The Natchitoches enterprise., 1917-06-07

jshed the congregation. Mr.. Bacon re-
signed on April IL, 1861, having been
rector for seven years and eight
months. He was succeeded by the
Rev. VIM. Bivet !y birth and educa-
ton an Englishman, VINO arrived from
the diocese of Arkansas on July l, 1861.
1t appears from report made by Mr.
! Benit to his vestry on April q, 1862,
that the condition and prospects Of the
parish We're very dscouraging. lie
says: Nine months ago when | first
come among you, found the church as
it still continues, disorganized and in a
state. of apathy, the Temple desolatc
land forsaken. The rector's salary
from July 1851 to July 1862 was to be
reduced to $3.50, but only $735 had been
subscribed and not one-half paid Mr..
Bivet resigned in Nov 1862 From
this time the church was without a
rector for two years and five months.
| Trinity church never having been con-
secratcd on account of the unfinished
condition, the Rev. Jno. Pipes of the
Methodist Episcopal church was invited
to otficiate. The services of this gen
| tleman were very acceptable to the
peope, when an Episcopal clergyman
Unexpectedly arrived at Natchitoches
on March II, 1855. This was the Rev.
| David Kerr, who had during the year
previous been preaching in the BAPTIST
church and teaching classical academy
in Minden. On the day after officiating
in Natchitoches he was invited to re-
main and the sum Of $1,000 presented as
a compliment from Generals Buckner
and Bagby of the confederate army,
commanding here and their staff Off
GERS. The congregation having elected
vestry. a committee of three was APP
pointed to invite Mr., Kerr to take
charge Of the church and that he did,
receiving & salary whatever could be
raised. He resigned Oct. 81, 1865.
The next record in the parish register
is letter which tells its own story:
"Natchitoches Nav 7, 1871. At the
early part of the month of Dec. 1870,
was sent by the Bishop of La. to Off
ciate at Trinity church, Natchtoches
and resigned my charge in May, 1871
on account of having received a call to
a church in New Orleans and on account
of my fruitless efforts to bring pros
perity to ianguishing parish in Nat
chitoches.' Signed by Chas. Pitter
The next and last record is as follows:
"On Thursday morning at II o'clock, |
Trinity church, Natchitoches, La, was
consecrated to the service of Almighty |
God, according to the rites, doctrines |
and discipline of the Protestant Episco-
pal church in the U. S. of North Ameri
ca, by the Rt. Rev. J. P. B. Wilmer, |
N. 0. La. This occurred on the 7th day |
81 Nov ~ - 7 IL |
The rite of confirmation was also adj
at that time to 16 persons.
The Rev. {. A. Cameron was rector
but was absent on duty at Mansfield.
The Rev. J. Landals was rector first
before Mr.. Cameron, and in 1887 the
Rev.. w. Taylor Douglas become rector.
He was followed by the Rev.
K. S. Guthrie in 1893 during whose
rectorship the church building was
ceiled and plastered.
The Rev. A. R. Price followed in
1864, the Rev. J. w. Gresham in 1895
and the Rev. H. R. Carson in 1897.
The Rev. Chas. Thorp took charge in
1893 and resigned Nov. 2, 1906. He
opened up correspondence
with Gen. de Peyster, the result OF
which was that the church was COM
pieted and remodeled at cost OF some
$500 and a special service held mark
ng this event on Sunday May q, 1900
The very Rev. H. c. Duncan, S. 7. D.
officiated and the Rev. c.
L. Well, Phi. ID. of Christ church
Cathedral, N. 0. preached the sermon.
The Rev. J. H. Spearing, rector of St.
Marks, Shreveport assisted in the SER
1ice. Mr.. Thorp was followed by the i
Rev. Jno Gray in 1907 and resigning in
1910 was followed by the Rev. R. j.
Raymond. During his time money was
'aised for the present commodious and
very pretty rectory. He resigned in {
81, followed by the ReY. Sidney L.
Vail. during whose time the rectory {
vas completed. kesigning in 1914, he
vas followed by the heV. Sidney DIXON, {
Who left in sept. 1916, after doing ;
much for the decoration of the church !
Interior. Dec. l, 1915, the present in {
umbent Rev. j. Orson Miller was call I
d by a newly elected vestry and took I
harge Immediately. II
J. ORSON MILLER.