■ - ■-^- - ■ ,M'" ; - BRO'DFOOT ADDRESS t 1 ADDRESS. «..OI... COL. C. W. BROADFOOT ...at the... Centennial Celebration • ttOIt** St. John's Church Fayetteviixe, n. C. ■E§3 L April 15, 1917 j i ii n in n ii , .=^^^i 0% ffitbrarg of % JlntorBttg of Nnrtlj (Earnlttta dolUrttott of NortJy (Hamltwatra Cf c/3 ADDRESS of COL. C. W. BROADFOOT at the Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church FAYETTEVILLE, N. C. LOW SUNDAY APRIL 15, 1917 RECTOR REV. ARCHER BOOGHER SENIOR WARDEN F. R. ROSE JUNIOR WARDEN B. R. HUSKE USHERS J. S. Schenck, W. W. Home, D. R. Tillinghast. E. J. Carson, R. G. Haigh, J. A. Huske, Thomas H. Hale, C. W. Broadfoot, Jr., Leighton Huske, W. Carmon. Membership, 370 ...Order of Services... 7:30 a. m. Holy Communion 11:00 a. m. Unveiling Memorial Tablet Morning Prayer Sermon by Rev. Thomas Atkinson of Baltimore 4:00 p. m. — Historical Address by Col. C. W. Broadfoot 8:00 p. m. Evening Prayer Sermon by Rev. Isaac Wayne Hughes, of Henderson, N. C. 8:30 Monday Evening. General Reception, with short addresses by the Bishop of the Diocese and other speakers. Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot PREFACE. At the regular meeting of the Vestry, on Dec. 6th, 1916, the Rec- tor stated, that he had appointed the following on the Centennial Celebration Committee: B. R. Huske, F. R. Rose and W. W. Home. These members met and invited Col. C. "W. Broadfoot, Mrs. Robt. Strange, Mrs. Weldon Huske and Mrs. Jno. B. Tillinghast to serve with them on this committee. At a meeting of this committee, the Rector presiding, it was resolved: That a memorial tablet be placed in the vestibule. A suit- able inscription was decided on and steps taken to have the same 'unveiled at the Centennial meeting. The Rev. Isaac W. Hughes, former Rector, was invited to at- tend and take part in the services. He, assisted by the Rector, gave to the congregation a beautiful and impressive servi.ce at the un- unveiling of the tablet, after Morning Prayer and Sermon by Rev. Thomas Atkinson, of Baltimore, on the first Sunday after Easter. The tablet, of bronze, bears in raised letters: Our fathers builded an altar here one hundred years ago. "This is none other but the House of God, And this is the gate of Heaven." Easter, 1917. The tablet was unveiled by Mercer Tillinghast, son of S. W. Til llnghast, great-grandson of S. W. Tillinghast, Sr., and great-great- grandson of Paris J. Tillinghast, and of Charles P. Mallett, both of the original vestry. On his mother's side he is^TsofTof Nannie Mal- lett, daughter of John W. Mallett, grandson of Margaret Wright, great-grandson of John W. Wright, for many years vestryman and warden of St. John's. And by H. R. Home, Jr., son of S. R. Home, grandson of H. R. Home, Sr., for many years a vestryman and warden; great-grand- son of Warren Winslow; and great-great-grandson of Jno. Winslow, who was of the original vestry, and most prominent in founding the parish. Oh his mother's side he is great-grandson of Dr. B. W. Robin- son and wife Joanna Huske, and great-great-grandson of John Huske of the original vestry. Truly, church blood runs copiously through ij" the veins of these young churchmen. Evening Prayer was read on first Sunday after Easter by Rev. John Huske Tillinghast, born and raised here, but now of the Dio- to i- r* rt Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church cese of S. C. He is a grandson of Paris J. Tillinghast of the original vestry. After these services Col. C. W. Broadfoot delivered an ad- dress, which is published herewith. On the evening of the following Monday, in the Parish House, a reception was held, where the congregation and invited guests en- joyed music, refreshments, short talks and kind words spoken by our brethren of other churches. Our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Darst, was with us at this pleasant social gathering. Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot ADDRESS REVEREND SIR AND BRETHREN: The late Dr. Huske left an unfinished sketch of St. John's Par- ish, from which I have made copious extracts . The public services of the Episcopal Church were first held in the Town of Fayetteville, N. C, in January, 1817, by the Rev. Bethel Judd, D. D., a clergyman from Connecticut. John Winslow, son of the Rev. Edward Winslow, who was a Chaplain in the British Army in the Revolutionary War, went to Wilmington, N. C, in the latter part of 1816, and there madn the ac- quaintance of Rev. Mr. Judd, and invited him to visit Fayetteville, with a view of establishing the Church in this place. To Mr. Wins- low, it is believed, more than to any other single person, is the Church in Fayetteville indebted for its foundation. The services were held at first in the old Academy, a large building which stood on the lot next to the Church on the South. [This Academy was chartered in 1799. The trustees were John Hay, Robert Adam, Farquard Campbell, Robert Donaldson, John Dickson, John Sibley, John Winslow and Samuel D. Purviance. In 1809 the following trustees were appointed by Act of the Assmebly : David Anderson, Paris I. Tillinghast, Jr., Charles Chalmers, Hugh McLean, John Winslow, Thomas Davis, Oliver Pearce, John McMil- an, Duncan McLeran, Wm. B. Grove, John Dickson, John Eccles, John McLeran, Hugh Campbell, Sebastian Staiert, Duncan McRae, Henry Branson, Paris I. Tillinghast, Sr., Benjamin Robinson, Elisha Steadman, John Kelly, Robinson Mumford, Jr., Robert Raiford, James Mclntyre, John A. Cameron, James McRackan, Andrew Broadfoot, Simeon Belden, John Huske, Robt, Holliday, Gabriel Debrutz, John Holliday, Sr., Dolphin Davis.