Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-30
OUR CHURCHES.
NO. V.
The Church of the Advent.

TOmeS). of which the Rev. w. ID. Harlow
had been Rector for two or three years.
The latter church was at a distance from
the crowded portion of the city, and was
but indiferently attended; while Christ
Church building, which was small, was Oc-
clIpied entirely. For some time, the Rev.
Mr.. Tones had urged upon his congrega-
ton the necessity Of enlarging the editice,
but met with little encouragement, those
interested particularly not thinking that
the building was at all insufficient i'll
size, arguing from the fact that on no Ordi-
nary occasion of public worship was the
church crowded, or every pew occupied.
Some few weeks prior to Easter, 1857,
Rev. Mr.. Tones called a meeting OF the
congregation and made a statement that OF
all the ordinances Of the church-baptisms,
burials. marriages, etc, etc, during the
past two wears. more than twO-thirdS had
been at the instance of persons who
were interested in the Church, and
desired to attend his ministrations,
but were unable to obtain sittings
in a church building; and, as a counter ar
gument to that above stated, that the edi-
flee was large enough for all who
wished to come, he proposed to them o
make the pews free. a majority OF those
present, owning pews, were in favor OF this
movement; but, a few Directing, the matter
was postponed until Easter Monday. In
the intervening time, the project was can
vassed of making the peWs free for one
wear by way of experiment. On Easter
Monday the whole movement was quaShed
as a constructive injustice to those fewwho
declined under any circumstances to relin-
ouish their pews which they held posses
sion ofby fee simple.
A few DAYS after this meeting, April Is,
A. D.. 1857, a number Ofthe communicates
of Christ Church, met i'll room over Ber-
rvs book store, No. 80 Public Square, and
organized new Parish and voted its name
EsTbe Church Of the Advent" EmbOdying
in its articles or organization, the following
important and (in this DiOcese) new con-
ditions
l. That all persons, without distinction
of sex or age, who are registered commute
carts of the Parish, shall be entitled to a
vote on Parochial affairs.
2. That only male communicates shall
be qualified to act as vestrymen.
8. That the church when erected should
be free to rich and poor alike; rejecting the
pew-system and abOlishing every species OF
| lay-privilege, based on wealth, station, OF
any other foundation whatsoever.
i. That the revenues Of the church should
depend, as nearly as possible, on the weekly
ollertOry.
| To this organization, the consent, as pre-
scribed by canon, Of the Reverend Rectors
of the adjoining parishes of Christ Church
and the Holy Trinity, and of the Right
Reverend the Bishop Of the Diocese was OBJ
tanned. A vestry was elected which wa!
instructed by the congregation to call the
Rev. Charles Tones to the Rectorship
This was done and the call accepted
| Through the generosity of Mr.. John Kirk
| man. the owner of the "Odd Fellows Hall,
the use of that building on Sundays wa
obtained gratuitously for divine worship
and the 18th of June was fixed upon as thu
time for the opening services. On the I'll
of June the Rev. Mr.. Tones was takel
sick, and after protracted illness, died a
GIenoak, his residence, on the 10th of Jul.
of the same year.
Aug 10, 1857, the vestry requested tn
Rev. w. ID. Harlow, Rector of the Churcl
of the Holy Trinity, to officiate at tn
''HalI' until Mr.. Tones successor shoul'
be chosen-which he kindly undertook
The 'Hall'' was opened Aug. 10, tn
Rev. J. II. Ingraham officiating, as
sisted by the Rev. W. D. Harlow
and the Rev. George White, D. D., o
Alabama. The number of the regjstere
communicates at this time was fifty-fOur.
On the 9th dav OF October, 1857, ther
was convened at the Odd Fellows Hall
meeting of the vestTy, at which all the con
municantS of the congregation were invite
to be present, the object Of the meeting be
ing the election of a permanent rectO
This meeting was well attended, and, o
the third ballot, the Rev. Charles Tod
Quintard. NJ. D., then Rector at Calyar
Church. Memphis, was chosen. DIR. Quiz
tard accepted the Rectorship, and entere
upop its duties on the first Monday in JaI
uary, 1858.
The first confirmation at the Hall wa
held February IS, 1858, when the Rt. Re
DR.. Otey officiated, confirming sixteen pc
SONS.
During the same year the parish rapid
increased in strength, paving 81 600 per al
mum rental for the Hall, and fitting it upa
a church at considerable expense. III
prosperity of the Parish was uninteTupte
until 1861. when majority Of the your
men of the Parish joined the armies of Il
South: and, when they went away, the pa
| tor (Dr. Quintard) felt it his duty to a
cept the office of Army Chaplain, aud to
with them.
The Rev. Geo, c. Harris was chose
Assistant Rector, and continued servic
e until February, 1862. At this time Mas
$ vile was occupied by Federal troops, al
t the ''IEalI" was taken possession OF and
cupied as barracks for Federal soldiers.
In 1858, the vestry had purchased a
e on Vine street, (where the present Chur
t building now stands and paid two-thir
: Of the purchase money therefor, and b
e built a foundation and basement III sol
e and durable manner.
After the fall of the Confederacy, in Isl