Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-12-15
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES.
The Cause of God Ina knoxxille-The
Workings of Our Churches.


reading prayers (as lay reader every Sunday
morning, in small room OF Church street,
which had before been used as lecture room,
and afterwards as part of the dwelling of Col.
w. II. Sneed. The only member of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church in Knoxville at that
time was Albert Miles Lea Professor Of Math-
ematics in the East Tennessee University, and
the number of friends of the church were small.
while the opposition that was felt and expressed
against the establishment of an Episcopal
Church in Knoxville was great and continued
SO for some time after its organization.
On the 9th of May 1874 meeting of the fol-
lowing named gentlemen: a. NJ. Lea, T. w.
Humes, j. II. Crozier, Samuel Mansfield, +. A.
Ramsey, Hugh A. NJ. White, VIM. B. French
Hugh L. McClung, James Williams, a X.
Humes and Samuel w. Bell was held for the
purpose of organizing an Episcopal Church.
John H. Crozier was called to the chair and
Samuel W. Bell was appointed secretary.
Articles of association as church were read by
Mr. T. w. Humes and adopted. Whereupon
T. w. Humes, A. III. Lea, A. r. Humes, 3.
Mansfield, F. A. Ramsey. W.t.B French, Il.
L. McClung, James Williams, John II. Crozier
and S. W. Bell were elected as Vestrymen of
St Johns Church. AT that period, and up to
the year 1870 itwas not required that vestry-
men should be communicates of the church;
and, indeed, had it been required, avestry could
not have been formed, there being only two
members of this church in the city. s.s5Eg
On the 18th of May, 1884, Messrs. I. w.
Humes and VIM. B. French, with +. A. Ram
soy and Il. L, McClung as alternstes, were elected
as delegates to the General Convention, to be
held in Nashville, on the 4th Wednesday in
May, 1874
On the ninth day of June following, the Rev.
Charles Tones came, by direction of Bishop
Otey. and took charge Of the Parish, and on
the 18th of the same month, at a called meeting
of the Vestry, he was elected Rector. He
was fortunately man we'll adapted to the wants
of the infant church. Firm, energetic and ac-
tive, he proceeded vigorously to work in build
ing up the congregation and church; and with
the aid of jealous and determined friends, he
met with most gratifying success. A small
building on the northwest corner of Gay and
Church streets, was placed, by the hberality of
Mr.. Andrew r. Humes, at the disposal, with :,
out charge, of the Vestry. and was neatly and
comfortably fitted up as chapel. In it the
congregation worshipped for more than two
years. The ladies of the parish, from the pro-
ceeds of supper and fair, purchased small
organ and an elegant communion service,
which they presented to the church.
On the Sd of March, 1916, Mr.. e. w. Humes
Diocese, at Columbia, and became an assistant
minister at st. Johns Church, and on the 8lst
of July, following, he was ordained to the
Priesthood, by the RI. Rev. j. III. Otey, in the
Methodist Church, in Knoxville.
In July of the year 1916, Bishop Otey made
an official visitation to the parish and found it
in very fourishing condition, and on the 10th
of that month, he confirmed % candidates, a
larger number than he had ever before con-
frmed at any one time and place within the
Diocese. On the 22d day of that month he laid
the corner stone of an edifce to be erected on
the corner of Cumberland and Crooked streets
the increasing congregations making it neces-
sary to have larger church building. 101g
In August 1916, the Bishop made his second
official visitation, when the new church was
opened for the first time, although not entirely
finished, and only temporary seats were placed
in it. During this visitation the rite Of con-
frmation was administered to 10 candidates
On the 21st of September, 1916, Rev. MIR.
Tones, who had for more than Two years ably
and faithfully filed the Office of Rector, re-
signed, and left beloved by all his parishioners,
whose prayers followed him to his new field of
labor. He was succeeded by the Rev. Z. w.
Humes, who was elected Rector by the Vestry
on the 9th day Of October, 1876, and continued
so fifteen years. His administration of the
Word met with great success, and the church
gradually gained in members and influence.
On the 10Th of July, 1848, the 10Th annual
Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee was
held in st, Johns Church, and the building
was consecrated to the service Of God by Bishop
Otey. The conservation sermon was preached
by Rev. Chas. Tones, who had made a long
and fatiguing journey from st. Louis. Mo-, to
see his old parishioners once m ore, and to be
present at this interesting service. On the 23d
of that month Mr.. Frederick Elwell, of this
Parish, was ordained by the Bishop to the Dea-
| him q nd fhp eft of Ian 1910 Voc ~
| pointed assistant minister of the Parish by the
Rector, the Vestry having authorized him to- do
| so. - r-.---- -.-... Pea r-- .--e-~ .f- t
Rev. Mr.. Humes continued as Rector until
! the summer of 1861, when he rendered his resig-
| nation, but was requested by the Vestry to con-
tinue in the office until his successor could be
| elected. In September, 1861, he met with a
severe accident, which confined him to his resi-
dence, and Rev. VIM. Vaux, of Loudon, for
merly Chaplain of the United States army, sue
ceeded him. Mr.. Vaux continued to serve ths
| people as Rector until September, 1853.
| Rev. Mr.. Humes was recalled in September
| 1865, and again served the Parish as Rector for
| six years. When he again took charge he
| found the church in rather scattered con-
dition, there being only about thirty members
connected with it. Some had died and others
had left the city. He went to work with will,
and by the time he resigned in 1869, he had
| again increased the number to ninty-one COM
municants. From the 1st of October 1863 to
January, 1862 Rev. VIM Mowbray was assist
ant minister to Mr.. Humes, when he accepted 9
call to Chattanooga. -..---,
In the year 1868 the edifce being deemed toe
small for the congregations usually attending,
the building was enlarged to the present COM
modous proportions.
In the wear 1869 Rev. Mr. Humes resigned
and was succeeded by Rev. VIM. Graham, who
served the church until about the LIST of Septem
Der, 1870, when he accepted a call from Eman
uel Church, Baltimore, and resigned his Rec
torship here. He was succeeded by the present
incumbent,
REV, j. HoWARD-SMITH, -atr sfe.
who has faithfully labored with his parishioner
even since the lst of December, 1870. He ha
proved faithful Rector and is much beloved
by his Pensioners, especially the poor, in whom
he seems to be particularly interested. In thi
he is following the Saviours injunctions, and i:
doing his share that THE poor have the Gospe
preached unto them.p His congregations ar,
very large and all the available eews are rented
| and twice since mis- incumbency have they beer
forced to economic the room SO as to add new
| news The liberalitv of the church has beer