THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA ENDOWED BY JOHN SPRUNT HILL CLASS OF 1889 C283.09 W74d UNIVERSITY Of N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL r 00035475495 FOR USE ONLY IN THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of Cultural Resources. http://archive.org/details/historicalnoticeOOdran P^LS-t-r^i ■ -fa , ■fr-s-n,+-, c*\d,.. /^^/^ ^> i^i '1 -.( ■■■■'' -iy ■•»: ' "■ .• ■■ f) '■-■■■■■ '■ -^'.. •:y>cr. //*■'■ >• ii-Df;!. For4 Atft'iacC'TBToMIio Veelry of St. .TamesChurcU/Wilrainj.- tou. licldon :i"ioo'!iiy, Deo. fiib, l'iG2. tho following rcaola- tloDB woro oP red iriJ nnaii'moa ly adopted : JU-folvcdf 'fi.at in tbia (SrHt moeiing ol the Vestry held since t'le doLuii ot lie Kcverea-l Roi'ort- B. Drane, D. D., th''ir lute horiored and br;Voved I'.istor, they foel criaatrain- ed, btfore attending to any other du'y, tn rocoid Iheir d^pp eecse ol tbo .bt-i-fyvfcffiei.t which tbiij acd Lho congreganon I tliey rcpr(;aent Lave' Buaiai'jcd i'i ithe removal Irora oimDg' ihcm o( that cmin-jaily ,70od nnd.wiae, ur.d devout and ■ se-' !al man. . . < ,*■ 2. J.'esolred, That h^vitijj .kf^ot^n him locg and kaown' hlin W'li, they ci'a bear iho fuUt'st and mof^t c^.rdial tcati' niony to liin reniMnab]'; cxcclk'l'ce as a man, na a citizen, a'tjd above all nj a minister oi 'CThrist. That ho ^ao-Jadi- ciou'-i. enprgotic, l:i' d, Urm, of uniiriijj zeal and imttiovuble fiieadfopliiCHU iu ihe jier'ortriMJcc of hiS hif^b dotiea. That h;i\ii.E lived amoDK ns for n-nr t.L,irty vcara he was regard- ed wilh profound respect by thp "bole comtunnity, while iQ bi.1 ovn ooiigrt-'gidion tin' yoiicg; reverenced him as a fathet ::ud the eld'^r honored ai.'d Juved liiin an a wisy, nyia- pathisii-^; and nCTeclioDatc friend, 'and 'ail Joolied up to mm , a3 a niBn ot God, Oi.ineKtly «jiiJ icifa-Uerinply eeebiDg to poiut outto them and'to lt'.a,5t ,them'"6^ tlifc WAy to a beiier | and etcrnfil vrorld. ' *' -.^ ';'",'-„ \ S. Jicsolxed, That Ilia death .wa« a'r) ni-.tToK-ly'X'nt noble flud apprn|iriate t^roiinaHiin oMiI«!. liffc;',JiG! di^d as he Used, | at the p("i a uf dilt.y. L-L-:jf:lnr/ ;,. , ,u;7.iTc- vii-'j.'K-riiJriripa and to Bootbe the boitowh -oi' these resolations be s/ut to "he family ol Dr^. i-'raue, an s >i • t* »«««T33(S^ 1 Xt J 4 Kl.N'G AND BAlKUj TRINTERS, No. 9 George Street. THE CONGREGATIOX ST. JAMES' PARISH, WILMINGTON, N. C. V-'' rOLLOWINO HISTOBICAL NOTICES OF THEIR PARISH FROM ITa FOUNDA- TION TO THE PRESENT Tl.ME, ARE ntSrECTFULLT AND AFFECTIONATELr INSCniBEn BY THEIR FAITHFUL AND OBLIGED FRIEND R. B. D. Rkctorv OF St. James', ^/.i.V Isl, 1643. HISTORICAL NOTICES. -i , t . ' [ lovu Ihu Chuivli, Ih.' Ii.ily (;Uulcli, Tliat o'er our Ufo prcsiJcH, 'I'lic l]irlli, Iho bridal, and llio eravc, And many an liour besides 1 Be .nine tluougli life to livo in her, And wlinn Uio Jjord shall call, To die in her, the spouse of (Christ, Tlic mother of us all." ClIUlSTlAN liALL.lliS. The earliest distinct infonnatioii which we have of this Parish carries us back to the beginning of the year 1738. Thirty years before this, the religious condition of the then Province of North Carolina had attracted the attention of the Venerable Society in England for Pro- pagating the Gospel in Foreign I'urts, and several clergymen had been sent to the more populous precincts of Roanoke and Albemarle. The whole Province and also been divided into twelve parishes, and several laws had been past by the Colonial Legislature for the support of religion. But it was not until the period above named that any decisive measures were taken for planting the Church here. Wilmington, (so called in honour of the Duke of Wilmington, but previously known in the history of the Province by the name of Newtown) con- sisted at that time of only a few houses, which had been erected on the banks of the Cape Fear, for the purposes of trade. The Parish of St. James, however, embraced the whole of New Hanover county, and the clergyman, as we shall see hereafter, waa required to perform 1* P € r It 6 niissionaiy duty lo llie distance of many miles in the ijitcrior and along the coast. Tlie first minister of llie Episcopal Church who is known lo have ofTiciated here, was the Rev. Ricliavd Marsdcn. We know but liille of this gentleman, or of the relations which he sustained to the Parish. It is briefly stated in the Records of the Venerable Society for 1738, " That Mr. Marsden had a sctdemenl in the Parish," (probably a plantation) " and being a clergy man of the Church of England, had officiated here for several years." At the earnest solicitation of some of the Parishioners, the Venerable Society gave Mr. Marsden a temporary appointment as their missionary in St. James, but before he became fully settled under the seal of their authority " they became dissatisfied with his character and withdrew the appointment." The person appointed in the place of Mr. Marsden was tho Rev. Mr, Moir. This gentleman had previously served as a missionary in South Carolina, and brought with him strong testimonials tVom the commissary and other clergy of that province as " a person of good life and learning" — a character which he fully sustained during a ministry often years in the service of this Parisli. The first record of Mr. Moir's ministry in this place, is found in a letter of his to the Venerable Society, dated Wilmington, October 29, 1740. It states " that through God's blessing he had arrived safe at his mission in the month of May preceding, and had travelled over most parts of it, which extended a hundred miles along the coast — that he found the inhabitants so scattered, it would be im- possible to minister to them as he could wish — that the generality of tho people were very ignorant, but seemed willing to be instructed, which had greatly encouraged him in his labours, and that up to that time he had baptized two hundred and ten children in his travels among them." In a second letter, dated Wilmington, May 25, 174 1, Mr. Moir informed the Society "that he had twice travelled over the country between the Cape Fear and Neuse rivers, and performed the duties of his sacred office — praying, preaching, and administering the Sacra- ments — that since his last report, he had baptized three hundred and thirteen children and three adults, but the number of communicants was very small, the people being ignorant of religion to the last degree," In the year 1742, the Venerable Society finding il impossible to obtain clergymen for both, resolved to unite this parish with that of St. Philip's in Brunswick, and the two places continued for several years to form one mission under the care of the Rev. Mr. Moir. The first letter of the missionary after this change, which is dated at Brunswick, 1743, states, " that during the pre- ceding year he had received into the Church by baptism five hundred and fifty-six children, besides seven adults, and that he had also administered the Holy Communion at his various stations, to one hundred and twenty persons. In the same letter, by way of showing the state of re- ); Hi, i !i il ligion ill his charge, he mciuions " thai al least one huiulrcJ of ihe chilJi'en whom he had bnplizcd were between live and seven years of age." In the same connexion he also complains of " the difiicuUies and dis- couragements which he daily met with in the discharge of his sacred functions : sometimes through fatigue and hazard of travelling, and al others through the malice and perverseness of those with whom we had to do." He concludes his letter, however, with the expression of hts determination to persevere in the discharge of his duties, adding the charitable hope, " that God would in liis own good tiine turn the hearts of these disobedient children to the wisdom of the just." In the following year (1744) Mr. Moir again writes to the Venerable Society. His letter states " that during the preceding year he had been constantly preaching and ofliciating at his stations, and that he had baptized two hundred and seventy children, and four adults after proper instruction. In the same letter he complains that his health had become much impaired by the severity of his labours, and doubts whether he shall be able much longer to bear the hardships of his mostdifficult mission." The next notice of this worthy minister is found in the Venerable Society's abstract for 1745. It is there Slated " that the Rev. Mr. Moir, the senior missionary in North Carolina, continues very diligent in his laborious stations — preaching publicly and from house to house, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that by the sacrament of baptism, he had admitted into the Church during the preceding year, four hundred and eighty white, and twenty negro children, besides several adults." The diligence of this devoted minister in this place, and the surrounding country, secured to him the warm and grateful attachment of many to whom he ministered. As an evidence of their gratitude for his services, the congregation of St. James forwarded to the Venerable Society about this time a letter of thanks, from which we make the following extract. " We esteem ourselves most happy under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Moir. He hath, to the great comfort and edification of our families, in these dark and distant regions of the world, prosecuted tho duties of his calling with the utmost application and diligence; adorned his character with an exemplary life and conversation — showing uncorrupt- ness, gravity and sound speech, so that they who are of the contrary part have no evil thing to say of him." The time, however, had now come, when the people of the parish were to part with their faithful shepherd. In a letter, under date of Wilmington, October 9, 1747, — after acknowledging the receipt of a small gratuity of £10 from his friends in England, and stating his official acts for the year, which included the baptism of one hundred and twenty-seven children, besides several adults — Mr. M. informs the Society " that the impaired condition of his health would no longer permit him to re- .r. 4 -4 li 111 10 main on the Cape Fcnr, and that he should either go to St. George's Parish, in Edgecombe county, or avail himself 01- die earliest opportunity of a passage to London.' We are unable to ascertain widi certainty which allerna- tivo was finally adopted. Tlic more probable conjecture is, that he remained in the province. His name is found on the Society's list of missionaries in North Carolina as late as the year 1705, and his location is St. Georges', Edgecombe, where, it is probable he died. Of such a man it is natural to regret that more cannot now be known. Though fitted by his talents and edu- cation 10 shine with distinction in his native land, he f^eems to have given himself literally to the service of llie Churcli in this distant country; and had he accom- plislied no more than what we have gleaned in the fore- going pages from the imperfect chronicles of the past, i.e would have left behind him a reputation well worthy 'he minister of Ilm, "who gave his life a ransom for many." Vp to this time (17.17) the congregation in this town iiad used the county court-house as a house of public worship—having as yet no more suitable place in which ll>eir clergyman could officiate. Among those who co,>- tributed to supply this want, the name of Michael Hig- gins deserves a grateful remembrance. This person wL a faithful and well-tried friend of the Church in this place; and to his bounty the congregation are to this rfay indebted for the ground which forms the last earthly U resting place of their departed relatives and friends. The lot which he gave on the corner of Market and Fourth streets, not being sufficiently largo for the double purpose of a cliurch edifice and a burying ground, the legislature of the province passed an act by which the vestry were authorised to use thirty feet of Market street, for the front of the church; and this accounts for the somewhat singular location of the old building which was removed in 1839. This act, which is the first found on record touching the parish, may be seen at large in Martin's collection of the private laws of the state, and bears date XXV. Geo. II. 1751..; The commis- sioners named for carrying its provisions into effiect were Samuel Swann, Joseph Blake, William Faris, John Sampson, Lewis De Rossett, and John Ashe, members of his majesty's council. It appears from the preamble of the above act, that tlie church was expected to be built by the voluntary subscriptions of the parisliioners. There occurs, however, about this time, the record of an additional source of revenue to the commissioners, sufficiently singular to demand a passing notice. A number of Spanish privateers, availing themselves of the defenceless condition of the Cape Fear, had in 1749 entered the river and committed considerable depreda- tions upon the inhabitants. The people of the surround- ing country hastily collected and made an attack upon them. During the action one of these piratical vessels was blown up, and a number of valuable effects taken E Am 1 ('•■), / ! ■P. 'i 12 out of tlic wreck. Tlin proccods of this property was afterwards applied to the building of the churches in Wilmington and Brunswick.' How soon the commissioners entered upon the work witli which they were cliargcd, we have now no means of ascertaining. Of tiieir progress, however, wc may form some idea from the fact, that the same statute book which contains the record of their appointment, contains another act of the colonial assembly, bearing date XI. Geo. III. 1770, appointing the lion. Lewis De Rosselt and Frederick Gregg, Esq., commissioners in the place of others who \^crcdcad, foryinis/an^' the church in Wil- mington." Hence it would appear that at least nineteen years must have elapsed from the commencement to the completion of the first parish church of St. James. This , tardiness in providing themselves with one of the first ' requisites for the decent and comfortable worship of God, may seem, to some, not to argue very favourably for the religious zeal of our ancestors. It should be re- membered, however, that the congregation at that day was much smaller than at present, and their resources still more scanty. It deserves also to be noted, that " Among the curious tilings found in this pirato was a painting ■ of Christ, in one of the scenes of passion, as described by St. Mat- thew in the XXVII. chapter, 27th, 28th, and 29lh verses. This painting is still preserved in the vestry room of the church, and hoB been pronounced by some, who arc judges in such matters, to bo a work of considerable merit. -.'4./. i^ing year (17C5) the Rev. Mr. Bamett, "strongly recom- ! i.|i;lXii<»8^ V»"'^'"'^'' ''y persons both in England and America, was ' '■■■' f \' appointed by the Venerable Society as their missionary ^••* at AVilmington and Brunswick — to officiate at these places alternately, as his E.xccllency, Governor Tryon, might think proper to direct." The first year Mr. Bar- nett appears to have resided in the parish of St. James ; but in the ne.\t he was removed to Brunswick — continu- ing, however, like his predecessor, to extend his services to the more remote congregations embraced in the mis- sion. This arrangement continued till the spring of 1706, when the Vestry of St. James' succeeded in se- curing the services of a clergyman devoted exclusively to their own parish. This person was the Rev. John Wills. He arrived in Wilmington some time early in the year 1766, and continued to officiate for this parish with great acceptance for about ten years. A record of Mr. Wills' original agreement with the vestry is still in existence. The book which contains it was once the ! ifi. i m m li!:. 