Historical Sketches of the Missions in 
 Charge of the Rev, Fred'k W. Wey 
 
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 HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 flissions in Charge 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Rev. Fred'k W. WEY, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 MISSIONARY JURISDICTION OF ASHEV1LLE, N. C. 
 
 MURPHY, n. c: 
 ALFRED MORGAN, JOB PRINTER. 
 
 1897. 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Flissions in Charge 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Rev. Fred'k W. WEY, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 MISSIONARY JURISDICTION OF ASHEVILLE, N. C. 
 
 MURPHY, N. C: 
 
 ALFRED MORGAN, JOB PRINTER. 
 
 1897. 
 
It is hoped by the Author that these few pages, 
 written at odd moments, chiefly after mid-night 
 hour's, will interest the kind friends who have in the 
 past contributed to the maintenance of the work in 
 these mountains, and upon whose contributions the 
 continuance of this much needed work greatly de- 
 pends. To them I dedicate these sketches with a grate- 
 ful heart for their kindness and generosity, and with 
 earnest prayer that the Giver of every good gift will 
 bless them most abundantly. 
 
 FBEDK. W. WET, 
 Missionary in Charge. 
 

 INTBODTJCTION. 
 
 
 The object of this little sketch is two-fold : First, to show 
 the difficulties the Church has had, and which she still has, to 
 a very great extent, to contend with in her endeavor to gain a 
 foothold in this section of the country ; and what has been the 
 results of her feeble efforts. Secondly, to interest the friends 
 of missions so as to obtain the adequate means to make the 
 work of the Church more effective in the future. 
 
 It may seem strange to those who live in large communities, 
 in the centres of commerce and great manufacturing enter- 
 prises, or even in thickly settled rural districts, where the 
 Church is full of life and activity and where she has rapidly 
 increased in numbers, wealth and influence till she has secured 
 her true position as the representative of primitive Christian- 
 ity, that after many years of effort and meagre support by the 
 Church at large she should to-day be in so feeble a condition 
 in this section as to cry for help, in order that she may keep 
 up her struggles for existence. But when we make a contrast 
 of conditions and the many difficulties she has had to en- 
 counter from the beginning in this section, we are surprised 
 that she not only exists but has actually made progress ; slow 
 it is true, but a steady and permanent growth, fully as much 
 as could be expected under the circumstances and the con- 
 ditions confronting her. 
 
 First, the sparseness of the population, which being scattered 
 over a large territory, dwelling, on the mountain sides, in coves 
 and narrow valleys, with small villages here and there, 
 as trading centres, with no large cities to establish centres of 
 operation, requiring much time and hardship in going from 
 point to point over steep and rough mountain roads. Nothing 
 more could be done than to keep up an itinerant ministration 
 to the scattered few of Christ's flock. The largeness of the 
 territory each missionary has to cover is such as to preclude 
 aggressive work in any one place. I have four counties, con- 
 taining a territory of about 2,000 square miles under my care, 
 which necessitates such diffusion of time, and energy as to 
 
preclude ordinary results : It is only preparing the soil and 
 sowing the seed, which may yield its fruit in the coming gen- 
 eration. 
 
 Next, there was the poverty and illiteracy of the people. 
 Outside of the small towns and villages the people had noth- 
 ing to depend on but the produce of their small mountain 
 farms, which barely gave them a poor excuse for a living, and 
 the tradespeople had to depend on the little produce which 
 these people could give in exchange for the few necessaries of 
 life which they had to have. Money is a very scarce article 
 even now. For their education they had to depend on a couple 
 of months a year of not very efficient teaching, which is still 
 the rule in the rural districts, though gradual improvement is 
 made in the system. 
 
 But if the temporal condition of these people is such as to 
 eke out a scanty existence, the provision for their spiritual 
 needs has been less. For generations they have been trained 
 to depend almost exclusively upon emotional religion as the 
 panacea for all spiritual ills. Excitement has become the sub- 
 stitute for the practice of religion ; and having reached the 
 hysterical stage of the excitement salvation is obtained and 
 certain; nothing more is necessary but to wait for the wings 
 to grow to enable them to soar into heaven. This is such an 
 easy way to obtain eternal happiness that it seems next to 
 impossible to disabuse their minds of this delusion. A deep 
 prejudice exists everywhere against the Church because she 
 requires practice of religion as well as profession. Then add 
 illiteracy to prejudice and you have another very potent reason 
 why the church is not stronger in this mountain region. 
 
 Having mentioned some of the difficulties the Church has 
 had and still has to contend with, and given a few reasons 
 why the Church is so weak in this section and utterly de- 
 pendent for her existence upon the Church at large, I shall 
 endeavor to point out the way to make the work more effective 
 in the future and the prospect which the Church has to per- 
 manently benefit these people and firmly establish herself 
 here as she has done everywhere else. 
 
