distinguished Tennesseeans who have in

the past been elders of this church are Hon. Horace Maynard, James H. Cowan, Dr.

James Rodgers, whose father was also an elder, and Judge T. A. R. Nelson. The

property of the church is valued at $200,000.



  At a meeting of the Presbytery of Knoxville held at Sweetwater, December 18,

1873, a petition of several members of the First Presbyterian Church and of

others not members of that church, was presented, asking that they be organized

as the Third Presbyterian Church of Knoxville. A committee was appointed to

attend at Knoxville on January 16, 1874, hold a meeting to continue over the

18th of the month, that being Sunday, to organize the new congregation. During

the same month the church was constituted with twenty-nine communicants, four

ruling elders and four deacons. Services were held in the Caldwell school house

until a church edifice could be erected, and in 1876 a fine brick structure on

Fifth avenue was completed and dedicated. Rev. J. P. Gammon was stated supply of

this church for about eighteen months, when he was succeeded by Rev. W. A.

Harrison, who remains pastor even to the present time, though on December I,

1897, Rev. Dr. J. M. P. Otts reached the city to take the position of associate

pastor and was installed November 13, 1898, the two reverend gentlemen still

remaining co-pastors of the church. The membership of this church is now 375 and

of the Sunday-school, of which George R. Jackson is superintendent, 150. The

property owned by the church society is worth about $75,000.



  Central Presbyterian Church was the result of a division within the Third

Presbyterian Church. After worshiping in several places for some time, one of

these places being Patterson's Hall, the Central Presbyterian Church decided to

have a church building and a pastor of their own, and on Sunday, July 12, 1891,

extended a call to Rev. J. M. La Bach to act as stated supply until the meeting

of the synod in the fall. This church was regularly organized November 8, 1891,

the membership being mainly from the Third Presbyterian Church. The society

procured a lot on the corner of Broad and Jacksboro streets, and on November 15

there was subscribed toward a building fund $4,452.75. November 6, 1892, the

church building was dedicated, the sermon being delivered by Rev. Dr. T. H.

McCallie of Chattanooga.



  Rev. Mr. La Bach remained pastor of this church until March 3, 1895, when his

pastoral relations were dissolved. The membership of the church at that time was

about 300. After being served by different pastors temporarily, at length on May

10, 1896, Rev. George T. Chandler was installed as pastor, remaining until

September 17, 1898, when he resigned, and a few months later became pastor of

the First Presbyterian Church at Kosciusko, Miss., in which state he had

formerly labored. Rev. Paul F. Brown is the present pastor.



  The membership of this church at this time is about 175, and of the

Sunday-school, of which J. L. Cooley is superintendent, about the same. The

value of the church property is now about $12,000.



  The Fourth Presbyterian Church was organized April 25, 1886, in the Edgewood

school house, with eighteen members, most of whom had been for some time members

of other Presbyterian churches, but wanted a church of their own denomination

nearer their homes. The elders chosen at this time were W. O. White, C. E. Lucky

and Robert Irvin, and the deacons, Charles Champion and Charles Evans. The

sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. T. S. Scott. A church building was

erected during the same year, on the corner of Coleman and Luttrell streets,

which cost about $4,000, and was dedicated November 6, 1887, but the first

services held therein were held November 7, 1886. The present membership of the

church is about 275, and of the Sunday-school, 140. The value of the church

property, including the parsonage, is $10,000. Rev. E. A. Elmore has been pastor

of this church ever since its organization.



  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in the spring of 1883, and is

located on Broad street. The principal movers in the work of organizing this

church were Rev. E. J. McCroskey, J. R. Butt and T. W. Kellar. Rev. Mr.

McCroskey undertook the work of raising the amount of money needed to purchase a

lot, which he accomplished, and the erection thereon of a church building- was

soon afterward begun. In the spring of 1885 the work had so far progressed as to

permit of the occupancy of the building, and the organization of the church was

effected by the election of J. R. Butt and T. W. Kellar as elders, and J. B.

Malcolm and T. W. Carter, deacons. Rev. W. H. Baugh was installed pastor,

remaining until June, 1886, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. V. Stephens, who

remained until 1888, when Rev. A. W. Hawkins became pastor.



  The church building begun, as above stated, in 1885, was dedicated February 2,

1890, the sermon being preached by Rev. Solon McCroskey, the society at that

time being free from debt. June 14, 1891, Rev. Mr. Hawkins preached his farewell

sermon, and left the charge in a very prosperous condition. On May 21, Rev. P.

M. Fitzgerald preached his first sermon as pastor of this church and remained

until April 10, 1897, when he was succeeded by Rev. James A. McKamey. The

Sunday-school was reorganized January 2, 1898, with Walter M. Bonham

superintendent. The Florida Street mission of this church was also reorganized,

and became a prominent feature of the work of the church. September 30, 1898,

Rev. Mr. McKamey left Knoxville to take charge of the Sunday-school department

of the Cumberland Presbyterian, published at Nashville, and was followed by Rev.

T. A. Cowan, who preached his first sermon October 9, 1898. The membership of

this church at the present time is 310, and of the Sunday-school, of which T. W.

Carter is superintendent, 180. The property of the church is now worth about

$10,000.



  The Fort Sanders Presbyterian Church was organized in the Highland Avenue

school building. May 19, 1895, with twenty-six members. For about eighteen

months the congregation worshiped in various buildings and rooms, the pastors or

ministers who preached being Revs. Elmore, Dawson, Wilson, Moore, Newman, Duncan

and the present pastor of the church, S. A. Coile, the latter being installed as

regular pastor in 1895. The lot upon which the church building stands was

purchased in January, 1896, at a cost of $1,700, and active work looking to the

erection of a church edifice immediately began. The building stands at the

corner of Laurel avenue and Eighth street, and the total cost of the church

property, including lot, buildings and furnishings, was $5,240.33. The building

was dedicated on Sunday, December 18, 1898, by Rev. E. A. Elmore, D. D., pastor

of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, and after the dedicatory sermon was delivered

there was raised almost enough money to pay off the indebtedness upon the

property, which was $1,514.42. Dr. J. M. P. Otts, pastor of the Third

Presbyterian Church, called attention to the memorial window in the west side of

the church, given by the soldiers of Camp Poland in memory of the soldiers of

both armies that fell in the attack upon and defense of Fort Sanders. November

29, 1863, and said also that it was the first monument to piety and to the

fallen of both sides in the Civil war ever erected in the world. Rev. S. A.

Coile, the first pastor of this church, was the pastor at the time of dedication

and still remains.



  The South Knoxville Presbyterian Church was established January 26, 1890, with

eleven members, and during the fall and winter of 1890-91 a frame church

building was erected at a cost of $4,350, which was dedicated March 29, 1891.

The first and only pastor of this church was and has been Rev. W. R. Dawson, who

is well equipped for his work. The membership of the church is now 108, and of

the Sunday-school, 125. R. E. Jones is superintendent of the Sunday-school,

which is in a flourishing condition, and the value of the church property at the

present time is $3,500.



  Bell Avenue Presbyterian Church was organized September 7, 1890, as the

outgrowth of a mission established about 1870 by the Second Presbyterian Church,

at the corner of Bell avenue and Bertrand street. Preaching services were held

in the chapel of the mission during the summer of 1890 by Rev. J. M. Davies, D.

D., synodical superintendent of home missions for Tennessee, and on July 11, of

that year, Rev. A. J. Coile came to the city from Mount Bethel Church,

presbytery of Holston, and the church was organized, as above stated, with

twenty-two members. In 1891 a lot was purchased on the corner of Howard and

Olive streets, upon which a commodious frame church building was erected at a

cost of $4,000, capable of seating 300 persons, and which was dedicated October

6, 1891, Dr. R. R. Sutherland preaching the sermon. Rev. A. J. Coile was

ordained minister of the church April 24, 1892, having up to that time been

stated supply. He is still pastor of the church, which now has 150 members, and

the Sunday-school, of which A. H. Daily is superintendent, has 150 scholars. The

property of the church is now worth $4,500.