17 register of the parish, but is now claimed and used as a sort of journal by the wardens of the poor, and was found, by the present writer, in the hands of the person employed by them as purveyor lo the alms-house. As the contract between Mr. Wills and the Vestry may be an object of some curiosity to churchmen of the present day, and as the old register which contains it may be ere long irrecoverably lost, we shall proceed to extract it, together with such other matters as may throw light on the history of the parish during this period. "At a meeting of the Vestry of the Parish of St. James, held at the court house in Wilmington, on the 16th day of April, 1766; Present William Campbell and John Devane, Church Wardens; and the Hon. Lewis De Rossett, Cornelius Harnett, Arthur Mabson, William Campbell, and William Edward, Vestrymen: Agreed with Rev. Mr. John Wills to allow him £185 Proc. money, for one year's salary and house hire — commenc- mg from last Easter Monday, and ending Easier Monday in the year 1767— to officiate as minister of said parish, in Wilmington eighteen Sundays during said time— at the Sound six Sundays— at Rocky Point six Sundays— at Long Creek six Sundays— at Black River six Sun- days, and at Welsh Tract si.x Sundays— the remaining four Sundays at his disposal. The minister to give timely notice in writing of the places he intends to preach at." •2* ^f Sil I I If 18 Tliis programme of Ihe parson's labours shows us iiuleed that he licld "pluraUlics" here; but those only who know the history and value of Proc. money can form any idea of the extent of his revenues. Mr. Wills is still remembered by a few aged persons of tliat gene- ration who yet survive. From their accounts of him, he appears to have been happily constituted for the times in which he lived, and the sphere of his labours. lie is represented as a man of a highly finished education — sprightly and engaging in his manners, and peculiarly forcible and solemn in his public ministrations. We possess no materials from which to judge of the progress of the Church during the ministry of Mr. Wills. His oflicial records, if he kept any, have either been lost, or were carried away with him when he resigned his charge. In the year 1770, die Venerable Society made him a gratuity of £30 in token of their approba- tion of his services, and about the same time the parish received from the same source an additional donation of Bibles and other books of instruction and devotion. The only matter of interest found on the old records of the vestiy of which wo have spoken above, is a brief cor- respondence between themselves and the governor of the province, touching the induction or institution of Mr. Wills, which, as affording some slight indication of the temper of the times, we will here lay before the reader. The first is a letter from the governor to the vestry. 19 Brunswick, St/i Feb., 1770. Gentlemen : As the Rev. Mr. Wills, who has been long a resident among you, expresses a desire of settling in your parish, I am to acquaint you that I propose giving him letters of presentation and induction thereto. I would, there- fore, bo glad to hear from you, gentlemen, whedier there are any objections to Mr. Wills in the duties of his sa- cred office. I am, gemlemen, your ob't servant, WILLIAM TRYON. At a meeting of the Vestry, held on the 10th May iu same year, it was ordered that the Church Wardens return the following answer to the letter of his Excel- lency the Governar. Wilmington, Uth May, 1770. Sir: We are directed by the Vestry of St. James' Parish, to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's favour of the 9th of February last. In answer to which, we are desired to inform your Excellency, that they are very well satisfied to employ Mr. Wills in the Parish a^ usual, .since he is a gendeman every way worthy of his sacred function. But they cannot agree to his bein? inducted into the Parish, as they humbly conceive, from the best information they can procure, that no power of It k ■ . s II 20 presenlaiion or induclion is lodged in the Crown by any act of the assembly of this province. Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servants, JOHN ANCRUM, ^ Church WILLIAM WILKINSON, 5 Wardens. To the foregoing letter, llie Vestry received the fol- lowing reply : New-Bcrne, July 17, I770. Iie.vtlemen: I have had the satisfaction to receive, by your direc- tion, a letter dated 11th May last, from Messrs. Ancrum and Wilkinson, the Church Wardens of St. James' Pa- rish ; wherein the Rev. Mr. Wills is declared to be a gentleman worthy of his sacred Ihnction. In consider- ation, therefore, of such honourable testimonial, and Mr. Wills' desire to receive letters of presentation and induc- tion for your Parish, I have complied with such desire —remaining under llie clearest conviction that I have a full right so to do, and which I esteem it my bounden duty 10 perform. Finding, however, from the above- mentioned letter, ihal "you conceive, from ilie best information you can procure, that no power of presen- tation or induction is lodged in the crown by any act of the assembly of this province," I have this favour, gentlemen, to request of you : that you will continue to i 21 e.x-tend your good offices and friendly attention to Mr. Wills until a better title to presentation and induction can be set up and established than what I claim under the crown. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant, WILLIAM TRYON. To the Vestry of St. James' Parish. The following answer to the above was ordered by tlie Vestry: TVilmington, Nov. 28, 1770. May it please your Ex-cellency : By direction of the Vestry of St. James' Parish, we are to acknowledge the receipt of your favour to them of the 17th July last; and to inform you that they, as well in regard to your Excellency's instance as to Mr. Wills' merits, will continue their good offices and friendly notice to liini. We are, with respect, your E.xcellency's most obe- Jient and humble servants, JOHN ANCRUM, ^ Church WILLIAM WILKINSON, 5 Wardens. This letter closed the correspondence between the vestry and the governor, touching tlie matter of presen- tation and induction. Its exclusively political bearing is m .1 lilt; I III ill • -I: I ; '4 t i 22 sutTu'ieiilly obvious without comment. According to llie Englisli law, the right of presenlalion and induction be- longs to the crown in those cases only where a chnrcli or ohapcl is built and endowed at the expense of the crown. Tliis was not the case here. The churcli in this pavjsli was built and suslnined by the people. Tiie claim, therefore, set up in this instance by the governor, as the representative of the crown of England, was ille- gal, and very properly resisted by the vestry. This controversy docs not appear lo have produced any cliange of feeUng in the parish towards Mr. Wills. Though a loyalist, and consequently agreeing in opinion with the governor, his deportment was so exemplary, and his ministrations so universally acceptable, that he not only escaped censure, but retained, in a high degree, the ad'cctions of the people as long as he remained among Ihcm. The last vestry meeting held under the colonial go- vernment, of which we have any account, was in De- cember, 177.5. Among the proceedings on that occasion we find the following: "Ordered that the Church Wardens of St. James' Parish join with the Colonel of the New Hanover Regiment and the Parson of said Parish, to receive the legacy of the late Hon. James Innls, deceased, and that they hire out the slaves, and lake care of the other properly as they may see best." The writer of these notes has made oft repeated in- quiries with a view to ascertain ihe nature and amount 83 of the above legacy, and the purposes to which it was applied, but without the least success. The Rev. Mr. Wills, about this time left the parish and returned to England. The matter was then left with the Vestry and the Colonel of the New Hanover Regiment. We must suppose that, according to the above resolve, they " took care of the property as they saw best." We cannot but regret, however, that they have left no record of the manner in which they discharged the duties of their stewardship. This was due not less lo themselves than to the benefactor of the Church, of whose pious bequest they were the appointed guardians. Our narrative has now brought us down to the com- mencement of the War of the Revolution, the disastrous effects of which, upon the Church in this country, were long and severely felt. In ihe popular mind the Episco- pal Church had long been identified with the government of the mother country. Hostility to the measures of that government, would therefore, very naturally, run into a hostility to the Church. The effectof this feelingon such of the colonial clergy as remained loyal, was embarrassing in the extreme. " Taken as a body, no belter friends to their country were to be found in it than were many of them : none felt a livelier interest in her prosperity and happiness; but they likewise felt an interest, no less lively, in the success of religion— the besi and only foundation of public prosperity. In their minds, this was naturally associated with the progress of the dis- M'- «• s!;. I? i: n w W' ;i ii r, « i I 1^ i 24 linclivc principles of tlieir Church, and they were bovind moreover by Bolemn obligations of obedience to the regular authorities in church and state. But these con- siderations, however weighty with the clergy, had but little force when weighed in the scales of popular preju- dice. The prevalent idea was that all obligations, moral and religious, and all the ties of conscience are at once dissolved by the exigence of political alTairs ; and the consequence was that mere neutrality in an Episcopal clergyman, was in many cases, regarded as sufTicient evidence of hostility to the cause of his country." It is not intended by these remarks to justify such of the clergy as sliU adhered to the cause of England ; for the contest on the side of the colonies was one into which they wore forced by the despotic measures of the home government, and therefore their resistance was right. But it seems due, at least, to say this much in vindication of the motives of a much misunderstood and calumniated class of men ; who, whatever may have been their errors of judgment, have conferred upon our country a debt of obligation which eternity alone can fully reveal. In consequence of tlie state of things to which we now ahude, many of the clergy were compelled to abandon their cures, the doors of most of our sanctuaries became closed, and the result upon the general welfare of the Church was deplorable in the extreme. It is believed that few of our parishes suffered longer or more severely 25 than the one whose history we are endeavouring ,o iraee. The Rev. Mr. Wills, the last of its IWs under the colonial government, resigned his charge in 1775—0. There is no evidence that his place was- supplied for a period of twenty years. During all this t.me the language of the Liturgy was silent in the sanctuary; no servant of the altar was here to expound lo the people the word of life, or to perform for them the sacraments of grace. In 1780-five years after the resignation of Mr. Wills-,he town of Wilmington be- came one of the military posts of the British army in America. During their stay here, the properly of tlie Church suffered every kind of violation. The inclosure of the graveyard was removed and burnt, while il,e church itself was stripped of its pews and other furniture and converted, first into a hospital for the sick, then into a Block-house for defence against the Americans, and finally into a riding school for the Dragoons of Tarlefon. How long it remained in this condition after the evacua- hon of the enemy, we are unable to ascertain. There is Imle reason to suppose, situated as the congregation then was, that they could be very forward in repairiu. .he ."juries of their ehurch. To say nothing of their di- minished resources in consequence of the war, they had "0 clergyman to lead them in such an undertaking, and what was worse, they had no prospect of obtaining one. Every thing wore the aspect of desolation antl dis- couragement. The Parisl, indeed continued to exist, 3 ■-!?■ '• 1 '\M m 'HI ■ 'I m 24 linciivc principles of tlieir Church, and ihey were bound moreover by solemn oblig;ations of obedience to the rc'Tular authorities in church and state. But these con- siderations, however weighty with the clergy, had but little force when weighed in the scales of popular preju- dice. The prevalent idea was that all obligations, moral and religious, and all the ties of conscience are at once dissolved by the exigence of political affairs ; and the consequence was that mere neutrality in an Episcopal clerffyjnan, was in many cases, regarded as .suiTicient evidence of hostility to the cause of his country." It is not intended by these remarks to justify such of the clergy as still adhered to the cause of England ; for the contest on the side of the colonies was one into which they were forced by the despotic measures of the home government, and therefore their resistance was right. But it seems due, at least, to say this much in vindication of the motives of a much misunderstood and calumniated class of men ; who, whatever may have been their errors of judgment, have conferred upon our country a debt of obligation which eternity alone can fully reveal. In consequence of the state of things to which we now alhide, many of the clergy were compelled to abandon their cures, the doors of most of our sanctuaries became closed, and the result upon the general welfare of the Church was deplorable in the extreme. It is believed that few of our parishes suffered longer or more severely 25 than the one whose history we are endeavouring ,o ■race. The Rev. Mr. Wills, the last of its ReJtors under the colonial government, resigned his charge in 1775— G. There is no evidence that his place was supplied for a period of twenty years. During all this t.me the language of the Liturgy was silent in tlte sanctuary; no servant of the altar was here to expound io the people the word of life, or to perform for them the sacraments of grace. In 1780-five years after the resignation of Mr. WiUs-the town of Wilmington be- eame one of the military posts of the British ^rmy in America. During their stay here, the property of the Church suffered every kind of violation. The inclosure of the graveyard was removed and burnt, while the church itself was stripped of its pews and other furniture, and converted, first into a hospital for the sick, then mto a Block-house for defence against the Americans, and finally into a riding school for the Dragoons of Tarleton. How long it remained in this condilion afier the evacua- tion of the enemy, we are unable (o ascertain. There is little reason to suppose, situated as tl,e congro.ation then was, that they could be very forward in repairing ,he ' ."juries of their church. To say nothing of their di- min.shed resources in consequence of the war, tl,ey had "0 clergyman to lead them in such an undertaking, and what was worse, they had no prospect of obtaining one. Every thing wore the aspect of desolation and dis- eouragement. The Parish indeed continued to exist. m i;; 