 As far as the native population is concerned the people will 
 always be poor and give the Church the opportunity for the 
 exercise of her mission to "preach the gospel to the poor," and 
 minister to their spitual necessities and their temporal wants, 
 too. But the more the healthfulness of the climate and the 
 beauty of our scenery becomes known the greater will be the 
 number of people who will spend at least a part of each year 
 here in these mountains. This will bring to the already exist- 
 ing towns and villages a class of people capable of ministering 
 
to these annual sojourners according to modern requirements. 
 This will require a larger amount and a greater variety of farm 
 produce than heretofore ; effect a market for what is being 
 raised at better prices than have been paid in the past, 
 and thus stimulate to greater exertion those who have energy 
 enough to exert themselves to better their condition. At the 
 same time settlers with modern agricultural ideas will come, 
 buy up the land around and near the towns and villages, trans- 
 form the valleys into market gardens and the mountain sides 
 into orchards and vineyards, which will be object lessons to 
 their native neighbors, at the same time creating a demand 
 for native labor both male and female. 
 
 The Church must exert herself to prepare the rising gener- 
 ation for these changed conditions which are sure to come. In 
 fact, the change is already taking place, very gradually, it is 
 true, but nevertheless certain. We must educate the young, 
 spiritually, morally and intellectually, so that they will be 
 able to enter the battle of life under these new conditions and 
 become faithful members of the Church and useful citizens 
 of the State. We must teach them that it is their duty u to learn 
 and labor truly to get their own living in that state in which it 
 has pleased God to call them;" and then the more ambitious 
 who can not find remunerative employment at home will go 
 where they can find it; and wherever they go they will take 
 the Church with them, and thus become missionaries to others. 
 
 To do this work we must have day schools to bring the 
 young under the daily influence of the Church. This influence 
 will be felt at home and prepare the other members of the 
 family for the reception of the Church. More clergymen are 
 needed to do the work of the Church in order to make the best 
 of the opportunity God gives us now to establish His king- 
 dom amongst these people. To do all this requires at least 
 three times more than I have been able to raise annually, but a 
 few hundred dollars expended now for some years in each 
 Mission will save thousands of dollars later to accomplish half 
 as much. I must have at least $800.00 to meet the most neces- 
 sary expenses ol the two schools already in operation in my 
 territory, besides the other expenses necessary to carry on the 
 work. May God incline the hearts of His people to furnish 
 the means to those who have to bear the heat and burden of 
 the day, to carry on the work of His Church amongst these 
 poor people and lay sure foundations for the Kingdom of our 
 Most Holy Redeemer. 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 Grace Church, Waynesville. 
 
 Waynesville, Haywood county, has a population of about 800; 
 ft is the county seat of Haywood county and much frequented by 
 summer visitors. The climate, water and scenery would be hard 
 to equal and is destined to become in the near future a formidable 
 rival of Asheville, the famous mountain, winter and summer re- 
 resort. But like most health resorts the Church people as a rule 
 do not benefit the Church. Two classes come here, those seeking 
 rest and recreation for a short time, and those afflicted with 
 pulmonary troubles. The former in most cases have left Church 
 and religion at home. The latter, while coming with intentions 
 of staying long enough to get well, take no interest in the work of 
 the Church except an occasional attendance, and do nothing for 
 the support of the Church. This makes our work doubly hard. 
 Some may spend one or more years here without doing anything 
 for the Church, intending to return home so soon as they con- 
 sider themselves sufficiently improved, and consider themselves 
 under no obligations to the Church of their temporary residence. 
 The early history of Grace Church, Waynesville, like that of 
 all the others in this section, is shrouded in obscurity. With great 
 difficulty have I succeeded in gathering the data which form the 
 basis of the sketch of each of the missions from the recollections 
 of those who were instrumental in establishing the Churches. 
 Mrs. Sarah F. Norwood, widow of the late James H. Norwood, 
 gives the following account of the establishment of the Church 
 in this part of the mountains : 
 
 "In 1846 my husband and I came to Haywood County from 
 Hillsboro and settled a mile and a half from Waynesville on a 
 farm. Very few persons had ever heard of the Episcopal Church 
 and no prospect of having Church services. My husband, hearing 
 that the Eev. Jarvis Buxton was visiting Asheville once a month, 
 rode there on horseback over very rough roads, over thirty miles, 
 to bring Mr. Buxton to our home, baptize our infant son and 
 hold the first Church service ever held in Haywood County. The 
 service was held in our farm house, and the room and piazza 
 
8 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 were filled with people who came out of curiosity, but the sermon 
 left such an impression that it was said if they could have such 
 preaching they would come every Sunday. 
 
