Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-02-12
lns,rLreIous WITNESSES.
The Cause of God in knONviie-Thc
Workings OF bur Unurcnes.

NO. Nu.-THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL |
CHURCH, IN NORTH AND EAST
KNOXVILLE. ....
For number of years prior to the year.
1914, the Old NJ, l.. Church did successful |
labors in East Knoxville, but from ls44 to
1865, or at least portion of that time this |
part as well rs the remainder of the city |
was held by the NJ. l.. Church South. Our |
object at present is to speak more particu-
larly of the reorganization of the NJ. l.. |
Church iu that part of the city, rs well as
ita organization in North Knoxville after
the close of the war;
In the year 1865, Rev. J. +. Spence, with
the assistance of Governor Brownlow, and |
others, had the Temperance Hall refitted
and repaired, it having suffered much
from the effects of the war. After the nee
essary repairs had been made an organ
ization was effected, consisting of some 20
members, and the holding of regular SER
vices commenced.
During the spring of 1866, Rev. j. f.
Spence held a series of meetings in which
he was assisted By Rev Il. II. Pearne.
These meetings were attended with most
glorious results. A deep religious feeling
was awakened in the hearts of the people
in that par! of the city, and a gracious re-
yival followed, in which about so souls
We're converted and about 100 names were
entered upon the church book. During
the year of 1885, the membership reached
to $50 COMMITMENTS, while the church
was warm with the love of God. ready to
! put forth her hand in the cause and come
up to the help of the Lord against the
mighty. .
was appointed as the regular pastor of this
| charge How faithfully he labored and
with what earnest, pious zeal he worked
to build up this particular church and
! ChTist's kingdom in general, is too well
remembered by most of our readers to
need more than passing notice. During
! his years ministry with the people of East
Knoxville he had another gracious
revival and the membership was fully
doubled from what ii was when he first
commenced to preach there. That year
was a prosperous year in Zion, and that
part of Gods moral vineyard was well hus-
banded and brought forth an abundant
harvest to the glory of God and the saliva
ton of immortal souls. There are many
now who, when reading this, will feel to
thank God for his wonderOuS works among
the children of men, and especially for
what he did for them.
The following year Rev. j, Workman
was appointed pastor of this charge, and we
regret to have to say that. for some cause or
another, the work was greatly neglected,
and the church grew cold and indifferent.
On Rev. J. Worthman's retiring from
the charge, Rev. ID. Hocket was appoint
, ed, and for six months served North and
! East Knoxville with wonderful sue
cess. In North Knoxville he held pro-
tracted meeting which lasted something
over two months, and which resulted in
the conversion of over one hundred souls
and in an addition to the church member
ship of one hundred and twenty-one
names. That meeting will long be remem-
bered as one of the best ever witnessed in
this country meeting in which men,
who had heretofore seemed almost
abandoned by everything that was good
and noble, and whose souls had been
blackened by sin, until 1t seemed almost
impossible to reach their hearts at all with
religious influence and bring them to see
themselves in their true light, were
! brought to the foot of the cross, confessed
and deeply repented of their past crimes
determined with the help of God to live
better in the future, and were happily con-
verted to the religion of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ meeting in which
ono sin-sick soul, who had been seeking
I the God of love and pardon for sixteen
grief at the foot of the Cross and learned
. to love pardonng God IA meeting In
q | which the Christian heart was set oil fire
= with holy love, and in which he was great
: ly strengthened to go forth in the discharge
of his duties, valiant soldier of the cross
q meeting in which the cause of God pros
;. pered most wonderfully, while Satan with
= his host trembled as they reluctantly
e fell back before Christ and his victorious
= army.
This was really the beginning of a re
:, lgious work in the northern part of Knox
} vile, and from that time forward the mos
. interest seemed to be manifested in th'
I North Knoxville work. A thorough or
ganiZation was effected III small frame
building erected by DIR. Pearne, in which
building they have continued 10 worship
| up to the present time.
+ During the years 1869 and 1870 Rev. G
r. w. Coleman was pastor of this charge
Il who labored with great zeal and some sue
: cess. .#.
e In the year of 1871 Rev. c. w. Cole
8 man being removed to the Kingston sta
If ton, he was succeeded by Rev. NJ. II
n Nichols, who remained with the charg
only about three months. During the re
81 mainder of the year this charge was with
e out any regular pastor, but was served oc
), casionally by Rev. Mr.. Ford, pastor of tn
!, Clinch street church, and Rev. j. +
u Spence, then Presiding Elder, and by sucl
IL young ministers as they could induce II
Is times to preach to them.