— C. W. B.] Of the first meetings in this building, none gave me a more minute and graphic account than "Sam Mackey" — a slave of Mr. Winslow, who was sexton of the Church from its organization un- til his death in 1861. It was his pardonable boast that he had rung the bell of the Academy for the first meeting after Mr. Judd came, and had con- Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church tinued to ring it until old age and feeble health prevented his ac- tive labor, a period of forty-three years. The Vestry allowed him to hold his office of Sexton, as an honorary distinction to the day cf his death. He was a rare instance of intelligence and know- ledge of the Christian faith. \ At the time Mr. Judd came to Fayetteville, it was a place of great commercial importance, and was rapidly growing in popula- tion and wealth. There were few, however, comparatively, who were members of the Church, or in sympathy with it— indeed who had any knowledge of it, but these few appear to have been like Mr. Winslow, intelligent, earnest, and devoted. On Easter Monday, April 9th, 1817, the congregation was or- ganized by electing a Vestry, and assuming the name of St. John's Church. Mr. Winslow was elected Senior Warden, and Paris J. Til- linghast, Sr., Junior Warden. The rest were: Hugh Campbell, Simeon Belden, Sebastian Staiert, Robert Raiford, John Huske, James Townes, Newman Kershaw, James Seawell, David Hay, Charles P. Mallett. Mr. Judd was elected Rector with a salary of $1,500.00. In answer to a circular letter asking aid from outsiders, Dr. Huske quotes in full the following: "New York, June 3rd, 1817. "Mr. John Winslow. "Dear Sir: — I have to acknowledge your favor of the 14th ult., enclosing the proceedings of the Episcopal Convention of your State — also a blank subscription paper for collections in aid of your funds for building a Church in Fayetteville. I am much pleased to find our Church growing in your State, and that it has become a member of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States. We have lately had a very respectable and inter- esting Session at this place, in which your State was represented. It would give me much pleasure to have it in my power to forward your views in raising a sum by subscription towards building your Church, but there are so many calls on Episcopalians here for Chari- ties throughout the State, Bible Societies, Theological Schools, etc., etc., I am afraid I shall not be able to do much. "I am, my dear sir, your friend and obedient servant, "N. Rogers." The paper was returned with the following names as subscrib- ers: N. Rogers & Son, N. Y., $50.00; King & Hillhouse, $50.00; T. & I. T. Lawrence, $30.00; Kippam & Wetmore, $25.00; Sundry small subscriptions, $30.00; Lambach & Bros., $50.00. Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot All of which were paid except the subscription of King & Hill- nouse, amounting in all to $185.00. This, as far as appears, is the only amount contributed by per- sons outside the Town of Fayetteville. There is no record of the amount raised within the town; but among the Winslow papers, are memoranda, which would indicate that the Churchmen of that day were highly liberal and were helped in their work by others in the community (not Episcopalians), in the most liberal manner, and it is proper to add that the aid given ty those who were not of the Church, was not to the building alone, but was contributed for some years to the support of the Minister. See subscription book, among my papers, for salary of the Minister 1818 and 1819, in which are the names of Dr. Benjamin Robinson, Beverly Rose, George McNeill, and others, not Episcopalians. [Of these generous subscribers we note before us a son of Mr. Rose, now our Senior Warden, and for many years an active, use- ful, influential member of our Church. Also a grandson of Dr. Rob- inson and a grandson of Mr. McNeill. These gentlemen, we hope, will enjoy, as wo do recalling this act of Christian charity and brotherly kindness, even if it is a hundred years old. "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." — C W. B.] In the report of the Committee on the state of the Church in 1818 we find: "On the 1st of May, 1817, the Rev. B. Judd removed his station tc the charge of a congregation, which on the preceding Easter Monday had by him been organized in Fayetteville, N. C. The zeal of that Congregation, of which YOUNG MEN form the principal part, has been eminently evidenced by their regular and devout at- tention to the worship of the Church, by their liberal contributions to the support of their minister, and by their donations and exertions for the erection of a Church which will soon be completed, and when completed will be equal perhaps in point of elegance to any in the State." [The fact here alluded to that a large number of young men were connected with the congregation at its beginning, has characterized it ever since. — C. W. B.] At the first Communion sometime between January 1st and Easter-day, 1817, there were fourteen: Mrs. Duncan McLeran, Mrs. Charles Mallett, Mrs. John Abernathy, Mrs. David Ochiltree, Mrs. Peter Mallett, Mrs. Hugh Campbell, Mrs. Winslow, Mr. Ochil- tree, Mr. Charles Mallett, Mr. Peter Mallett, Mr. Raiford, Mr. Philip Raiford, Miss Betsy Winslow, Mr. John Winslow. Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church At the next, on Easter Sunday, twenty-four. On Whit Sunday, twenty-one. It must be remembered that none of these had been confirm- ed, as there was no Episcopal Visitation until 1819, by Bishop Moore. Mr. Judd's last official acts were the burial of William Bar- ry Grove, March 1818, and the marriage of O. P. Stark to Rachael Dobbin, May 14th, 1818. [Mr. Grove was a member of Congress from this District from 1791 to 1803, and a highly influential citizen. He lived at the intersection of Rowan and Chatham Streets, N. W. Corner. In boy- hood we have often seen the remnant of his house, put together with wrought nails, and hanging loosely in the air. It was the resting place of Congressmen of his day, on their way from the South and Southwest to Washington, among them Mr. Lewis, from Alabama, whose enormous size required the construction of a chair for his especial benefit, and who was required to pay double fare on the stage lines. Mr. Grove's house was celebrated for its good cheer and boundless hospitality. We have no means of finding out to what church he belonged.