  Shiloh Presbyterian Church, colored, was organized in the following manner: In

May, 1865, at a meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, held

in New York, Rev. Henry H. Garnett and Rev. John B. Reeve were appointed to look

after the interests of such colored people in the South as might desire to

identify themselves with the Presbyterian Church. Rev. Mr. Garnett came to

Knoxville, finding here eleven colored communicants connected with the Second

Presbyterian Church who were desirous of organizing a separate church. Letters

having been granted these eleven colored Presbyterians, they, together with one

colored member from the First Presbyterian Church, were organized into the First

Colored Presbyterian Church. September 4, 1865, the name being later changed to

that given above. The sermon at this time was preached by the Rev. Mr. Reeve.

For a short time Rev. Mr. Reeve was pastor of the church, then returning to

Philadelphia. Not long afterward Rev. G. W. LeVere, who had been chaplain of the

Twentieth U. S. Colored volunteer infantry, during a portion of the war,

accepted a position as missionary to Knoxville, arriving in the city February 9,

1866, and found twelve of the original members of this church, and held services

in the First Presbyterian Church (that being still vacant), until the owners

again desired it for their own use. For some time it was exceedingly difficult

to find a place in which the church could hold services, for there was then a

decided prejudice against colored churches, but at length Mr. Perez Dickinson

offered Mr. LeVere the use of his rear porch and lawn. Afterward the services

were for a time regularly held at the house of William Nelson, until a lot was

purchased on Clinch street, upon which a building was erected, the entire cost

being $3,300, and the building was completed within the next twenty-two months.

The church then kept on with its work regularly and with success, and in 1883

Rev. Job Lawrence became pastor, remaining until 1891, when he was succeeded by

Rev. John R. Riley, the present pastor. The membership now is 120, and of the

Sunday-school, of which Mitchell Burks is superintendent, is seventy-five. The

church property is worth about $3,000.



  The First Baptist Church of Knoxville was organized January 15, 1843, in the

upper room of the court house, the organization being completed on the 22d of

that month. The ministers present on the latter occasion were as follows: Rev.

Mr. Kennon, Duke Kimbrough, Mr. Milliken, Mr. Bellue, Mr. Coram and Mr. Ray. The

membership at first was quite small, being composed of twenty-six white persons

and twenty colored. During the first few months of the existence of this church

the membership grew quite rapidly and by August the enrollment reached

eighty-five. Thirty had been added by experience and seventeen by letter, seven

had been dismissed and one had been excommunicated. This large increase in the

membership was due to two revivals, one in the spring and one in the summer, the

first having been conducted in the First Presbyterian Church by Rev. Dr. Baker

of Texas, and the other by Rev. Israel Robards, who remained for several

successive days and nights, arousing a deep religious interest in the community.



  The first pastor of the church was Rev. Joseph A. Bullard, who remained one

year. Those most prominent among his successors were the Revs. G. W. Griffin,

Matthew Hillsman, L. B. Woolfolk, S. H. Smith, Dr. Brenker, D. D., J. L Lloyd,

J. B. F. Mays, George B. Eager, C. H. Strickland and E. A. Taylor. Rev. E. A.

Taylor at the end of a three years' pastorate, lasting from 1885 to 1888, had

one of the strongest congregations in the state of Tennessee, and a large,

handsome brick church building, with his congregation out of debt. His labors in

Knoxville are remembered with pleasure by his former parishioners. The

membership at that time amounted to about 650, and the Sunday-school had a

membership of more than 500 scholars.



  The new brick church above mentioned is 72x88 feet in size, its audience room

being 62x65 feet in size, and its spire 176 feet high. The corner stone was laid

July 1, 1886, and it was dedicated April 8, 1886. The audience room and the

gallery have a seating capacity of from 850 to 1,000 people.



  After the retirement of Rev. E. A. Taylor toward the latter part of 1888, a

call was extended January 23, 1889, to Rev. Carter Helm Jones, who began his

labors here about February 1, 1889, remaining until April 30, 1893, upon which

day he preached his farewell sermon, having accepted a call from the McFerrin

Memorial Baptist Church of Louisville, Ky. During the four years of his

pastorate in Knoxville he baptized 243 persons and admitted to the church 435.

On May 14, 1893, Rev. R. R. Acree of Roanoke, Va., preached a sermon for the

congregation, was afterward called to the church, and arrived to take charge on

September 8, that year. The present pastor is Rev. M. W. Egerton. The membership

of this church at the present time is 748, and of the Sunday-school, of which

John McCoy is superintendent, 500. The value of the church property now is $40,000.



  In November, 1873, a second congregation of Baptists was organized in

Knoxville, their church building being erected on McGhee street, but the

location did not prove satisfactory, and in November, 1880, the congregation was

disbanded. Some time afterward a mission was established in the northern portion

of the city and at this mission, in November, 1885, a church was organized which

was named Calvary Baptist Church. This church was incorporated March 8, 1886, by

W. C. McCoy, G. W. Peters, Lafayette Huddleston, James A. Galyon, John J.

Martin, W. A. J. Moore and J. R. Dew. The first pastor of the church was Rev. O.

L. Halley. The church was highly prosperous during the first years of its

existence, the membership increasing in one year from fifty-three to 115. On

February 6, 1890, the charter of this church, upon the petition of W. C. McCoy,

L Huddleston, J. B. Williams, W. A. J. Moore, W. R. Cooper and J. A. Galyon, was

so amended as to permit the change of name of this church to the Second Baptist

Church of Knoxville, and the name was changed in accordance therewith. Since

Rev. Mr. Hailey's time the Rev. M. D. Jeffries has been the only pastor, he

commencing his pastorate March 1, 1893. The church edifice is a two-story

pressed brick structure, of the Romanesque style of architecture, having an

auditorium capable of seating 700 persons, and ample class rooms, ladies'

parlor, etc., and cost $31,000. The membership of the church at the present time

is 534, and of the Sunday-school, of which W. A. J. Moore is superintendent,

360. The property of the church is now worth $25,000.



  The Third Baptist Church, located south of the Tennessee river, was organized

February 17, 1889. with eighteen members, the first pastor being Rev. W. R.

Grace, who remained from June, 1889. to June, 1891. Rev. S. E. Jones became

pastor in July, 1891, and remained until July, 1893, after which the church was

without a pastor six months, during which time Dr. C. C. DeArmond acted as

moderator at all business meetings. In January, 1894, Rev. Mr. Lightfoot became

pastor, remaining until the following July, from which time until September,

1894, Rev. John M. Anderson acted as supply pastor. Then followed Rev. W. C.

McPherson, who remained from October, 1894, until January 1, 1898, on which date

the present pastor. Rev. R. M. Murrell, began his labors. On June 11, 1893, when

the church building was dedicated by Rev. T. T. Eaton, the membership of the

church was 175, while at the present time it is 200. The Sunday school,

organized February 24, 1889, has continued without interruption. It had at first

forty scholars, while now it has 200. The superintendents have been Dr. C. C.

DeArmond and served eight years; W. B. Ford served six months; J. C. Ford, six

months; J. G. Johnson, one year, and Dr. T. O. McCallie is now superintendent.

The church property is worth about $7,000.



The Centennial Baptist Church was the outgrowth of a mission Sunday-school

organized April 6, 1890, at the home of Alexander Meek at 1200 Asylum street,

and on the 13th of the same month a meeting was held at a store room on Asylum

street at which seventy-seven persons were present and Rev. J. Pike Powers

elected superintendent, and served as both superintendent of the Sunday-school

and pastor for the people until July 12, 1891. The First Baptist Church took

charge of the mission July 15, 1891, and elected Thomas L. Moses superintendent,

and engaged Rev. J. K. Pace as pastor. The Sunday-school about this time moved

to a store room on Asylum and Clinton streets, and W. W. Woodruff presented to

the mission a lot on Deaderick street, upon which a church building was erected

by the First Baptist Church, which building is 34x80 feet in size and cost

$5,800, and was dedicated free from debt on June 5, 1892. It has a seating

capacity of 500 persons, and is a very handsome church edifice, somewhat on the

Moorish order of architecture, nicely situated on a fine street. The pastor at

the time of dedication was Rev. J. K. Pace, he remaining until October, 1892,

when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. J. H. Snow, who has had a very

successful pastorate. The value of the church property is about $6,500.