 These two loyal members were augmented by the sister and 
 brother of Mrs. Norwood after two years. Mr. Norwood, who was 
 a graduate of the University of North Carolina, moved to 
 Asheville to take charge of the "Male Academy," where he re- 
 mained till failing health necessitated his moving back to his 
 farm near Waynesville. The Rev. Mr. Buxton, having settled 
 permanently at Asheville, went to Waynesville once a month 
 for years. Dr. Buxton was succeeded by the Rev. F. J. Murdock, 
 who was followed by Dr. Buel, who for many years kept up reg- 
 ular services at this place and who built the substantial church 
 edifice, the corner-stone of which was laid in 1878 and conse- 
 crated by Bishop Lyman, then Assistant Bishop, in 1880. It is a 
 monument of zeal and devotion of a faithful priest and a loyal 
 soldier of the Cross. 
 
 The first Episcopal visitation Waynesville received was by Bish- 
 op Atkinson, in 1854. He held services in the old court house, and 
 people came from everywhere in the neighborhood to hear what 
 he had to say. 
 
 For many years the Mission and Sunday School was kept alive 
 by the untiring zeal and devotion of this pioneer of the Church, 
 Mrs. Norwood, amid the fires of prejudice, trials and discourage- ' 
 ments. She bore the burden and heat of the day, walking three 
 miles every Sunday, winter and summer; the burning heat or the 
 storms and tempest had no deterring influence upon this soldier 
 and servant of the Lord. And when at last the church was com- 
 pleted and the little, faithful band could move into the House of 
 the Lord, their hearts went up in praise and gratitude to the 
 Giver of every good and perfect gift. A few others came early 
 into the field and shouldered the burden, and have for years 
 labored hard and faithfully to build up the Lord's Kingdom in 
 this place, among whom are Mrs. R. N. Tate and her two sisters, 
 Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Hyatt. Many others have come and gone 
 with very indifferent interest as to the Church's welfare as they 
 did not intend to remain here longer than they could help, so 
 that the membership of permanent members has remained small. 
 It has often happened that soon after persons were confirmed 
 they moved away ; and while the Church at large gained by our 
 efforts here, the missions are still struggling for existence. 
 
 St. flary's, Micadale. 
 
 Of all the Missions under my charge, St. Mary's, Micadale, 
 is perhaps the most interesting and must appeal to all who love 
 the Church of our Holy Redeemer for continued support. Here 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 9 
 
 it is literally true that the poor we have always with us. It de- 
 rives its name from the mica mine which is a few miles further 
 up the mountains. It is about 4 miles west of Waynesville in the 
 heart of the mountains, the people living scattered in the coves 
 and on the mountain sides in small log cabins depending for a 
 living on what they can raise on their small farms. With but 
 two or three months of the poorest kind of public school instruc- 
 tion it is no wonder that illiteracy is the rule rather than the 
 exception. 
 
 In 1877, Mr. and Mrs. Gleason came from the North. Mr 
 Gleason came to engage in mica mining, and seeing the con- 
 dition of the people, he and his wife at once went to work to 
 teach the people the principles of Christianity and the ne- 
 cessity of practicing what they professed to believe. These 
 two faithful members commenced a Sunday School in an old 
 frame house, and fitting it up with rough seats. Dr. Buel went 
 out there once a month on the Sunday afternoon when he held 
 service at Waynesville. Thus the noble work which has and is 
 doing so much good, was begun through the exertion of two 
 loyal members of the Church. 
 
 After Grace Church, Waynesville, was completed, Dr. Buel, 
 with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Gleason, commenced building St. 
 Mary's Chapel and Schoolhouse, the latter forming a transept 
 with large folding doors opening into the Chapel. Ill health 
 compelled Mr. and Mrs. Gleason to remove soon after the laying 
 of the corner-stone of St. Mary's. They went to California, 
 were he soon died, being followed shortly by his faithful wife. 
 But the work which they commenced on such unpropitious soil 
 still lives and has taken new life, showing that their labor has 
 not been in vain. Dr. Buel obtained the services of a teacher to 
 take charge of a day school, as the only hope of permanent good 
 lay in taking hold of the children and keeping them under the 
 daily influence of the Church. Unfortunately the teacher was 
 not adapted for the work, and much valuable time was lost. But 
 the good seed sown in the beginning was not lost — it only 
 slumbered. The Rev. Stanley Barrows succeeded Dr. Bull. In 
 the fall of 1894, the present missionary took charge of the work. 
 He found the day school had been discontinued for some time. 
 The Sunday School was but poorly attended, and the interest in 
 the Church had almost died out. He recognized the necessity of 
 opening so soon as possible the day school as the only means by 
 which to do permanent good. But the means to meet the ex- 
 expenses? Where was the money to come from? That was the 
 great question. He went to the more favored section of the 
 Church and presented his cause. Enough responded to enable 
 him to begin the work anew. And to-day he can assure all who 
 
10 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 have contributed that their money could not have been given for 
 a better purpose or more needy field to accomplish the mission of 
 of the Church to the poor of our blessed Lord. An average of 
 sixty pupils have attended the day school, and through its in- 
 fluence the spiritual and moral condition of many has greatly 
 improved and in some instances completely changed. Thirty-five 
 have been baptized and thirty-two confirmed in two years. The 
 Sunday School has increased from about 30 to 130, and the 
 services are always well attended. The reverential behaviour of 
 the people will favorably compare with congregations living in 
 much better conditions. Many come four miles every Sunday, 
 carrying their babies to Church or Sunday School. Surely work 
 like this, so abundantly blessed, deserves the support of all who 
 love our Holy Eedeemer. 
 