— C. W. B.] Mr. John Winslow was the Lay Delegate to the first Conven- tion at New Bern in 1S17. Mr. Judd and Mr .Winslow were of the first Standing Committee. Mr. Judd was Clerical Delegate to the General Convention, elected at the same time. The Church property consisted of three lots: 1st. — Bought of the Elders of the Presbyterian Church; con-' veyed to Vestry before named. 2nd. — Bought from the Estate of Peter Mallett. The grantees named are same Vestry with John Cruso, John A. Cameron and David Ochiltree added. To this lot Mrs. Sarah Mallett, widow of Peter Mallett, made a deed of gift of her dower interest therein. 3rd. — Lot conveyed by George Hooper, brother of William Hoop- er, Signer. This seems to have been a gift as the consideration named is nominal. Cost of entire property $2,550.00. (See Deeds of Record Books— C, No. 2, P. 861, and 863; G. No. 2; P. 518; H, No. 2; P. 375.) Dr. Huske goes on: "And here let me stop a moment to say that to me this 'piece of ground' with these metes and bounds is the dearest spot on earth. It is connected by a bond indissoluble, with all the memor- ies and associations of my life. I can remember it as far back as when I was four years old, especially for the reason that at that age I went to school to Miss Sarah Richards, in the Eastern, or Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot back room of the old Academy. That building and its front yard I remember perfectly well. On the north of it, immediately adjoin- ing, was the Church building, the House of God, with its towering steeple rising up above the trees that shaded the holy ground. The Church was indeed the House of God, and the ground upon which it was built was indeed holy ground, to the heart of childhood. The preacher, as he stood in the pulpit, which had a handsome canopy over it, as a sounding board, was indeed the Minister of God to a de- gree so intensely felt as that after years have not increased, but I fear diminished, the sense of that truth. In the Churches successive- ly built upon this holy ground, I was baptized, confirmed, communed, ordained, married, and have here ministered twenty-eight years. In this Church other members of my family have received, those di- vine offices, which pertain to them in their sphere in the Divine Kingdom. In it my own dead have had paid to them the last rites of the Church, and from it their bodies have been borne to the last rest- ing place. Father, mother, brothers, sisters, near kinsmen and friends. To that spot my heart ever turns, as the home of my SPIRIT upon earth, wheresoever I may be. The very sight of it ever carries me back to the consecrated past, recalling all the holy feelings cf childhood, and, with a shrinking of shame, its follies, too. I can see, even now, in the depths of my mind, as in a picture mel- lc wed by time, the Bishop, Ravenscroft, standing in the pulpit, and towering, not only in the majesty of his natural form, but "in the greatness of his strength" as an intellectual giant, an ambassador of God. And- the "corona" as the Latins called it, the people listen- ing in circle around him, with upturned faces, and kindling eyes, to hear from his lips in tremendous power the Word of God. I can hear, even yet, the "words of the Ten Commandments, ringing in my ears,^as he spake them, as if indeed by authority of God. I have too in my mind the vivid scenes of a later day when the Bishop, Ives, handsome, and graceful in manner, and solemn in aspect, stood forth, amid the brilliant lights at night, and preached the Word in strains of winning eloquence or laid his hands upon the heads of the people with inimitable gracefulness and solemnity. Who could ever forget him, as he appeared in his Episcopal robes, in the early days of his Episcopate, when his ardent soul lit up his face with an almost divine glow, as he enforced the purity of Church doctrine, unmixed and unpalsied by the horizon of Rome. "Eheu quam mutatus, ab illo. Episcopo, hostem quam fuit." When I became a man I knew him well, was the object of his kindness and love, was his pupil, and had his confidence, and 10 Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church though he destroyed rny confidence in him, in after time, I cannot ever remember him without a sigh and a tear. The sweet remem- brance of what he once was, shall cover his memory with the man- tle of charity, as the grass and flowers cover the place where his body rests. "Sit in pace." How dear to the heart the spot where these divine influences have been ever flowing out as the Holy Waters which Ezekiel saw flowing out of the Temple of God. From this holy ground the eye can see things and scenes to memory dear from earliest dawn of life. On the east towards the sunrising, it is bounded by Cross Creek, the beautiful sand-hill stream, familiar to me in all its devious windings, from its foun- tain-head. to its mouth as it enters into the waters of the Cape Fear. This is the stream of historic note that once gave name to the place in which we live, as itself gets its name from the wonderful phenomenon of the waters crossing at its junction with Blount's Creek, and then uniting again a short way below. This is the stream, that