Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-12-18
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES.
The Cause of God la knoNville-Thc
workings of our Churches.
NO vt-THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH |
(sT Johns

In March, 1914, MIR. Ihos. w. Humes, can" |
didate for orders in this Diocese, commenced |
reading prayers las lay reader every Sunday |
morning, in a small room or Church street. |
which had before been used as lecture room
and afterwards rs 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-
ematcs 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.
Humee, j. Ii. Crozier Samuel Mansfield, +. A.
Ramsey, Hugh A. NJ. White, VIM. B. French,
Hugh L. McClung, James Williams, A. r.
Humes and Samuel w. Bell was held for the
purpose of organizing an Episcopal Church.
John II. Crozier was called to tho chair and
Samuel w. Bell was appointed secretary.
Articles of association as o church were read by
Mr.. T. w. Humes and adopted. Whereupon
T. W. Humes A. NJ Lea A, r. Humes, S.
Mansfield f. A. Ramsey, W.JB. French, IL.
L. McClung, James Williams John II. Crozier
and s. w. Bell were elected as Nesttymcn of
St. Johns Church. At that period, and up to
the year 1870, it was 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.
On the 18th of May, 1914, Messrs. L. W.
Humes and VIM. b. French, with +. A. Ram
sey and ii. 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 Nostry, he was elected Rector. He
was fortunately a man we'll adapted to tho wants
| of tho 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 liberality of
Mr.. Andrew 4. Humes, at the disposal, with
out charge, of the Nestry. and was neatly and
comfortably fitted up as chapel In it the
| congregation worshipped for more than two
years. Tho 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, 1915, MIR. T. w. Humes
was ordained n Deacon by the Bishop Of the
| Diocese, at Columbia, and became an assistant
of July, following, he was ordained to the
Priesthood, by the Ri. Rev. J. II. Otey, in the
Methodist Church, in Knoxville.
In July of the year lS45, Bishop Otey made
an official visitation to the parish and found it
in n very hourishing condition, and on the 10th
of that month, he confirmed % candidates, q
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 editce to be erected on
tho corner of Cumberland and Crooked streets
the increasing congregations making it neces-
sary to have larger church building.
In August, 1896 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 16 candidates
On the 2lst of September, 1896 Rev. Mr.
Tones, who had for more than two years ably
and faithfully filled 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. T. w.
Humes, who was elected Rector by the Nestry
on the 9th day of October, 1916, 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 Goth of July, 1913, the 10th annual
Convention of the Diocese of Tennessee was
hold in st, Johns Church, and the building
was consecratod to the service of God by Bishop
Otey. The conservation sermon was preached
by Rcv. Chas. Tones, who had made a long
ana iAtRulnR journey from OF LOUIE MO, 10
see his old pensioners once more, 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-
conship and on the LIST of January, lS49, was APP
: pointed assistant minister Of the Parish by the
d octor, the Vestry having authorized him to do
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. Naux, of Loudon, for
mery Chaplain of the United States army, sue
ceeded him. Mr.. Vaux continued TO serve the
people rs Rector until september, 1888.
Rev. Mr.. Humes was recalled in Septem Der,
r 1863 and again served the Parish as Rector for
six years. when he again took charge he
. found the church in n 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 LIST of October, 1868, to
l January, 1869, Rev. VIM. Mowbray was assist
, ant minister to Mr.. Humes, when he accepted q
. call to Chattanooga.
In the year 1868 the edifce being deemed toe
l small for the congregations usually attending,
the building was enlarged TO the present com
modious proportions.
In the year 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 call from Eman-
uel Church, Baltimore, and resigned his Rec
- ,ra TTnv nv n N