 Sylva 
 
 Is a village twenty miles west of Waynesville, in Jackson 
 County, where through the exertion of the first Church member 
 the Church has been kept alive since 1879. It is a story of faith- 
 fulness and loyalty to principle, which stands as an example 
 worthy to be imitated. Had we more such devoted Church 
 members the Church would be stronger and more prosperous 
 everywhere. I wish space would permit me to print the whole 
 story of the Mission as written by this faithful Soldier of the 
 Cross, who as Lay Reader has persevered under the most trying 
 and discouraging conditions; but I shall have to content myself 
 with relating only the most important incidences. 
 
 In the first part, Mr. D. L. Love tells of how he was brought to 
 the knowledge of the Church, by Bishop Atkinson and Dr. Buel 
 stopping at his father's house on their way from Waynesville to 
 Franklin, in Macon County, and leaving a-Prayer Book at the 
 House. After leaving home he attended Church services at 
 Raleigh in 1865, and in 1867 at Memphis, Tenn., where he wit- 
 nessed the first confirmation. The sermon preached on this 
 occasion by Bishop Quintard brought convictions to him that the 
 Church was the divine institution left by Christ in the world to 
 teach with His authority whatsoever He had commanded. But it 
 was not until the year 1879, after his return home, that he became 
 a member of the Church. In the fall of this year he learned that 
 Bishop Lyman would be at Waynesville, and he requested the 
 Bishop to extend his visit to his home. The Bishop accepted the 
 invitation and with Dr. Buel remained over Sunday. They held 
 service in the school house at Webster, the county seat of Jack- 
 son County, when Mr. Love and his niece, Miss Lomis, were con- 
 firmed. This was the beginning of the Church in Jackson 
 County, after which Dr. Buel regularly held a monthly service in 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 11 
 
 the school house, which was also used by Methodists, Baptists and 
 Presbyterians. Mr. Love was not content to be idle. Like the 
 disciples of old, he was anxious to bring others to the same knowl- 
 edge and share the blessed privilege of the Church of the living 
 God, which meant so much to him. Near the old homestead was 
 the "Old Love Meeting House," where he had received his early 
 training, and there he and his niece commenced a Sunday School 
 and distributed Church literature. The people took much inter- 
 est in the services and the Sunday School, which aroused the 
 opponents of the Church to active opposition ; and when Dr. 
 Buel came to Webster he found the liberal minded Methodists in 
 possession of the school house, though it was his Sunday by 
 agreement, and it was declared to have been done for "the pur- 
 pose of keeping Dr. Buel out." 
 
 Being put out of the school house at Webster, Dr. Buel began 
 services at Love's Meeting House, where Mr. Love had already , 
 gathered around him a Sunday School, and considerable interest 
 in the Church was aroused; especially during that summer when 
 the Revs. Chas. J. Curtis and W. P. Bynum spent July and August 
 with Mr. Love and held a series of services there and at other 
 places in the county. At this time the Bishop made his annual 
 visitation, holding service for the last time at Webster, where he 
 confirmed one candidate, an old man who had been brought into 
 the Church by the labors of Mr. Love. The Bishop and Dr. Buel 
 spent the night with Mr. Love, and it was then and there de- 
 termined to build a Church in the beautiful Valley of Cullowhee. 
 Again the Methodists took possession of the meeting house on 
 the Sunday and at the time of Dr. Buel's appointment, and the 
 little flock was once more homeless. For the time being the 
 services at Sylva had to be discontinued, the few communicants 
 going to Cullowhee or Waynesville for their communion when- 
 ever possible. 
 
 By the time the railroad was completed to Sylva, a Mr. Allen, a 
 Baptist, built a house which was also used as a school house; and 
 Mr. Love obtained the use of it for Dr. Buel. Here the Church 
 made another effort to teach the people whatsoever the Lord had 
 commanded. Gen. Hampton and Mr. Baum were then living at 
 Sylva, and both being Church members, a brighter day seemed to 1 
 dawn for the little band of loyal Churchmen. . But the trial of 
 faith was not so soon to come to an end. Mrs. Hampton died; 
 Miss Baum married and left Sylva, and Mr. Allen notified them 
 that they could no longer have the use of his house; and they 
 were once more without a shelter. 
 
