Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-12-29
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES.
The Cause of Ged In AnexSihe-n0
Workings Of Our Churches.
30. y1It.--THE WELSH CONGREGATION
CHURCH,


SO. v1l1.-.rHE WELSH CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH.
About the 14th of April, 1866, five Welsh
men, viz: Joseph and David Richards, Daniel
Thomas and John and Daniel Jones, came to
Knoxville on an inspection tour, and being
pleased with the place, concluded to make this
their future home. They at once handed IN
their letters of membership to the Second Pres
byterian Church. During the months of June
and July of the same year, their families, as
we'll as other Welsh families, arrived here, all
following the example of the first, giving in
their letters of membership to the same church,
but, in the latter part of July, they formed
Welsh prayer meeting, which was held every
Sabbath evening, at 2 o'clock, in the Lecture
Room of that church. They continued thus to
worship as a Welsh Religious Society, yet with
their membership in the Presbyterian Church,
for about three years and half They were
treated by them with the utmost courtesy ana
Christian benevolence, and those years are re-
membered by many as some of the happiest OF
their lives t## E-
About June, 1869, the idea to build church
of their own was conceiv ed by Mr. Joseph
Richurds and others. who Immediately went TO
work in seeking assistance from the chris
| tan people in Knoxville in the way OF contrl.
having been donated by MIR. G. III. McGhee
and the Knoxville Iron Company in McGhee'
| addition to Knoxville near the corner OF
NcGhee and Akin streets AT that time money
matters were very close, in fact times were marc,
vet Mr.. Richards says no never will forget the
kindness ofthe Knoxville people and their lioer.
! atty towards this enterprise. Every one tnat ne
approached on the subject gave freely something
| towards it. at the same time expressing regrets
that the money stringency prevented them nom
| making the donation ten times the amount
given. Mr. Joseph Richards worked with an
| indefatigable ZEAL experimenting the Work
himself and we are told, at times was forced to
| deprive his family of many luxurles, having
used his funds in paying OH the men VINO we're re
Knoxville remember him with gratitude, and
/ deservedly too as the man to whose plous zeal
! they are chiefly indebted for their church. on
the 9th day of October the basement room OF
their church was completed, and Divine wor-
shin was held there on that Day. The members
then withdrew from the Presbyterian Churcn,
and formed Welsh Congregational Church, on
liberal principles, and with free communism to
all denominations They have some members
with them of four different Evangelical denoml.
nations After the organization, the following
officers were elected: Joseph Richards, John
Jones and Thomas Davis, Trustees ana Dea-
cons; David Lewis, Secretary and William D.
| Richards, Treasurer. -
About the 18th of February, 1870, Rev
Thomas Thomas came direct from Wales to
this country, and, having some friends among
the Welsh setters in this city, he gave them
visit, and soon after his arrival here the church
made q call upon him to become their pastor
He accepted the call and served the church
faithfully for nearly two years. During MS
ministry about 80 members were added to the
church, by letter and otherwise. The church
also lost one of its main props In the removal
of Mr.. Joseph Richards to Chattanooga, who
was followed there by about 10 of the Welsh
members. His place as leading member and
moving spirit in the church was filled by Hon.
David Richards, who is also jealous work
er in the vineyard Of the Lord. After the
removal of Mr.. Joseph Richards and company,
the following Deacons were elected to fill their
places: Evan D. Evans, Thomas Price and
Moses Jones' with Isaac Lewis as Secretary and
VIM. j. Richards as Treasurer. Mr.. Thomas
Price has since left, but his place as Deacon has
not yet been filled.
In April. 1872. Rev. r. d. Thomas came to
this place from Pennsylvania, on visit to some
of his friends and on the following May, Rev.
Thomas Thomas having resigned the pastor
ship, he received call from the church, and on
September g. 1872, t, ok charge of the it and has
labored zealously with the flock ever since.
| There were only about 48 to 80 members left in
} the church when Rev. r. d. Thomas, its pas
tor, but owing to his earnest and faithful labors
about % persons have been induced in the last
have pledged themselves in the future to make
| Gods cause their cause.
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Soon after the arrival of the Welsh Colony in
this place and their connection with the Presby-
terrain Church, as above stated, they organized
a Welsh class in the Sabbath school of that
church, with Mr., Joseph Richards as teacher.
They thus continued, having about 26 scholars
until the completion of the basement room OF
their church in North Knoxville, when they or
ganized Sabbath School there with member
ship of seventy at the first meeting. Rev. Isaac
Emory assisted in the organization of the school.
The first officers were MIR. Joseph Richards,
Superintendent David Lewis, Secretary, and
John Jones, Treasurer. They hold an election
of officers every three months. All the Rich
well as the church. and are Jealous workers
with the young. Truly better field for useful
ness could not be opened unto them than to
bring the little ones to Christ, and the reward OF
all such men at the 'last day" will be great.
The school at present is in o fourishing condi-
ton, having about 112 members and we are
told, is one Of the most interesting little schools
in the State
BAND OF HOPE.
This band was organized about one or two
months ago, with Rev. +. d. Thomas as leader.
The object is total abstinence from strong drink
/ of any kind, and from the use Of snuff or to-
' baeco. They now number about 80 young peo-
) pie and 8 or 10 grown. This is good NOV :
ment, and can but result in glory to God. The
use of strong drink is crying evil in our com.
munity, and many of the damned souls in the
pit of darkness can point back to the intoxi.
eating cup as the chief cause of hell being their
, eternal abode. Only the other day we noticed
little boy, not more than ten or twelve year:
old staggering around on the street under the
influence of this curse of mankind We are
glad that the Welsh Church is looking to the
t lambs of its flock in this respect and Is train
b ing them to live sOberly before God and man
i HOW THE WEEK is srENT
t The pastor, Rev. Mr.. Thomas, recognizes tn,
fact. that the prosperity OF a church depend
much on earnest, faithful labor, and therefor,
makes use of every night in the week for tn,
o advancement of the Redeemer's cause, as fol
Il lows:
- MONDAY NIGHT-cLAss MEETING.
If These meetings are of incalculable value {,
: the Christian. They meet and after PRAYER AM