1^;' ; I 3 ^1 26 but more than (his couW hardly be faid, Many became discouraged and abandoned the Church. Others how- ever — and a respectable number — were wise enough to wait for the ordinances of Christ in the Church of Christ. They had still (he Bibles, Prayer Books, and other religious works which had been placed in their hands by the missionaries of the Venerable Society, and with these a feeling of attachment to the Church of their fathers was kept alive, which, on tlic return of better days, prov- ed of no small service in the resuscitation of the Parish. In ITO!) — just twenty years from the time when the last clergyman under the colonial government left, the vestry, having reorganized and repaired the church so far as to render it lit for public worship, called to the Rectorship the Hev. Dr. Hailing, who for some time previous had oillciatcd in the church at New Bern. This appointment was accepted by the Dr., and in this relation he continued till May, 1809, when he resigned his charge and removed to Georgetown, South Carolina, where, a few years after, he closed his earthly ministry with his life, much regretted and much beloved by all who knew him. The Parish again remained vacant until 18U, when the Rev. Dr. Empie, the present Rector of St. James, Richmond, Va. was called, and entered upon his duties here in the month of November in the same year. Me have now arrived at a period in the history of the Parish to which we may justly apply the words of the 27 Koiuan Poet, "major rerum nascitur ordo." Though the Diocese was not yet duly organized, and the congre- gation consequently wanted those incculives to action which are now supplied by the annual visits of the Bishop, and the regular administration of the Episcopal System, yet (here is evidence before us to justify ilie belief, that piety and devout attentions to religious ordi- nances were greatly on the increase, and tliat among the members of the Parish originated those spirited eflbrts, which, aided by zealous Churchmen in other places, and crowned with the blessing of God, have raised the Church, iu this Diocese, to its present highly prosperous condition. The congregation continued to enjoy the valuable services of Dr. Empie until the spring of 1814, when he resigned the rectorship for the chap- laincy of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. During these three years of his residence here, the Parish is believed to have improved rapidly both in numbers and piety. In 1811, when Dr. E. first came to its charge, the number of communicants was only twenty-one. In April, 1814, when he left, the number was increased to one hundred and two. , In the Autumn of this year (1814,) the vestry secured the services of the Rev. Dr. Judd, lately rector of St. John's church, Utica, N. Y. As Dr. J. was induced to visit the South, mainly for the benefit of his health, the Parish enjoyed the advantage of his ministrations only about eight months of the year. There is evidence. 11 i ■! .1* 28 liowcver, ihatliis residence here was altended witli great bcncfu to ihe Church. The arrangement with Dr. JudU. appears lo have continued until May, 1810, when he '■osigncd. and was succeeded by Dr. Empic, who re- Uirned to the charge of the Parish shortly alter its loliuquishincut hy his predecessor. At this time tl,e ' ongregalion liad so mucli increased tl,at it was found necessary to increase tlie number of pews, whicli was done by the erection of side galleries. From this period, onward, to ll,e year 1827, when the ne.xt vacancy occurred, the allairs of the Parisli seem to have been Itiglily prosperous. Besides the Sunday Schools and Kible Classes, wliicli were instituted and kept in suc- eessful operation by the Rector, an association for the education of poor children, another for the pureliase ^M\ gratuitous distribution of Bibles and Prayer Books, nud a third Ibr the formation of a Parochial Library, all eame into being, and were sustained with a highly creditable liberality. I" May, 1827, Dr. Empie again resigned the rector- ship of the congregation ; and i„ the month of December following, tho Rev. T. S. W. Mo.te, the present rector of St. John's, Buncombe county, became the minister. The Parish enjoyed the services of Air. M. only about S.X months, when, in consequence of feeble health, he was compelled to leave. He retired from the rectorship ■n Jutie, I82S, and was succeeded in January of the •29 following year, by the Rev. William D. Cairns, the present Rector of Trinity church, Columbus, Ga, The various interests of the church appear to have been well sustained during the incumbency of .Mr. Cairns, In addition to those indications of growing strength and improvement mentioned above, it deserves to be noted that in the year 1832, an eligible lot was purchased and a comfortable Rectory provided for the minister. For this very important measure, the Parish is indebted almost entirely to a sewing society among the ladies of the congregation — an association, which, through a series of years, has scattered its benefactions with a liberal hand over every part of the diocese.* Mr. Cairns resigned his charge in June, 1833, and was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas F. Davis, the present rector of St. Luke's, Salisbury, and Christ church. Rowan. Mr. Davis entered upon the duties of the station in the month of November in the same year, and continued in the service of the Parish till the spring of 1836, when he was compelled, by the impaired state of his health, much to the regret of his congregation, to • This Society was incorporated in 1833-4, by ttio Legislature of North Carolino, and authorised lo hold property. Upon the lot which they purchased near tlie Church, a commodious Hall for Iho purpose of a Free School, was subsequently erected by the joint munificence of the Hon. E. B. Dudley and P. K. Dickinson, Esq., and presented to the Society. The avails of iheir labours, (working one afternoon each week) from 1822, when the Society was formed, up to tho 1st May, 1843, amounted to nearly S4500. 3* '.w: )vm 30 resign his charge. It is worthy of notice that during the rectorship of this gentleman, a portion of the congregation wlio usually spend their summers at WrightsviUe on the 8ou)ul, succeeded in erecting a very neat and commoJious chapel, in which public worship is regularly maintained by Lay Readers, and occasional visits of the Rector during four months of the year. We have now traced the principal circumstances in the history of this Parish down to the time when the present Rector became connected with it. 'J'his was on July 1st, I83G. To some, perhaps, it may appear unnecessiiry to enter upon the details of a period, the incidents of which, must be sufhcienlly known to the existing generation. There is, however, in the appre- hension of the writer of these notes, some propriety, having coinmenced the narrative, in bringing it down to the present lime. He expects very soon to leave this for another lield of labour. His solicitude, however, for the welfare ofhis former charge wiUremainundiminished, wherever Divine Providence may cast his lot. He th.erefore continues his narrative, not merely because the subject interests his own mind, but with the humble hope that when he is gone, the record may add some little to that stock of attachment which others may feel for a society to which they have devoted many of their anxious hours, their prayers and their laborious efforts. When the writer of this sketch commenced his min- istry in St. James', the parish church, which was built 31 before the Revolution, was found (o be in a condition demanding repairs nearly equal to the cost of a new church. After giving the matter a degree of consideration which its importance demanded, it was judged best by the vestry and congregation to abandon the old site, which was partly in the street, and erect a new building on a more eligible lot. With a degree of unanimity rarely equalled in undertakings of the kind, the enterprize was commenced, and happily conducted to its completion. The following sketch, on the occasion of the laying of the corner stone, is taken from the Wilmington Advertiser of April 5th, 1839. "The corner stone of the new edifice designed for die use of the congregation of St. James' Parish, was laid in this town on Wednesday, the 3d inst., by die Rev. Mr. Drane, the Rector of the Parish, in the presence of the Wardens and Vestry, and a large number of spectators. At half past 10 o'clock, A.M., a procession was formed at the lecture room near the ground, and proceeded to the site of the new building, where, after appropriate religious services, an address was delivered by the Rev. Rector. After expressing his great gratification at the event which had called them together, and the pleasing prospects which were opening before the Parish, the speaker proceeded to pay a merited compliment to the good taste of the Vestry on the mode, according to which Ihey had determined to erect their church. The style of the building, he remarked, (which is Gothic,) was ft; < 4'- i •, 1- f' r i:;fi; ■i■^ ij$iM I 't^ 33 peculiarly ailapled to sacred uses. The experience of ages haJ proved that it was better calculated than any- other to fill men with awe and reverence, to repress the tumult of unreflecting gaiety, and to render the mind sedate and solemn. It was a just remark, that whatever tended to make men serious and devout when they ap- proach the Divine Majesty, was an au.xiliary to his service; and tlie providing of that whicli produced this effect in the highest degree, was an act by which we doubtless honoured our Maker. The Hector next ad- verted to the great liberality and liarmony which had thus far characterized the people of his charge, and ex- horted them to continue thus to act as ihe only way by which they could hope for the approbation and blessing of Heaven. This was followed by some appropriate remarks on the hallowed associations which would for ever hereafter be connected with the spot on which they stood, and the influence of the peculiar services of the Church in rendering these associations valuable. It was one of the distinguishing excellences of our worship, he remarked, that many of the prayers which it contains had come down to us from the earliest and purest ages of Christianity. They were the prayers of Basil and Chrysostom, of Cyprian and Augustine, of Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley; and it was a pleasing thought, that our children would hereafter be able to say of us, as we now say of the blessed men who have gone before us, "these prayers our fathers have uttered, and tliis sanc- 33 tuary, erected by their zeal and liberality, is the patri- inony which they have bequeathed to us." At the conclusion of his address, the Rector read the following paper, which contains an account of the arti- cles deposited in the corner stone. " Pro Deo, pro ecclesia, pro liominum salute. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. " This corner stone of St. James' Church is laid this 3d day of April, in the year of our 'Lord one thousaml eight hundred and tliirty nine, (1880). The Rt. Rev. Levi Silliman Ives,. D.D.,L.L.D., being Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. The Rev. Robert Brent Drane, A. M, being the Rector of the Parish, and ofhci- ating on the occasion. Dr. a. J. De ROSSETT, 7 W. C. LORD, C Cimrch Wardens. Dr. THOMAS H. M'RIGHT," Dr. a. J. De ROSSETT, Jr., W. B. GILES. Uestryn^o" W. A. WILLIAMS, ' JAMES T. MILLER, " The plan of this building was designed by T. U. Walter of Philadelphia, and executed under the direc- tion of John S. Norris of New York, by J. C. Wood as principal mason, and C. H. Dall as principal carpenter. " May the gates of Hell never prevail against it." With the above, there were deposited in the comer ■s' I' a- !;n... "- If 3t stone a Bible, a Prayer Book, Journal of the Conveiitioti of rv'orih Carolina for 1838, Bishop Ives' Second Charge to the Clergy of his Diocese, Journal of the General Convention for 1838, Churchman's Almanac, Sword's Pocket Almanac, the Banner of the Cross, the Spirit of Missions, Journal of Religious Education, Children's Sunday School Magazine, Wilmington Advertiser, Wil- mington Chronicle, the Charter of the Wilmington and Raleigh Kail Road Company, and several specimens of American coin. The Church whose corner stone was thus laid, was so far completed within twelve months, as to be ready for consecration. This solemnity was performed by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Ives, assisted by the Rector and several other clergymen, on the fourth Sunday in Lent, March 29th, A.D. 1840. And the house thus opened for Di- vine service has ever since been well attended by a large and increasing congregation of worshippers. The beautiful bronze chandeliers, by which the church is lighted, as well a^ the appropriate furniture for the desk and pulpit, were the gift of the ladies of the con- gregation. The bell and clock, which were placed in the tower in 1841, were presented to the parish by P. K. Dickinson, Esq. The beautiful marble font, which adorns the front of the cliancel, and constitutes one of the most attractive ornaments of the church, was purchased by the Rector, with money placed in his hands for the purpose by the litUe girls of his charge. The commu- 35 nion plate of the church consists of one flagon, two chalices, and one paten — all of virgin silver ; and each inscribed with the appropriate motto, "Cruce Christi Confido." This plate is understood to have been presented to the parish by the late Gen. Smith of Brunswick county. The parish library consists of about 750 volumes — many of them valuable standard works in divinity. Six individuals, natives of the parish, have been admitted to Holy Orders. The whole number of baptisms since 1811, when the present records commence, is 744. Two hundred and six couples have been united in holy matrimony. And over the mortal remains of 295 per- sons the funeral solemnities of the Church have been performed. It is worthy of being noted, that in 1842 that portion of the congregation who usually spend their summers at Smithville, commenced the erection of a neat Gothic chapel in that village, which will probably be ready for public worship in the course of the present season. The number of families connected with the parish at this time, is about one hundred and six j and the number of communicants reported to the last convention of the Diocese was two hundred and twenty. Here we conclude our notices of this interesting old parish. The lesson to be learnt from this, as from all Church history, is a lesson of faith in the Author of all (:..^ m 'film vis ■MjE,:; ^^. 36 truth, the Founder and Preserver of that religion of which ilio Church is the appointed keeper and witness in the world. Tlie foregoing sketch, brief and imperfect as it is, will not have been written in vain, if it shall lead one Churchman who reads the record of the trials and deliverances of his Church, to offer more fervently the prayer of confidence to the Almighty Protector: "O God, we have heard with our ears, and our fathers have told us of the noble works which thou didst in their days, and in the old time before tlicm, and to entreat that his continual pity may still cleanse and defend his Church, and that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by his governance, ' that his Church may joyfully serve him in all Godly quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord." SUCCESSION OF RECTORS OF ST. JAMEs' PARISH. m Rev. Mr. MarsJen, from Kev. Mr. Moir " Rev. Mr. McDowell " Rev. Mr. Barnctt " J; Rev. Mr. Wills " Rev. Dr. Hailing •' Rev. Dr. Empio " Rev. Dr. JuilJ Rev. Dr. Enii)in '. 