 A year before the death of Bishop Lyman, Mr. Love became 
 the president of a joint stock company to build a business house 
 in Sylva. The lower story only being needed for the business, 
 
12 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 in Sylva. The lower story o"nly being needed for the business, 
 Mr. Love finished the upper story and furnished it at his own 
 expense, in a, Churehly way, and has ever since maintained it 
 as a place of worship for the Church. Bishop Lyman lived to 
 hold service in it, and was much pleased with the arrange- 
 ments. 
 
 Dr. Buel, who for so many years had not only borne the heat 
 and burden of the day in this unpromising field, but had also pa- 
 tiently endured the most persistent opposition, at last had to sur- 
 render his work, on account of failing health, to the Rev. W. 
 L. Barrows. Dr. Buel was soon called to his well earned rest in 
 Paradise. Mr. Love only voices the sentiment of all who 
 knew him, when he says: "I think I never knew a better 
 man than Dr. Buel. We all loved him, and when he can\e to 
 see us for the last time he shed tears and said, 'he felt that he 
 had come home.' A faithful priest and a good man, he rests 
 well, and his influence will continue to the end of time. A 
 warrior well equipped, he gave courage to the feeble hearted, 
 and stood as a shield to ward off the blows of adversity of the 
 sick and wounded." 
 
 Mr. Love has ever been faithful as a Lay Reader and earnest 
 worker for Christ and His Church ; and I wish we bad at least 
 one such faithful soldier and servant in every congregation, 
 and a better day would dawn for the Church. 
 
 In September, 1894, I was placed in charge of this large ter- 
 ritory, of which Sylva is one of the missions. Services have 
 been held regularly once a month on Sunday afternoon and a 
 celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Monday morning. Acting 
 on my conviction that a day school is the cheapest and only 
 means of mission work that will bring permanent results, I 
 have undertaken a day school here this fall, having the good 
 fortune of securing not only a good teacher, but also an earnest 
 Church worker full of missionary zeal, though I do not know 
 -where the money is to come from to pay her the promised 
 salary, trusting that our Holy Redeemer will stir up His 
 people, whom He has blessed with this world's goods, to come 
 to our aid and give us the means we need to do our blessed 
 Master's work amongst these poor and much neglected people. 
 
 Cullowhee. 
 
 St. David's Church stands in the beautiful Valley of 
 Cullowhee, a landmark of primitive Christianity, by the road- 
 side, inviting the weary traveler to stop and think of the way 
 that leadeth to everlasting joys; to take time and consider the 
 Truth of the Incarnate Word of God, and receive the Life 
 that is Eternal. It is a monument of patient endeavor of a 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 13 
 
 faithful priest and a handful of loyal Church members of self- 
 sacrificing exertions; of patient waiting, and of loyalty to 
 Christ and His Church under unrelenting opposition. 
 
 I will let Mr. D. D. Davies, the father of this Mission, tell the 
 story of its establishment in his own words. He says : "I am 
 a native of Carmarthenshire, Wales, and had been brought up 
 in the Church of England in my early youth. At the age of 
 twelve I wandered away from home into the mining districts, 
 and ten years later left my native land to seek my fortune in 
 the far west. After rambling OA^er many States of this Union, 
 I finally located in the beautiful Valley of Cullowhee, where 
 I became a member of the 'M. E. Church, South,' and lived a 
 consistent life and officiated as steward for many years. Dur- 
 ing that time the Protestant Episcopal Church was a stranger 
 in the land. But later on the Bishops of the Diocese held an 
 occasional service at the County site, and the people gathered 
 to see the 'show,' as the robes of the Minister attracted much 
 interest." 
 
 Mr. Davies being favorably disposed towards the Church, 
 invited the Minister to visit his home, which resulted in the 
 service of the Church being introduced to Cullowhee. 
 
 u After the Rev. D. H. Buel, D. D., and the Rev. J. A. Deal, 
 by the goodness of their souls, had visited our Valley and had 
 given us the services of the Church occasionally for more than 
 a year, the Rt. Rev. Theodore B. Lyman, D. D., was invited to 
 visit Cullowhee. He kindly accepted and held service at 
 Speedwell School House, the people being highly pleased with 
 his sermon and sound doctrine." During this visit of the 
 Bishop and Dr. Buel, Mr. Davies suggested that a Church be 
 erected, and that the standard of Christianity be elevated to a 
 higher plane in this vicinity, which was heartily endorsed by 
 the Bishop and Dr. Buel ; but nothing was said concerning the 
 means wherewith to build it. I think that the first service 
 was held at the Speedwell School House in the summer of 
 1881 by Dr. Buel, and the second by Rev. J. A. Deal in October 
 of the same year. During the years 1882 & 3, Dr. Buel became 
 more and more interested in the future of Cullowhee, and the 
 Bishop accompanied him every summer and rested a few days 
 at "Forest Hill." Sometime during the early part of 1882, the 
 Rev. W. S. Bynum visited and spent a period teaching the 
 people. Rev. C. J. Curtis also spent sometime in the Valley 
 and assisted Mr. Deal in the service. In August, 1883, Bishop 
 Lyman and Dr.^Buel, by appointment, came to Cullowhee and 
 remained some days. They had both been thrown from their 
 buggy and the Bishop badly bruised. His body was black 
 and blue and very sore, yet he held service at Cullowhee and 
 