  Mount Zion Baptist Church (colored) was organized in 1864, in the basement of

the First Presbyterian Church, with three members, by Rev. T. Embry. Soon

afterward they removed to M. E. Zion Church, remaining there for some time, and

then removed to the colored school house in East Knoxville, remaining there

until 1866. Rev. William Howell about this time came down from Ohio, was invited

to become pastor of the church, accepted and remained until 1869. In 1873 there

were about 150 members in this church, which had previously purchased a lot on

Patton street in East Knoxville, and erected thereon a church building at a cost

of about $2,000.



  The Second (Colored) Baptist Church was organized by Rev. William Howell with

eight members from the First Colored Baptist Church, and with Rev. J. P. Jay as

pastor. After about four months a lot was purchased on an alley leading off from

Cumberland street in East Knoxville, upon which lot a church building was

erected at a cost of about $900, in which the congregation still worships. After

a one year's pastorate, Rev. Mr. Jay was succeeded by Rev. A. B. Cross, and in

1873 there were 173 members in the church. Succeeding pastors so far as could be

ascertained have been as follows: Revs. Bigbee, Robert Howard, Robert Mills,

Allen Nickerson, Brown, Bain, John Richardson, Shields, C. J. Reed, W. M.

Maskerson, Martin Jones, James Barney, John Richardson, R. P. Rumney, John G. L.

Crippins and William Armstrong, the present pastor. The church membership now is

157. This church is now called the Mount Carmel Baptist Church.



  In 1897 a division in the church occurred. 76 members withdrawing and forming

the Guilfield Baptist Church, purchasing the old Clinton A. M. E. chapel, and

worshiping therein. The first pastor of this church was Rev. R. P. Rumney, the

second and present pastor being Rev. Mr. Clark, from Kentucky. The membership is

about the same as that with which the church was organized.



  Other colored Baptist churches are the Central, at 1019 Payne street, and the

Second Baptist at 616 Central avenue, North.



  The Church of the Immaculate Conception was established in 1851, when the

claims of the Roman Catholics settled throughout East Tennessee were presented

to the Rt. Rev. Richard Pius Miles, then Bishop of Nashville. In obedience to

the command of the bishop, Rev. Father H. V. Brown, a pious and zealous

missionary, came to Knoxville and organized the Catholics into a congregation,

named as above, and under his supervision a church building was erected on

Walnut street near Vine, which was of stone and neat in style and architecture.

The Catholics then numbered about one hundred families and with them Father

Brown, who was a competent artist, labored until 1855, when he was called to

Chattanooga.



  Rev. Father J. L. Biemans, noted for his learning and humility, succeeded to

the pastorate of this church, and served faithfully until 1857, when he was

called back to Europe to receive his mother into the faith of her son. Rev.

Father J. Bergrath then filled the pastorate until 1865, when on account of

failing health he removed further south. Rev. Father Abram J. Ryan then took

charge, and was soon endeared to all denominations in Knoxville, because of his

loving care and devoted zeal. The increasing congregation could no longer be

accommodated in the little stone church, the capacity of which was tested every

Sunday, so much so that on many occasions the Catholics were compelled to stand

in the aisles or even outside of the building itself by the open windows, in

order to accommodate their non-Catholic friends, who desired to listen to the

eloquent words of the poet priest. It was during his pastorate here that Father

Ryan wrote that immortal poem, "The Conquered Banner," which has endeared him to

the heart of every Southern man and woman.



  Rev. Father Joseph S. Kean was next in charge, but was soon followed by Rev.

Father M. J. Finnegan, who was appointed in June, 1868, and it was during his

administration that the addition was built to the church.



  Rev. Father F. T. Marron, the present incumbent, was appointed pastor in 1872,

and finding that his charge was not confined to the city of Knoxville, but that

in fact it extended all over East Tennessee, over an area of 180x100 miles, he

was at first quite discouraged, but after completing his first pastoral visit,

that which seemed almost if not quite impossible of accomplishment, became

comparatively easy and a pleasant duty, and his efforts were soon crowned with

success. Many of those who lived in the country followed his advice and moved to

Knoxville, and such was the increase in the Catholic population of the city that

a new church building became a necessity, the present fine brick structure at

the southeast corner of Walnut and Vine streets being soon afterward erected,

all of Tennessee material and the work all done by Knoxville contractors and

workmen. This church has a seating capacity of about 800, and was dedicated

September 19, 1886, by Rt. Rev. Joseph Rademacher, bishop of Nashville, assisted

by Rev. Father Marron and Rev. Father M. J. Ryan. The membership of this parish

at present is about 1,500, and the Sunday-school has about 350 scholars.



  (Since the foregoing was written Father Marron has been transferred to

Memphis, Tennessee, and has been succeeded by Father Gleason, who came from

Nashville.)



  Bishop Asbury, on November 1, 1790, while on his way from the Cumberland

settlements to North Carolina, paid a visit to Knoxville, being accompanied by

Bishops Whatcoat and William McKendree. Here they were entertained by Joseph

Greer, a friend of Asbury. The bishop preached in the "State House," to about

700 persons, many of whom, however, could not get inside the building. In the

autumn of 1802 Bishop Asbury again visited Knoxville on two separate occasions,

but did not preach here in either case. He was entertained by Joseph Greer and

Francis A. Ramsey. On November 25, 1802, he preached at the house of Justus

Huffaker, a local preacher, living near the Seven Islands in the French Broad

river. That year the French Broad circuit was formed, extending westward from

the west line of Greene county on both sides of French Broad and Holston rivers,

and including Knox county. To this circuit from that year to 1811 inclusive the

following appointments were made: Luther Taylor in 1802; John Johnson in 1803;

E. W. Bowman and Joshua Oglesby in 1804; Ralph Lotspeich in 1805; James Axley in

1806: Benjamin Edge in 1807; Nathan Barnes and Isaac Lindsey in 1808; James

Trower in 1809; William Pattison in 1810, and George Ekin and Josiah Crawford in

1811.



  In November, 1812, Bishop Asbury, accompanied by William McKendree, visited

Knoxville once more and for the last time, being the guest of Father Wagoner.

The conference from which the bishop was returning had established Knoxville

circuit and had assigned thereto Samuel H. Thompson. The next year Samuel H.

Thompson was succeeded by Richard Richards, a strong and popular man, but who

later became addicted to strong drink and was expelled from the church. Still

later he reformed and was again received into membership.



  James Dixon was assigned to Knoxville circuit in 1814, a man of remarkable

intellect, and in that day of controversy over religious doctrines, defended the

doctrines of his church with great ability. In a long debate in which he was

engaged with Dr. Isaac Anderson, founder of Maryville College, he acquitted

himself to the full satisfaction, at least, of his church. He was again sent to

Knoxville in 1819 and in 1820 had charge of the church in Greeneville as well as

of that in Knoxville. About this time he was afflicted with epilepsy in a most

remarkable manner, being helpless and almost unconscious for several weeks. Upon

again regaining full consciousness he had forgotten everything he had ever

known, and was compelled to learn to read over again. The Church Street

Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized early in the present century,

but it could not be ascertained that there was a church building erected here

previous to 1815. Knoxville was first mentioned as a preaching place at a

conference held at Fountain Head, Middle Tennessee, November 12, 1812, with

Samuel H. Thompson, preacher in charge. Col. John W. Gaut being authority for

this statement. Rev. Mr. Thompson having charge of a circuit. In 1813 Richard

Richards was preacher in charge, and in 1814 James Dixon, an Irishman, learned,

cultured and eloquent, who engaged in a controversy with Rev. Dr. Anderson of

Maryville, a Presbyterian divine. Next came John Henegar, in 1815, the year in

which was in all probability erected the first frame church building on

Methodist Hill. John Haynie being instrumental in its erection. Up to this time

those who had been in this part of the state as circuit riders were James Axley,

Thomas Wilkerson, and John Kelly. In 1816 the preacher in Knoxville was Nicholas

Norwood: in 1817, Josiah B. Doughty, and in 1818, George Atkin, father of S. T.

Atkin, an esteemed member of this church at the present time. In 1819, Robert

Hooper: in 1820, David Adams; in 1822, James Axley, with John Doan, assistant;

in 1823 Thomas Stringfield was presiding elder, Thomas Madden, preacher in

charge, and F. A. Owen, assistant. While the church remained on Methodist Hill

the membership was about 100, and in 1834 a new church edifice was erected and

known afterward as "The Old Methodist Church."