173S 1755 1705 1766 17D5 1811 18M 18IC 1738 1 747-8 1763 170G 1776 1809 1814 181G 1827 /,. Rev. Mr. Moltcfrom Dec. 1837, to Juno, 1828 Rev. Mr. Caims, from 1829 to 1833 Rev. Mr. Davis .< ]g33 Rev. Mr. Dranc " 1536 1836 1843 .V •\ U^HL^ tt^ J 'CJ '^-'./f?- &->;/£> W.'T/C. m SKETCH OF St. James's Parish WILMINGTON, N. C, FROM TUB " HISTOKICAL NOTICES ■' OF THE HEV. K. B. DRANE, D. D. ENLARGED AND unoUGUT DOWN TO TUE rnESEKT TIME A MEMBER OF THE TESTRY. JfEW YOUK: E. J. HALE & SON, PUBLISHERS, MunRAT Stbeet. 1874, I .' » m {, :■ ■ w PREFACE. m- A ■* •■) n o \v Some months ago an intimate friend of the writer earnestly solicited him to prepare a sketch of St .James's Parish, Wilmington, N. C. It was urged that sucii a publication would be of interest not only to the Parish, but possibly to the Diocese, Conscious of his own shortcomings, he hesitated for some time before con- senting to the undertaking, but finally yielded, and the result is the present publication. He does not claim for it any literary merit, and certainly makes no pretensions to the dignity of history ; it is simply a narration of events connected with the Parish and with our early local history, and interesting, perhaps, for those rea- sons. He has used as the basis of his work the Historical Notices of the Parish, by the late Rev. R. B. Dranc, I). D., published in 1843, and is indebted for his addi- tional statements to the Parish records, his own recol- lections, and those of old citizens; and he would hero take occasion to tender his thanks particularly to Hon. Hugh Waddell, of Wilmington, and Gov. Henry T. Clarke, of Edgecombe, for interesting information most kindly imparted by them. He can only regret not hav- ing made a better use of the materials furnished him. In conclusion, he desires to state that he has no i.:>,]- hi'- i I I ■.: ,i 1 ^^ rEEFACE. pecuniary interest i.i the publication, and that whatever may be realized is to be applied to some charity of the Church. Its compilation has been entirely a " labor of love" with Iiim, and if he has succeeded in awakening interest in regard to the early history of the Parish, or in alTording gratification to any, it matters not in how slight a degree, he will feel amply compensated for the time and labor devoted to its preparation. ST. JAMES'S PARISH, WILMINGTON, N. C. The earhest distmct information which we have *\% !o"''' ''™'' "^ ^""'^ t° the beginnin.. of the year 1738 Thirty yea>. before that^he rd° ot cond:t:on of the tl,en Province of North CaroHna Ind attracted the attention of the Venerable Soc^i; n England for Propagating the Gospel in Forei^ni Parts and several clergymen had been sent to let2 populous precincts of Roanoke and Albemarle The whole province had also been divided into 'twelve partshes, and several laws had been passed by the Colonial Legislature for the support of religion. But t was not until the period above named thtt any de' cis-ve measures were taken for planting the Church Wilmington (so called in honor of Spencer Comp- ton, who was Earl of Wilmington at that time, bJt the n?^ ^ ^"7" '" *'- l"^'-y °f the province by tbe name of Newtown) consisted at that time of only a fw houses which had been erected on the banks Pii sh ^t T "' ^ '^' P"^P°^^^ °^ ^■-'- The ansfi of St James, however, embraced the whole of Tanv '? T ^^^'^"''''■y'l^tyto the distance of many miles m the interior, and along the coast }'. .V 1 r [ ■ ■• . :;„•'" J! 'r f'l >i ]' * hM\ 'I'"., ;: \',f ■ ii •i '.i. ]' '■< SKETCH OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. Tlie first minister of tlic p:piscopal Churcli wlio is known to liave officiated here was the Eev. Eicliard Marsdon. In the records of tlie Veneralile Society for 1738 it is briefly stated '■ tliat i[r. ilarsden liad a settlement in the jiarish (probably a plantati.^n), and, being a clergyman of the Church of England, had officiated here for several yeaj:s past" The records of the Society also state that, at the earnest solicita- tion of some of the parisliioners, the Society gave Mr. Jlarsden a tom])orary appointment as their 'missionary to St. James, bnt before he became fullv settled under the seal of their authority " they bet^ame dis- satisfied with kis charade; and withdrew the ap- pointment" Of tliis gentleman, who was the first Ei)iscopal clergjTnan settled on Cape Fear, and the first Rector of St. James's Church, in Wilmington, and against whoso character the above injurious statemeiu ap- pears, we have been enabled to gather the followino- facts, through the courtesy of one closely connected with him. lyr. iMars.len was for many years chaplain to the Duko of Portland. The duke, like many others of li^ day, was induced to invest very largely in that wdd speculation known as the " South Sea Bubble " and haWng lost very heavily, the ministry, to assist him, appointed him Governor-General of Jamaica, with a salary of five or si.x thousand pounds (equiva- lent to twenty.five or thirty thousand dollare) per annum, which enabled him to live, and put out his '4 l-il SKETCH OF ST. JAMES's I'AEISH. 7 estates " to nurse," as it is called in England. His chaplain, like his patron, invested his small means in the same ill-starred enterprise, and, like the duke, lost all he invested, but with this difference, that the duke had estates, which at " nurse " would in a few years reinstate Ids broken fortunes, while his poor chaplain had nothing to fall back upon. The duke, therefore, urged Mr. Marsden, wlio still retained his position of chaplain, to accompany him to Jamaica, which he did. In three or four years the duke's rent-roll cleared oS his embarrassments, and he returned to England. Mr. Marsden, however, was induced by some planters from Soiith Carolina to come to Charleston, with the view of taking charge of one of the churches in that city, but, either owing- to his delay, or some other cause, when he arrived there he found the place filled by another. The intercourse between Charleston and Wilminl .f^':!!! r;|.; 8 SKETCH OP ST. JAJEES'S PARISH. tliis place, whicli was called St James's Churcli. After officiating for several yeai's (a.s it was said most acceptably to the congregati,ju) some of his vestry became dissatisfied with him, and made such repre- sentations to the Venerable Society as induced them to displace him, and the record says it was because they were " not satisfied with his character." It is, we think, fair to presume that the same members of the vestry who were active in having ilr. Marsden dis]ilaced, were they who caused this entry to be made u]3on the reeonls. Now this ontiy did great injustice to Mr. Jfarsdcn inasmuch as it did not sp^ify the charges, but used such general jihraseology as might admit of the most unjustifiable imputations, as, that he was devoid of moral pnnciple-or a man of loose life-or dishonest ; — m short, the phrase used was capable of the crudest construction which malignity might put upon it As an act of simple justice to one long gone to his account, and to many of his descendants who are still hvmg, and who might perhajis feel aggrieved at this imputation upon the character of their ancestor, we .vill state what we have always understood as the true version of this unfortunate passage in the life of Mr Marsden. .llr™',?' fi''-^t owner of the plantation situated about eight miles fronr Wilmington, called the Iler- mit^agc w ncli he improved with great skill and taste Sad! ^^^''r/''''"^'*^^''^^-'- ^861, when t£ Hiad of our Southern woas began, wxs in the posses- SKETCH OF ST. JAJIES's PARISH. 9 sion of the Burgwin family, known as the seat of profuse and elegant hospitality. It had been the pro- perty of father, sons, and grandsons, a race as cele- brated for its refinement and culture, as in some of its descendants it has been rendered illustrious by devo- tion to the cause of the South on many a bloody field, in one of which a field officer of the race* sealed that devotion with his life's blood. Mr. Marsden was familiar with the usages of re- fined society, and, being of a somewhat social turn took great delight in the exercise of a generous hos- pitality, and as chaplain to an English duke of vast wealth, was accustomed to such indulgences of the table as were prevalent at that time in England, though certainly not so usual in this colony." Mr! Marsden, as we have already stated, entered with zest, into the customs of hospitable society. It was per- haps his weakness, but surely not an unamiable one lie delighted in social gatherings, and frequently gave dinner parties at his home, as was the custom among the gentlemen of tliose days. Some one, perhaps one of those who thus enjoyed liis hospitality, took occasion to report to the Venerable Society that. Mr. Marsden was in the habit of drinking too much wine at his own dinner table. It is believed that this was the head and front of his offending." It ^vas not charged, or even insinuated, that he was ever in a- condition that unfitted him for the discharge of any * General Goorso Burgwin An.lcr.,on, wounded in battle, and Who died from tlio offeols of Jiis wound. J.. I . m 10 SKETCH UF ST. JAJIES's PARISH. SKETCH OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. 11 ■of the duties of liis oflice, Imt on]y tli.it lie indulged in a style of living to wliicli ho liiul been .iccustomod in Engl.ind, and which was universally prevalent in this country in the higher circles of society. His case not only shows how necessary it is that a clergyman should be very watchful over his own kabits and manner of life, lest he should give occasion to the adversary against himself, but also how neces- saiy it is to specifi/ the chai'gcs against any real or sujiposed culin-it, so as to leave nothing to the insin- uations of the thoughtless or malicious in after times. As an incident of some local interest perhaps in this sketch of Mr. Mar.sdeii, we m.ay add that one of Lis daughters married an English gentleman of the name of Thomas Il.aynos, who, soon after his mar- riage, jiurchased and settled a plantation near the Ileimitage, which lie improved very highly, and upon which he erected a fine building called by hiin Castle Haynes. now constantly, but ineorreetly, known as Castle Ilaync. This error has probably arisen from a su]-)position that it was once the property of one of the distinguished f.amily of that name in South Caro- lina. But the name is different; besides which, Thomas Ilapies had no later.al relations in America. His own descendants are confined to one family— the Waddells of the Cape Fear, who are also the only descendants of Mr. Marsden. The person appointed in the ])laoe of Mr. Marsden ^vas the Eev. Mr. Moir. This gentleman had pre- viously served as a missionary in South Carolina, and n m brought with him strong testimonials from the Com- missary, and other clergy of that province, as "a per- son of good life and learning "—a character which he fully sustained during a mini.stiy of ten years in the service of the jiarish. The first record of Mr. Moir's ministry in that place is found in a letter of his to the Venerable Society, dated "Wilmington, October 29, 1740. It states " that through God's blessing he had anived safe at his mission in. the month of May preceding, and had travelled over most parts of it, which ex- tended a hundred miles along the coast— that he found the inhabitants so scattered it would be impos- sible to minister to them as he could wish— that the generality of the people were very ignorant, but seemed willing to b.e instructed, which had greatly encouraged him in his labors, and that up to that time he had baptized two hundred and ten children in his travels among them." In a second letter, dated ilay 25tli, 1741, Mr. Moir informed the Society that he had twice travelled over the country between the Cajio Fear and Neuse Eivers, ,-. 16 SKETCH OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. :. C. will be found one passed in 1760, authorizing a lottery to raise money to build the church, and appropriating the elTects of this Spanish vessel to the some object. The resort to lot- teries for such a purpose may seem strange and immoral at the pre- sent day, but it was very common at that time for all purposes: for schools, libraries, internal improvements, and many private enter- prises. I i [ i SKETCH OP ST. JAJIES'S PARLSH. 17 ter.* This painting is still preserved in tlio vestry room of the clmrch, and has been pronounced by some who are ju.lgcs in such matters to be a work of considerable merit. How soon the commissioners entered upon the •work with which they were charged we have now no means of ascertaining Of their j^ror^res,, however we m.ay form some idea from the fact, that the same statute book which contains the record of their ap- pointment, contains another act of the Colonial As- sembly, bearing date XI, Geo. Ill, 1770, ch xiii ' appointing the Hon. Lewis DeRosset and Frederick Gregg, Esq., commissioners in the place of John Dubois and George Wakel^- deceased, forfinishinr, the clmrch m Wilmington. Hence it would apj.eai^that at least nineteen years must have elapsed from the commencement to the completion of the first parish church of St. James. This tardiness in providing themselves with one of tlie first requisites for the decent worehip of God may seem to some not to argue very favorably for ' tlie religious zeal of our ancestors; but it should be ' remembered, that the congi'cgation at that day was ranch smaller than at j.resent, and that their resources were proportionately still more scanty. It .should be noted that much of this time the people were without . a clergyman to animate and encourage them in their ' work. We' have seen that the Key. .Mr. Jfoix left ' • It had probably been stolen from some church in one of their ' maraudmg. descents upon the South American or West Indian coasts 2 . !'■•: :!■■:' Ji ■ ■■•'■ I (■■ r, ■■ ' ,1 ■■ "■ I 18 I !'.