14 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 East Laporte and preached to large congregations. During this 
 visit Mr. Davies repeated his desire that an effort be made to 
 build a Church; but no definite arrangements were made, as tio 
 communicants resided in the Valley, and to build a Church was 
 no small undertaking. Dr. Buel continued faithful and traveled 
 in his buggy from Asheville to Cullowhee, through heat and cold, 
 wet and dry, over rough and muddy roads, and filled his appoint- 
 ment every month. Mr. Deal also came occasionally. The fol- 
 lowing summer during his regular visitation, the Bishop, accom- 
 panied by Dr. Buel, rested a few days at "Forest Hill," when he 
 was more fully impressed with the necessity of building a Church 
 at Cullowhee, trusting to Providence for the necessary means to 
 complete the building. 
 
 In August, 1884, the work of gathering up the material for the 
 building began, and early in November the corner-stone was 
 laid by Dr. Buel, and the Church named "St. David," in kind re- 
 membrance of the ancient Church in Wales, and the building 
 proceeded as fast as our limited means would allow, including the 
 liberal contributions of the Bishop and Dr. Buel. Mr. 'Jones, the 
 builder, left in October, 1895, and the Church not yet completed, 
 but far enough as to enable us to hold services in it. 
 
 The first service held in the Church was August, 1885, when 
 Daniel David Davies and his three oldest daughters, Ella Maria, 
 Carrie Sul and Cora Kate, were confirmed, these being the only 
 communicants for some years. Later, Mr. Thomas A. Cox, his 
 mother and sisters came to Cullowhee for their health, and became 
 attached to the Church and contributed largely to the work of 
 completing the building. A few others have since been con- 
 firmed, but who are unable to contribute to its financial support. 
 
 Mr. Thos. A. Cox is the Lay Reader, and is a most faithful and 
 efficient servant of the Church of our Holy Redeemer. It would 
 be hard to find a more faithful band of Church members, who are 
 ever ready to do all in their power for Christ and His Church, 
 and make sacrifices for the blessed Master's work, more willingly 
 than these loyal members of the Church, or who study to make 
 the burden of the Missionary as light as possible, or where he 
 could find a warmer welcome than in their hearts and homes. 
 
 Bryson City 
 
 Is forty miles from Waynesville and the County seat of Swain 
 county. Here the Rev. J. A. Deal and the Rev. J. W. Barker had 
 held services for sometime before the Mission was placed in my 
 care. Mr. Deal completed a chapel the same yeal I took charge. 
 But unfortunately the lumber business had come to an end in its 
 vicinity, and the Church members with the rest ,who had any 
 energy, left the neighborhood, and only two or three nominal 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 15 
 
 Church members remained who have very little religion and less 
 Churchmanship. The work at present is at a stand-still, but I 
 trust and pray that soon a brighter day will dawn even here for 
 the Church. The seed has been sown and though it may take 
 sometime in this hardened and barren soil to germinate, it can 
 not be entirely lost. 
 
 Murphy 
 
 Is ninety-five miles west of Waynesville, the County seat of 
 Cherokee County, the terminus of two railroads, and having a 
 population of about 600. The town is beautifully situated, and is 
 visited by an ever increasing number every summer who spend 
 weeks and even months in its exhilarating atmosphere, and has a 
 very promising future before it. 
 
