Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-11-17
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES.
The Cause of God I'm knONsiic
Workings of Our Churches.

Influences" that we intended to be unbiased Dy
,,, soctor7on feelings. whatever, and to give as
oorroct i, history of the church as possible
This continues to be our sincere desire. Ana
right here we propose to go a little further and
cav. that we shall not be.infuenced in the least
by any political opinions we may entertain, be-
lieying as we do, that politics should have moth
ing, and, as far as we are concerned, has nothing
to do with religion But to give a correct and
impartial history of the above named church.
and to give its origin here in Knoxville, we are
forced to barely touch the subject This we do,
however, in as mild manner as possible, merely
taking copy of the minutes Of the proceedings
at the time of the organization of the church
at Knoxville, as can be found by examining
the chu- oh record 1t is as follows:
ga convention OF trav cling and local preach
ers. and Law members of the Methodist Eplsco-
pal Church South, many of whom had been eX-
pelled from the church for dlsloyalty 10 the
Southern Confederacy, was held in this city
July eth, 1862 Seventy five delegates were in
Rev. e. Z. CLEARWATER, President, and Rev.
R. S. Blackburn, Secretary.
The object of the convention was 10 gamer tne
loyal portion of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South within the bounds of the Holston Annual
Conference into loyal and permanent organl,
cation, and to supply the church with devoted
loyal pastors.
They, therefore resolved to return to the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and ask, most re-
spectfully, to be recognized by her, and pro-
yided for as the Hoston Annual Conference,
subject to the control and authority OF the APP
pointed heads of our church IN the united
States, and to her discipline,
In compliance with this request the MethodlSt
Episcopal Church was reorganized in Knox
VILE"
The following Spring, Bishop Clark, of thu
NJ. C. Church, re-organized the Holston Con-
ference, and Rev. J. F. Spence who was then
| PRINCIPAL of the East Tennessee Female Insti-
tute, was appointed as the regular pastor OF the
Knoxville charge. The Society was then Or
| ganized, and worshipped in Temperance Hall,
East Knoxville, where Rev. Mr. Spence work.
| ed faithfully for one year accomplishing great
| good.
In June, 1866, Rev. j. B. Ford, was trans
| ferred to the Holston from the CINCINNATI Con
ference, and appointed pastor of the charge IN
| Knoxville proper. and Immediately proceeded
| to re-organize a Society at the court house,
where they worshipped for few weeks, the So
| ciety then numbering about 80 members. Rev:
Mr. Ford then rented the Baptist Ghurch and
| held very successful protracted meeting,
which was attended with most glorious result
| The cause of religion was revived, numbers
| were converted and the church received forty
| additional members At the close of the revival
| the Society returned to worshiplng again IN the
| court house and remained there only few weeks.
| during which time the Old Methodist Church
| on Church street was repaired and finally taken
charge of by the pastor. In this church the
| congregation held their regular services until
the completion of their new and beautiful
| NAMED pastor until the fall of 1867, when he
| was transferred to the Illinois Conference. The
| sixteen months he labored with this church will
be remembered by many, as months of tervent
| work and most wonderful success.
| Rev. J. S. Petty was the next pastor appoint
ed. and worked faithfully with the charge for
one year At the close of his labors, Rev j.
W. Mann was appointed. During his ministry
| the new church was completed, and dedicated
by Rev. DR.. Cobleigh. Rev. j. L. Mann was
the next pastor appointed and faithfully labored
| with the charge for one year. lie was succeed
| ed by Rev. J. r. EadS who will be remembered
| in this community for his deep piety and clear
| and forcible sermons, and when he, by special
| he left many sincere friends, who regretted to
| lose so faithful pastor. In October, 1871,
REV. j. b. FORD,
in compliance with an earnest petition,
was again transferred to the Holston
| Conference and at once appointed
to this charge. He at once entered upon
| his labors with will and the blessings of God
| attended
| gree. A glorious revival was the result and one
| Hundred souls were converted and added to the
| church. How faithfully he discharged his du-
ties as pastor is unnecessary tor us to say, but
| the following figures will show for themselves
| At the time of the organization at the court
| house only 80 members were enlisted on the
| church books now it contains 20. One hun
| dred and forty of these were taken in
at two revivals held by Rev j. B. Ford +;
thus making it over one-half of the total
il l. 4. L
number that were added TO the church
during tho faithful ministrations of thi!
devoted pastor. The last Annual Conference
seemed to appreciate his value here, and have
returned him to us for one more year at least.
The present condition of the church is most
fattering. But of the 275 members who have
been on the church book since its organization
8 have died. 81 removed with letter, and u
without letter, leaving the present Membership
to consist of 215 communicates. The mem bers
generally seem to be more impressed with O
sense of their duty at present than they ever have
heretofore, and glorious results are anticipated
| during the present conference year.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
In this, the nursery of the NJ. f. Church
there is not as much interest taken as mi ght be-
But right here we will give the pastor the credit
that he has faithfully endeavOred to awaken {
deeper interest, and to some extent hes been sue
cessful. Yet great good has been accomplished
in this department. When the sabbath schoo
was first organized at the court house only TWEEN
ty-fve children could be induced to attend
now the average attendance is one hundred anC
thirty-five scholars. AS an evidence of the goot
that is being accomplished we would state tina
. quite number of those converted during thu
revival last winter were regular attendants a
, the sabbath school. This should inspire the
members of this church with new energy, anC
increase their ZEAL feeling assured that the seet
thus sown will be followed by an abundant har
vest to the glory of God. Many children arr
yet without religious instruction. Go forth, then
you who call yourselves followers of Him, whC
said, suffer little children to come unto Me
, and forbid them not, for ofsuch is the Kingdom
of Heaven" and bring these little ones to tn,
sabbath sahool, that they, too, may become Hi
followers and learn to love that same Savior.
CLASS MEETING.
!, This meeting is held every Sabbath afternoon
about O clock. The object of this meeting il
to promote Christian fellowship, to talk to eacl
other of religion, of their trials and comfort