■ SKETCH OF ST. JAME.S'S PARISH. this ]ilaoc in 1747-8. Seven yoar.s at least must have elapsed before his plaee was sni)i)lieil. The person selected as the successor of Mr. i[oir was the Kev. ilr. McDowfll. Our information of tlii.s fact is derived from the records of the Venerable Society for 1755. It is there brielly stated " that the Eev. Mr. McPowell, wlio had been put into orders last year, at Genrge Dolibs's request, is fi.xed at Wilming- ton, tlic largest town in the province, where he is dili- gently employed iu his sacred oilice, and much esteemed by his parishionei'.s." About this time the jiarish received from the Veneraljle Society a valuable donation of Bibles, Prayer Books, and other I'oligious publications, for distribution among the people. Among them were two valuable oL:l volumes, bearing on their antiquated covers the royal arms of England, and marked as " the gift of his Eoyal Highness George, Prince of Wales," afterwards King Gcoi-ge the Third. A few of these books still remain in the library of the l^ari.sli. It is a matter of regret that we Icnow but little of the progress of the parish undei- the ministry of the Rev. Mr. McDowell. From the brief abstract of the Venenible Society (our only source of iufoi-mation), we learn that they regarded' him as a " highly useful and faithful laborer in the vineyard of his Master, and well worthy of tlic station wliich he held." This estimate of his character appears fully sustained by the fact, that, like his worthy predecessor, he ex- SKETCH OP ST. JAMES'S PARISH. ]9 tended his labors to every part of his large mission flnd that in the more remote congregations of his charge he cstablishecars to have continued his residence in Wilmmoton uj) to the year 1760, wheir. at the in- stance of Governor Uobbs, he was removed to Bruns- wick, still, however, giving a portion of his time to the congregation here. Mr. McDowell remained on tlie mission until the autumn of 1763, when he fell a victim to the sickness incident to the country, and passed, as we may hope, from the sceue of his carthly labors to reaj) their reward in a better world. Tradition reports that he was buried at his own request beneath the altar of the saiictuarv in which he mmistcred-thus, in death as in life, still clinginr, to the Church. That sanctuary has long been a neg° locted ruin— trees larger than those of the surrounding forest ha^'e grown iq) within its roofless walls, and where long years ago the voice of praise and thanks- giving ascended up on high, a solemn stillne-ss reigns, broken only by the night-owl's screech, or the whip- poorwill's ])laintive cry. The grave of the missionary IS undistinguislied from those of the numerous con- gregation of the (lead sleeping arcjund him. Time has long since levelled the incumbent sod, and no stone was. erected to mark the spot where his ashes repose. But a nobler monument to McDowell than marble or brass could supply is around us and before us. ■ viii]" ;♦ '! ■ u ■■ U ;i ri, Aiil-. V*-: < J; •20 SICETCII OF ST. JAMES'S PAKISII. It is seen in the prevalence ami liappj' influence of that religion for the establishment of which lie gave np his life. This will stand when all earthl}- monu- ments have perished and (lassed away; nor could the graveyard of an abbey furnish a rnoi-c honoiable epitaph for him than that siiii])le jihrase of one of the letters which amiounced his death to the Venerable Society, in whose sci'vico he died : " lie was a good man — faithful in his sacred office, and well deserved to Ije a niissiiinarv.'' In the following year (17C4) the Governor of the Province wrote to the "^^eiierablc Society in England, "that since the death of Mr. McDowell there were only six mis.^ionaries in North Carolina." He earn- estly entreated that one might be sent a.s early as possible to sujiply the vacancy at Brunswick, and also a clergyman for the parish of St. James, to reside in ^Vilmington. A similar apjilieation was made about the same time by the Wardens and Vestry of St. James to the Eishoj) of London. The result of these applications was that in the following year, 1765, the Hev. Mr. Barnett, "strongly recommended by jiersons both in England iTnd America, was ajipointed by the Venerable Society as their missionary at Wilmington and Brunswick, to ofnciate at these places alternately as his Excellency Governor Tryon* might think proper to direct." The first year Mr. Barnett appears to liave resided in the * This was that Governor Trjon who was called by the Indians the "Groat Wolf of Carolina." SKETCH OF ST. JAJVIES'S PARISH. 21 parish of St. James ; but in the next he was removed to Brunswick— continuing, however, like his prede- cessor, to extend his services to the more remote con- grcgixtions embraced in the mission. This .arrangement continued until the sprint of 1766, when the Vestry of St. James .succeeded in securing the services of a clergyman devoted exclu- sively to their own parish. This person was the Rev John Wills. He arrived in Wilmington some time earlv in the year 1766, and continued to ofTiciate for this parish (,-| with great acoeptanoe for about ten years. A record of Mr. Wills's original agreement with the Vestry is still in e.x:istence, and as the contract between the partie.1 may be a subject of some curiosity to church- men of the present day, we copy it herewith. " At a meeting of the Vestry of the Parish of St. J.ames, held at the Court House in Wilmington, on the 16th d.ay of April, 1766, present, Willianr Camp- bell and John Devane, Church Wardens, and the Hon. Lewis DeRosset, Cornelius Harnett, Arthur ifabson, William Campbell and William Edward, vestrymen :' Agreed with Rev. John Wills to allow liim £185 proc. money for one year's salary and house hire, eom- moneing from Easter Monday, and ending Easter Monday in the ye.ar 1767, to officiate as minister of said parish in Wilmington eighteen Sundays during said time; at the Sound six Sundays; at Rooky Point six Sundays ; at Long Creek, six Sundays; a"t Black River, six Sundays ; and at Welsh Tract, six mi'- b-:W'-- t'!(j II" I 22 SICETCII OF ST. JAJIES'S PARISH. Sundays — tlic rcin.ainiiig four Sundays at liis dis])osal. Tlio niinistci- to givo timely notice in writing of tlic places lie intends to pvcacli at." This progi-ainme of the parson's labors shews ns, indeed, that he held "plnralitics" lierc: but those only who know the histor}- and value of pi-oc. money can form any idea of the extent of his revenues. From the acco\mts that wc have of Mr. Wills he ap- pears to have been happily constituted for the times in whicli lie lived and the sphere of his labors. He is represented as a man of a highly finished educa- tion, spriglitly and engaging in his manners, and pecu- liarly forcible and solemn in his public ministrations. We possess no mateiials from which to judge of the progress of the Church during the ministry of itr. Wills. His ofhcial records, if he kept any, have either l.ieen lost or were carried away with him when he resigned his charge. In tlie year 1770 the Vener- able Society made him a gratuity of £30, in token of their appreciation of his services, and about the same time the parish received from the same source an ad- ditional donation of Bibles and other books of in- struction and devotion. The only matter of interest found on the records of the Vestry at that time is a bi-ief correspondence be- tween tlieinselves and the Governor of the [province, touching the induction or institution of Mr. Wills, which, as affording some .slight indication of the tem- per of the times, we will liere lay before the reader. The firet is a letter from the Governor to the Vestry : SKETCH OF ST. JAJIES'S PARISH. 23 m' Brunswick, 9lh Felruary, 1770. Gentlemen— A.S the Kev. Mr. Wills, who has been long a resident among you, expi-esses a desire of settling in your parish, I am to acrpudnt you that I ].)roposo giving him letters of presentation and hidue- tion thereto. I would, therefore, be glad to hear from you, gentlemen, whether there are any objec- tions to Mr. Wills in the duties of his .sacred ofUce. I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, Willi A j[ Tryo.v. At a meeting of the Vestry, held on 10th M.ay, in the same year, it was ordered tliat the Chui-ch Wai-dens return the following answer to the letter of his Excel- lency the Governor ; Wilmington,, 11 i/j May, 1770. Sir— We are directed by the Vestry of St, James's Parish to acknowledge the receipt of your Excel- lency's favor of the 9th February last, in answer to which we are desired to inform your Excellency that they are very well satisfied to emi)loy Mi; Wills in the parish as usual, since he is a gentleman every way worthy of his sacred function. But tliei/ cannot agree to Ms being inducted into the parisJi, as they humbly conceive, from the best information they can procure, thai no power of presentation or induction is lodged in the Crown by any act of the Assembly of this province. Your Excellency's most obedient and very liumble seiTants, John Ancruji, \ Church William Wilkinson, ) Wardens. %mi: 'HUl-w tf'U;' % '■ li^W!'. %'^-i (r ■II 2-t SIvETCII OF ST. JAMES'S PAIIISH. To the foregoing letter tlic Vestry rceeived tlio fol- lowing reply : New Beuxe, Jid;/ nth. 1770. GENTLE:»tEX— I hnxQ IkuI the satisf.ictiou to re- ceive by your direction a letter, ilateil .May lltli, from iIe.sRr.s. Aneruni and Wilkinson, the Churoli Wardens of St. James's Parish, wherein the llcv. A[r. Wills is declared to be a gentleman worthy of his sacred function. In consideration, therefore, of snoli honor- able testimonial and Mr. Willss desire to receive let- ters of presentation and induction for your jnirish, I have eomplieil with sucli desire, I'einaiiiing un.lcr the clearest conviction that I have a full right .so to do, an.l whicli I esteem it my Ijonnden dnty to perform.' Finding, however, from the above mentioned letter th.at " you conceive, from the best information you c-an jirocure, that no power of presentation or induc- tion is lodged in the Crown by any act of the As- sembly of this province," I have this favor, gentle- men. to request of yon, that you will continue to extend your good offices and friendly attentions to Mr. Wdls until a better title to presentation and in- duction can bo set up iuid established than what I claim under the Crown. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble .servant, William Tuyox To the Vestry of St. ) James's Parish. ) The following answer to the above was ordered bv the Vestry : •^ t. ;} SKBTCH OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. 25 WiLMlNGTOX, November 28th, 1770. May it please your Exgellexcy— By direc- tion of the Vestry of St. James's Parish, we are to Jicknowlcdge the receijit of your favor to them of the 17th July last, and to inform yo\i that the3', as well in regard to your Excellency's instance as to Mr. Wills's merits, will continue their good offices and friendly notice of him. We are, with respect, your Excellency's most obedient and humble servants, John- ANCRUir,* ) Church William Wilki.vsox, f Wardens. This letter closed the correspondence between the Vestry and Governor touching the matter of present- ation and induction. Its exclusively political bearing is obvious, and exhibits that jealousy at the Ica.s^ attempt to infringe upon their rights, and that deter- mination to maint.ain them, which .so signally charac- terized the pcoj)le of this region in the days '• that tried men's souls." According to the English law, the right of present- -ntion and induction belongs origin.ally to the Crown in those cases only where a church or ch.ipel is built or endowed at the expense of the Crown. This was ■* The tomb of Jolin Ancrum, ono of tho parties to tlio .ibove cor- reapondenoo, is still to bo seon at Old Brunswick, whore lio was turiod. It is in a good state of preservation, but tho lettering on tho marble slab is sadly defaced hy time and exposure to the elo- merits. During the war of the Revolution he was, for a long period, chairman of the Committee of Vigilance of tho town of Wilmington, siiU ■■ ft ■!,■.!( ;• .•f 1 1' ' ( it''"' f whmt Pi ■ is? r.! t' ,11 , 1 ';,,' 1!' j! (,')■■, 20 SKETCH OF ST. JjUIES's PARISH. SICETCH OF ST. JAJEES'S rARISH. 27 not the ease liei-e — the church in that ]iarish was built and sustained by the peojilc: the claim, there- fore, set up in this instance bv the Governor, as the representative of the Crown, was clearly illegal, and very projierly resisted by the Vestry. This controversy does not a]ipcar to have jiroduced any change of fechng in the ])arish towards Mr. Wills. Though a loyalist, ami consequently agreeing in opinion with the Governor, his deportment was so exemplary and his ministrations so universally ac- ceptable, that he ]iot only escai)ed censure, but retained in a high degree the afl'ections of the people as long as he remained among them. The last Vestry meeting held under the Colonial Government, of which we have any account, was in December, 1775. Among the proceedings on that occasion we find the following: " Onlercd, that the Church Wardens of St. James's parish join with the Colonel of the Now Hanover Ecgiment and the Pai-son of said jiarish, to i-eceive the legacy of the late Hon. James Innis,-' deceased, and that they hire out the slaves ami take care of the other property as they maj^ see best." This bccpicstof C<;lonel Innis was not to the parish of St James, as might naturally be inferred from the * Colonel Janios Innis lived at a place al.ont ten miles from -Wil- mington, called Point Pleasant. He was verv prominent in the old eolon.al times, and wlien tliis will was drawn was in command, at ■ft inclu-sler, Va., of all llie troops raised by the States of North Carolina and Virginia, wliich wore intended to operate against thft French and Indians on the Ohio. above record, but for the purpose of establishing a school for the youth of the State. The bequest is in these words, which we copy from his will : " I also give and bequeath two negro young women, one negro young man, and their increase, all the stock of cattle and hogs, half the stock of horses bclongnng to my plantation, with all my books, and one hundred ,,^ pounds sterling, for the use of a free school for the || benefit of the youth of North Carolina ; and to see that this part of my will be duly executed at the time, I appoint the Colonel of the New Hanover Regiment, the Parson of the Wilmington Church, and the Vestry for the time being, or the majority of them, as they shall from time to time be chosen or ap- pointed." Our narrative has now brought us down to the commencement of the war of the Revolution, the dis- astrous effects of which upon the Church in this country were long and sevei'ely felt In the popular mind the Episcopal Church had long been identified with the government of the mother country. Hos- tility to the mca,sures of that government would, therefore, very naturally run into a hostility to the Church, The effect of this feeling on such of the colonial clergy as remained loyal was embarrassing in the extreme. " Taken as a body, no better friends to their country were to be found in it, none felt a holier interest in her prosperity and happiness, but they likewise felt an interest no less lively in the success /■■ ft I ffV .'■■ i ,. -i' r. ;;;'i ■!' 28 SKETCH OF ST. JAjrES'S PAEtSII. ■»■'«.:■ m of religion, tlie licst and onlj- foundation of public prosperitj-. In tlicir minds this was naturally asso- ciated with the progress of the distinctive principles of then- Church, am] they were bounil, moreover, by solemn obligations of obedience to the regular au- thorities in Clinreh and State. But tliese considera- tions, however weighty with the clergy, had but little force when weighed in the scales of popular ]H-ejudice. The prevalent idea was that all obligations, moral and Tehgiou.s, and all the ties of con.science, are at once •dLs.solved by the exigence of political affairs, and the consequence was that mere neutrality in an Episcopal . clergyman was in many cases regarded as sufficient evidence of hostility to the cause of his country." It is not intended by diese remarks to justifv such ' of the clergy as still adhered to the cause of EiJgland, for the contest on the side of the colonies wa°s one into which they were forced by the despotic measui'es of the Home Government, and, therefore, their re- sistance was right in the judgment of the writer of this. But it seems due at least to say this much in vmdication of the motives of a much misunderstood and calumniated class of men who, whatever may have been their errors of judgrment, have conferred upon our country a debt of oljligation which eternity alone can fully reveal. In conserpiencc of the state of things to which we allude, many of the clergy were compelled to abandon their cures, the doors of most of our sanctuaries be- came closed, and the result upon the general welfare SKETCH OF ST. JAMES's PARISH. 