as it tumbles in incessant flow over the dam at "Eccles' Bridge," gleams in the rays of the sun by day, and catches and reflects with soft splendor, the silver beams of "that silent moon" by night. This the stream that gracefully winds its wa3 r , like a gilttering serpent, through the heart of the town, glad- dening the eye with its sheen, and soothing the ear with the murmur of its gentle flow. This the stream that laves the shore whereon lies buried the generations of our dead and that by day and by night ever sings its sweet requiem to their souls. "Requiescant in pace." Requiescant in pace— jdomec salvator veniet." This stream so sacred, and dear to every heart in Fayetteville, is still more dear to us, whose holy ground it touches. It is to us, as "Siloam's brook, that flowed fast by the Oracle of God." It is ever under the eye as I stand in the Vestry Room of the old Church. As it winds round the point, and whirls in an eddy of foam and then hastening on, ever rapidly flowing, and breaking into a thousand pieces, as it ripples over the stones and pebbles, it be- comes to me a fit emblem of the Living Waters of the grace of God, the Water which God gives, whereof men may drink and never thirst again. Or else as it hurries on, never stopping from one year's end to another, it reminds me of the rapid flow of all human life, onward and ever onward towards the ocean of eternity. How soon has the former :/eneration passed on and out of sight. That generation that laid the foundations of the House of God. And we that come after, and that now know the places that once knew them, how fast is our descent down the stream of Time. Wee too Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot 11 shall soon pass the point where the ruins of the old mill stand, a memento of the past, "and be no more seen." In this spot of ground lies buried the mortal body of Jarvis Barry Buxton, the seventh rector of St. John's Church, that pastor of God's flock who by the power of the Word turned my head to God, made me resolve to devote my life to Him, taught me the Way of Life, lifted me up by the power of his discourse, in private as well as public, from earth to heaven, blessed my spirit by an unc- tion from above with the blessings from God, more than any other human being, save only and ever MY MOTHER! How could I forget him whose grave is daily in my sight, re- minding me of him "in the day of his power" when he preached in his own way and with a diction inspired by his own great genius, those powerful sermons which to me have never been surpassed by any preacher. How holy is the ground to me wherein rests the body of him whose spirit while he was in the flesh, caught vivid glimpses of Paradise, and told us what he saw, and which, now that he is dead, hath gone to its rest in that place having good hope, and waiting in peace for the "rising from the dead." "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is HOLY GROUND." The foundation of the building was laid by the Masonic Order ii. June, 1817. The building was completed in about one year, at a total cost of say $16,000.00. [I have heard my father say often, that it was a really hand- some building,, attracting strangers by its proportions, and neat ap- pearance. The town clock was placed upon its steeple. It had be- fore been upon the Academy building, immediately south. — C. W. B.] The Rev. Mr. Gregory T. Bedell was called, and be- gan his duties on Nov. 1st, 1818. The Church building was now com- pleted, and furnished with organ, bell and clock. It was consecrated oij the visitation of Bishop Moore, of Virginia, in April 1819. We may well imagine the religious joy which prevailed in the hearts of the church people on that day. They had for the first time in their lives been able to obtain the precious blessing of laying on of hands from an Apostolic Bishop. Indeed, it was the first time, no doubt, that most of them had ever seen a Bishop. They had knelt at the Table of the Lord, and received the Bread of Life from the same hands, in a Church which they had built at such great cost to themselves, and which was now consecrated to the worship of the Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Within the year the little band of communicants had more than doubled. These were 12 Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church the fathers and mothers in this Israel of ours, most of whom we of this day have known and loved, and admired for their devotion to Christ, their Christian virtues., and the examples they have set us and "the generations yet for to come." 1819 — Mr. Bedell was elected Secretary of the Convention. The Standing Committee was located at Fayetteville, consisting of the following, together with Dr. Empie of Wilmington, N. C: Rev. G. T. Bedell, Mr. John Winslow, Mr. John A. Cameron, Mr. Paris J. Tillinghast, St., Mr. Charles P. Mallett, Mr. Newman H. Kershaw. Mr. Bedell elected delegate to the General Convention. Dr. Huske adds a note — that on Dec. 9th, 1819, was organized in Fayetteville a Society entitled "The United Female Benevolent Socie- ty of North Carolina" composed of Christians of the various denomi- nations of the local churches. The meeting to organize was held in the Presbyterian Church, and was presided over by Mrs. Frances Bowen, with Miss Ann Pearce as Secretary. Prayer by Rev. Colin Mclver, and Rev. W. D. Snodgrass, in an appropriate exhortation. Constitution adopted, setting forth its objects and electing fifteen ladies as a Board of Directors, viz: Mrs. Bedell, Mrs. Mclver, Mrs. Bowen, Mrs. Robins, Mrs. Broad foot, Miss Thurston, Miss Lamon, Miss Broadfoot, Miss Anderson, Miss Haywood, Miss Hall. Miss Mallett, Miss Beebe, Miss Pearce, Miss Donaldson. On the following Thursday