Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-04
CLIMPSES OF OLD GEORGIA.


.I.awshe. who was a genial Pennsvlva-
MIA tailor. he was a great lover Of
children and of his Sunday school. and
did as much good as sny man of his
time. The church had nsfther ceiling
or plastering. but. think. was painted.
1t had preaching every sunday Dy a
local prescher. These preachers were
oftentime supplemented hv some de-
layed traveller. ard in the old church
men like Longstreet. andrews, George
F. Pierce, James T.. Evans. william
J. Parks gave occasional sermons. The
feeble church now asked for a station
ed preacher, and one vas sent.
He was not very gifted man, but
was a sociable. convivial. indiscreet
young fellow, who was relieved Of the
church few months after he took it,
and young James L. Pierce. brother If
Bishop Pierce, took his place. Then
there came a young EDglishman. who
was afterwards a chaplain in the Unit
ed States navy and after that an Epis-
cOpaI minister. He and his wife taught
school to supplement his small salary.
The next year came Rev. w. II.
Evans, who built the first preachers
home in Atlanta. 1t stood where the
First Methodist church now stands.
There had now come to Atlanta some
very substantial and enterprising
Methodists. Among them was q North
Carolina lady, Mrs. Willis Peck. who
organized the first society among
Methodist women, and Mrs. ". II. CO.
zsrt. These good ladies had the
church plastered and pulpit put in,
and otherwise improved it, Mr.. Evans
was very useful and built little wood
land chapel. known as Evans CHAPEL,
from which Walker Street church
sprang.
Bishop Haygood's father had now
moved to Atlanta and he was the chief
agent in building Trinity. Mr.. d. p.
Duncan, famous as being the most
Iachrymose and musical of Methodist
preachers, had been sent with Rev. ].
NJ Austin to the charge.
Mr.. Duncan bought a bell. 1t was
fearfully loud in its clang. A good doc
tor living nearby had a sick wife. who
was greatly annoyed by it's ringing.
He employed boy to steal the clappeT
Of the bell.
When it rang no more, the report
went out that Mr.. Roberts, the Bap-
fist preacher, had enterprised the
theft The innocent Baptist was in
dignant, but alas, when his well was
cleaned out the clapper was at the
bottom.
Then IL was under the pastorate
of DR.. Harrison and gave way for the
first Methodist. The new church was
a long time building, but in 1878 It
was dedicated, and now 1t follows the
tide and moves INTO what was, when
Wesley church wss built, an unbroken
forest. Out OF Wesley has sprung
Trinity, Walker street, Payne Me-
mortal, and from these parent
churches perhaps a score Of Method
ist churches.
Uncle Sam Anthony, who was recog-
nized by all as being at the head OF
the old guard, who wore the strait
breasted coat, broad brimmed hat and
white cravat of the old preachers to
the end. was in charge of the church
after Mr.. Duncan left it, and the
sanity young Lester, who had left the
bar for the pulpit, was at Trinity.
The church grew rapidly till the war
came on. DR.. Scott was the pastor;
then IL stood the fires of the lombard
ment, but was not burned. When the
first of the people came back it was
opened again under the pastorate OF
Rev A NJ. Thigpen IN the city and its
suburbs.