  In 1824 Holston Conference was organized at a meeting held in Knoxville.

Bishop Roberts presiding, the new conference comprising Southwest Virginia, East

Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and a small portion of North Georgia. The

whole number of white members was 13,443; colored, 1,491, and preachers, 42.

George Horn was the preacher in Knoxville. In 1825 the preacher was J. Y.

Crawford; in 1826, James Cummings and W. T. Senter; in 1827, Isaac Lewis; in

1828, John Craig and O. F. Johnson; in 1829, John B. Doughty and Harry Cummings;

in 1830, Abraham Murphy and J. Nutty; in 1831, David Fleming and R. Birdwell; in

1832, David Fleming; in 1833, David Adams; in 1834-35, Joseph Pryor; in 1836,

Timothy Sullins; in 1837, J. M. Kelley; in 1838-39, John Barringer; in 1840,

John M. Kelley; in 1841-42, Timothy Sullins; 1843-44, James Atkins; 1845, Samuel

Patton; 1846, Miles Foy; 1847, W. G. E. Cunningham; 1848, E. F. Sevier; 1849, C.

W. Charlton; 1850, Timothy Sullins and D. R. McAnally; 1851, J. C. Pendergrast;

1852, E. E. Gillenwaters; 1853, William M. Kerr; 1854, Timothy Sullins and W. H.

Bates (interchange); 1855-56, E. C. Wexler: 1857, R. M. Rickey; 1858-59, David

Sullins; 1860, David Sullins and E. C. Wexler; 1861, W. E. Munsey; 1862,

Grinsfield Taylor, and 1863, David Sullins. From this time on for a few years on

account of the occupation of the city by Union soldiers, religious services were

not regularly held, but in November, 1866, the society was reorganized and as

the old church building on Church street had been taken possession of by the

members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the members of the M. E. Church,

South, occupied the basement of the First Presbyterian church, remaining there

until their own new brick chapel was erected and completed, in 1867.



  The first pastor of this church after the cessation of hostilities was Rev. T.

C. Carroll, who was followed by Rev. W. H. Bates. Next came Rev. Grinsfield

Taylor, in 1869; E. E. Hoss in 1870-71: R. H. Parker, 1872: W. G. E. Cunningham,

1873-74: J. S. Burnett, 1875-77: George C. Rankin, 1878-81: John H. Keith,

1882-83; H. H. Carlock, 1884-85: R. G. Waterhouse, 1886-89; W. W. Hicks,

1890-91; H. D. Moore, D. D., 1892-94, and the present pastor. Rev. James A.

Duncan, D. D., 1895-99.



  In 1875 the society regained possession of its church lot, with the old

church, and upon this lot, in 1877, the present brick church edifice was

completed and dedicated in February, 1878, by Bishop Wightman, assisted by Dr.

R. A. Young. In 1886 or 1887 fifty-six feet of land was purchased adjoining the

church on the west and upon this land a Sunday-school chapel was erected. In

1893 the parsonage was erected on the front of this lot, and at the present time

the property of the church is worth some $40,000.



  Broad Street Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1871 and a

lot was purchased by D. A. Carpenter. M. J. Reams, James Hayley, J. L. Nelson,

and A. J. Price, trustees, for its use, the price paid being $500, the owners of

the lot at the time being Peter Staub and Lewis Tillman. The location of this

lot, on which the church building was erected, is the southeast corner of Fifth

avenue and Broad street. The building was dedicated June 5, 1871, Rev. Bishop H.

H. Kavanagh preaching the sermon, and on this occasion about $1,200 was raised

to apply on the indebtedness. About the time of the dedication of this building

Rev. George D. French became pastor and remained until 1873, when he was

succeeded by Rev. B. O. Davis, who was himself succeeded by Rev. T. L. M.

French. Rev. W. W. Bays became pastor in 1879, and was followed by Rev. J. H.

Keith. Then followed Rev. J. F. Frazier, Rev. D. Sullins, D. D., and Rev. J. H.

Keith, who this time remained until October 13, 1889, on which day he preached

his farewell sermon. In the meantime the first building erected for a church,

which was a plain, rectangular structure, in the style of the old-fashioned

country meeting-house, became too small, and in 1886 a new and more commodious

building was resolved upon, and was erected at the corner of Fifth avenue and

Broad street, the first work being done on this new edifice July 22, 1886. The

corner-stone was laid September 21, and the building, completed, was dedicated

September 9, 1888. It is 72x80 feet in size, has an auditorium 59x75 feet, and a

spire 150 feet high. Rev. Dr. J. H. Keith, mentioned above, was succeeded by

Rev. T. C. Carroll, D. D., he by Rev. W. M. Dyer, and he by Rev. F. Richardson,

who was himself succeeded by Rev. W. S. Neighbors. The present pastor is Rev. J.

L. Orr. The present membership of the church is 547, that of the Sunday-school,

of which J. E. Johnston is the superintendent, 340, and the value of the

property owned by the church is $37,500, including the parsonage, at No. 528

West Fifth avenue.



  Highland Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1893, the

first pastor being Rev. W. Wisdom New-berry, who remained from 1893 to 1896, and

during his pastorate the little frame church building, which was and is still

designed for the use of the Sunday-school, was erected. This building was

dedicated July 14, 1895, by Rev. Dr. Richardson, and after the regular

dedicatory sermon had been delivered Dr. Moore announced that when the remaining

debt was assumed he would pronounce the sentence of dedication. Dr. Moore's

appeal was almost immediately responded to and the debt assumed, the church

building, which cost about $1,500 being then fully dedicated free from debt.

This church building stands on a large lot on Highland avenue immediately

northwest of the site of Fort Sanders. Since the Rev. Mr. Newberry the pastors

have been as follows: Rev. A. B. Hunter, 1896-97; Rev. E. S. Bettis, 1897-98,

and Rev. Frank Jackson, 1898 to the present time. The membership of this church

on March 1, 1899, was 181, and of the Sunday-school 160, the superintendent of

the Sunday-school being Joel Seaton. The entire value of the church property is

$3,500.



  May 27, 1864, a call was issued for a convention of members and preachers of

the Holston conference who were loyal to the government of the United States,

the convention to be held in Knoxville July 7 following, by William G. Brownlow,

J. A. Hyden, E. E. Gillenwaters, William T. Dowell, James Gumming, Thomas H.

Russell, William H. Rogers, and David Fleming. On the day appointed fifty-four

delegates assembled in the Episcopal church, organizing by the selection of E.

E. Gillenwaters chairman and Robert G. Blackburn secretary. A report was adopted

favoring a return to the Methodist Episcopal Church subject to the approval of

its general conference, which latter body ratified the action of the Knoxville

church. At its next meeting the Holston Conference of the Methodist Episcopal

Church was organized at Athens, June 1, 1865.



  The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Knoxville was established during this

same year, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. John F. Spence, the trustees

being William G. Brownlow, R. D. Jourolman, E. N. Parham, and C. W. De Pue, and

the stewards S. P. Angel, William Rule, H. C. Tarwater, F. W. Wheeler, and J. T.

Ambrose. For three years this church organization worshiped in the court-house

and in the First Baptist Church, and in 1867 began the erection of a church

building on Clinch street, which was completed in 1869. It was a large and

commodious brick structure, capable of seating 600 people.



  Dr. Spence labored with this congregation, which held services in Temperance

Hall, East Knoxviile, and afterwards as above stated, for one year, and in June,

1866, was succeeded by Rev. J. B. Ford, who reorganized the society at the

court-house with thirty members. In the Baptist church Rev. Mr. Ford then held a

protracted meeting and after this came to an end the congregation returned to

the court-house. By this time the old Methodist church on Church street was

repaired and taken possession of, and it was in this building that the

congregation remained until the new building at the corner of Clinch and Prince

streets was finished. In 1867 Rev. Mr. Ford was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Petty,

who remained one year, and was followed by Rev. J. W. Mann, during whose

pastorate the new church building was dedicated by Rev. Dr. Cobleigh. Rev. J. L.

Mann next became pastor, remaining one year, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. R.