2!) of the Church was deplorable in the extreme. It is believed that few of our paiishes suffered longer or more severely than the one whose history we are endeavoring to trace. The Rev. Mr. "Wills, the last of its rectors under the Colonial Government, resigned his charge in 1775-6, and there is no evidence that his place was sni)2ilied for a period of twenty years. During all this time the voice of the Liturgy was silent in the sanctuary; no servant of the altar was here to ex- pound to the people the word of life, or to celebrate for them the sacraments of gTaee. In 1780, five years alter the resigaiation of Mr. Wills, the town pf Wilmington became one of the military posts of the Briti.sh ai-my , in America.* . During their stay here the property of the Church suffered every hind of violation. The enclosure' of the graveyard was removed ami burnt, while the church itself was stripped of its. pews and other.fur- niturc, and converted first into a hos])ltal for the sick, then into a blockli'ouse for defence against tlie Ameri- cans, and finally into a riding school for the dragoons of Tarleton. How long it remained in this condition after the- evacuation of the enemy we are unable to ascertain. There is little reason to sujipose. situated as the eon- * The dwelling house on the southwest corner of Third and Market streets, now the property of W. H. McRary, Esq., was used as Iho headquarters of Lord Cornwallia, during the occupancy of the town by the British troops. k,))ijK mil "^;?: :,V, tv. ■ ■ ' ,i ., ■lil; I IK: 30 SKETCH OF ST. JAMES'S PAEISH. gTCgation then was, tliat tlic,)- could be very forward in repairing the injui-ics of tlieir cluu-cli. To say nothing of tlieir diminished resources in consequence of the war, they had no clergyman to lead them in such an undei-taking, and, what was worse, tliey had no prospect of ol.taining one. Everything wore the aspect of desolation and discouragement. The jiarish, indeed, continued to exist, but more than this could hardly be said, ilany became dis- couraged, and abandone.1 the church ; others, however, and a respectal.ile number, were wise enough to wait for the ordinances of Christ in the Church °of Christ. They had still the Bibles, Prayer Books, and other religious works, which had been placed in their hands by the missionaries of the Venerable Society, and with these a feeling of attachment to the church of their fathers was kejit ali^'e, which on the return of better days proved of no small service in the resusci- tation of the j-iarish. In 1795, twenty years from the time when the last clergyman undei' the Colonial Government left, the A^estry having reorganized and repaired the church so far as to render it fit for public wor.ship, called to the rectorship the licv. ])i'. Hailing, who, for some time previou.s, had ofhciated in the church at New Berne. The old eliui-ch of St. James could lay no claim to architectural beauty It was built of brick, and ex- tended about thirty feet into Market street. It was a large sijuare building, with neither steeple nor belfry, with three entrances— one in front facing the river! SKETCH OF ST. JAJVIES'S PAEISII. 31 one oiiening on Jtarkct street, and another leading into the gTaveyard. The aisles were, quite broad, and paved with large sqtiare bj-ick ; very many of the pews were of the old English style, being what were called double i)ew,s, atid would seat quite a lar"-e family very comfortably, though eomijclling a por- tion of the occupants to sit with their backs to the chancel. There was a high reading desk, and a pul- pit higher .still, each with red velvet cushions, and a sounding board above the pulpit. There was a ]5lain communion table, made of mahogany ; in fact, all the arrangements were of the simplest and most unpre- tending character. In its outward apjjearance the old church bore no resemblance to the splendid edifices of the present day, but yet it possessed attractions, due not only to its sacred character, but also to its connection with past tintcs. Dr. Hailing accepted the appointment of rector of the parish, and in this relation he continued until May, 1809, when he resigned his charge and removed to Georgetown, S. C, where, a few years after, he closed his eai-thly ministry with his life, much regi-et- ted and much beloved by all who knew him. Besides having charge of the parish, Dr. Hailing was the first principal of the Wilmington Academj' — an institution of learning which owed its existence to the munificence of Colonel James Innis, previously mentioned — an enterprize which was carried to a suc- cessful completion by the voluntary subscriptions of the citizens of Wilmington. mi &\^^ ■ fX, u ;; t iff iiit. 32 SKETCH OF ST. JAJIES'S PAEISII. After tlic ivliromeiit of Dr. Ilalliiifr, tlie parish re- mained vacant until ISll, Aviicn the Bev. Adam Empie, I). D., was cnljod, and entered niioii liis duties in the month of November in tlic same vcar. As a m.atterof some interest, and as sllo^vino■ 'the. vast in'- ereasc of laLor new ]ierfonned in tlio parisli, and in- dicating also tlie -real imj.rovement in the health of the town, we eojiy that i.ortion of tlic letter of t],e ^ estry to Dr. Empie, invitinn- him "to take chai'ocof the parish, at a .-alary of $1,200 per annum, with" the privilege of .spending his summers at the Sound, and holding one sci'viee only in town during the sickly season. ' It is, perliaps, ],ro],er to state that most, I'f not all, the congregation generally left the town dur- ing the summer niontlis for the sea coa.st or tlie in- terior, and, ].robal.ly, the greater portion of tlie con- gregation gathered at the Sound, and had the benefit there of Dr. Emjiie's mini.strations. We have now arrived at a jieriod in the history o tlio prmsh to which we may ju.stly a],],lv the words of the Eoman poet, ^^ major rervm na^atur ordo." i hough the d,oce.se was not yet duly organized, and tbe congregation, eousequently. w.ante.l those incen- tiyes to action which are now supplied by tlie annual visits of flie Bishop, and the regular administration of the Episcopal system, yet tliere is evidence before us o justify the belief that piety and devout attention.^ to re igious ordinances were greatly on the increase, and tliat among the members of the pari.sh originated those spirited efl-orts which, aided by zealous Church- SKETCn OF ST. JAMES's I'AIUSH. 3,3 inen in other places, and crowned with the ble.ssincr «f God, have raised the Churcli in this diocese to its present highly prosperous condition. The congregation continued to enjoy the valuable services of Dr. Empie until the sjiringof 1814, when he resigned the rectorship for the chaplaincy of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, New York. Dunng those three years of his residence hero tlie parish improved rapidly, both in meniliei^ and piety. In 1811, when Dr. Empie th-.st came to iUs f.harge, the number of communicants was only i^^enty-one. When lie left, in April, 1814, the num- ber was increased to o,ie hundred and two Thi.s simjile statement is the best commentary ui.on the suece.ss of his labors. In the autumn of this year, 1814, tlie Vestry .secured the sei-vices of the Eev. Bethel Judd, D. D. As Dr. Judd was induced to visit the South I'nainly or the benefit of his health, the parish enjoyed the benefit of his ministrations only about eight months of the year. There is evidonee, however, that his residenee here was attended with g,-eat benefit to the vhurcli. It will not be amiss, iiei-hajis, at this stage of our narrative, to take a retrospective glance, and recall a few incidents illustrating the character of the times in those early days of the hi.story of the Churcli, not characteristic of the Ejiiseopal Church alone, but of other religious bodies. Church discipline was not a.s I'lgidly enforced then as at the present d.ay. Mar- 3 km 34 SKETC}! OF ST. JAMES's PAniSH. nngcs were always celel.i-atcl at the house of the parties aiul never in tlie ehnrcli, ami at all fnnerals the mnnster atten.le,! at tlie .hvcllin- of the deoeascl ^>ml headed the funeral eortege to tlie graveyard. No chureh HI the plaee could hoa..t of a bell of its own and the diflerent den.,minations assembled in their r«peet,ve places of worship at the same hour, which was mdicated by the tolling of the town bell. The ottstom of decorating the church at Christma.s was so irregularly- observed, that on one occasion the colore.l sexton of St. James's, linding that no one U)ok any interest in the matter, deternn-ned to do it himself., With a small gimlet he bored a hole in the top raihng of c^■ery pew, and inserted therein a piece of holly about tM-o or three inches in length— "only that a„,l nothing more." It was an Innnble tribute of devotion of his untutored inin.l to the advent of ti.e Savwur, and was, doubtless, as acceptable on ac- count ot the motive as the more gorgeous displays of the i.rescnt da.-. It had its ..ffect, also, upon the congi-egatioii, for at every recurrence of that holy season there were willing hands enough to decorate the clnirch for the coming of its Lord. ' Among some denonn-nations at tin's time an easy fam.hanty betu-een the minister and his congregation ' was frequently exhibited during service, .and was not regarded as mdecorous or out of place. As illustra- tive .,1 this ,t ,s «-el] remembered that on one occasion, ■'" ■■' puMi.. gathering, at the eonclu.sion of the ser- Vic<-s, the nmnsier .announced that a collection would SKETCH OF ST. .JAlIE.s's I'AKIStl. ,'3,5 then be talicnui., and called upon two of tiie brethren to pass round the hat, whereupon a gentleman of much promineuce in the community iminere]iaratory to closing the services. The individual who led the choir, and whose duty it was to raise the tunes, struck the key note so high that he was .soon com]ielled to come to a sudden stop. Nothing daunted by his failure, in a few moments he made another effort, and, as is frequently the ease at such time.s, went to the other extreme, and got the tune so low that, after floundering through a few bar.-, his voice sinking lower and lower at every tone, it tinally ceased altogether. A dead silence reigned for a time, broken only by the half-suj)]jre.ssed titterings of the more thoughtless portion of the congregation, when tlie minister, with a peculiarly bland expression of countenance, gently remarked, "I think— brethren— we liad better— pray." Not so thought the leader of the choir, for he immediately exclaimed from his ■■■■'.':t-'ri ■ 'Hiii-rr'^' f-'i f^^ mm BMP'- S'=-n;f;f Hi.- ■ lii: ilai-i r' .'ii; sKjyrcii OK ST. .tamks's rAiiisii. IKisitioii ill tlic gallery directly opiuisito the jtiilpii,, "hold cm, In-othei' ]5., we'll have licr uji directly," and, making a final ciTovt, happily struck the right pitch, and carried the tunc to a triunijihant termination. In recalling these incidents of other days, we liojio we will not lie accused of any intention to make light of sacred things, or to reflect upon the [licty of the '•old time" Christians. ]''ar from it, for we are of tliose who dt'light in recalling the simj)lieity of those veal's gone by, licfore the era of (juiet had gi\cn place to that of jirogress. It is in our natui'c to recur with jileasure to the a.'^.^oeiations of our childhood, and we mav be par- iloned if those associations .i.ssume in our memoi-ies a beauty and a cliann wdiieli the changes brought by maturer years fail to i>rescnt, "We love those good old times, as we arc wont to call them, and however the jiresent may or may not have improved upon them, however the intellect may judge between them and the ]n-esent, our affections stUl cling to them. Therefore, we say again, let no one suppose that wc I'eflcct for a moment ujion the jiiety or reverence of tho.'^e Christians of old times. To return from this digression. The arrangement with Dr. Judd continued until Jfay, 181G, when he I'csigned, and was succeeded by Br. Em])ie, who i-etnrnod to the charge of the parish shortly after its relinquishment by Lis iircdecessor. At this time the congregation liad so much increased that it was found necessary to add to the number of SKETCH OF ST. .lAMEb's PAIUSII. 37 pews, which was d(jne by the erection of side L'al leries. From this period onward to the 3car 1827, when the next vacancy occurred, the affairs of the parish were highly pro.sjjerou.s. ]5csides the Sunday schools and Bible classes which were instituted and kept in successful operation by the rector, an association for the education of poor eliildren, another for the pur- cliixse and grattdtous distribution of Bibles and Prayer Books, and a third for the formation of a parochial hbrar}', all (;ame into being, and were sustained with a highly cro(htablc liberality. In May, 1827, Dr. Empie again resigncrl the rector- ship, and removed to Williamsburg, Va., to a.ssume the Presidency of William and Mary College, to which he h.ad been elected. With feelings of the deepest regret the congregation of St. .James parted with their beloveil rector. The tic that bound them together w;is of a peculiarly tender nature. He had come among them when the church numbered but a mere handful, and had been active and untiring in the discharge of the duties of his sacred ollicc, ° nd (xod haisho|) H;ivensciMll in an eminent degree, who invariably .spoke of liim as ■'thai eniphiitie preacher." ami who decjily ii'uretled his removal from the dioee.se.f After ser\-iii;i- f"r some years as President of William an] Mary Colle,L;e, Dr. jimpie rcsig-ned the position to accept the reetorshiii of a new church, wliieh had been buili in Hiehmond for him. and named St» James, in compliment to hi.s old parish of St, Jamcti, in Wilmington. There he continued to serve most aeccpt.ibly until the intirmitias of age compelled him to retire from the active duties of life. iMifeebled by ili.sease. and having passed the atjc * At the Diocos.in Convention al New Benio, in 1S27, Bishop Eavensoroft, in his .iddrcss, lluis refers to this parisli: "Much satis- faction had been e.xpcrieiiced in liis visit to tlic large and increasing coi.frre;calion (at Wilmington). The person il atUchraenl of tho members to tlieir pa.'^tor, tlieir attainments in Cliristiau l'•'< ■ ■■;■ i 0i v.,- K;! ',"t mm;: F!t3-1 M\^ 4-i SKETCH OF ST. JAMES's PARISH. of his inauncr— a digaitv that repelled all attouipt.