Episcopal Church Cornerstone
From "Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men" by John Hardy, pub. 1879:
"The May beauties," was the name of a society organized to celebrate the 1st day of May, 1839; S. W. Murley, Wm. Tredwell, w. H. Smith and T. W. Walker were the officers of the society. The eggs of the silk worm were offered for sale by W H. Fellows, on the 15th day of June 1839. Dr Uriah Grigsby, a leading citizen of the town, died at Mrs. Herbert’s boarding house, In Tuscaloosa, on the 13th of January 1839, while in attendance upon the Legislature, as a member from Dallas county. Thomas Gantt, the only son of Dr. Edward Gantt, died 11th February. 1839. Sam. Williams opened a dancing school in the assembly rooms of the Railroad Hotel, December 1839. M. G. Woods, a prominent merchant and business man of the town, died at his residence in the place. The splendid building which had been erected on Dallas street, by a stock company, was offered for sale; the building sold at a private sale for $3,000. The subject of religion was not overlooked in the flush and fast times of the town.
Early in the fall of 1839, the scourge of yellow fever made its appearance In Mobile, and was of a most fatal character. The citizens of Selma responded to the call for help for those left alive in the stricken city a public meeting was held and everybody attended. In the midst of this pestilence one of the most destructive fires occurred that ever did or ever has since in Mobile.
On the 20th of March, 1839, the cornerstone of the Episcopal church building, at the corner of Lauderdale and Alabama streets, was laid by the Rev. Lucian Wright, Rector, in the presence of the Vestry of the Church and citizens generally, assisted by the Worshipful Master, Wardens and members of Selma Fraternal Lodge 27, and many visiting Brethren from other Lodges. A procession was formed at 12m., at the Presbyterian Church, under the direction of Dr. Edward Gantt, acting as marshal of the day, which moved in the following order to the site selected for the edifice: Masonic Fraternity, attended with appropriate music; Mr. Amos White, chief architect, and Jesse P. Cravens, Undertaker; Clergy of different denominations; Members of the town Council; Students of the Female School; Students of the Male School; Ladies; Citizens generally. After the appropriate service, the master builder placed the stone in its proper place when the rector deposited in the receptacle a copy of the Holy Scriptures and Book of Common Prayer. The Worshipful Master than made the following deposits; Sword’s Pocket almanac for 1838, containing a list of the standing committees, meetings of Conventions, names of secretaries of conventions, constitution and cannon’s of the church, clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States; a copy of the New York Churchman and the Episcopal Recorder; a copy of Bishop Onderdonk’s Tract, entitled Episcopacy tested by Scripture, Doctrine of the Trinity, stated and defended; a Candid Examination of the Episcopal Church; the Rule of Faith; the Threefold Ministry, and a Treatise of the Nature and Constitution of the Christian Church; a copy of the Selma Free Press, 16th March 1839; several pieces of coin of the present day, and a list of the officers of the General and State governments. After which, several mementoes, which were presented by ladies and gentlemen present, were also deposited. A short and appropriate address was then delivered by Rev. A. Mathews, and the ceremonies closed by singing 102d psalm, and the benediction by the Rector.
On January 30th, 1839 the Legislature incorporated Nicolas Childers, Roland N. Philpot, John W. Lapsley, Elias Parkman, John W. Jones, Jeremiah Pitman and Harris Brantley, Trustees for the "Ladies Educational Society of Selma," a society formed by the ladies of the town, which had, and afterwards did much in the erection of church buildings and establishing schools.
<- PREVIOUS PAGE | INDEX | NEXT PAGE ->
site by Com'See