 The first Church family which came to Murphy was that of 
 Prof. Beal, who is still living, and true to the Church have they 
 been under the most discouraging circumstances. To them I am 
 indebted for the facts contained in this little sketch. The Rev. 
 W. W. Prout spent the winter of 1855-6 at Murphy as^ his head- 
 quarters, from which he sallied forth to make the Church known 
 amongst the people. In the summer of 1856, Bishop Atkinson 
 visited Murphy in company with Mr. Prout. In the fall of the 
 same year the Rev. Mr. Bronson spent some little time with the 
 people. Nothing was done after this until the summer of 1861, 
 when Bishop Atkinson again paid a visit to the little flock, sev- 
 eral children being baptized and two persons confirmed, which 
 was followed by a visit of Rev. Jarvis Buxton, D. D. Again were 
 they left without the ministrations of the Church, until the 15th 
 day af August, 1869, when Bishop Atkinson made another visit 
 and confirmed five persons. Five years later they were privileged 
 to lay eyes once more on a Minister of the Church and join in the 
 prayers and praises of Holy Church. Bishop Lyman and the 
 Rev. J. C. Huske, D. D., made a visit to Murphy on the 23d day of 
 August, 1874, when six were baptized and one confirmed. From 
 this date to June 6th, 1876, the few faithful members were again 
 forsaken until the Rev. J. A. Deal came amongst them and made 
 his home there for sixteen months. On the 16th day of August 
 of the same year, Bishop Atkinson visited the Mission, confirm- 
 ing one person. Another visit by Bishop Lyman, then Assistant 
 Bishop of North Carolina, was made on the 7th day of August 
 1877, when two children were baptized and one person confirmed. 
 From the fall of 1877 to September, 1882, the few sheep of our 
 blessed Redeemer were again shepherdless. But on Sept. 27, 1882, 
 the Rev. J. A. Deal and W. L. Bynum visited Murphy once more, 
 held service and baptized two children. A long period of starva- 
 tion followed until on July 20th, 1890, Dr. Buxton came to see if 
 
16 HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 
 
 the Church had any life left, and Bishop Lyman made another 
 visit the same year, Sept. 4. In the following year the Eev. Jos. 
 B. Cheshire, D. D., now the Bishop of North Carolina, passed 
 through Murphy and gave the people an afternoon service on the 
 14th day of June. On October 7, 1892, Dr. Buel made a visit and 
 baptized two children. Soon after our present Bishop was con- 
 secrated he visited 'the little band, being accompanied by Mr. 
 Deal, Oct. 31, 1893. Mr. Leal went there again on March 20, 1894, 
 and held two services. At the request of the Bishop, the present 
 Missionary made his first visit to Murphy on the 30th day of Sep- 
 tember, 1894, and made arrangements to hold service once a 
 month : first on a week day, as all the Sundays had been assigned 
 to other points in his large field; but at the first opportunity a 
 Sunday of each month was given to the Mission. The services 
 were held in a small room over the post office, rented for the 
 purpose. 
 
 The necessity having a Church building was apparent to all, 
 but the great problem to be solved was, how and where to obtain 
 the means to erect a suitable edifice. No matter how 
 willing the people were to give of their little means all they were 
 able, it was but a small part of what the building would cost. 
 The Missionary had already financial obligations for the main- 
 tenance of the work in general, and the school work in particular, 
 for which he had to appeal to the friends of the mission work of 
 the Church, that it seemed beyond the possibility of receiving 
 enough money to begin the building of the Church, which was 
 absolutely needed if we were to accomplish anything. But trust- 
 ing in the Providence of God to provide the means to do His 
 work, the Missionary went forth to "beg" more money. Kind 
 friends came to his rescue, and when he came home from his 
 "begging" trip he had sufficient funds, with the contributions of 
 the people and some help from the community at large, that he 
 felt justified to begin the Work of building a house to the honor 
 and glory of God and His holy worship. To save as much money 
 as possible I made the design for the Church myself; and ground 
 was broken in June, 1896. On the 9th day of August of the same 
 year Bishop Cheshire laid the corner-stone of the Church of the 
 Messiah at 4 o'clock p. m. Under the efficient supervision of the 
 building committee the work was done faithfully and thoroughly. 
 On Palm Sunday, 1897, we had the joy of holding our first service 
 in the new Church, though I had to substitute muslin for glass 
 and put in temporary seats, as our funds have given out. Still, 
 we are grateful and happy that we are able to worship God de- 
 voutly and in order and in God's own house. No debts have been 
 allowed to accumulate, and I trust that we may be able to soon 
 complete the building and have it consecrated to the glory and 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES. 17 
 
 worship of the Triune God. On Trinity Sunday we used for the 
 first time the permanent Altar, which is made of quartered oak 
 by my own hands during night hours. Is it a wonder that the 
 Church is weak in this section when so little has been done to 
 have regular services; when the clergy have been able on ac- 
 count of the largeness of their territory to visit the widely scat- 
 tered flocks only once in from five to eight years? The estab- 
 lishing of missions and maintaining a sufficient number of clergy 
 to do efficient work and have regular and frequent services will 
 soon begin to bear fruit even in this much neglected field. We 
 need more clergy, more schools and more money to concentrate 
 our efforts and energies at every available and promising point. 
 
 Pigeon River. 
 
 1 also have commenced services fourteen miles east of Waynes- 
 ville, on the east fork of the Pigeon River, where we have a few 
 communicants, and where I go wherever time and opportunity 
 permits. 
 
 I have now in my charge seven missions, five Sunday Schools 
 for white and one for colored people, tw o mission day schools. ex / 
 Last year, ending Sept. 1, 1897, I held SBfc services, preached 270 ^ ^* 
 
 sermons, celebrated the Holy Eucharist 6» times, traveled 3,200 
 miles and baptized 32. The Bishop confirmed 22 persons, per- 
 formed two marriages and buried three. We have 140 pupils in 
 our day schools, about 250 pupils in our Sunday Schools. 
 
