Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-01-08
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES.
The Cause of God i'm KnONviIIe-The
Workings OF Our Churches

About the year 1855, asinear as we can
get it from the church records, Rev. Father
Brown of Chattanooga, made some mis-
sionary visits to this place. There were
only from five to eight Catholic families
in this city at that time, yet being a man
of unusual energy and perseverance. he
conceived the idea of erecting a Catholic
church, and at once proceeded to make
collections FOL that purpose. His under
taking met with success, and soon the
necessary funds were raised, the lot pro-
cured and the building commenced. For
much of the funds they are indebted to
the liberality of the Railroad men i'm and
around Knoxville.
BEFORE the church was completed, how
ever, Rev. Father Beamans came to this
city, and was appointed to take charge of
the parish. He is remembered with much
love by his old Practitioners, for his zeal
BUSINESS in the cause and. his faithfulness
in building up the church. During his
pastorship he made many successful mis-
sonary trips throughout East Tennessee
seeking the members of that religion
ministering to their spiritual wants, hap
tising their children, confirming their
young folks, and building up the older
ones in their faith. His labors
met with great success, and the
church was immensely built up
about fifty families being added, making q
membership of about $50 communicates.
He brought out the benevolence of the
church in q remarkable degree. 1t was
during his time that the original church
| building was completed, and the parson-
| age, as well as one of the present school
rooms were erected. This was consider
| able undertaking at his time, yet his en-
ergy was such as would not be overcome
| by any obstacle. He left this city much
| beloved by all his parishioners, about the
24th of October, 1860.
Father Brown, of Chattanooga, again
made several missionary trips to this place
| until the arrival Of q new pastor, during
which time he baptised many children,
and received candidates to full member
| ship. He Is spoken of as q very Jealous
man, visiting every place where members
of that faith were to be found without
| regular pastor.
| About the first of December, 1860, Rev.
Father |. "A. Birgrath was appointed pas
| tor of this charge. He entered upon his
labors with much fervor, and under his
ministry the church prospered, gaining
| many members. About this time there
was great deal of work on the railroads
to be had, and consequently about twenty
| five additional Catholic families came to
Knoxville. When he retired from the
pastorsEip of this church in April 1865,
| there were about seventy-tive Catholic
families in the city, with an average of
about seven communicates to each family,
| making church membership at that
time of about five hundred and twenty
| five communicates. He also left here
honored and loved by all his parishioners.
Again the church was without spiritual
father for something over a month, but
| Father Brown, of Chattanooga, true to the
missionary spirit that controls him, again
visited the Catholic people of Knoxville,
| administering to their spiritual wants.
About the 9th of May, 1865, Rev. Father
Abraham J. Ryan was appointed pastor of
this parish. The church continued to
grow during his ministry, and about
twenty-five more Catholic families took
up their residence in Knoxville. He,
| finding the school room too small for the
convenience of the continually increasing
| number of children visiting that school,
had an additional room erected. BY the
time he closed his connection with this
charge, in July, 1867, the membership of
| the church, (Geng about seven hundred,
had become so large as to make it neces-
sary to enlarge the church edifice in order
to accommodate its members with seats.
Abouth the 23d of October as near as
we can make it from the records, Rev.
Father James S. Kean was appointed pas
tor of this parish, and remained such only
short time. He gave up the charge
about April 25tb, 1868. 1t was during his
pastorship that the brick addition to the
church was commenced, and afterwards
finished by his successor. He did not
| remain long enough to accomplish much
good among his parishsners.
In May, 1865, Rev. Father Michael J.
finnegan was appointed pastor. He was
a very successful worker in the cause and
his labOrs were crowned with eXtraOrdina-
ry success. He brought out the liberality
OF his people in an unprecedented manner,
thousands being given for benevolent and
church purposes. He commenced by COM
pleting the addition to the church.
commenced by Father Kean, after which
the beethoven was erected and bell pro-
cured. He also purchased the ground and
established the Catholic Cemetery east of
the city. He was filled with the missiona-
ny spirit and visited many places up and
down the Railroad. Greeneville was one
of his principal points, and he finally con-
ceived the idea of building church there,
which idea was carried into execution
before he retired from this field of labor.
The church he built in Greeneville cost
over $4,000 of which only $500 were sub
scribed in that place while the remainder,
81, 800, were subscribed by the Knoxville
congregation. The church was attended
with unusual prosperity during his minis
try, and at one time had the largest mem
bership she hos ever had, before or since,