Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-11-27
RELIGIous INFLUENCES.
The Cause of God in KnOxViiie-The
workings Of our Churches.
10 r1r-THx FIRST BAPTIST cHuRcu


men, brothers, James G. and John l.. Moses
sons of Deacon John +. Moses, of Exeter, New
Hampshire, camo to Knoxville, Tennessee
about the year 1910, and cast in their lots with
its citizens. They found no Baptist Church |
here, and though unconvcrted, yet being raised !
up in that belief, they felt DESTROYS that ono
should be established, and whore there is WILL |
there is generally q way.
Having conceived plan by which church
might be planted here, they made it known to
Rev. DR.. Howell, paster OF the First Baptist
Church at Nashville, and received his endorse
ment The plan was to write to the Home Mis-
sion Board of New York, and request them to
send out n minister to organize church at
Knoxville. That Board saw the importance of
the undertaking, and accordingly sent out the
Rev. J. A. Bullard. On arriving here and
finding few Bsptists in the city and surround.
ing country, he Immediately called together n
council of Baptist ministers TO organize church.
This Council consisted of Revs. J. A. Bullard,
- Kimbrough, - Kennon, - Millgan,
- Bllue, j. S. Coram and - Rhea, 1--WE are
forced to omit the initials of some of the min
listers rs the church record fails to give them.)
They assembled in the court house, Jan. %
1913, and then and there organized Baptist
Church, consisting of twenty-sx white and
| twenty colored members.
Rov. J. A. Billiard was the first pastor this
Society had, and labored faithfully with them
for one year. At the srst meeting of the church
after its organization, one of the young men
referred TO at the beginning of this article,
! Mr.. j. G, Moses, who had shortly before pro-
fessed conversion, united with the little band,
and during period of nearly thirty years
an honored and efficient mem Der OF the church
as well as q prominent citizen of this commu-
| nifty Some two years since he passed from
earth, and, doubtless, is now member of the
church triumphant. His brother, Mr..
| j. l.. Moses, who, also soon after the organiza-
ton, became member of the church, is still
with the Society, cody man and a useful
citizen. Rev Mr. Billiards. ministry was sue
cessful one, and 81 members were added to the
church during that year During one revival
held by him in the Presbyterian and Methodist
houses of worship, commencing on the 9th of
May, 1913, there were % accessions to the
church.
In the year 1874 Mr. Bullard, retiring from
the Knoxville charge, Rev. Homer Sears be-
came pastor and held that position for years
During the period of his ministry the present
neat edifce on Gay street land no doubt the
finest in the city at that time) was erected Good
results also attended his labors with the people
and about so souls were added to the church.
He closed his labors in this city in the year
$780, and here appears on the records, period
of two years, that the society had no regular
pastor, and the Baptist pulpit was only OCCASION
ally filled by visiting ministers. Yet the mem
bers, with coHmendable ZEAL kept the church
alive, keeping up their regular prayer meetings,
while some of the most prominent among them
frequently read sermon to the congregation.
! In September, 1862, Rev. Mathew Hillsmsn,
r ID. d., in answer to unanimous call from the
> church, accepted the pastorship, and faithfully
q discharged the duties of beloved and pious
pastor for the period of years. His labors met
! with glorions success and tho cause of God in
this branch of Christ Church prospered, many
souls being converted at the two great reviyals
held by him, and about 40 souls were added to
e the church during his mininistry.
D In the spring of 1859, Rev. G. W. Griffin be-
Q came pastor, and remained in that position for
the term of one year, accomplishing some good,
2 and few names were added to the member
ship. At the close of his ministry the church
; was again without regular pastor for over one
year. U
In July, 1862, Rev. L. B. Voolfolk bacame pas
tor and held that position for nearly two years.
His ministry accomplished good, and was ia
vorably received by the congregation AT the
close of the year 1863, he returned to kentucky,
, and soon afterwards this church was occupied
rs hospital for Federal soldiers, and no more
, regular meetings were held until about the
close of the year 1866. Religious worship was
then resumed in that church, Rev. S. II. Smith
acting pastor. During the short period of
of his ministry more than twenty persons were
added to the church.
In the early part of the year 1868 Rev. D. NJ
Breaker, d. D., began his pastoral labors and
closed them in the spring OF 1869. He accom-
, plishd great good in gathering together the
members OF the church, and generally reyiving
the cause of religion among them. About 30
new members were received into church fellow
ship during his labors, at the close of which the
Baptist flock was again without a regular
shepherd Yet their spiritual welfare was looked
after and DR.. s. II. Smith and Rev. +. johnson
supplied the pulpit. During this time occa-
Sional member was received into the f. lowship
of the church.
REV. J. L. LLOYD,
the present pastor, entered upon his labors as
their minister on the LIST day of February, 1870
His church administration has been most pros
porous one in every respect Their place of
worship has been made comfortable and attrac-
tive. The seats were cushioned the pulpit re-
modelled and chandeliers and pulpit lights were
purchased. Spiritually the church has also
prospered, and at two reviyals held by him 70
souls were added to the church. Altogether,
during his, not quite three years, ministry about
200 members have been added to the church
His congregations at the regular services are
generally large and attentive and his labors
seem TO be, rs they should, appreciated by his
flock We are also informed that he has been
instrumental in inducing a number who had
gone off from the church and formed Second
Baptist Church" to return to their former place
of worship
Prominent in the history of the church, and
j. l.. Moses, j. q. Moses DR.. Montgomery, A.
L. Maxwell w. w. Walker, j. II. Walker,
John W. Cruze, w. w. Woodruff, w. Martin,
John Cruze I. l.. Moses, and John Mccoy.
The exact total number of members that this
church has had is rather difficulty to obtain in
fact cannot be accurately obtained, owing to the
fact that the minutes at times were kept in rath-
er "a careless manner AS near as we can give
there is, from SIT to $50. A number of these