Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-14


of the South attest how much he felt for the
moral and intellectual culture of cur youth.
Indeed he was great man. IadeGble marks
of love we're stamped upon the whole of his
profession, and the fragrance of his memory
will Hnger for ages to come among the beau
tiful hills and lovely valleys of Tennessee.
A passing tribute il due to the eoadjutors of
Bishop Otey. Foremost among them was
THE REV. DIR. STEPHENS,
who came to our State in 1929, and from that
date continued until his death a Jealous
minister of the church. He died in Novem-
Der, 1850, at the age of seventy-two, forty-two
of which he had been a minister. One who
knew him will say he left the world without
an enemy to forgive, or one of whom to ask
forgiveness.
THE REV. THOMAS WEST
was also one of the faithful to whose exer-
tions the church owes a debt of gratitude.
He performed considerable missionary duty,
and was the rector of the church in Jackson,
where died in the eighty-third year OF his
age, sixty years of which he had been
minister. He had the reputation Of being
bold and practical preacher.
THE REV. JOHN DAVIS
acted distinguished part in the early history
of our church. At different times he was
rector OF the church in J ackson and Browns
vile, in which place he died in 1910.
THE REV. JOHN wELLEN
None of our ministers were more active
than the Rev. John Wellen. He was the
first rector OF the church in Nashville which
position he resigned in 1897 to become rector
of Calvary church in Memphis al time
when the establishment of a church in that
city was a doubtful event, but upon his
taking charge a new and encouraging state
of things was presented. He was several
times sent delegate to the General
Convention and frequently placed upon
important committees. He fell a victim to
yellow-fever in Vicksburg in 1910.
THE REV. S. G. LIrToN
was likewise diligent worker in the vine
yard of the Lord. He was, as has already
been said, one of the first ordained ministers
in our diocese, and had the charge of the
parishes in Somerville and Lagrange. He
died in Louisiana.
THE REV. JOHN Chiffon
was among the original founders of our
church. He was the first rector of the
church at Jackson, and at different periods
had the Iectorship of the parishes in Gov
ington and Brownsville, at which place he
died in 1910.
OTHER CLERGYMEN
aflerward labored faithfully to advance the
interests of the church, but because the limits
q
mention of their names and miuistrations,
and because my principal object has been to
preserve the memory Of the founders of the
church-the pioneers-the men who had 10
struggle with difficulties unknown 10 their
successors. | therefore pass over. the faith
full; they live in the hearts OF churchmen.
THE WOMEN OF THE EARLY DAYS OF THE
CHURCH.
Besides the Jealous clergymen and the
noble hearted laymen VINO co-operated in
the organization of our church in its days Of
struggle, justice requires me to declare that
many of the women of the early days of the
church merit our grateful remembrance. In
several of the accounts sent to me of the rise
and progress of parishes, great credit is given
to the female workers in Jackson, Shelby
vile and other places. have a record of
their names and services, and / hope their
good deeds will be remembered in any regu-
lar history of this diocese.
UPON THE ELECTION OF BISHOP oTEY,
the prospect OF the diocese became encourag-
ing. New parishes were organized, and the
number of the clergy gradually increased.
The book of common prayer was sought after
| books explanatory of our doctrines and mode
of worship were read. Sunday schools or
ganiz I'd and institutions of learning sprung
up, st which some of our most gifted men
and women were educated. In referring to
our statistical reports it has TO be acknowl-
edged that our church has not equaled in
progress other christian societies, perhaps not
to the extent there were reasous to expect.
In the report Of the Committee on the State
of the Church in 1851 it is ssi it is not to
be expected that diocese like
that of Tennessee situated in a por-
ton of country which receives but
few accessions by immigration, should as
rapidly increase in strength and in number
as other parts which are daily filling up in
population derived from the Eastern States
and from Great Britain. In this State the
church growth is mainly by natural increase
and by aecessions to her fold from those who
have been in a great measure strangers to the
covenant of promise, and hitherto unblessed
by that system of catholic truth and apostolic
usage which prevails in our branch of the
church. There is another reason why the
records do not
SHOW A GREATER INCREASE.
1t has suffered less by the removal Of
members in other States. The great changes
which have taken place in some of the towns
and their rapid decline would hardly be be-
lieved in a country new as this. The
church, of course, felt the effects of these
changes and suffered from these adverse cir
cumstances. Taking into consideration these
reasons, together with the fact that numbers
are no tests of truth or of the inferiority OF
any system, and that our church has not
been constantly changing to adapt itself to
the spirit of the age, but has continued in
her accustomed course, we have every reason
to rejoice for the advancement made.
The last war seriously impeded its progress,
but most of the injured church buildings
have been repaired. New churches have
been erected in Nashville. Oar literary in
situations are flourishing. The university
established in 1868 opened with nine pupils,
and the increase reported at the last conven-
ton shows it has right to live. At special
convention, held September 6, 1865, in this
city,
THE REV. CHARLES t. QUINTARD
was elected bishop of this diocese, and was
consecrated in St. Luke's church, Phila-
delphia, in the presence of the General Con-
vention, October IL, 1865. His first service
was held in Calvary church, Memphis, in
which he was ordained to the ministry and
of which for some time he was rector. Since
his election to the episcopate our commune
has made grester progress than at any former
period. The fruits of his labors are seen in
every direction. Diligence and perse-
vering toll have eminently marked his
episcopate.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH.
The labors of OBEY, Polk and Elliott 10
found the University of the South were in
REORGANIZATION and gratitude of the church
and the fruits of learning, and to our pres
ent bishop equal praise is due. After the
war a meeting of the trustees was held at
Sewanee, although not constituting a quo
rum it is memorable as being the last
meeting ever attended by the venerated and
beloved Bishop Elliott, and who nominated
our diocesan the first vice-chancellor of the
University of the South, and the nomination
was subsequently confirmed at a meeting OF
the trustees in June, 1874. When he resigned
the Office, the trustees put on record their
sense of obligation to him for all he had
done for the university. When, by the de-
vastatioIs OF war, it, site was a waste, he was
one OF the prime movers in resuscitating the
enterprise. His unspsring deyotions and I'M
firing Efforts in behalf of the university are
well known, and the church owes him debt
of gratitude of which generations to come
will only be qualified to calculate.
PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH.
Let me now call your attention to some
items connected with the progress of our
church for seventeen years past. New
churches have been built in Knoxville,
Athens, Cleveland, Chattanooga, Winches-
ter, Tracy City, Sewanee, Nashville, Spring
Hill, Pulaski, four in Upton county,
GAINESVILLE, Bolivar, Memphis and Buntyn.
Many of these edifces were erected with
regard to architectural beauty and propriety
differing from the utilitarisn type which
formerly prevailed, and large sums have
been expended in repairing numbers spoiled