Eads, who was followed by Rev. J. B. Ford. In 1872 the membership of this church

was 275. Succeeding pastors were Revs. L. H. Carhart, J. F. Goldman, J. J.

Manker, William McKinley, N. G. Taylor, C. B. Sparrow, R. J. Cooke, I. A.

Pearce, L. E. Prentiss and T. C. Warner, during whose pastorate the present fine

church building was dedicated, the dedicatory services being conducted by

Bishops J. N. Fitzgerald and I. W. Joyce, the former preaching the sermon. The

old church stood at the corner of Clinch and Prince streets, the new one

standing at the southeast corner of Clinch and Locust streets. This new

structure is in the Romanesque style of architecture, the plans for which were

supplied by Weaver & Kramer of Akron, Ohio. It is 71x130 feet in size, is built

of marble, and when the auxiliary rooms are thrown open in connection with the

auditorium, has a seating capacity of 1,800. It cost about $50,000, the larger

part of which sum was derived from the sale of a house on the lot where the

building itself stands ($1,000), and the sale of the property at Clinch and

Prince streets ($35,000). The organ in this new building is very fine,

consisting of six stops of fifty-eight pipes each; the swell organ having six

stops, four of which have each fifty-eight pipes, one forty-six pipes, and one

sixty pipes, and the pedal stop, which has twenty-seven pipes, or a total number

of 713 pipes. There is a memorial slab in this church upon which is engraved,

"William Gannaway Brownlow, born August 29, 1805, and died April 29, 1878." The

church was dedicated on Sunday, June 10, 1894.



  The trustees of the church at the time of the erection of this fine edifice

were E. W. Adkin, W. A. Galbraith, C. A. Benscoter, G. L. Maloney, C. T.

Stephenson, S. P. Fowler, William Rule, Eugene Young and L. Godfrey.



  After the retirement of Rev. Mr. Warner, who went to the Bethany Methodist

Episcopal Church of Baltimore, Md., Rev. J. W. Jones became pastor, preaching

his first sermon August 30, 1896, and still remains. The membership of the

church at this time (March 1, 1899) is about 700, and of the Sunday-school, 350.

Of the Sunday-school, C. W. Searle is superintendent, and in all there are

thirty teachers and officers. Prof. C. A. Garratt has charge of the orchestra.

The library contains 700 volumes, Charles W. Whittle and Frank W. Biddle being

librarians. The Woman's Home Missionary Society of the M. E. Church employs Miss

Rhoda Sigler as deaconness, she devoting all her time to visiting and assisting

the poor, and receiving a regular salary.



  Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1884, and as that year

was the "centenary" of organic Methodism in America, that name was chosen. This

church is the successor to the old Mabry Street Methodist Episcopal Church, the

property of which was sold and the proceeds invested in Centenary Church. The

present church building was completed in 1885, costing about $2,500. The

following pastors have served this church: Rev. J. N. Lotspeich, October, 1884,

to October, 1885; Rev. R. G. Waterhouse, October, 1885, to October, 1886; Rev.

S. H. Hilliard, October, 1886, to October, 1889: Rev. J. A. Lyons, October,

1889, to October, 1891; Rev. J. A. Burrow, 1891 to 1895; Rev. J. W. Perry, 1895

to l897, and Rev. W. R. Barnett, 1897 to 1899. The present pastor is Rev. C. W.

Kelley.



  Centenary Church has two Sunday-schools. The trustees of this church hold a

lot in the vicinity of Brookside Cotton Mills, upon which a church is now

(February. 1899) being erected, and here for more than a year a Sunday-school

has been held, formerly in a tent, but now in the unfinished church building. It

is anticipated that during the present year the church building will be

completed. Altogether there are 350 Sunday-school scholars. The superintendents

of the two Sunday-schools are Crew Webb and W. C. Pope. The entire value of the

property owned by the church is about $3,500.



  Luttrell Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the summer of

1889, but in the form of North Knoxville Mission Sunday-school, which was

established by Rev. L. E. Prentiss of the' First or Clinch Street M. E. Church,

in Patterson's Hall, at the corner of Broad and Crozier streets, with about

twenty-five scholars. Rev. J. S. Jones was pastor about two months, and was

succeeded by Rev. H. J. Van Fossen. The church building erected stood at the

corner of Luttrell and Walnut streets, and cost about $6,500. The auditorium was

44x44 feet in size, and the pews arranged in a circular form. The class room was

16x30 feet in size and the pastor's study 12x12 feet. The church was dedicated

December 21, 1890. Rev. J. S. Jones became pastor of this church in 1894, and

remained until 1897, preaching during his pastorate numerous powerful sermons

against sin and vice as he saw it in the city, thereby earning the name of the

"Knoxville Parkhurst." After Rev. Mr. Jones retired from this pulpit to take

charge of temperance work he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. J. M.

Melear, who preached his first sermon here on October 3, 1897. The membership of

the church at the present time is 215, and of the Sunday-school, of which W. C.

Bradley is superintendent, is 250. The value of the church property is now $6,000.



  The East Main Street Methodist Episcopal Church was established in the

following manner: On February 7, 1893, Miss Rhoda Sigler, at the suggestion of

Rev. T. C. Warner, went into East Knoxville to seek a place for the

establishment of a mission, and found next day a vacant store on Mabry street,

which she rented for the purpose. In this store religious services were held for

nearly four years, and at the close of protracted services a Sunday-school was

organized and also an Epworth League. In 1896 ground was broken for a new church

building, on the very spot where Matthias Householder had many a time stood and

prayed for the erection of a church thereon for his children and grandchildren,

and in this church building religious services were held for the first time July

12 of that year, but in the basement, as the auditorium was not then completed.

The new building was dedicated February 7, 1897. by Rev. Dr. Moore and on that

day $400 was raised to liquidate the indebtedness of the society. At that time

the trustees of the church were J. L. Falconer, John Davis, J. L. Householder,

W. D. Sanders, S. H. Scott and Frank Biddle. The pastors of this church have

been Rev. J. M. Durham, from 1895 to 1898: Rev. Robert Parham, 1898-99, and Rev.

L H. Miller, 1899 to the present time. The membership of the church is now

sixty-four, an increase of twenty-seven in the four months closing March 10,

1899; the Sunday-school has 110 members, an increase of sixty within the same

time, the superintendent being Thomas Pettie, and the church property is worth

$4.000. On the left side of the altar of this church is a large marble tablet to

the memory of Matthias Householder, a devoted Methodist and a religious man, and

in the center of the tablet is placed his photograph.



  The Asylum Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1885, with about

twenty-five members. A church building was erected on Asylum street and

Deaderick street, which cost about $5,500. It is of brick and is often called

the "Red Cross Church," because in the roof there are slates painted red in the

form of a cross. The pastors of this church have been as follows: Rev. J. J.

Robinet, D. D., and Rev. Mr. Holden in 1885 and 1886: Rev. T. W. Salt, 1887;

Rev. J. A. Ruble, 1888-89; Rev. J. N. Kendall part of 1890. Rev. Mr. Holden

filling out the term; Rev. William C Miller, 1891-92; Rev. E. C. Avis, 1893-94:

Rev. I. H. Miller, 1894-98, and Rev. W. A. Saville, D. D., Ph. D., 1898 to the

present time. The present membership of the church is 320, and of the

Sunday-school, of which J. C. Roberts is superintendent, is 200. The church

property, including the parsonage, which is worth $1,500, is worth $8,000.



  Logan Chapel. M. E. Church (colored), was established in 1865 by the Rev. A.

E. Anderson, who remained until 1869. His successor was Rev. J. P. Jay, who

remained two years, and was followed by Rev. H. De Bose. In 1873 there were 160

communicants in this church. For some years a small building served the purposes

of this congregation; but in 1885 a new and larger building became a necessity,

and it was begun in December of that year, being completed in September, 1886.

It is located on what was then called Reservoir street, now Commerce street,

just below State street. It is 54x85 feet in size, and has a seating capacity of

nearly 1,000, at the time of its being completed being the third largest in the

United States owned by colored people. It was dedicated September 19, 1886, by

Rev. A. L. Cowan of Maryville, the pastor at the time being Rev. A. G. Warner.

He was succeeded in 1887 by Rev. A. Walters, who remained until succeeded by F.

