Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-12-04
nELIaIoUs INrLrENCEs.
The Cause of God I'm KnONViIlc-Jhe
.. workings of our Churches
no. 1v-F1Rsr NJ. n. cnuRcII, sourn.


have been kept, they have either been destroy
ed or lost at least we are unable to trace them.
In this article, therefore, up to the commence
ment of the war, we will have to rely entirely
on the memory Of some Of the oldest citizens.
Mr., Henry Ault, for instance, has kindly con-
scented to assist us in this, rather difficult un-
dertaking
The first Society must have been organized
in the early part of the present century, from
the fact that the first Methodist Church was
built in the year 1875 sometime after the or
ganization of the Society The Church was
built on Methodist HILL" and was then the
second church building in the city, (the First
Presbyterian being the frst) Rev. John
Haynie, we'll remembered by some of our older
citizens, was mainly instrumental in its being
built. The lot was donated by the late Hon.
Hugh L. White, and in the ground surrounding
the spot where the building formerly stood, re-
pose the ashes of many of its early members
and friends, among theml being several of Mr..
Haynies children. Mr.. Haynie who was a
| local preacher" was, it is thought, the first
minister who addressed a congregation in this
| edifce, but it is not remembered by any one
who was the first travelling preacher that minis
! tered ut its alter. Among the first circuit
| preachers that are remembered are Revs Jas
| Axley. Thomas Wilkerson, Mr.. Eakin, james
| Dixon, John Kelley, George Atkin and 4. b.
| Harwell. The latter is still living near King
ston Roane county, We believe, at least we
heard him there deliver some powerful sermons
only a few years since, and although very aged
yet his intellect was then unimpaired, and for
logical power unsurpassed. The remainder SO
far as is known, have all long since passed to
their reward in Heaven. Later in the history
of the church, tho following list of ministers
served the congregation at successive periods;
Revs John Hennegar, james Cumming, Il. I.
Sewer, George Horne David Fleming -Dev-
err Thos Struggled, - Craig, Jno. Barringer,
Lewis, - Saul Patten, - Murphy, and 9TH
ers whose names memory refuses at this mo-
ment to recallall of whom now rest from their
abors, but their works do follow them"
Among the earliest leading and official lay MEM
bers, was DR.. John Sutherland, devOut and
active man, who removed about the year 1928,
together with Mr.. Haynie to North Alabama,
and afterwards to Texas, where they both died,
not many years since, quite advanced in age.
About forty or fifty years ago some of the
leading members of the Society wero Jozadak
Roberts, John Mason, Isaac Barton Pleasant
Grew, Frederick Ault, and at little later period
were DIR. Jas. King, DIR. w. Il. Trig, G.. w.
Churchwel NJ. NJ. Gaines, Geo. G. Graves and
others Bishops Mckendree, Roberts and
Soule, and, it is, thought, Bishop Asbury and
George, also ministered from time TO time in
p this church.
The average membership of the church dur
/ ing its continuance on Methodist Hil' was, it
| Is thought, ABOUT one nunureu COMMITMENTS
t In the year 1884 new church, the one which
, is now known as the "Old Methodist Church"
on Church street. was commenced and complet-
! cd in the year 1896, and was then thought to I've
quite fine church. 1t was dedicated in the
I month of July, 1886, by Rev. Thomas Wilker-
r son and during that month the great railroad
n convention was held in it, and ever after from
o some reason, but as we are informed, con-
@ trary to the wishes of many of the members, it
1 | has been much used for secular purposes,
, The society, together with the congregation,
8 usually worshiping on old Methodist Hill, ~
1 | on the completion of their new church. on
| Church street, in 1886, commenced to worship
in that bull ling, and the official members OF
"Old Meinodist Hill Church, continued to hold
their position for some time after the removal.
= | 1t is impossible, from the memory of the old
citizens, ito give a full list of the minister's who
q from year to year were appointed to labor with
this charge, nor is it remembered who were the
| first, but among them were Revs. T. Sullins
and John M. Kelley, who are we'll remem bered
for the good they accomplished at their respect
Z i've terms. The entire number of members that
"A have been admitted to this church from its or
ganzation up to the commencement of the war,
, it is impossible to ascertain without records,
: but according to the memory of our informant,
y the average membership was one hundred at
e the Methodist Hill Church, and two hundred
j at the Church Street Church.
. In 1874, the Methodist Church split on the
rock of slavery, and under the peculiar circum.
stances of the times, no organization of the Nj
Z. Church could exist iE the Southern country,
Z anu continue III inahllP WAT hRalHsL slavery.
t The consequence was, that the organization we
: have above referred to, together with the
9 church property, went under the control of the
d Church South.
During the war services were kept up until
= about the year 1868, with varied success, after
n which no more regular services took place I'M
til after the close of the war.
In November, 1866, the society was reorganiz-
ed and the old church on Church street having
: been taken in possession ofby the M. f. Church,
b | a history of which was given in former article
t and which property is now under litigation, this
s society commenced to worship in the basement
o of the First Presbyterian Church, and continu-
r ed there until their present new and pretty
G church was completed in the year 1868 Rev.
, G. 7. Carroll wa the first minister the church
2 had after its organization, and he reports mem
bership at his first Quarterly Conference ofabout
Q | 60 communicates. During the second quarter
0 ofhis conference year be exchanged places with
| Rev w. ii. Bates, who was then stationed al
, | Bristol Mr. Bates went to work with a will
: and the result was that nine members were
t. added to the church during that year Rev.
@ George Stewart was the first Presiding Elder
= In the Fall of 1867, Mr.. Bates was returned
G as preacher in charge, and also the former Pre-
Q siding Elder. Mr.. Bates again entered upon
Q his lRbors with n devout earnestness, and the
: result was that 81 members were added to the
church during that Conference year.
In the Fall of 1868, Rev W. II. Bates was
appointed rs Presiding Elder of this district
and Rev. q. Taylor, as preacher in charge
!. This was a glorious year for Zion, and this
= branch of Gods church prospered, there being
l. about So accessions to the church.
n In October, 1869, j. M. McTeer was appoint
ed as Presiding Elder, and G.. Taylor was re-
! turned as pastor. This year also was success
!, | full one and SO member were added TO the