The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-12-15

in he says that "a liberal supply of
Prayer Books has enabled me TO dis
tribute them at Greenwood, Shreve-
port, Alexandria and Donaldson
ville." Mr.. Burke was Missionary
stationed ut Natchitoches, and visit
ed those places Ut the request
Of the Bishop. ae@ a8
On the 81 Of May. 1874. Bishop
Polk made his first visit to Alexan-
dria, and, while here, . Parish was
organized, under the name OF St.
James Church, Alexandria, which
the Bishop says was composed of
'many ofthe families Of the Parish
Of Ropides,'' and OF which Parish be
then uttered the prophecy that ''it
bids fair to be an inviting field of Ia
Dor and one OF importance in the Di-
ocese." During his visit there was
q meeting of the Vcstry and friends
Of the Church, and measures were
taken for the erection, at an early
day, Of suitable church edifice." q
But seven long years elapsed before
even the corner stonesoi.tle proposed
building was laid. pm
The Rev. John Burke and his sue
cessor at Nstchitochos, the Rev.
Elijah Guion, continued TO make oc-
casional visits to Alexandria, but on
the 2sth Of November, lS47, the
Rev. A. D. Mccoy came TO be settled
as Rector.
| Mr.. Mccoy at once established
regular services, holding them in the
Court House, and they were we'll at
tended. On Sunday nights it was
his habit to have the services and
sermon especially for colored per-
sons, "who, by attending in large
numbers and giving most earnest
heed to what they heard, indicated
that the efforts for their spiritual
good were duly appreciated by
them"
Soon after this a subscription Of
t$4 200 was made towards building a
Church, and lot, at the corner of
what was afterwards known as Sec
ond and St. James Streets, was pur-
chased. And, at about the same
time, another subscription was raised
for the establishment Of a female
Seminary, which was afterwards To-
Gated in the hills beyond Bayou Ra-
pides, and was the means, under
God, of soving the seed that is now
ripcning in fruit under the fostering
care Of St. Johns Chapel. The Rev.
Elijah Guion, above referred TO, be-
came the first principal and, under
him, 1t greatly fourished. After a
time he resigned to go to New Or
leans, and a Dr.. Myers was elected
in his place. This selection proved
unfortunate, and in January, 1857,
the school was abandoned.
The Parish was Incorporated, IN
der the laws Of the State, in March,
| lS48, when there were chosen as the
first Wardens Drs. John P. Davidson
and Stokes A. Smith, and as Vestry-
men Messrs. Smith W. Gordon,
Thomas Fl. Maddox, Montfort Wells,
Willis Bonner, Ohio W. Nally, Carey
H. Blanchard, John X. Elgec, Josiah
Chambers, Henry Machen and Gwinn
Harris. DR.. Davidson served as Sc.
Nor Warden until his removal from
the Parish, a period Of eighteen
4 years. Josiah Chambers also served
as Vestrynan for q like period, and
Gwinn Harris for twelve years.
And here it may be remarked that .
number of gentlemen have served
longthened periods on the Vestry
among whom have been DR.. Geo. E.
French, nineteen years; DR.. Henry
St. John, fifteen years; Ralph S
Smith, eleven years; John M. Bar
rett, fifteen years; Milton N. Rhorcr
eleven years; Hiram Hilton, nine
years; Thomas c. Manning, eight
); years; James G. White, ten years
} The Sunday School was organized
; in 1847, with, Hiram Hilton as .Su
perintcndcnt, and he continued If
office until his death, in 1861, q pc
Rod of fourteen years. During The
} war it WAS disorganized, but was re
. vived in 1865, with John NJ. Barrett
J as Superintendent. He has remained
in Charge ever since, and has, there
fore, now served even longer tern
than his only predecessor.
, In lS49, the communion servic
now in use, was purchased at an ex
Al pense of some two hundred dollars
!, In 1S49 and 1850, the work of th
church was much impeded, by tn
f loverfloW to which the country wa