the Board met in the Presbyterian church and elected: Mrs. Bedell, 1st Directress. Mrs. Mclver, 2nd Directress. Mrs. Broadfoot, Treasurer. Mrs. Bowen, Recording Secretary. Mrs. Robins, Corresponding Secretary. The rest of the ladies were called "Managers." In the list of subscribers, I recognized the names of many ladies of St. John's Church. In the list of officers above Mrs. Bedell will be recognized as the wife of Rev. G. T. Bedell, Mrs. Mclver as wife of Rev. Colin Mclver, well remembered by many as an able and ardent Presbyte- rian minister so long resident in this town, and who ministered mostly to the Scotch settlements of Cumberland. Miss Lamon, as "Miss Betsy Lamon", who kept a school on North street. Miss Broadfoot (M. S.) as Mrs. Margaret Hooper, wife of James H. Hoop- er. Miss Anderson, as wife of J. W. Wright of blessed memory, and mother of Mrs. Beattie Mallett, no less saintly in life. Miss Haywood, as wife of Louis D. Henry, both of whom in after years were prominent supporters of the "Old Church" and to whose zeal- Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot i3 ous labors St. John's fs mainly indebted for the "Old Rectory." Miss MailettasMissSallieMallett, Miss Beebe as the wife of Joshua Carmon Miss Pearce as Miss Ann Pearce who still lives at the age of 83 or 84. Miss Donaldson, as Miss Isabella Donaldson, a woman that has spent her life in doing good, and who I think has an "unction from above." She still lives, blessing those who know her, by her ex- ample and active benevolence. See the Constitution, etc., Fayetteville, N. C, Carney & Dis- mukes, 1820. On the 23rd of April 1820, Mr. Bedell wrote to the Vestry a let- ter which Dr. Huske writes of as follows : "It may not be amiss to quote a sentence or two from this cur- ious and interesting letter. In showing that he had "earned his liv- ing," the Rector says: "Many and many has been the day when for eight or nine hours at a time I have not even risen from my seat, have interrupted meals, and sleep, to give the people such services as I thought would do good, as well as such as were re- quired by a congregation so generally formed of men of enlighten- ed and cultivated understandings as is ours. [Mr. Beddell's opinion of his flock is probably that of each of his successors, as to "men of enlightened and cultivated understand- ings."— C. W. B.] "And while in discharge of my duty, I need have discoursed but twice on Each Sunday, making in the year 104 sermons, I have, during the course of the year, ending Easter Monday, independent of my lectures to the Bible Class, and at my house, preached no less than 173 times. I care not for labor so long as I can further the cause of religion generally, and of our Church in particular." In his report to the Convention of 1S20 he says: "Attached to St. John's Church is a Sunday School of about 80, 30 of whom study Bible questions as well as the Catechism. I have also a Bible Class of about 60 ladies, also an association of ladies and gentlemen call- ed the "Harmonic Society of St. John's Church," and the association has done incalculable good in improving the conditions of this most sublime part of public worship." The Standing Committee was again located at Fayetteville, consisting of Dr. Empie, Prest. and Rev. G. T. Bedell, John Winslow, John A. Cameron, Robert Strange. Soon after the Convention Mr. Bedell went North and being detained by sickness he wrote to Mr. John Winslow leaving it to the Vestry to determine whether the pastoral relations should continue. He says: "Let it not be sup- posed that I write this with even the most distant wish of a disso- lvtion of our connection. So far from this, I KNOW OP NO SIT- 14 Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church UATION SOUTH OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK WHICH IS IN ANY MEASURE TO BE COMPARED WITH THE RECTORSHIP OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH." 1820— On the 29th of November, of this year, died John Wins- low, the first Senior Warden of St. John's Church, a man to whom the Church in this town must always feel indebted for its first foundation, and for his zeal, liberality and untiring devotion to its interests as long as he lived. His death must have been a great affliction and loss to the Parish, and especially to the Rector, who in various letters, expresses his obligation to Mr. Winslow in the warm- est manner for invariable kindness in every way. He was evi- dently the main pillar and support of the Parish in his day, and his life furnished a fine example of a liberal-minded and devoted Churchman. To all who come after him, an example worthy of imi- tation by all laymen, not only on account of its importance to the in- terests of the Church, the cause of the Redeemer in the world, but also of its effect upon a man's own character, and his memory when dead. 1821- — Mr. Bedell reported to the Convention: "Among the deaths is particularly to be recorded that of John Winslow, Esq., a man to whose exertions principally the Church under God, owes its existence and much of its present prosperity. He was more than ordinarily interested in its welfare, and seemed to think no sacri- fice of time or money too great to be made in the cause of Relig- ion, and of the Church in particular. His death is a public loss, and not only to be deeply deplored by the Parish but by the Church at large." To these notices Dr. Huske has added several notes, from which we learn that Mr. Winslow's funeral was a public one, he being at the time Magistrate of Police, and his body was escorted to the grave by Fayetteville Cavalry, Artillery, Independent Light Infan- try, Masonic Brethren, Clergy and Physicians, Directors of Bank of Cape Fear, Teachers of Academy. Bells of Town to be tolled from hour of procession until 12 o'- clock noon. Mr. Bedell resigned on account of ill health of self and family, and was succeeded by Rev. William Hooper about Easter of the year 1822. In August died Dr. Andrew Scott, an eminent physician, a member of St. John's Church, also Oct. 5th died Parris J. Tilling- hast, Sr. He had been a Warden since the organization of the Par- ish. The Fall of this year was memorarble in the history of this Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot 15 Town for the prevalence of a deadly form of fever of which I think these persons died. It was thought by some to be yellow fever. 