-i at familiarity, but at fhc same time was natural and unafloctod. Over .si.v feet in height, with a frame of hei-culeau proportions, indicating great powers of on- ■durance, he towered among men like Saul among his brethren, and. as he walked the .streets, the groups tliat gatheretl on the sidewalks would turn .again to gaze upon that noble specimen of vigorous ma°ihood. His voice was of wonderful i)owcr, deep toned and sonorous, and when under the inOuenee of strong amotion or excited by his subject, it rolled forth like peals of thunder, lie was a strong wan every way, ■self-reliant and conscious of his powers, and would have gone to the stake without the tremor of a muscle in defence of a principle. He had peculiarities— or, rather, idiosvncra.sies— which displayed themselves frequently, even in .the pulpit In giving out a hymn he would inform the choir that he wished a certain tune to bo suiur to the word.s. The tune " China," for instance, wh'ieh wa^ a great favorite with him, he would announce thus: bing the 75th hymn, to the tune of ' Chany ' " as he invariably pronounced it, and no other tunc but Ohany was sung— it mattered not whether the tune was appropriate to the words or the rcvei-sc, for when a command issued f,-om those lips it was promptly and nnphcitly obeyed. He would not tolc-atc the taist irreverence in church, it made no diilerence who the oflendmg parties might be; whether hi-h or low male or female, the reproof was direct, and in laa- SKETCH OF ST. ,7A.MES's PARISH. §W^ 4.3 guagc too plain to be misunderstood; and yet, under all this rough cx'tcrior, he had a loving heart and tender sym])athics. "Wc remember, during one of his visitations to the pari.sh, the Sunday school ola.sscs were ranged around the chancel to lie catechi.sed by him. °aud stood trembling and abashed before his august presence, lie noticed their trepidation, and .spoke to them in .so kind and gentle a manner as not only to reassure them but comjiletely to win their confidence. The writer well I'ecolleets a question iiropoundcd to him by the bishoj), and the answer— quite a long one which was fluently given. The stern old bishop arose from his chair, and, approaching the youth, patted him gently on the head, remarking, at the .same time. " Well done, iny lad; if you live to be a man, I expect you will become a bisliop." Candor compels us to sa^- that there is not the remotest jirobability of the fulfilment of the good bishop '.s prognostication. The Church in tlii.s diocese owes a heavy debt of gratitude to John Stark Ravenseroft, its fir.st bishoj), for he laid its foundations deep and strong, and the result of his labors is seen in that rigid adherence, which is so consjiicuous on the part of its members, to that faith " which was once delivered to the saiuts." In the month of December, 1827, the Rev. T. S. W. ilott was called to the rectoi-ship of the pari.sh, and became its minister, but, in consequence of feeble health, was comjielled to leave after serving only ■mm iilfif' tllii !s illf^vr,. .''■f,i. 44 !ureliased. and a eouiforfable reetoi-v "pro- vided for the minister. For this very important measure the parish is indebted almost entirely to n, sewing .society anuHio; the ladies of th(> congregation —an a.ssociation which through a .series of yeai^ has scattered its benefactions with a lilieral hand over every |iart of the dioeese.* This so<'iety was ineorp(irated in 1833-4 by the Legislature of North Carolina, ami authorized to hold property. L'pon the lot which they purcha,sed near the elnireh. a (•ommodious hall, for the jjurpose of a free school, was subseipiently erected bv the munill- cenco of Governor p:dward 15. Dudle.y and P. K. Dickinson, Ks(|., an! his sacred calling, and was ordained to the mini.stiy, in the old church of St. James, by tlie Right Eev. L. Silliman Ives,* who ♦ Bishop Ives was elected, upon the 21st of Mny, at the Diocesan CoDvention of lS:tl, holii in the City of Rpleigli, and was conse- crated in Trinity Church, Soiilhwark, Philadelpliin, upon tlie 22d of Septerjiher, in tlic same year, by Bishop White, of PennsylvoLi.i (presidinj.'), Bishops H. U. Onderdonk (assisting), of Pennsylvania, and B. T. Onderdonk, of New York (assisting). i? SKETCH OF ST. JAMES's PAIUSH. 47 was at that time Bishop of the Diocese. Upon the resignation ot Mr. Cairns, as already stated, he be- came the rector of this pari.sh, and, until his health gave way, was its faithful and eiKcient jjastoi'. Accepting a call to St. Luke's Church, Salisbury he continued to officiate there until his removal to. South Carolina. At the Convention of the Churcli in that diocese, in the year 1853, although he had been a resident of the State not more than six years, he was elected Bishop of the Diocese, and up to'the^ time of his lamented death, in December, 1871, wore the priestly robes of his liigh office free from spot 01- blemish. He was a faithful minister of God in reprovincr m exhortation and instruction, bold in the perform-' imce of duty, yet most gentle in his daily intercourse with the world. As a pulpit orator he was remark- able for the clear elucidation of his subjects, his powers of analysis and argument, and for the fervent piety that breathed in every word. Those who lis- tened could not fail to be imi)resscd by the deep sin- cerity of his convictions. By precept" and e.xtnnplc, liy the elevated tone of his morality, and the saintly purity of his life, he advanced the cause of his Master's kingdom on earth, while by liis gentle sub- mission to the will of God, under his .severe affiic tions during the latter years of his life, he was an example to all around him of the Chri.stian gi'ace of patience. We have now traced the principal circum.stancea ''^ -S] ■ ».. f' •- it y' ill m ; t. 1 If I ::iSS«')b f i'vH '; ■ Iffe-r mi mi- km pa ~. i ■•1; 48 SKETCH OI'- ST. .TAMI^S'S l>AlUSn. ill the historv of the Parisli dnwii to the time when the Rev. K. B. Diniie, 1). I)., tii-st beeamo connected with it. Tliis wa,< in .Inly, 183(5. Wlien Dr. Dninc eoninieuced his niini.stry in St. James, tlie olJ chiircii, wliieh had been bnilt before tlic Revolntion, wa.s found to be in a condition demanding i-ej),iii-s nearly cqwal to the cost of a new (■hureh. After giving the matter a degree of consideration whicli its importance demanded, it wa.s judgciiro].ria1c religious exer- cises, an impressive address was delivered by the rev- erend rector. "After expressing his gi-eat gi'atification at the event which had called them together, .and the pleas- ing prospects which were opening before the parish, tlie s]ieaker proceeded to pay a merited compliment, to tlie good taste of the Vestry exhibited in the mode according to which they had determined to erect, their church. The .style of the building, he remarked,.- (which is Gothic), was peculiarly adapted to sacred uses. The experience of ages had j.roved that it was. better calculated than any other to fdl men with awe and reverence, to repress the tumult of unreflecting gaiety, and to render tlie mind sed.ate and .solemn. It was a just remark, that whatever tended to make men serious and devout when they aj^proached the Divine M.ajesty, w.as an auxiliary to His service, and the pro- viding of that which i)roduced this eflect in the high- est deg,-ee, was an act by which we, doubtless, hon- ■ ored our Maker. •' This w.as followed by some appropriate remark.'?, on the hallowed a.ssoeiations which would forever- hereafter be connected with the spot on which they stood, and the influence of the peculiar ser^'^ees of the Cluireh in rendering these associations valuable. It was one of the distinguishing excellencies of our worship, he remarked, that many of the prayers SKETCH OF ST. .TAMES'S PAEISII. .51 ■' whicli it contains had come down to us from the earliest and jmrest ages of Christianity. They were the prayers of Basil and .Chrysostom, of Cyin-ian and Augustine, of Cranmer, Latimer and Kidley; and it was a pleasing thought that our children would here-^ after be able to say of ns, as we now say of tlie bless- ed men who have gone befoi-e us, 'These prayers our fathers have uttered, and this sanctuary, erected by their zeal and liberality, is the patrimony which they have bequeathed to us.' "At the conclusion of his address the rector read the following pajier : " Pro JJco, pro Ecdesia, pro iiomiium, salute. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost Amen. " This corner stone of St James's Church is laid this third day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine (1839), the Eight Eev. Levi Silliman Ives, D. D., LL. D., being Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, the B^ Rev. Robert Brent Drane, A. M., being the Rector of ' the Parish, and officiating on the occasion. ' " Dr. A. J. DeRosset, ) ^, , ',„ , ■. ,■ ■. " William 0. Lord, \ Church Wardens. ■ "Dr. Thomas H, Weight,. Dr. A. J. DeRosset, ■ Jr., William B. Giles, Willlam A. Williams, James T.. Miller, Vestrymen. "The plan of this building was designed by T. U. Walter, of Philadelphia, and executed under the di- lf-f:i' mm-' :I hi -"^ ftS.Jfi 5 ■: '■'•Tin*' i"-'- ll'M"!!' 'A >, ; • Sir 'It fi^''':, r' • Wii- ■ ■ i^^mB . 52 SKETCH 01' ST. JAMES'S TAKISU. ivctioii vi Jolin S. Norris. of New York, hv J. C. Wood, as principal mason, and C. 11. Dall, as princi- pal carpenter. ' Otiicr fouiulation can no man lay than that which is laid, even Jesus Christ.' ' May the gates of hell never prevail against it' " The oi'iginal Chnivli uf St. James stood about lifty yards ca.'^t of this spot, near the eoi-ncr of the grave- yard. It was ciinnnenccil in the year 1751, but not completed till 1770. In con.sciiuencc of its location (partly in the street), its dcea3-cd condition, and the inconvenience of its internal ariangements, it was taken down in lS3tl. and a jKirtion of its materials used in the erection of this building. The lot on which the ])rescut chureh is erected was purcha.sed from Ur. A. J. UoRosset, Sr., for tlio .sum of one thousand dollars, of which sum the Ladies' Working Society and the Juvenile Working Society have agreed to jjay six hundred dollar.s. " The Right Rev. John Stark Ravenseroft, the first BisUop of the Diocese of North Carolina, a native of Prince George county, Va., was born in the year 1772 : was ordained deacon the 25th of April, 1817 ; and priest the 6th of May follownng, by the Right Rev. Richard C. Moore, Bisliop of the Diocese of Virginia; wa.s unanimously elected Bishoj) of North Carolina, April 12, 1823, by the Convention of the Chureh licld at Salisbury in that year, and was duly consecrated to the ofBce in St. Paul's Church, in the City of Philadelphia, 22d May, 1823. At the time of Lis election he was rector of St. James's Chm-ch, SKETCH OF ST. JAJfES's PAKISH. . 5.3 Mecklenburg County, Va. Bishop Ravenseroft* de- parted this life, in the City of Raleigh, on 5th ilareh, 1830, and his rem.ains were deposited under the chan- cel of Christ Church, Raleigh. He bequeathed his library to the Diocese, and the copy of his works to the Episcopal Bible and Prayer B.wk Society of thi.s Diocese. " Martin Van Bqren, Pre^u/e»i ofihc Unikd States. " Edward B. Dudley, Governor of North Carolina. " Alexander Anderson, .Magistrate of Police, Town of Wihrdmjton. "James F. McRee, Armand J. DeRosset, Jr., W. J. Harrlss, E. P. Hall, Commissioners of the Tou-n of Wilmington. " John A. Lillinoton, Toivn Clerk. " Population of Wilmington, 3,500." With the above there were deposited in tlie corner sUmc a Bible, a Prayer Book, Journal of the Conven- tion of North Carolina, for 1838, Bi.shop Ives's second charge to the clergy of his diocese. Journal of the General Convention for 1838, Churchman's Almanac, Swords's Pocket Almanac, " Tlie Banner of the Cross," "The Spirit of Missions," "Journal of Reli- ■* Bishop Ravenseroft, consecrated by Bisliop White, of Penn., presidiog; and Bishops Griswold, of Eastern Diocese; Kemp, of Md.' Croea, of N. J. ; Eowen, S. C. ; and Broivnell, of Conn., assisting. ' K'r I tMif imr 'T!-;F h. If,!-... r.i SICUTCH OF ST. .T/VMES'S I'AKISn. gious Kiliii'iitiiin," '■ Chililivii's Sundnv School M:ig- x/.uu\" " Wilminutnii Ailvoitiser." •' Wiliiiiiigtoii ChiMiiicIo," the Cliavtci- cif the \Viliiiiiij.tou ami Ha- leigli Hiiilniiul Oompiiiiy, aiuJ several speoiiiuMis of AiiU'ricau roiii. 'I lie eliureli whose eoi-ner stjjiu' was tlius laiil was so far eompleted within twelve iiioiitlis as to be ready for coiiseoi-atioii. 'J'his .solemnity was pei-foninvl hy the Kigl.t Rev. Dr. Ives, assisteil hy the roetor and several other clergymen, on the fourth Sunday iu Lent. .Afaroh 29tli, 1840, and the house thus opened for di\-iue serviee lias ever since been well attemled by a large and increasing congregation of woi-sliippei-s. The beautiful bronze chandeliers, by wdiioh the chureh wa.s lighted jirior t<^ the introduction of ga.s, as well as the furniture for the desk and imlpit, were the gifts of the ladies of the congregation. The bell and clock— the latter now, and for years past, like its generous donor, .silent— were presented to the parish by that estimable gentleman, the late P. K. Dickinson, ii-sf]. The marble font was purchased bv the rector, with money i>lfieed in his hands by the 'little girls of his charge. The communion plate of the church con- sists of one nagon, two chalices, one i)aten and altar spoon, all of virgin silver, and each, with the excep- tion of the spoon, inscribed with the appropriate rnotto: " Cruce Christi Confido." This plate is understood, in the first instance, to have been jji-eseuted to the parLsh by the late Gen- eral Smith, of Brunswick county, formerly Govenior ;i SICETCH OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. .55 mm 5C SKETCH OF ST. JASIES'S PAKISH. Dr. Arm.nn.l John OcRossf-f, c.f wliom wc speak, wns born in Wilniington, November 17, 1767. His fiithei-, Iktopes John DcRoPset, wiis M.ayor of tlic town fit tlie time of tlie j.ass.age of the Stan"ip Act by Par- liament, aii.l acted well liis j.nrt (l\irin-<■■-■ oS SKETOn OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. cnioi' to the peoplo, only to have his hospitality con- tumuod. Tho ox w:i,s thrown into tho rivef, and tlio beer dischurgud upon the ground. On the 26th of .June, the Mayoi-, Recorder, and Aldermen of Wilmington presented an addr0s.s to the Governor, congratulating hini upon the repeal of the Stamp Act. Tlie address ended with a denunciation of tho mis- representations that had been made to the Governor of the conduct of the t*)wn. The Governor replied that his impression of the deportment of the citiz.cns of the town grew out of lii.s own ob.servations. To this John DeRosset, the Mayor, and nineteen gentle- men of the Board rejoined: They profes.sed "ex- treme sorrow at some of the expressions in the Governor's answer, wliieh might be construed to charge the Borough with some marks of intentional disrcsi)cct, which they diselaimed, affirming that thoy should sincerely oondenin it, as inconsistent with the dutiful affection towards the King's representative which they should always cultivate, with the grateful return of sentiment which his personal merit justly ■claimed." They concluded, "that if, oppres,sed by the late act, some commotion of the county seemed to threaten a dei)urture from moderation, the Governor, they hoped, would not impute those transactions to any other motive than a conviction that moderation ceases to be a virtue when the liberty of the British subject is in danger." At what point in America was the Stamp Act SKETCH OF ST. JAilES's I'AIUSH. 