R. White. The succeeding pastors have been Revs. R. T. Anderson, J. H. Manley,

F. M. Jacobs, E. D. W. Jones, F. R. White, F. M. Jacobs, F. R. White and W. B.

Fenderson, present pastor. The membership of this church at the present time is

600, and of the Sunday-school, 250. The church property is valued at $10,000.



  The Clinton Street M. E. Church (colored), located on Clinton near Asylum

street, was established in 1881, and a frame chapel building erected at a cost

of about $2,000. The pastors of this church have been as follows: Revs. A. L.

Green, Lewis Baker, William Walton, A. S. Monroe, B. J. Jones, T. J. Braxton, H.

B. Moss, G. W. Brazelton, G. W. Hampton and the present pastor, F. R. White. The

membership is now about 450, and of the Sunday-school, 150. The property is

worth about $2,000.



  Other colored Methodist Episcopal churches are the First, on Mabry street:

Little Zion, at 203 McGhee street, and St. Paul's Independent M. E. Church, on

Patton street, among the pastors of which have been Revs. R. H. Miles, J. W.

Valentine, R. A. Payne, A. Lindsey, and J. W. Randolph, the latter of whom

recently resigned, leaving the church without a pastor at the time.



  St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church was really established by Rev. T. W.

Humes, in March, 1844, who was then a candidate for the ministry, and who began

to serve as lay reader on Sunday mornings. On June 9, following, Rev. Charles

Tomes of New York, by appointment of the bishop, took charge of the parish,

conducting the services at first in a dwelling house, but soon afterward

transferred them to a small building at the corner of Gay and Church streets,

donated for the purpose by Andrew R. Humes. This building, neatly fitted up as a

chapel, was used for about two years, and in the meantime the corner stone of a

new church edifice was laid with appropriate and impressive ceremonies by the

bishop of the diocese on July 22, 1845. The location of this church is at the

southeast corner of Cumberland and Walnut streets. Rev. T. W. Humes about this

time became assistant to the rector, Rev. Mr. Tomes, who remained until

September 21, 1846, when he resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Humes,

who remained rector of the church, with the exception of two years in the early

part of the war, until 1869, those two years being filled in by Rev. William

Vaux of London. Rev. William Graham succeeded to the rectorship in January,

1869, remaining until the fall of 1870, when he was succeeded by the Rev. John

Howard-Smith, who remained nearly four years. Rev. Thomas Duncan was the next

rector, and he remained nearly six years. Rev. Mr. Duncan was succeeded by Rev.

H. M. Morrell, D. D., who remained until 1887, when the present rector, Rev. S.

S. Ringgold, took charge. His has been a very successful rectorship and the

present membership is about 425. The Sunday-school contains 200 scholars, and is

under the superintendency of James Maynard. The value of the church property is

estimated at $100,000.



  The Church of the Epiphany, Protestant Episcopal, was organized in the

following manner: In 1867 Rev. T. W. Humes, then rector of St. John's Church,

invited Rev. William Mowbray to assist him in his church, having in view at the

same time the establishment of a mission in North Knoxville. Early in October of

this year services were held by Rev. Mr. Mowbray at Gray Cemetery, only a few

persons being present. Afterward the use of a brick mill was granted to these

few worshipers by Col. C. M. McGhee, the mill standing on Broad street. North

Knoxville at that time contained but one Episcopalian, and that a lady, and

there was one prayer-book only that could be found. Mr. Mowbray, under the

circumstances, experienced considerable difficulty in organizing his church, but

by holding meetings in the evening at different houses he succeeded at length in

awakening an interest, and on October 22, 1867, at a meeting in the brick mill,

a subscription was started for the purpose of building a church. A building

committee was appointed, and a contract signed February 27, 1868, the work was

begun March 4, the corner-stone was laid March 28, the church was completed June

21, and dedicated June 29, 1868, by Rev. Mr. Mowbray. The first meeting to

organize the church was held December 22, 1868, and Rev. Mr. Mowbray was chosen

rector. When Rev. Mr. Mowbray went to Chattanooga the church was served by Rev.

Dr. Humes, and in July, 1872, Mr. Mowbray returned. He then remained until 1878.

when he was succeeded by Rev. A. A. McDonough, who remained about eight years.

The rectors since then have been Revs. A. Buchanan, Dr. William Graham, T. J. L.

Hynes, W. J. Morton and Henry Easter, the present rector, who came to the church

in November, 1896. This church at this time has 126 communicant members, and the

Sunday-school, of which William H. W. Lucas is superintendent, has seventy-five

scholars. The value of the church property is $10,000.



  The First German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized October 12, 1869.

Rev. John Heckel of Mendota, Ill., being induced by Hon. W. A. Passavant of

Pittsburg, Pa., to visit Knoxville to look after the spiritual welfare of this

class of Christians, and an organization was effected in the hall over the store

of Peter Kern, at the corner of Prince and Union streets. A constitution was

drawn up and signed by twenty-two members, and the first board of church

officers was composed of the following gentlemen: Dr. Goetz, Charles Baum,

trustees; J. A. Aurin, Sr., and Stephen G. Fuchs, elders, and Ferdinand Aurin

and Peter Kern, stewards. Rev. Mr. Heckel became the pastor and immediately took

steps looking toward the erection of a church building, a lot having been

already purchased by a few of the Germans of the place, with the object in view

of erecting such an edifice. Rev. Mr. Heckel entered upon his duties in

December, 1869, services being temporarily held in the "Old Methodist Church,"

and in Hampden-Sidney Academy. In May or June, 1870, on the day of Pentecost,

the congregation for the first time held services in the basement of their new

church building, which was completed and dedicated in September following.    On

the day these services were held a debt of $2,200 was almost entirely canceled

by subscriptions among the congregation, and in 1871 the remaining $100 due was

paid off by the treasurer of the church. In December. 1872, there were 118

parishioners and 73 communicants. In November, 1873, on the first Sunday after

October 31, a peculiar custom of the German Lutheran Church was celebrated, in

commemoration of the 31st of October, 1517, on which day Martin Luther nailed on

the door of the Castle Church the famous ninety-five declarations in opposition

to the rule of indulgences and the power of the Pope or priest to forgive sins,

and an historical sermon was delivered by Rev. John Heckel, pastor of the

church. Rev. Mr. Heckel remained in charge four years, and about eighteen months

after his retirement he was succeeded by Rev. J. George Schaidt, a graduate of

the Philadelphia Theological Seminary. Under his pastorate the church greatly

prospered, having in 1887 a membership of 180. Rev. Mr. Schaidt remained until

1881, and during his pastorate a pipe organ was purchased. He was succeeded by

Rev. John R. Lauritzen, who remained until 1892, and it was during his pastorate

that the unusual scene was witnessed of the admission of a Hebrew into a

Christian church, this event occurring July 6, 1890, John M. Wise being on this

day received into the church and baptized. In 1892 Rev. J. A. Friedrich became

pastor of this church, remaining until the present time.



  St. John's English Lutheran Church was incorporated January 13, 1890, by J. A.

Henson, J. C. Kinsel, P. C. Ottinger, Uriah Krider, David L. Smith and M. M.

Newcomer, "for the purpose of worshiping Almighty God in accordance with the

doctrines of the Bible as taught by the English Lutheran Church." The number of

members of this, church at the time of organization, in December, 1888, was

twenty-seven, and a church edifice, together with the lot on which it stood, was

purchased from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at a cost of $6,000, and

since then there has been spent upon the building $2,000 additional. This church

building was dedicated June 7, 1890, by Revs. A. J. Brown, D. D., and Edward T.

Horn, D. D. The Rev. L. K. Probst was the first pastor of the church and was

succeeded by Rev. R. B. Peery, Ph. D., as supply. The next supply was the

present pastor, Rev. A. D. R. Handler, each of these two pastors remaining five

weeks. Then Rev. George S. Diven was supply for five months, and then Rev. Mr.

Hancher was called to the pastorate, accepting the call May 7, 1893, remaining

to the present time. There are now eighty-six communicant members, and in the

Sunday-school, of which Prof. Cooper D. Schmitt is superintendent, there are

sixty-five scholars.