1824 — Mr. Hooper made report to the convention of his year, in which he speaks with gladness of the universal spirit of piety, and the flourishing condition of the Sunday School. At this Convention, John W. Wright was elected Treasurer of the Convention, and Agent to manage the Episcopal Fund, an office which he held with- out interruption, and discharged with great ability and to the sat- isfaction of the Convention to the. date of his death, a period of 30 years. Just here Dr. Huske takes occasion to pay a loving tribute to Mr. Wright, to whom, he says, next to Mr. Winslow, St. John's Church is perhaps most indebted. In this year Rev. Mr. Hooper was deposed. All the records of this time speak of him in the highest terms. No one who ever knew Mr. Hooper could, for one moment, doubt that ir all this matter he was acting under the imperative dictates of his conscience, and much as his friends regretted the loss sustain- ed by the Church by the defection of a minister so cultured in mind, and refined in feeling and pious in heart, they never ascribed to him any other than the purest motives in the course which he took. [His trouble was as to the meaning of the word "Re- generate" in the Baptismal Service. — C. W. B.] 1825. In the Spring of 1825 Rev. Henry Mason was put in charge of St. John's. 1827, March 15. Mr. Mason resigns, to take effect May 17th. Upon the removal of Mr. Mason, Bishop Ravensci-oft appointed as lay readers Mr. Robert Strange, Mr. John W. Wright and Mr. Chas. T. Haigh. Dr. Huske says of them: "They were not only distinguish- ed as men in their several spheres in life, and for their zeal and lib- erality and devotion to the Church as Christians, but also for their literary qualifications, for their excellence as readers, and for their good judgment and taste in the selection of sermons. . . . This opinion is supported by the opinion of the congregation which seems from its first foundation to have been distinguished for superior culture of mind and fine literary taste. 1828, Jan. 1. Rev. Phillip Bruce Wiley took charge, and here I think it proper to say that the Parochial Record was kept by Mr. Wiley in such manner as to be a model worthy of imitation by all Clergymen. It would have been a great assistance to me in compil- ing these records, if the register had been kept in like manner by 16 Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church all who preceded him. [We move to add the Vestry Records also and so amended we mos thearti.ly, unanimously and Weariedly declare it passed.— C. W. BJ Convention held in St. John's. Mr. E. L. Winslow was elected Secretary of the Convention this year and held office until the day ol his death, 1863, succeeded by Mr. William N. Tillinghast, who held up to 1875. During the Session of this Convention four persons were confirmed. One of these was George E. Badger, a name which has since become famous in the State on account of the greatness of his intellect, the profundity of his legal learning, his logical powers, his general intelligence, the eminent accuracy and finish of his dic- tion, and his inimitable humor. At the same time was confirmed his wife, Mary, and Leonidas Polk, afterwards Bishop of Louisiana, and who was killed in the field before Atlanta, Ga., while a General hi the Confederate Army. 1829 — I record here the fact which is of some interest, that on May 1st Rev. Mr. Wiley baptized William G. Broadfoot by immersion. It is the first instance of this mode in this Parish. I remember, as a boy, seeing the parties coming from the creek, at the point, call- ed at that time the "Horse Hole" near the little bridge at Anderson's Paper Mill. Mr. Broadfoot was, for many years, devoted to the Sun- day School, a man who was thoroughly informed about the princi- ples, and doctrines of the Church, and devoted to its interests. Mr. Wiley seems to have resigned soon after, May 24th, 1829. I can also remember Mrs. Wiley, his wife, at that time a young and beautiful woman. It was my good fortune in after life to become thoroughly well acquainted with her, at Valie Crucis, where she resided at the Mission School, founded by Bishop Ives, and afterwards as my par- ishoner, in this town. And it gives me pleasure to say now that she has gone to the rest of righteous souls, that she who was so endowed with beauty of person by nature, was also richly endowed with the gifts of grace which she used in behalf of Christ and His Church. 1830 — Rev. Mr. W. H. Jones took charge, served 14 months. Here ends the history of St. John's as written by Dr. Huske, which closes with a beautiful tribute to Mr. J. W. Sandford. With this history we have taken many liberties, chiefly for the sake of brevity. 1831, May 22nd. Rev. Jarvis B. Buxton began his Rectorship. On his second Sunday the great fire of '31 occurred. Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot 17 FIRE OF MAY 29TH, '31. We have before us an extra printed on one side by the North Carolina Journal and Carolina Observer jointly, without date, head- ed in large type. DESTRUCTION OF FAYETTEVILLE, from which we extract the following, viz: "About 15 minutes after 12 o'clock M. on Sunday last, the citizens of Fayetteville were alarmed by the cry of fire. The roof of a kitch- en belonging to James Kyle, near his elegant brick building lately erected at the N. ¥/. Corner of Market Square was found to be in a blaze, but to so inconsiderable an extent that it was believed the ef- forts made to extinguish it would certainly be successful. Deceit- ful hope. They were all unavailing. In a very few minutes the flames extended themselves to the large brick building, and to many small wooden buildings in its vicinity. In a few minutes more the roof of the Town House caught and that building soon was envelop- ed in flames, from which four large torrents of flames were seen pouring in as many directions along the four principal streets of the town with a rapidity and force which defied all stay of resistance. In a Western direction the fire extended itself up Hay street on the right hand a short distance beyond the point of intersection with Old street, extending backwards in a Northern direction to the very edge of the creek, embracing in its devouring sweep the intermedi- ate buildings on Old street and Maiden Lane. And on the left as far a,s Mr. Canute's wooden building, being the next house below Mr. John MacRae's long row of wooden buildings, at the Wagon Yard, extending back southwardly to Franklin street. Along Green street the flames progressed northwardly crossing the creek, and consum- irg in their transit Mr. Eccles's mill, store and dwelling house, and the handsome bridge erected a few years since by the town, sweep- ing before them many valuable buildings including the Episcopal Church, on the right hand side of the street, until they reached the private residence of James Seawell, Esq., which was saved by a pro- vidential turn of the wind, and the active exertions of a very few rpersons with water and blankets. On the left hand side of the street they progressed until they were stopped at the house of J. W. Wright, Esq., by blowing it up, and extended back until they reach- ed the house of T. L. Hybart, Esq., (on Raeford Lane) which was saved by the exertions of great activity and perseverance. Along Person street they destroyed every building on both sides as far eastwardly as a few doors below Liberty Point, includ- ing the rftore of Mr. William Mclntyre, situated on the opposite point formed by the junction of Person street and Cool Spring Alley, ex- tending northwardly as far as the edge of the creek, consuming the 18 Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church Presbyterian Church, Catholic Chapel and all other buildings (with •the exception of the dwelling house mills and warehouse of Mr. James H. Hooper, all of which were saved with much exertion) in- cluding the buildings on both sides of Bow street. Along Gillespie street the flames extended as far as the State Bank Building, on the right hand side, which being nearly fire-proof enabled the citizens to contend successfully with the flames at that point, and to save the building. On the eastern side of the street they destroyed every building to a point opposite the State Bank Building, and extending eastwardly so as to include all but three of the buildings on Dick street between Person and Mumford streets. It is impossible to form any correct estimate of the entire loss in real estate. There is probably no instance in history of so large a portion of a town being consumed where it was not the result of voluntary human agency. The fire continued to rage with unabated fury until about 6 o'clock when by the blowing up of houses and other means usual on such occasions it was suddenly deprived of food for its raging appetite. The public buildings destroyed were: The Town House, Cape Fear Bank, Catholic Chapel, Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches, Academy, LaFayette and Mansion Hotels. The private buildings destroyed, in number about SIX HUNDRED, would require a long catalogue to enumerate particularly. But besides the buildings, immense quantities of books, valua- ble papers, money, household furniture, wares, merchandise and produce were destroyed. Language is entirely inadequate to the description of the sub- lime and awful scene of Sunday, or to convey an adequate idea of the appearance of ruin and desolation which our town presents. Many who on the morning of that day were in the full enjoy- ment of all the ordinary blessings of life have now nothing left to jthem but the single suit of clothes which they then wore. Not a morsel in store either of bread or of meat, to meet the common de- mands of nature. Amid such total overthrow of their pecuniary prospects, we are happy to say, there seems to be a general manifestation of fortitude, and manly resignation, under this afflictive dispensation of Provid- ence, together with a confidence that He who hath visited us will provide us with the means to bear this visitation. The spirit of en- terprise is far, very far from being crushed. The entire loss is es- timated at One Million and a Half Dollars. TOWN MEETING. J. W. Wright, Esq., called to the chair. W. J. Anderson appoint- ed Secretary. The Chairman explained the object of the meeting, Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot 19 viz: to relieve the distress of the poor and destitute, occasioned by the late fire. RESOLVED, As the sense of this Town Meeting that the Com- missioners of the Town of Fayetteville be authorized to borrow from the Banks in this place a sum not exceeding Pour Thousand Dollars, to the security and payment of which the taxes, property and faith of the town is hereby solemnly pledged, and that the said money or so much thereof as may be necessary, be invested