The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-12-11
=, CHURCHES OF GREEN.
~" VILE.

INC 80 1,oority of n community
aOu ! Ina number, extent, and in
l''" ~ of its churches; and in this
p"' ,oct Greenyille compares most
iy srlrob,y with any other city of
|trsrrnrsrze in-tAe United states
I p' an I'I article published elsewhere
! hi. paper the inadequate char
,nr Of the church structures IS
t,rrod TO. The propriety OF
pyecting more spacious enduring
ortistic church buildings u
snlIy recognized by the various
,ongreqations, and the improve
'nont is one which is quite sure to
made in time. Indeed, plans for
Dou and imposing church buildings
are already under consideration by
more than one of the congregations
4 the city. The temporary char
,cer of the present buildings Is
not occasioned by poverty or par
.imony of their congregations.
The wealth of the city is evenly
distributed among the different
denominations, and almost all OF
h pays tribute to the maintenance
N adyancementof religion in some
u the many creeds represented
IIrntI the absolute security and
pcrmanency of the present site OF
the city was assured by the COM
hletion of the harbor revetment
.work by the river commission, 1t
Tos unwise to erect massive build
Rno, which could not be removed
Or replaced. There being now
: bo further cause for apprehension
. bfharm from the river, the pro-
ect of building new and handsome
churches is one which is being |
onsidered by the different congre-
'ptions.
Most of the denominations now
|rominent in the city have existed
h the county since u very early
|lav Long before the war, when
county and the Delta
Eere occupied in the cleared por-
lions by large and widely separat.
h plantations, the families of
he planters belonged chiefly to
he Episcopal and Presbyterian
|hurches, and their spiritual wants
We're ministered to by clergymen
|rbo paid occasional visits to the
|egion, holding services in the
|bmes Of their parishioners. Among
bese early visitors the late Bishop
Nm. Mercer Green, of the Epis-
|bpal church, was one of the first
hd most frequent, continuing to &,
bid this portion Of his diocese IN
Special love and favor until his
bath, when the parish OF st;
|ames had grown into a large and {
Iauential organization. The scat t
Bred families of the Episcopal +
|hurch in Greenville and the coun- !
\ we're first organized as the parish
Il st. James in 1869, and its first G
eguIarly called minister was the
Rev. Wallace Carnahan, who has '
|nce risen into distinction
/ the church. Services were
|eld in the little wooden
Lhool house situated on the spot q
khich is now the corner of Main {
|nd Walnut streets, and which is I
hell remembered by many of !
|ireenvilIe's citizens as the scene
Il their first struggles in the thorny
|oad to learning. In May, 1870,
he beloved Bishop of the diocese
Rt Rev. w. NJ. Green, laid the {
|orner stone of St. James church I
|pn the spot now occupied by the
Mayors office and city market:
|The building was of wood, and
|erv plain and small, but owing to
|he nigh cost Of all kinds of
materials at that time, its cost was
|about IS, 900. Mr.. Canadian was
succeeded by Rev. G. W. Stick
hey in the next year, and, after a
Short incumbency, his place was
Filled by Rev. Duncan c. Green,
under whom the church fourished
|and grew in numbers and influence
until the dreadful visitation OF
Fellow fever in 1878, when this
|deyoted and beloved priest laid
down his life in ministering to the
suffering, regardless of their creed,
Or Of aught else than that they
were of those of whom it was said
0lnasmuch as We do it unto the
least of these we do it unto nue.. !"
Mr.. Green was succeeded ny
Dr.. F. A. Juny, who resigned
after four years charge, and was
followed by the Rev. D.B. Ramsey,
who remained as pastor of the
church for nearly two years;
In 1854 the original church was
destroyed by fire, and for a time
It's services were conducted in the
Masonic Temple. In October 1884
the Rev. VIM. Cross was called
and found scattered and -decima-
ted congregation with-n0~place of I