  The First Welsh Congregational Church was organized in this manner: In April,

1866, five Welshmen named Joseph and David Richards. Daniel Thomas, and John and

Daniel Jones, paid a visit to Knoxville, and being pleased with the place

determined to make it their home. Handing their letters to the Second

Presbyterian Church, they became members of that congregation, and in June

following their families, together with other Welsh people, came to Knoxville,

and also gave in their letters to the same church. In July they formed a prayer

meeting of their own, continuing to hold meetings of this kind for about three

and a half years, still retaining their membership in the Second Presbyterian

Church.



  About June, 1869, they decided to organize a church society and erect a

building of their own, a lot being donated to them by Col. C. M. McGhee and the

Knoxville Iron Company, near the corner of McGhee and Atkin streets. In the

basement of their new building erected on this lot, services were held on

October 24, 1869, for the first time, and the members then withdrew from the

Second Presbyterian Church, forming a congregation of their own under the name

given above. The following officers were elected: Trustees and deacons—Joseph

Richards, John Jones and Thomas Davis; secretary, David Lewis, and treasurer,

William J. Richards. On February 12, 1870, Rev. Thomas Thomas reached Knoxville,

having come here direct from Wales, was called to the pastorate, and filled that

position for nearly two years, about thirty members being admitted to the

church. In April, 1872, Rev. R. D. Thomas came to Knoxville from Pennsylvania

and became pastor in September following, at which time there were fifty

members. He added thirty members, and had a flourishing congregation; but the

building was not completed until 1875. Rev. R. D. Thomas returned to this church

in 1877, having been absent two years, and remained pastor the second time until

1882, when he resigned. In November, 1883, he was succeeded by Rev. D. D. Davis,

who remained until December, 1885, and was succeeded by Rev. Robert D. Thomas,

who this time remained until 1890, when he was succeeded by Rev. L. Lake. In

April, 1895, at a meeting of the congregation, it was resolved that thereafter

services be held in English only, and that the name of the church be changed to

the First Congregational Church. Rev. J. Francis Davies, who had for some time

been located in Lima, Ohio, came to Knoxville and began his labors as pastor of

this church on Sunday, July 7, 1895. In January, 1896, the plans for a new

church edifice were completed, which was to be erected at the corner of Oak and

Atkins streets. Toward the erection of this new building $10,000 was raised by

March 15, 1896. Rev. Mr. Davies resigned his pastorate in June, 1896, to accept

a call to the First Congregational Church of Springfield, Ill., and was

succeeded by Rev. G. James Jones July 12 following. March 5, 1897, this church

was received in the Union Presbytery of the synod of Tennessee, and thus became

a Presbyterian church, known since that time as the Atkin Street Presbyterian

Church. June 27, 1897, Rev. Mr. Jones resigned his pastorate here to accept the

presidency of a college and the pastorate of a church in Wisconsin, and was

succeeded by Rev. Dr. W. S. Pryse from that state. Rev. Dr. Pryse resigned in

December, 1898, to accept a call to a Presbyterian church in Humboldt, Nebraska.



  The Pilgrim Congregational Church is somewhat of an exotic in the South, and

for this reason it may be permissible to briefly set forth what

Congregationalism is and has done for the country. This church at large

represents the Pilgrims and Puritans, who came hither from England in the

seventeenth century. The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Mass., in 1620, the

Puritans came in 1628, to Massachusetts Bay. Each sought freedom to worship God,

and they soon merged into one body. In 1628 the First Church of Salem was

organized, and in 1630 the First Church of Boston. New England thus became the

home of Congregationalism. From that source its colonies have gone abroad,

carrying along their distinctive doctrines and zeal for personal liberty and

generous education. The bravest and best men known among our settlers were among

the Pilgrims and Puritans. Congregationalism gave the country the common school,

and the most noted among American institutions of learning. viz.: Harvard, Yale,

Dartmouth, Williams, Bowdoin and Amherst, owe their origin to these people. From

New England Congregationalism spread to the West and Northwest. Its recognition

of individual rights, its vigor in earnest missionary work, its faith in the

Bible as the word of God. its harmony with the doctrines on which all

evangelical denominations are agreed, its breadth of purpose and readiness to

enter upon new work, are all characteristic features of this church.



  In the Southern states Congregationalism has as yet but limited

representation; but its polity is adapted to the spirit of independency and

soundness of faith which are the strongest features of Southern character. And

these characteristics would seem to be the strongest prophecy of its future

growth and development in this section of the country.



  Pilgrim Congregational Church was organized in June, 1886, by Superintendent

C. C. Creegan, the organization being the result of a visit to Knoxville of

about six weeks' duration of Rev. John H. Frazee, who came here at the request

of the Congregational Board of Home Missions. Rev. Mr. Frazee was at the time

settled in New York and could not then well come to Knoxville, hence Rev. Lyman

E. Hood became pastor of the church, and remained from September, 1886, until

March, 1887. In December, 1886, the church was fully organized with twenty-three

members. Services were held in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian

Association and several other public halls, but at length the society erected a

church building at the corner of Vine and Broad streets, the edifice being of

brick and having a seating capacity of about four hundred. It is a unique

structure, having the modern features of annex rooms for Sunday-school and

social purposes. The building was formally opened for services September 27,

1891, and the cost of the building and lot on which it stands was about $15,000,

having been erected in "boom" times.



  In June, 1887, the present pastor. Rev. J. H. Frazee, returned to the church,

and after a short residence in Knoxville the degree of D. D. was conferred upon

him by the University of Tennessee. The membership of the church is now (January

1, 1899) nearly one hundred, having been recently reduced somewhat by

restrictions in business and removals. The Sunday-school and Bible classes have

a membership of about fifty. The superintendent of the Sunday-school is Samuel

C. Roney. The value of the church property at the present time is about $12,000.



  The Second Congregational Church (colored) is located at 627 Mabry street,

where the society owns quite a fine frame church building.



  The First Church of Christ had its origin in 1870, when a few people,

believing in the doctrines of the Bible as taught by Alexander Campbell, began

holding meetings in rooms hired for the purpose and in private dwellings from

time to time for Bible study and prayer. Their number having sufficiently

increased they united in a covenant to worship God according to the Holy

Scripture on September 6, 1874, under the direction of L. H. Stine, a young

minister then just out of Bethany College, West Virginia. They became a

regularly organized congregation with A. C. Bruce as elder and N. R. Hall and

George T. Rhoades as deacons. At this time there were eighteen of them, but this

number gradually increased until in 1887 there were seventy-six names on the

roll of membership, and their officers were N. R. Hall and Lewis Tillman,

elders, and T. P. McDaniel, George T. Rhoades, and M. O. Cooley, deacons. Up to

that time they had had but about two years of preaching, owing to the difficulty

of supporting regular ministers; but the elders during the other years conducted

services and the congregation met almost every Sunday, as did also the

Sunday-school. The ministers who had preached to this congregation previous to

the last mentioned year were E. F. Taylor, A. S. Johnson and N. G. Jacks.



  For some years the congregation met at the corner of Depot and Broad streets,

then at their church on McGhee street, and finally, in 1886, they erected a neat

frame church edifice at the northeast corner of Gay and Park streets, which has

a round tower, cathedral windows in front and a seating capacity of 500. Since

the erection of this new building the ministers of this church have been as

follows: S. Turner Willis, from June, 1887, to October, 1888; Gilbert J. Ellis,

a few months in 1889; Henry W. Stewart, the latter part of 1890; J. B. Briney

from April, 1892, to April, 1893: J. B. Mayfield, from June 1, 1893 to February,

1895; R. M. Giddens, from November 1, 1895, to September, 1897, and Robert

Stewart, from August 1, 1898, until the present time. When the church was

without ministers the elders thereof conducted Sunday services and Sunday-school

work. The present membership is about 100 and of the Sunday-school about 50.

This church is now known as the Park Street Christian Church.



  The Third Christian Church was organized October 13, 1896, with fifty-three

members. Rev. J. P. Holmes became pastor at the time of the organization of the

church, and has remained ever since. The membership at the present time is 143,

and of the Sunday-school, of which T. A. Hays is superintendent, seventy-five.

The congregation is worshiping in Prince's Hall, on the corner of Asylum and

Arthur streets, and a fund is being collected with which to purchase a lot and

build a church, both of which will be done as soon as the fund is sufficiently

large.



