New Orleans Republican., 1868-06-14

Blackman and Bowman were relieved
from their frontier labor, Jacob YOUNG
taking the Mississippi district, and
James Axley and Anthony Houston
respectively the Opelousas and Qua
ohita circuits. Some change seems to
have been made in the appointments,
as Young represents AxIey as having
charge of the CatahOula and Ouachita
circuits. The same year this eccen-
trio but jealous and useful man built
with his own hands the first Method
ist church in Louisiana. 1t was named
Axley chapel, was built of pine logs,
and covered with shingles. The first
day it was opened eighteen ieined the
Church. The location of this print
tive edifice is not given. That year
the membership was reported at only
thirty. In 1908 John Mcclure sue
eeeded to the district, and BENJAMIN
Edge and Isaac MoKowen were as
signed to the Opelousas and
0uaohita circuits. The membership
at the close of their term remained
the same. In 1909 the district re-
manned unchanged, but John Hennin.
ger took charge Of the Opelousas and
Hezekiah Shaw of the Ouachita cir
cult. The returns we're from Opelou-
sas and Ouachita 3d. from Orleans
territory 43 members In 1910 the
district fell to Miles Harper 0pelou-
sas disappeared, and se nave Amite,
Rapides, Ouachita, and A akspas,
with Hezekiah Shaw, Thomas Nelson,
John Jennings, and William Winans
(the latter a name of note) as preach
ers. They reported the next year
total Of 2l7 white and 26 colored men,
bers; the latter being the first of their
class reported in Louisiana. In 1911
Samuel Dunwody was presiding elder,
and of the circuits already established,
William Winans, f. D. Wimberly,
Thomas Griffin, and John S. Ford
were the preachers. The same year
New Orleans appears for the first
time on the minutes, with Miles Har-
per as missionary. The total returns
in 1912 were 1863 whites and 36 col
ored, New Orleans returning none.
That year the Mississippi District
was divided, and for the first time we
read
LOUISIANA TIsTRICT,
The former retained Eastern, the
latter included Western Louisiana. OF
the former Samuel Sellus, of the lat
ter Miles Harper was presiding elder.
Harper was also in charge of Qua
chiIa circuit, for in the Southwest, in
those days, from the necessities of the
case, presiding elders we're often as
signed also to circuit work. The
preachers were: Amite, Elisha Lott;
New Orleans, Lewis Hobbs; Rapides,
Thomas Griffin; AttGkapas, John s.
Ford. By the division Of the Western
Conference the work in Louisiana fell,
in 1912, to the Tennessee Conference,
to which body we're reported in 1913
the same members as tho previous
year. In 1913 the appointments do
not appear, owing to tho war then
raging, but the work went on, and we
have the returns Of 1874, showing q
total of ass white members and 76 col
ored. The Church was not only un-
consumed but grew in the midst of the
fire. The latter year Thomas Griffin
succeeded Harper on tho Louisiana
district, and New Orleans disappears
from the list of appointments. From
Stevens we learn, however, that VIM.
Winans lab0red there in 1913 and
1914. The latter year Richmond Mol
Icy, one Of the most devoted pioneers
that ever did the wOrkof a missionary,
was assigned to the Attakapas circuit,
where he won wonderful success. In
1915 the members were ASS whites and
eighty five oOlored. That year tho
Louisiana District was reunited with
the Mississippi District, Samuel Sell
Iers presiding elder. A new set of
names appeared at that time on the
listof appointments, viz: Amite, Eli
jah Gentry; Rapides, Thomas Owens;
Attakapas, Peter james; Ouachita
stands uusupplied. One of the labor
ers Of the previous year had fallen.
Richmond Motley went to the Opelou
sas and Attakapas circuit in 1914.
He endured yearof persecution and
trial and appeared at the conference
of 1915 IAN attendated, worn out
mon" Nevertheless he was returned,
and accompanied BY Thomas Griffin
ho started for hi5 5oIA, Finally they
separated. In crossing swollen
stream his horse, after bearing it's
rider to the further shore, swan back
to the side Of the stream from whence
they started The missionary, leay-
ing his horse with an Indian who was
assisting him, started on foot for
the nearest house, distant about two
miles He proceeded a mile aud then
fell down exhausted. In the lone for
est he breathed out lis soul to God.
When found he was lying on the wet
leaves, his left hand upon his breast,
and the other lying by his side. His
eyes were closed, and the gentle spirit
had left smile upon the pallid cheek.
He was found next day, and borne to
the nearest house, On Sabbath he
was buried g in Catahoula parish, near
the road leading from Alexandria to
Harrisonburg, about twenty miles from
the latter place" Thus fell this mar
tyr hero.
The next year, 1876, the member
ship was reported at 1881 whites and
ITO cOlored.
Thus We have reviewed the history
of Methodism in Louisiana up to the
organization Of the Mississippi Con-
ference. But these meagre notes
imply a filling up of toll, privatiOn,
exposure, and endurance that would
impart to the history more than the