 To do all this work in a territorry of about 2,000 square miles 
 the Church from her Mission funds gives me $300.00 for my per- 
 sonal support, and but little money can be contributed by the 
 poor people under my care. This will explain why I have to 
 make my annual appeal for money to carry on this work of the 
 Church. I must have at least $800 for my educational work, and 
 $400.00 more for other expenses, which is absolutely needed to 
 continue the work already begun. I shall have to call again this 
 year in the Lord's name, no matter how unpleasant this part of 
 the work may be to me. It is Christ's work, and we dare not 
 shirk our responsibility. I shall be grateful to all who will in 
 His Name respond to my appeal, and speedily permit me to return 
 to my scattered flock, who must be shepherdless so long as I am 
 away from home. Yours in the faith, 
 
 FREDK. W. WEY. 
 
MISSIONARY JURISDICTION 
 
 OF 
 
 ASHEVILLE. 
 
 Waynesvillb, N. C. 
 October, 1897. 
 Synopsis of the wobk done during the year ending 
 
 September 1st, 1897; its present condition, and its 
 
 needs for the year beginning september, 1897. 
 
 During the year I have built a new church at a cost of $1,600 
 at Murphy, where we had no place of worship; established a 
 new mission day school at Sylva, 20 miles west of Waynes- 
 ville; organized 2 new Sunday Schools, 1 for white and 1 for 
 colored pupils ; put a new roof on chapel and school house at 
 Micadale. Have held 362 services, preached 271 sermons; ad- 
 ministered the Holy Communion 65 times ; baptized 28 persons ; 
 the Bishop confirmed 22 persons in August; I traveled 3,200 
 miles. 
 
 I have now 7 mission stations in which there are 3 churches, 
 
 2 chapels, 1 school house ; 2 missions are without any church 
 property. We have 6 Sunday Schools, in which are 22 teachers 
 and 231 scholars ; 2 day schools with 2 teachers and 130 pupils ; 
 
 3 Lay Readers doing Sunday duty. 
 
 Remember, this work is widely scattered in small mountain 
 towns and villages through 4 counties containing a territory 
 of nearly 2,000 square miles. To carry on this work the Church 
 gives me $300 from her mission funds, $200 from the General 
 Board, and $100 from the Mission Board of the Jurisdiction, 
 for my 1 personal support. For the money needed to carry on 
 the work as above stated I am entirely dependent upon the 
 generosity of the Church people at large, for my people are 
 very poor and can do but very little towards the maintenance 
 of the work. 
 
 Therefore kindly remember that to continue the work I need 
 for the present year for the support of our two day schools, 
 having about 130 poor chilren, who would otherwise be de- 
 prived of the benefits of education, both secular and spiritual, 
 teachers' salaries, books and other expenses, at least $800. 
 The teachers are self-sacrificing ladies, each one of whom 
 could earn the whole of the above amount in city schools, as 
 they have done before. They give their lives to the service of 
 our blessed Redeemer, but they must have enough to keep 
 body and soul together. $400 are needed to cover expenses of 
 the other parts of the mission work for the year. I also have 
 the opportunity of buying back at Micadale a piece of property 
 which was lost to the Church some years ago, containing 33 
 acres of land and a small house, which was the home of the 
 
teacher, and is needed now more than ever as the work is 
 growing; for it is hard to compel a lady who has worked and 
 worn herself out from 8 o'clock in the morning to 5 o'clock in 
 the evening, with sixty or seventy children from six to nine- 
 teen years of age, to walk long distances to find shelter, or in 
 had weather to put up with the most uncongenial quarters. 
 Besides, we need the property for the establishment of an 
 Industrial Department in connection with the school at Mica- 
 dale, so that the boys and girls may be trained to help them- 
 selves and become useful citizens instead of dependents upon 
 charity. The property is worth much more than the Church 
 can buy it for now, because it is for a benevolent and char- 
 itable purpose. The price is $300, and I have an option till 
 December 1st. We never will have the opportunity again to 
 buy what is absolutely needed for the work at this price. 
 
 This annual call for help is the most unpleasant part of my 
 hard and difficult work ; but it is either "beg" or give up the 
 work. I hope the kind friends of this work amongst God's 
 poor people will have a welcome for me when I make my an- 
 nual call, as many have done in the past,, and uphold me in 
 this work, both with their substance and their prayers, and I 
 am sure the good Lord will bless them. 
 
 FREDK. W. WEY, 
 
 Missionary in Charge. 
 
00034014021 
 
 FOR USE ONLY IN 
 THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION 
 
 Form No. A-368, Rev. 8/95 
 
II