 The Ramsey Memorial Church, unique in its history, was organized in 1889. The

movement leading up to the establishment of this church was conducted by A. G.

Scott, whose desire was, as was the desire of those associated with him in the

movement, to establish a church which should be practically free from doctrinal

teaching. In the summer of 1889 a few names were secured to a paper proposing

the establishment of a church of this kind, but for some time prominent men

hesitated to sign because the name "Southern," or "Northern" was not placed

before the name of the proposed church, those approached being in some cases

Presbyterians or Methodists or Baptists. At length in the fall of the year

mentioned. Rev. R. N. Thompson, D. D., held a series of revival meetings in the

Third Presbyterian Church, and a short time before he was to leave the city he

was driven over the ground occupied by Fort Sanders during the late Civil war,

and remarked: "I see everything here except something for the Lord—schools,

electric lights, street cars, etc. Mr. Scott informed Rev. Mr. Thompson of the

efforts he had made to establish an undenominational church, and seeing about

100 young men playing base-ball near the Woolen mills, Mr. Thompson offered to

remain three weeks in case a suitable room could be secured for holding

meetings. The Highland Avenue school-house was secured and meetings were held,

during which meetings the money was raised to build a church, which was erected

complete in precisely two weeks, and was occupied on the fifteenth day from that

on which its construction was begun. This church, used ever since, stands on the

corner of Highland and Eighth avenues, in what was formerly West Knoxville.



  The church was organized December 24, 1889, and then named Ramsey Memorial

Church, in honor of W. B. A. Ramsey, who was secretary of state of Tennessee for

eight years, his daughter having donated the lot on which the church building

stands. Rev. R. N. Thompson was called to the pulpit and accepted the call, with

the understanding that no doctrinal sermon should be preached, this

understanding having obtained with each subsequent minister. Members of seven

different churches became members of this church at the time of its

organization, and hence it is plain that only the essential doctrines of

Christian faith can be insisted upon, as faith, repentance, prayer, and the

guidance of the Holy Spirit. At the time of Dr. Thompson's retirement, in 1892,

there were 155 members. His successor was Rev. Dr. W. L. Richardson, a minister

of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, who remained until 1895, and was

succeeded in 1895 by Rev. I. A. Pierce, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal

Church, who remained until June, 1898, and on September 1, 1898, Rev. Dr. R. R.

Sutherland became pastor, he being from Danville, Ky. At the present time

(November, 1898) there are 140 members in this church, and in the Sunday-school,

of which W. B. Henderson is superintendent, there are 130 scholars. The church

building is capable of seating about 450 persons.



  The First Universalist Church of Knoxville was established in 1895, services

being held in the Harris building on March 10, that year, by Rev. W. H.

McGlauflin of Harriman. At the conclusion of this meeting a committee was

appointed to prepare a constitution and by-laws of church government, looking to

the organization of a church of this denomination in this city. The committee

consisted of Mrs. E. M. Brown, Mrs. Washburn, C. F. Border, C. A. Greenwood, Mr.

Estes, Mr. Heabler and Rev. Mr. McGlauflin, the latter gentleman having been

preaching in Knoxville occasionally for those who accepted the doctrine of

universal salvation. Arrangements were then made by which the reverend gentleman

should in future preach here twice each month. In February, 1896, Rev. O. H.

Shinn and Rev. G. S. Weaver, D. D.; conducted a series of meetings with the view

and hope of strengthening the society and ultimately erecting a church edifice,

which they felt confident would be done. In order to enlighten the people of

Knoxville, to whom the doctrines of this denomination were little known. Rev.

Mr. Shinn said: "We believe more, not less; we believe in a God of eternal love,

not a Father of vindictiveness; we believe in Christ's victory, not defeat."

Rev. Mr. Weaver and Rev. Mr. McGlauflin held services in Harris's block. On June

21, 1896, Rev. C. S. McWhorter of Baltimore, an able lay minister of the

Universalist Church, addressed the Universalists of Knoxville in Patterson's

Hall, one of his subjects being: "Does the Bible teach endless punishment?" Mr.

McWhorter answered this question most emphatically in the negative. He said that

St. James' version of the Bible was a collation of other translations, and while

it is in the main correct, yet it should be remembered that the translators had

a preconceived belief in favor of eternal punishment, and that they could not

always be depended upon. He gave as instances three words: Everlasting,

damnation, and hell, not one of which he said ought to stand in the English

Bible, because they are mistranslations, etc.



  In July, 1896, Rev. Richard M. Smith preached for this church on the same

lines as those mentioned above in connection with the ministrations of Mr.

McWhorter. In November following, Rev. Harry L. Veasey became pastor of the

church, remaining here until 1898, when he went away, having been the only

regular pastor to serve the congregation; but the organization is still maintained.



  The Unitarian Church of Knoxville was organized February 17, 1895, by Rev.

Henry Westall, though the Unitarians had previously held meetings among

themselves, and had listened to sermons delivered by Rev. Seth Saltmarsh; by

Mrs. Ednah Dow Cheney, who preached November 4, 1894; by Mrs. Botume; Miss

Channing, daughter of the great Channing; Mrs. Bigelow of Massachusetts, and

Mrs. L. C. French, at whose home at No. 620 Cumberland avenue, West, meetings

were for some time held. When the organization was effected, as above narrated,

about twenty members joined, mostly Northern people, and the church continued to

prosper for about two years, meeting sometimes in private houses and sometimes

in public halls. When their numbers became too few to enable them to hire public

halls, they met at the home of Mrs. J. C. Tyler, on West Clinch street, and

finally ceased altogether to hold meetings, some time in 1897, after about

eighteen months of labor in the city, which is not ready for Unitarian doctrines.



  Beth El Congregation (Reformed) was organized about 1866 with twenty-five

members, which number is now reduced to fourteen. Religious worship has been

conducted in different hails from that time, except since the last Hebrew New

Years day, in September, 1898. Those who have acted as rabbis have been

numerous, mostly young men from the Hebrew Union College at Cincinnati, Ohio.

While Julius Ochs was a resident of Knoxville he delivered the weekly sermon,

but since then there has been no regular pastor. The officers at the present

time are E. Samuels, president; J. Spiro, vice-president; F. Heart, secretary,

and L. David, treasurer; trustees: A. Arnstein, A. Lobenstein, D. Blaufield.



  Haske Hamuna Congregation (Orthodox Hebrew) was organized in September, 1890,

by L. Schwartz, and with ten members, which number has increased to thirty. The

first Rabbi of the congregation was Rabbi Michaelof, who remained from 1890 to

1891; the second was Louis Tigris, who remained from 1891 to 1894; and the

third, Isaac Winnick, who came in 1894, and still remains. The property of this

congregation is located on the corner of Mabry and Temperance streets, and

consists of a large lot on which is a moderate-sized frame building used as a

synagogue and residence for the Rabbi. It cost $2,000, all of which has been

paid except $800. It is now the design to build a new synagogue during the year,

1899, to cost, perhaps, $2,000. The officers at this time are as follows: L.

Schwartz, president; H. Kreitzman, vice-president; Solomon Kreitzman, secretary;

and Mauritz Deutsch, treasurer. The trustees are I. Volinski, B. Jaffa and D.

Coplin.



  The First Church of Christian Scientists made application for a charter

December 21, 1898, the incorporators being Mrs. Harry H. Ainsworth, Emma A.

Thurston, Charles A. Ralston, Addie B. Moore and Calvin Humphreys. The charter

filed specifies that the organization seeks all the privileges and rights of a

religious organization granted under the constitution of the state, its

principal object being to heal the sick as Jesus' disciples healed, and as

taught in their text book. "Science and Health, with the Key to the Scriptures,"

by Mary G. Eddy.



Additional Comments:
From:



STANDARD HISTORY

OF

KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE



WITH FULL OUTLINE OF THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES, EARLY SETTLEMENT, TERRITORIAL

GOVERNMENT, INDIAN TROUBLES, AND GENERAL AND PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE CITY DOWN

TO THE PRESENT TIME



EDITED BY

WILLIAM RULE

GEORGE F. MELLEN, PH. D., AND J. WOOLDRIDGE COLLABORATORS



PUBLISHED BY

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

CHICAGO 1900

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