The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-05


Secretary.
This first vestry held a meeting on the
same date, February 26th, 1874, and
perfected its organization by electing X.
III. Battle, senior warden; i. A. Wiley,
Junior warden; 4. r. Bryan, secretary,
and w. H. Hicks (from the congrega-
tion) as treasurer of the parish.
Building Committee was also appointed,
consisting of Col. A. b. Andrews, *. ii.
Battle, p. A. Wiley, A. w. Shaffer,
DIR. G.. w. Blacknall and John G. Blake.
On the following Easter Monday, April
6, 1874. at meeting of the congrega-
ton the same vestry and officers were
chosen, and the work of the parish taken
up in earnest by the congregation, small
in numbers, it is true, but filled with
zeal and enthusiasm for the arduous
task which lay before them, and guided
by the earnest and untiring efforts of
the pastor they all loved so well.
Tucker Hall was rented as place of
temporary worship and occupied, along
with the Hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives during the summer months,
until the church building was completed
about year later.
On February ID, 1874, being Quin-
quagesima Sunday, the rector held ms
first service in Tucker Hall. The task
which confronted the first vestry and
the Building Committee mentioned above
was, as may be imagined, no easy one,
but with what energy they applied
themselves to the work in hand may be
understood from the fact that on Easter
day, March "a, 1875, just a little over
one year from the inception of their un-
dertaking the first services We're held
in the new church, the rector preaching
in the morning, and the Rev. DIR. Albert
Smedes at night. The writer is inform
ed that DIR. Smedes in his sermon, III
which he praised the zeal and liberallty
of the congregation very highly, candldly
stated that when the movement for the
foundation of a new parish was begun,
he anticipated that it would be fali-
ure, and for that reason he had not
contributed to its assistance, but in view
of the success manifested by what was
then seen, he begged leave to make
contribution to an object which he re-
garded as so worthy.
The congregation which numbered less
than thirty at the beginning, increased
rapidly in numbers and the third vestry,
elected on Easter Monday, 1870, was
increased from FIVE to nine members,
the names of S. d. Pool, j. r. III. Car
mer, John III. Human and w. III. Hicks
being added to those of the original five.
| find the records of the vestry meet
ings held during the first few years
rather meagre, many of them having
been lost, and therefore, | am unable
TO state definitely what particular work
was undertaken by individual members;
but that the body as a whole. with
the aid and advice of such business-like
and practical members of the congre
CATION as Col. A. B. Andrews, John G.
Blake. Col. A. w. Shafrer, and Major
j. B. Hill, were actively and success
fully at work is shown by the results
ACCOMPLISHED during the eleven years
that Mr.. Rich held the rectorship.
During that time the good work went
steadily ON and at the close of his min
istration, 1874 persons had been baptized
and $50 had renewed their baptismal
vows in the holy and apostolic rite or
confirmation.
Over seventy-fve families We're repre-
sented in the parish and the roll OF
communicates numbered 16O persons.
This gratifying spiritual growth, show
ing that God was indeed with us, was
due mainly to the prayerful efforts or
our dear rector, but the fact that one or
the most desirable locations in the clty
had been secured, a suitable building
erected, about $3S, eco contributed for
All purposes and the original debt on the
property reduced from $4,000 to less
than Sc, eco proved that the vestry, UNI
der whose control was the direction Of
= s5l,< .x.-ffh
gheir able eo-adjutors from the congre-
cation, had come fully up to the meas
IRE OF what might be expected from
them.
1t would be out Of place to attempt,
az well as impossible to give within the
limits of this paper anything like q
personal sketch Of the members of the
congregation who have composed the
various yestries from the organization
Of the parish oXthe present time. |
shall, therefore, merely present the roll
iii the order of time in which they
we're elected, alluding only to the SER
vices Of such of the officers, as | am
sure can be mentioned without creating
the impression Of having drawn any in
invidious comparisons. with such other
eominen.s and explanations as may
seem necessary.
It is commonly said. more in jest per-
haps than in earnest, thar most vestries
are self-perpetuating bodies, meeting an
nually and re-electing themselves to
office, but in our case this can hardly
be charged, for during the quarter OF
IA century of its existence, the church
Of the Good Shepherd has been repre-
scented by thirty-six of its members
upon the rolls Of the different vestries.
These in order of the date of their
election are as follows:
r. H. Battle, senior warden from
1874 to the present time.
T. A. Wiley, Junior warden, from 1874
to 1888
A. 2. Bryan, secretary from 1874 to
1879.
Jos. B. Bachelor.
G. ID. Rice.
S. ID. Pool.
j. X. II. GARNER.
John H. Human.
w. II. Hicks, treasurer from 1874
to 1877.
I'll. ID. Law.
W. G. McMackin.
T. \. Jones'