59 more fearlessly or gallantly ojjposed':" No di.sgui.sc, no stratagem, no shriidcing, but straightforward, open, manly resistance. There are few brighter pages in the history of North Carolina than those which record the aetion.s of such men as Harnett,* Ashe, Waddcll, Lillington, Moore, Howe, and others, all of this section of thc° col- ony. This manly resistance to oppression in any form was charaetorhstie of our people, and had many noble illustrations in the recent war between tlie states. It was amidst such scenes and among such a people that the youthful daj-s of Di-. Deliosset were passed. In early life he had advantages for the attainment of knowledge beyond most young men of his day, at- tending school in liillsboro' and matriculating at the College of New Jeraey, at Princeton, in 1784. In tho year 1788 he went to Philadelphia, to attend the lec- tures at the Medical College, I'endered famous by the ■ genius and skill of the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush, and became the pupil of tliat great man. It wa.s not long before he won the friendship and esteem of his preceptor. In company with Dr. Rush he enjoyed tho honor and pleasure of several interviews with Benjamin Franklin. He received his medical diploma in the year 1790 and immediately returned home, and with eharacter- * Tlio tomb of Cornelius HaraeU is atill lo bo seen in tlje old bunar ground of St. Jamos's. A monument, commoinorati-ze of his exalted patriotism, should long since have been reared to this "Samuel Adams of North Carolina," as he was justly termed. CO SKETCH OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. SKETCH OF ST. JAJVIES'S I'AUISH. (31 'st.c energy a,„l in,l„st,-y e.tcre.l ni„m the pn,ctiec of his profcsl,,,, .Inst hefnre he opc.,e,l his office the venenihle Dr. .7ol,„ Fergus retired from tl,e pro' fess,o„, .an,] u-ith Inn, finally .lisnj.pe.ire,! t),e cocked -M from the Lower Capo Fear. But he left behind h.m as ccniipetitors in his profession Drs. Fer-us Claypole, Col.ham, Geekie, Laroqne, Nathaniel Hill' ■ and some of these were fornii.lable ant<',iro„ists Dr' Fergus h.a.l served ,as a surgeon in the annv, and w.xs pronounced by ^[r. Joeelyu* nhe greatest genius over ra.sed in the town." Clayix.le,t Cobham and Hdl were all well educated and skilful practitioners; Ur. Hdl had receive.l his medical education at Edin- burgh, and was gifte.l l>y n.tture witlt a powerful inimc .and vigorous constitution. He succeeded to the chief part of the practice of the elder Fergus. Thougli tlie tield was thu.s crowded, Dr. D°eRosset by ns intelligence and a,s.siduity, .soon secured the public esteem, and obtained a lucrative and respect- .^5^1e share of jmtronage, second only to that of Dr. Buring the perio.l extending from the close of the devolution t« the .second war with Great Britain, tlie people of Wilmington and its vicinage were distin- guislied for gaiety, cordiality, generosity and .socia- • S.mud R. Jocdyn, the gr.at equity lawyer of Xorth Carolina. .nd .. ^^'^ "'^ ''™"'" "'" "" P'"l^1'-''l'''ia editor and printer, .-^Qd cau>o ov.r to tl.is country «iti, Willian. Penn. He was a .real or ;; tcit; " '™'"^'"' ■-" '^^^"''^''"- °^ ">^ '-^ ^- o «.'', bility. ]\[any opulent rice planters made the town their residence for a great part of the year. Men of leisure, in conjunction with gentlemen of the liberal professions, moderated and relined the spirit of trade, and gave an elevated tone to society. Their dwellings were plain, furniture simple— not for show, but daily use. There was much hearty social intercourse, and with it a hirge indulgence in the pleasures of the table. The woods furnished game in abundance, and the ri\-er and neighboring ocean many varieties of fish. Racing was generally indulged in, and gentle- men prided themselves rather upon the quality of their horses than the style of their equipages. Self-poised and temperate in all things, Dr. DeRos- set, while he shared the pleasures of his companions,- was never known to transgress the limits of propriety and moderation. He, in the whole course of his life, never knew, save by the report of others, what wa.s meant by a "debauch." In 1822 the doctor was elected a Director in the Bank of Ca])e Fear, and was annually re-elected until Ins death. In the discharge of the functions of this office, he was, in the language of the late president of the bank, Dr. Thomas H. Wright, "faithful and regular iu attendance at the sessions of the Board, was a feariess and independent officer, aud rendered the bank much valuable sendee."' Years rolled on, and different generations of phy- sicians disappeared from the scene, and new actors made their entry upon the stage, but the " old doctor," \l r: ■I I jr^ i>! Si,'.!!''-'- f- ■ M»5i:'i 1 'k ¥j lit 02 SKETCH OF S>T. .lAMES'S I'AKTWII. SKE'i'CII OF ST. JAMES'S TAUISH. 63 ns lie was affect iniiatcly called !or nearly half a cen- tury, lield his own well against all comers. His ]n-actice Av.as ahv.ayslarce and remunerative. In liis intercom-se with his brethren he scrnjnilovisly ohsei'ved the rule? of medical etiquette, was bland, courteous and polite, .and ever ready to rendei- them a service; was promj)t. an~^■■ B'|i;! f, T. W. Brown, A. If Van BoKKELEN, N. N. Nixon, A. A. Brown, GEORaE Davis, Cornelius Myers, C. W. Bkadley Vestr,, men. ' •^ '' The plan of the building was designed by Wells and Dudley, Architects, of New York. "Franklin Pierce, President of the United States. '• David S. Reid, Governor of North Carolina. "John Dawson, J%wfrate of Police of Toom of Wilmington. "W. G Howard, T. C. Miller, S. D. Wallace, Dr. W. W. Harriss, Miles Costin, C. H. Dudley, Ojmmisuoners of Oie Tovm of Wilrninglon. "Richard Morris, Town Clerk." Articles deposited in the corner stone : One Bible one Book of Common Prayer in the English lan- guage, one Book of Common Prayer in the German MoCoskry, of Michigan; and Otey, ofTennesaee (assisting). On this OccM.on. tho lines of English and American sueoession wero reunited -Bishop Spencer, of Madras, and Biahop Medley, of Fredorioktoa taningpart in the act of consecration. ' 6 . ■\ '.''■ 1 1 jr.: EM I'f*' CG sioETcii or ST. jA:(n5s's pakish. Innguiige, Joarnnl o( llio General Convention for 1850, Journal of the Convention of the Dioeese of North Carolina for 1853, Eev. Dr. Dranc's Historical Notices of St. James's Parish, Swords's Pocket Al- manno, and Church Register for 1853. Tlie following Church papei-s r " The Register," of November 19th,. 1853; ".Church Jounial," of November 3d, 1853; " Church Herald,'' of November 4th, 1853; and the following papei-s of the town : " The Daily Journal," of November 21, 1853 ; " Wilmington Uer.ald," of Novem- ber 19, 1853 ; " Tri-Weekly Commercial," of Novem- ber 19, 1853 ; ■• Weekly Commercial," of November 18, 1853 ; and '■ Wilmington Free Press," of November 11, 1853 ; together with specimens of American coin. The services were of a very impressive character. Even the mere worldly man, living only for the tran- sitory pleasures of this life, might have turned from his accustomed juath, and gazed upon such a scene with some re-awakening of holier and better emotions. The ceremonies were closed by the Bishop in a. series of remarks, forcible, eloquent, and impressive. He alluded to the occasion as one of great interest and hopefulness to the Church, the first instance in the history of the State whei-e the claims of the Cliurch demanded in the same place an additional house of prayer. It wits an indication that the Gos- pel of Christ in this Diocese was awakening an ad- ditional interest, and that from her late triaP' th& Church was moving still onward in the true path. .. * Tho defection of Bishop Ives. ' '" SIfETCU OF ST. JAJIES'S PARISH. (J7 •, ■ He said th.atthe new building w.as an honor to the people who projected it, but th.at in this they were : only supplying the necessary wants of the Church . and providing for tho.se whom the limits of St. James were in.adequate to accommodate. He alluded in feeling terms to the venerable man who ha■.. ^ " ■ lor a quarter of a century, when he passed to his rest The relationship existing between him and hia flock was like that of a father of a family. Chil- ■drcn whom he had received into the Church in holj' baptism had grown up around him. Their little •ones again were being brought into the Church, and, in blessing them, lie felt as if they were his own. The success which attended his ministrations as a pari.sh priest is the best evidence of the faithful man- ner in which he performed the duties of the sacred office. In labors he was abundant, and the fruit of those labors is seen in the prospeiity of the parisli with which his name will be for all time connected. He was a man of portly presence and great dig- nity of manner. More methodical than brilliant, more argumentative than fanciful, he was at all times impressive and frequently eloquent. As a pulpit ■orator he was distinguished for cogency of reasoning and the earnestness with which he enforced the truths he inculcated. His style was clear, vigorous and forcible, not disdaining ornament, but using it simply by way of illustration. He was a laborious student, a man of decided ability, skilled in dialectics, and remarkable for his strong practical common sense and his knowledge of the world. Like all men of positive character, he made no concealment of liis 'opinions on matters either ecclesiastic or political. Hence, when the war between the States broke out, believing that the cause of the .South was just, \ \:iv )'.' k ?,•■ '■' I It ■ , V \ . I •is P' ii ji-!''> '■ . \ 72 SKETCH OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. be did not liesitate to tlirow the weight of his influ- ence in licr belKilf, and to advocate her aiuse with all tlie ardoi' of his sanguine temperament. He was courteous and affable, not given to levity but, m the society of friends, enjoyed in the highest degree the charms of social intercourse. A devoted pastor, a true friend, an earnest soldier of the Cross and a Christian gentleman in the broadest sense of tlie term. In 1840 he received a call to Christ Church, Ea- leigh and again in 1847 a pressing one to Ann.apolis, Maryland, his native St.ite, but the ties that bound Inm to bt. James were too near his heart, and could not be broken. Both were declined. During his rectorship the present church of St James, an record their deep sense of the bereavement which S/ If congregation they represent, have sus- tained m the removal from among them of that eimnently good, and wise, and devout, and useful ''J^<^M, That, having known him long, and cZZ ™.-^'"' 'H'^'' ^''^' the fullest and most ' 001 dial testimony to his remarkable excellence as a ^♦"^^1*""^"' ^"'^' "^^"^'^ ""> ''^s a minister of winst I hat he was judicious, energetic, kind, firm, otuutinngzeal and immovable steadfastness in the performance of his hi^h duties. That, having lived amongst us for near thirty years, he was re|arded 5 F-^^iK' 74 SKETCH OF ST. JAJVIES'S PARISH. with profoiuid respect by the whole community, while in his own congregation the young reverenced him as a father, and tlie old honored and loved liim as a wise, sympathizing and affectionate friend, and all looked np to him as a man of God, earnestly .and unfalteringly seeking to point out to them, and to lead them in the way to, a better and eternal world. "7it'.?o/c»/, That his death was an untimely, but noble and appro)>riate tcrmin.atlon of his life. He died a.she lived, at the post of duty, seeking to alle^^ato the suffering's and to soothe tl'ie sorrows of the sick and the alUietcd in the late dreadful pestilence which lias desolated this town; caiTving the consol.ations of the Gospel where they were so much needed. The Angel of God found him at his proper work, and called him immediately, we doubt not, to a glorious reward. " Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be .sent to ■ the famil3- of Dr. Drane, and that the Daily Journal, iiewsiia]ier of this town, and the C/airch In- telligencer, of Ealeigh, be also requested to publish them." In compliance with the earnest and unanimous de- ■sire of the Vestry, the Eight Rev. Thomas Atkinson, D. D., consented, in December, 1862, to aecejjt the rectorship of the parish, with the understanding that it was not to interfere with his oflicial duties to the diocese, and that he should have the privilege of ap- pointing his a,s.«istant. The latter part of this ar- rangement was carried out Ijy the appointment of the Re\'. Alfred A. Watson, in March, 1863. In De-. cember, 1864, the Bishop resigned the rectorship of ' the Parish, and the Rev. Mr. Watson was unani- ■ SKETCH OP ST. JAJIES's PARISH. 75 ■mously elected to the vacancy— a position which he still hohk We know tliat we do but simple ju.stice- to the feelings of the parishioners when we give utterance to the prayer that his days " may be long in this land." As an evidence of the ajipreci-ation of the services of the Bi.sho]) .as rector of the parish, the following resolutions, jiassed by the Vcstj-y, in accepting hi's resignation, which wo copy from the records, will not be ina])pro]>riate : " Resolved, That this Vestry dee]ily regret that cir- curnstanccs have ari.sen, and are likely to continue, such as to induce our Right Rev. Paster to consider It necessarj- to dissolve his connection with this parish as Its rector. ''Resolved, That, in accepting his resignation, we v. Mj'. JfeDowcll 170,0 to 17G3. Rev. Mr. Barrett 170.5 to 176f) Rev. Mr. Wills 170(3 ^ 177^^ Rev. Dr. Hailing 1795 iq ig,jg Rev. Dr. Empie LSH to 1814 Rev. Dr. Judd 1814 to 1816 Rev. Dr. Empie 181G to 1S27 Rev. i\rr. jMott from Dec. 1827 to June 1828 Rev. Mr. Cainis 1829 to 1833 Rev, .Mr. Davis I8S3 to 1836 Rev. Dr. Drane 1830 to 1843 Rev. .Mr. Wilmer 1843 to 1844 SIvETCrr OF ST. JAMES'S PARISH. 83 ^111 1802 to 1804 1863 to 1804 1804 still in oflice 1870 to 1871 1872 to 1873 Rev. Geo. Wilmci', assistant.. 1S43 to 1844 Rev. Dr. Drano, rector 1844 to 1862 Right Rev. Thom.as Atkin.son, rector Ro\-. Dr. Watson, assistant . Rev. Dr. Watson, rector. Hev. Geo. Patter.-ion, a.ssi.stant liev. J. B. I'urccll, Rev. J. R. JoMici-, ■ Many and v:.st have been the changes in the parish j,smcc the corner stone of the church ^^'as laid Cus foms and codes of ancient date, laws regulating so- ciety, long settled and deemed secure, and the form of government itself, have all l.cen swq.t away but notwithstanding the convulsive throes of revolutions and the obliteration of nearly all ^thc old lan.lmarks o the past, that church still lifts its turrets to the sk,es,st,l firmly stands, the visible emblem of "the Clmreh o the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. We here conclude our notices of this interestin-r old parish. The lesson to be learned from this, al froni all Church history, ,s a Icson of faith in the Author of all truth, the Founder and Preserver of that rehgion of which the Church is the ai)poi.,ted keeper and witness m the world. The foregoing sketch, brief and imperfect as it 'is will not have been written in vain if it shall lead one churchman, who reads the records of the trials and deliverances of his chui'ch, to utter more fervently 1 {t'i'.i 'SI ■'; ' ■ I'li ::■■ : *xff (. (Ul> ! I- < «,l.-. - • •■' !!■■■ :' ' 84 SKETCH OF ST. .TAMES'.S PARISH. those words ot the Litany, " Oli, God. wc h.avc hc.inl with oui- e.avs, and our fatlicr.-; have told n^:, tlic duIjIi; worlcs wliich thou didst in their da^-s, and in tlie old time before tliem." "^^a\' His continual ]iity still eleanse and defend Ilis Chnreh, and may the eourse of this world be so jieaccaljly ordered by [lis govern- ance that His Church may joyfully serve Ilini iu all godly quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.'' \ k. <> I I tyyyi^^^^^^^L^s, m ;i:5- m y'-r mi '■X- it'- it, .' r ■ 4Li6-t^/!^V' 84 SlvETCn OF ST. .TAJIES'S TARISH. those words of the Litany, " Oli, God, we liave henrd with our ears, and our fallicr,- have told us, tin; noble woi-ks which thou didst in thciv days, and in llie old time befove tliem." "Af^v llic o.^..*: (JJ /■ ^l I ol ai g' tyitK- .Mr-ti^ Rf i^^^^w.. ;:^-/^:| ii''!^^' rtll" S !«»- .S4 STvETCH OF ST. .TAJIES'S TARISir. those wovdr: of the Litniiy, ■' Oh, God, wc have heai'd witli our cars, .ami our fathers have tohl us, the noble works wliieh thou didst in tlicir days, .and in tlie ohl time before tlipm " "Afn,- n;^. o.,.^*: ' — •'■- -'=" ^*^*2^^*-o cJa %i/- i si;; r /z^^/i-^ 4-«. i^ /^i^- ^^^--^ A- t^^'"\ ^/t^/ a6^^ ^-y^ ^^^-^- (O.J W '■,^^: —e'^L-i^ I //■ ^~^u^^ '^'^ . . . ^^~ III ht-ey A€^ rwiZL /TUn^L.^^ ^Uja^u-^u^ 62%6^. ^,\ f; J.d. (X- 'ir' /./TSL^^ |l!fH \i ff-'-^cV/ Jcetf^ it^i'-^ ^ti^^^a^tCJL 0^--e^ ^A-a i£e^ ^4£l, ti^eL^/. dc^-£e^/(^, lyi.^. 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