The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-01-07
LIFE OF BISHOP LEONIDAs POLK.

interesting life-sketch of his father, the
late Bishop Leonidas Polk, who was also
Lieutenant General in the Confederate
Army. It is in two volumes, printed oy
Longmans, Green & Co., New York; price,
81. Bishop Polk was one of the earliest
Christian workers in North Louisiana,
and he was perhaps the first to hold Divine
services in Shreveport. This historic event,
which occurred in 1889, was attended with
some difficulty, as Shreveport had been
settled but few years and the population
was rather wild. Bishop Polk had been
consecrated Missionary Bishop of the
Southwest, at Cincinnati, in December,
1888, and reached the village Of Shreve-
port a few months later. His biographer
writes:
ellis jurisdiction extended over Ala
bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas,
the Indian Territory, and the Republic OF
Texas. For six months he journeyed
mostly on horseback, often in rude vehi'
cles, sometimes on foot, through painless
forests, open prairies, dangerous swamps,
and swollen streams, visiting every COM
munity and many lonely dwellings, where
the children of the Church were 10 be
found gathering congregations, holding
services, preaching, baptizing, confirming
and celebrating the Sacrament wherever
and whenever he could find opportunity.
Louisiana he found to be the most desti.
tute portion of his field. There was no
Church west of the Mississippi, and he
met but few Presbyterians or Methodists.
In letter to his mother he mentions hav-
ing passed night in cotton house on
the top of a pile of cotton, with dogs ly-
ing around, and a hamper basket to hang
my clothes upon One of the horses be-
ing sick, the Bishop undertook to travel
from Spring Hill, Ark, to Shreveport, La,
by steamer. The boat had no accommo-
dation for passengers, and he was indebted
to the kindness of fellow passenger, who
was in the fur trade, for bear skin to
sleep on. At night the steamer struck
snag and sank, and was about to be aban-
doned, when the Bishop suggested a plan
by which it might be raised. Under his
boat was raised; but, another steamer
coming along before it was ready to pro-
coed on its voyage, the Bishop and the
fur trader. whose peltries he had assisted
in saving, took passage on the boat.
cat Shreveport his proposal to hold Di-
vine Service was bluntly declined. we
have never had any preaching here, and
we don't want any, said the people. At
last, however, it was agreed that if a GER
tain Mr.. Blanks consent could be obtain
ed, the service might be held. Mr.. Blank
said that be had left Maine because he had
been dosed nearly to death there with re-
ligion and he wanted none of it in Shreve-
port; however, if place could be found
to hold the service in, he would make no
objections. A place was found in an I'M
finished house, but the owner, after giving
guarantee of $500 was raised to insure
against possible damage to his property
The fur trader at once put up the money,
and the preparations were begun. AS
soon as it became known that the service
was to be held mob Of raftsmen and
other rowdies sent the Bishop word that
they would either prevent the meeting or
dispense it by force. However, the Bishop
and the fur trader went on with their pre-
parations. The latter procured table,
| covered it with white cloth on which he
laid his own Bible, then went through the
town ringing hand-bell to give notice of
the service. The congregation and the
mob were both gathering and things were
assuming critical aspect, when the sun
ken steamer came into port. The crew,
hearing what was going on, rushed to the
rescue of their friend, the Bishop, declar-
ing that if he wanted to preach he should
preach, and they would like to see any
body try to hinder him. Their appearance
carried the day, and the service was allow
ed to proceed without interruption.
''1n 1841 there were in the entire diocese
OF Louisiana but two Church buildings,
and five clergymen. At the Diocesan
Convention of 1853 twenty-one parishes
were represented, and Is clergymen took
part in the proceedings
Cold Weather.