under their direction in provisions and retailed out to the citizens at the low- est possible prices, and where there are any unable to purchase, to those sufficient supplies be gratituously distributed, and that they expend for any other public exigencies any part of the above sum. NOTICE. The Depository of Provisions for the supply of sufferers by the late fire is established on the second floor of Hall & Johnson's large Warehouse, on Gillespie street, under the superintendency of Thos. Sandford — where those who can pay for such provisions as may be necessary, may be supplied on reasonable terms, and those who CANNOT PAY may get supplies without money. C. P. MALLETT, Chairman. The late Mr. E. W. Wilkins told the writer that he was a direc- tor in the branch 01 the United States Bank at Fp„yetteville, at the time of the fire, and that at the first meeting of the Board of Direc- tors it was agreed to allow every debtor to the Bank to renew his note one time without inquiring as to his financial standing, and that this action saved the town from universal bankruptcy. Were this an outdoor meeting we should say: "Hats off, and three cheers to the memory of our fathers." Immediately after the fire of '31, Mr. Buxton went North to raise money. We have no report from him of this disagreeable duty. Tra- dition tells tales of his having a hard time, with some bright spots, notably Boston, whose people received him kindly, and contributed a larger sum than was given anywhere else, besides a bell for St. John's, and a fire engine for the town, which after many years' use was buried in the avalanche of progress, so-called. We are tempted to say that in our business life we have never met with such commercial honor, and fair dealing anywhere as we have seen shown by Boston. With the money collected by Mr. Buxton, and that raised at home, the Church was rebuilt on the old walls, a number of spires taking the place of the old steeple. This Church, while handsome in many respects, does not equal the original. Many of our leading citizens, including many, of course, of St. 20 Centennial Celebration of St. John's Church John's, were ruined by the great fire and removed. Our town never recovered from this great calamity. We turn now to the Vestry Records. Beginning in 1842. We are told that all records save the Register were burned in '31. But what became of those from that time to '42? 1842, April 4th. The Records of tbe Vestry show a meeting? WHERE THE VESTRY ELECTED A VESTRY for the ensuing year —viz: C. P. Mallett, E. L. Winslow, C. T. Haigh, John Huske, E. J. Hale, T. N. Cameron, J W. Sandford, T. L. Hybart, J. Carmon, L. D. Henry, James Kyle, I. Wetmore, J. W. Wright, Robert Strange — 14. April 18th. Mr. Huske, from the committee appointed at a pre- vious meeting, made a detailed report, showing the financial condi- tion of this Church, from its foundation up to the 19th of April, 1842, which was unanimously adopted. — [Note — and lost. — C. W. B.] 1851, Jan. 11th. On this day the Bishop Ives controversy, brew- ing for several years, was ended so far as St. John's was concerned, *by the adoption of a report made by J W. Wright, E. L. Winslow End E. J. Hale, from which we uuote a paragraph: "We are Protestants, and we believe of the Church to which we belong, in the language of one of our Bishops, 'that there is not at this day, in the wide world, a Church which so fully deserves the fervent affection of her priests, and the zealous confidence of her people.' Believing so, we cannot consent to peril the continuance of our privilege by admitting any innovations, but must do what in us lies to transmit the blessings we enjoy unimpaired, to those who follow us." May 28th. The Convention of the Diocese was held in St. John's in May, to which the Rev. J. B. Buxton made his report, transcribed into the Register by his own hand, on Tuesday, May 28th. He died on Friday, May 30th. We copy it in full: "The twentieth year of the Rector's cbM-ge of this Parish having closed with this Convention, he begs leave to report the following statistics from the Parish Register. He entered upon this charge in May, 1831, when sixty Communicants were re- ported to Convention that year. Of this original number sixteen have departed this life; twenty-three have removed, leaving twenty- one now comprehended within the staff of the Church. Since the period referred to he has reported the following bap- tisms: Adults — white, 60; colored — 44 ...104 Infants — white, 319; colored — 70 389 Address of Col. C. W. Broadfoot 21 Beyond this Parish 27 Total 520 Confirmations, 230. Communicants added: White, 251; colored, GO — 311. Of the above of the white 36 have died. Of the above of the whit^e 96 have removed. Present number — White 140; colored, 30. Total, 170. Marriages — White, 61; colored, 30. Funerals — White 149; colored 48 — 197. Four public executions have been solemnized — one each in Cum- berland, Bladen, Johnson, Richmond. The convicts were vis ted in prison, and on their confession of sins, and profession of Faith in Christ were baptized for the remis- sion of guilt, and were administered the Koly Communion. So true is it, that capital punishment is a Means of Grace, which for the re- mission of Scarlet Sin, God hath instituted and ordained, and for the administration of which the Church" has provided. 1851, May 30th. Meeting adopted suitable resolutions on the death of Rev. J. B. Buxton. Resolved: That while indulging our grief for this privation so startling, and unexpected to us, we have the cheering confidence mat our loss has been his incalculable gain, and that our beloved Pastor is now in the enjoyment of those rewards that await the faith- ful Soldiers of Christ." July 29th. Rev. J. C. H us !