The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-04-13

copal Church in Key West was
taken from the book writer in
1912 by jefferson B. Browne, Qn
''Key West, the Old and the New'es
The Episcopal church was the
pioneer religious organization in
Key West, and the entire popu-
lation who desired a church to be
established here united for the
purpose of public devotion under
the name of the Protestant Epis-
copal Church, and many united
with it who had not previously
been Of that faith.
Rev. Samson X. Brunot, of Pitts
burgh, Pa, the first clergyman
to hold services in Kew West, ar
rived here December ,23, 1882.
He came with letters of introduc-
ton from the Rt. Rev. Benjamin
T. Onderdonk, bishop of New
York, and Mr.. J. S. Whitehead,
of New Jersey. He was only
"a years old and had not been
long in the ministry. He ac-
eepted the call largely on account
of his i'll health, many of his FAM
lily having died of consumption,
and he thought thus to avoid be-
coming a victim Of that disease.
He was warmly welcomed on the
island and became the guest of
Mr.. William A. Whitehead. Dur
ing his stay the parish was or
gained, and an act of associa-
ton ives drawn up and a charter
obtained from the territorial coun-
Gil on February 4, 1888. The of
ficial title of the organization was
"The Rector, Wardens and Yes
trymen Of st. Paups Church, Key
West"
On Christmas day, 1882, was
heard for the first time on the
island, the beautiful service of
the Episcopal church, by a regu-
larly ordained priest.
Enrollments
After the morning services, the
following named persons were en-
rolled in the first Episcopal CON
gregation: Mr.. James Webb, Mr..
William A. Whitehead, Mr.. David
c. Pinckham Mr.. Fielding A.
Browne, Mr.. Thomas Eastin, Mr..
Alexander Patterson. Mr.. Al. H.
Day, Mr.. John w. Simonton, Mr..
Adam Gordon, Mr.. William H.
Shaw, Mr.. j. r. Western, Mr.. Viii
liam H. Wall, Mr.. Theodore
Owens, Mr.. Eugene Trenor, Mr..
L. A. Edmonston, Mr.. Henry K.
Newcomb, Mr.. Francis d. New
comb, Mr.. Henry s. Waterhouse,
Mr.. Amos c. Tiff, Mr.. e. Van
Evour, Mr.. John Whitehead, Mr..
Pardon G. Greene, Mr.. Oliver
O'Hara. Mr.. George E. Weaver.
Mr.. Philip J. Fontane, Mr.. John
]. Sands, Mr.. Stephen r. Mallory,
Mr.. Francis B. Warrington, Mr..
Charles M. Wells and Mr.. John
p. Baldwin.
At the first election of war
dens and vestrymen held April 5,
1888, Mr.. James Webb and Col-
onel Oliver O'Hara were elected
wardens and Messrs. Fielding
Browne, Pardon C. Greene, Alex
ander Patterson, David Coffin
Pinckham and William Al. White
head were elected vestrymens
Mr.. Brunot's health soon be-
gan to fail and after officiating
for only a few times, frequent
hemorrhages put a stop to further
public services. Feeling that his
end was approaching and desiring
to pass his last days in his old
home. he left Key West in May.
1888. and died soon after his ar
rival in Pittsburgh.
Contributes 10 Salary
Before leaving, he advised the
vestrymen to apply to the Mis-
sionary Society Of New York for
aid. In July, 1883, the vestry-
men adopted Mr.. Brunot's sugges-
tion. and the Missionary Society
appointed Rev. Alva Bennett. Of
Troy, N, ", and contributed
$4,000 q year towards his sal
airy, to which the parish added
$4,000 a year. Mr.. Bennett
arrived IN Key West, in October,
1884, and remained until April,
1885.
On Novemer rs, 1884, during
Mr.. Benefits passionate, the holy
communion was first celebrated in
Key West. in the court house in
Jackson Square, where services
were held.
Dir. Bennett was succeeded by
Rev. Robert Dyce who was also
appointed By the Board Of Mis-.
sions and arrived In Key West in
September, 1886. In 1887. Mr..
Dyce made a tour of the country
TO solicit funds and succeeded in
raising 100000.
On the 9Th day Of May, 1888,
Mrs. John William Charles Flem-
ing. wife Of one Of the original
proprietors, gave to the vestry Of