Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-12-11
RELIGIOUS INFLUENcEs.
The Cause OF God in KnoNviiIe-Thc
". Workings OF our Churches
NO. v-rnE FIRST rREsBYrERtAS cuuRcH.


NO v-THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
There are no early records of this church TO
be found, it, indeed, there ever we're any kept,
and again we are forced TO resort to the memory
of our Oldest citizens. 1t was probably organ
lied in the year 1894 or 1885, by Rev. Samuel
Carrick, and is the oldest church in the city.
Mr.. Carrck was resident of this city in the
year 1894, then only village, and preached be-
| fore the Territorial Legislature by their invita-
ton, on the second day of the session. In the
same year he was elected by the Legislature as
President of Blount College, now the East
Tennessee University, and held that office in
! connection with the pastoral care of the Leb-
anon Gin the Fork and the Knoxville churches
He was born in York NOW Adams county,
Pennsylvania, in July, 1850, studied 1'heol-
| ogy under Rev, VIM. Graham, of Lex
| ington, Virginia, was licensed to preach Octo-
| Der 1852, and came TO Knoxville. Tennessee
| about the year 1887. He was the pioneer of
Presbyteranism in this region and held pas
| torship Of this church from the time of APP
pointment to his DEATH which occurred sudden
ly on a communion Sabbath in 1909, early in
the morning, after having spent large part of
the preceding night in preparing for tho Sab
bath services. There are no records to show
the growth of the church under his ministry.
One of the first elders of this church was Gen
James White who gave the ground upon
which the church now stands and who lies
buried beneath the present edi6ce.
After the death of Mr.. Carrick, the church
was supplied for. while by Rev. Samuel &.
Ramsey, and during that period, in the year of
1911, the church which formerly occupied the
ground of the present one, was built and was
long known MS THE brick meeting house,
In the year 1872, Rev. Thos. II. Nelson, n M.
tive of North Carolina, and reared in the old
Alamance Church, took charge of the church
and was its paster for 26 years, when he died in
the Autumn of 1888. Under his ministry, from
1916 to 1888, there were 204 additions to tho
church. He was not great preacher nor visit
ed his people, except in Affections and bereave-
ment, yet he was pre- 'eminently good and holy
man.
At tho time Of the division of the Presbyteri-
an church in 1893, this branch went with the
odd School," and has always stood firmly to
its doctrines, After Mr.. Nelson's death the
1889, when Rev. Jos. 1. Foote, ID. D., of New
York, was called to the pulpit In the winter
of that year DR.. Foote was elected President of
Washington College, near Jonesboro' and on
the Dist of April, 1910, on his way to the Col
lege to be inaugurated, was thrown from his
horse and killed.
Rev Reece Happersett, of Pennsylvania
supplied the pulpit for few months, and in
April lsi1, Rev. r. b. McMullen Prof of
Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in the East
Tennessee University, was elected pastor, and
was installed Nov. 81 1871. Under Mr..
McMullens ministry, the benevolence of the
church was developed into more syste-
matte effort, and the Office of Deacon was intro
duced. The first Deacons, Messrs. Jos. l..
King, q. w. Crozier and VIM. s. Kennedy,
were elected and installed in the Fall of 1912.
During the first IA years of MIR. McMullen's
pastorate there were 247 members added to the
church, and about so during the remainder of
his time He was called to tho Presidency of
Stewart College, ut GAINESVILLE, Tenn, and re-
signed the charge of the church in November
In October, 1889, the church called Rev. W
A. Harrison, of Gallatin, Tenn, who came and
took charge of the church and was installed
pastor in the Spring of 1860 He continued its
pastor until the Fall of 1868, nearly years
during which time some As or so members wero
added to the church, Mr. Harrison was an
Incorporating Southern man, and after the
occupation of East Tennessee by the United
States troops, was, with Others sent South
through the lines by tho Federal authority. The
church edifce was used by the military author
tiles first MS a hospital, then as barracks, and
afterwards as house of refuge for families
coming into the city from different parts of the
country; and finally was turned over to the
Freedmen Burea, and was used by them rs a
colored school house until May, 1866, nearly
two years. The church had no services from
the Fall of 1868 to the Spring of 1866 when
their church property was restored to the con-
gtegation through tho kind offices of Gen. s.
p Carter
In February, 1866 Mt the request of few per-
sons Rev. James Park began to preach to those
who would assemble, and for that purpose rent
ed the First Baptist Church. which was then |
vacant. There were only 80 members of this |
church left in the city. In fact, the church was
almost disorganized, the congregation scatter
ed and the building and furniture considerably |
injured.
The church was used for the first time after |
the war on the 18th of May, 1866, for COM |
munion service. On that occasion persons |
were added to the church and more than 20 |
more were added in the fall of the same year.
In February, 1867, Mr. Park was elected |
pastor The church has been prospecting under |
his care some of the old members returned |
from the South, new members were added and |
in 1863 the church was repaired and reftted |
with new furniture and is now one of the hand |
soonest and most comfortable churches in the |
State. The liberality of the church has been |
brought out, and weekly contributions are
made, both in the church and Sunday school |
All the pews are taken and many of them are
occupied by two families. The attendance of
the congregation is remarkably regular
and uniform. Since Mr.. Park in
cumbency about 200 members have been add.
ed to the church. They have contributed to
all purposes in the past six years more than
81, 600, an average of nearly $4,000 year.
This is fine showing, considering the scattered
and disOrganized condition of this church at
the time Mr.. Park took pastoral charge of it,
The church has been severely bereAyed in the
last three years by the death of several of its
most excellent and pous female members
The following persons have served the church
in the capacity of elders since the organization