Franklin County, Kentucky - Chapter 16, 1912

A few records of the early t'liurches in Franklin Connty have been preserved, and the records of the county court give additional information on the subject.

There is a well founded tradition that the iirst sermon preached in Frankfort was by Rev, John Gano in 178G. It was during this year ihat General Wilkinson prevailed on him to locate in Frankfort. lie purchased a lot on the corner of Broadway and High Streets and erected a log house thereon, and lived there until his death, August 10, 1804.

The Baptists have been the strongest denomination, in the county, during its whole history. In the very early history of the country, there were four Baptist preachers who were intimately connected with the growth and development of the county and who have left the impress of their personality upon the succeeding generations. These four men were John Gano, John Taylor, William Hickman and Silas M. Noel. Since their day there have been but few, if any, who could equal them.

Perhaps the greatest Baptist preacher who ever lived in Frankfort was the Rev. John Gano. He was educated at Princeton College and he was recognized as being the most learned and eloquent preacher in the western country. So great was his fame that people would travel for miles to hear him preach. He was the first chaplain of the Kentucky Legislature. There is a tradition of the Baptist Church that General George Washington was immersed by him, but there is no documentary evidence to that effect.

In the memoirs of Rev. John Gano, is given a very interesting account of the Revolutionary War. Of his first battle, the writer says: "We next fell back to White Plains where Gen. Washington had his main army; here a severe but indecisive battle was fought by about one- third of the armies on either side. Rev. Gano was found in the hottest of the fight, leading and rallying the men like an officer. When it was suggested that the place for the chaplain was in the rear with the surgeon's staff he said 'I durst not quit my place for fear of damping the spirit of the soldiers by setting a bad example.' So frequently was he found in the van, in time of danger and so seldom in the rear that he was known as 'the fighting chaplain of the army.' "

In reference to his preaching in Frankfort, he said, '^Church meetings were frequently held at Frankfort, though there was no settled church there of any denomination. Mr. Hickman had at times held services in the assembly room at the State House and Mr. Shannon of the Presbyterian church had consented to preach there part of his time. I agreed to supply them every first and third Sabbath in the month, and did so."

In Smith's History of Kentucky is the following: "John Gano was a great man - great as a busy toiler in the Iniilding of our nation, in the building of our Commonwealth, in the building of our civilization, in th& building of religion the better life of it all."

There is some question as to where this Christian patriot was buried, but his remains should rest with his compatriots inthe State cemetery, with a monument suitably inscribed, erected to his memory.

Rev. John Taylor, who did the first preaching foi' the Frankfort Church, as its regular pastor, was a man of limited education, but was of a remarkably strong, clear intellect and of a calm, sound judgment. He was a plain, practical and very successful man. He wrote a history of "The Ten Churches," which includes the Frankfort and Buck Run churches.

William Hickman w^as fifty-one years old when he first came to Kentucky. He was tall and gaunt; his dei)ortment solemn and grave. "He was justly recognized as the first Baptist preacher of Kentucky. He preached at Harrodslnu'g in 1776 and returning later to give forty years in this State, and in this church to the service of his Master."

activity, courage and usefulness he was the peer of any man of his day. He baptized more than one thousand converts, five hundred of whom became members of his church. He said of the Fork's of Elkhorn Church, "This church I liope to serve until I am laid in the grave, for they have ever manifested their love and esteem to me."

Dr. Silas M..Noel was the son of Thcoderick Noel, a Baptist preacher, who lived and died in Virginia. Dr. Noel was educated for the law and he practiced his profession for some time, but feeling that he was called to the ministry he came to Kentucky and was ordained as a preacher. His first charge was the church at Big Spring, in Woodford County. At that time he was a young man. Some time after that he resigned the pa.'^torate to accept the position of Associate Circuit Judge with Judge Henry Davridge and Nathaniel Richardson. He afterwards became a meml)cr of the Frankfort bar and practiced law for some time with success. After two or three years he returned to the ministry, where he became one of the strongest and most successful preachers the Baptists ever had in the State.

In Taylor's History of The Ten Churches, he said, ''Mr. Noel's literar}^ accomplishments, together with his zeal in the gospel with his great success therein, has procured him the high appellation of double D. D."

Dr. Silas M. Noel and his descendants have been prominent people in the county for more than a century. He was the third pastor of the Frankfort church. During the troublous times of 1824-1825 politics l^ecame rampant in the Frankfort congregation and for a while it seemed as though the church would be torn asunder, and a few years later when Alexander Campbell, with his new doctrine, divided almost every Baptist congregation in the western country, Dr. Noel was thought to be the only man who could hold the Frankfort congregation together and refute the arguments of Mr. Campbell.

The church government of the Baptist Church is the nearest approach to a pure democracy that has been known in the history of any organization. This Democratic idea, in- tensified to the last degree is an element of weakness to the separate churches, but it is an element of strength to the denomination as a Avholc. Whenever there has been a faction or division in a church the seceding element has withdrawn from the mother church and formed a new organization and built another meeting house. There has never been a time in the history of the county when the numjjer of Baptists, outside of the city, did not exceed the number of members in all the other churches combined.

The churches which composed the Franklin Association in 1911-12, with date of organization, number of members and name of pastor were as follows :

The Mt. Pleasant church was first known as Mt. Gomer. The first church meeting was held in the house of Bledsoe Hayden, on September 25, 1790. Tliis private residence continued to be the place of worship until the church was built in 1791. In 1801 the name was changed to Mt. Pleasant. Frank H. Hodges was pastor of this church for about thirty years.

The North Fork church, located at Switzer, has been remarkably free from divisions and dissensions; the only one of any note was about 1880 when the Alexander Campbell reform movement led ofl' a large numl)er of its members.

The South Benson church had a lono; and useful life. It wa.s organized in 1801, and it continued to pros])er until the Alexander Campbell agitation in 1824-1825 when its mcml)crship was divided. A number of them went to Bridgeport and organized the Christian Church at that place and some went to the Buck Lick church in Anderson County; Init in a few years it recovered from this division and it continued in a prosperous condition for more than half a century. Another discussion arose in 1883 and the split which followed caused the erection of the Evergreen Baptist Church which was organized by the dissenting members. The old South Benson church was sold in 1911 and converted into a tobacco barn.

Bethel Church is the largest Christian organization in the county out5;ide of Frankfort. It has never had any dissension of an}^ note. The Rev. Frank H. Hodges, who was one of the strongest preachers ever located in the county, was pastor of this church for more than fifty years.

The Buck Run church was organized on January 31, 1818. The meeting was held at "Bro. Wilson's." William Hickman was moderator; Silas M. Noel was clerk; John Taylor, James Suggett, John H. Ficklin, ]\Iordica Boulware and Theodorick Boulware were the other ministers who were present. There were twenty-one present who agreed to l)ecomc members of the new organization. Rev. Jehn Taylor was called for their first pastor. He continued to preach there once a month for about five years and during that time, "a snug little brick meeting house, forty feet long by thirty wide" was built. In a short time after that Rev. William Hickman was called to preach once a month. In 1888 the church building was removed to Woodlake, and lat<?r it was removed to the Forks of Elkhorn.

The North Benson church was organized in 1825 and the meeting house erected in a short time thereafter. Several years afterwards this house was razed and another built ; which lia« also been torn down, and during the present decade an upto-date church has been built on the old site. A number of noted preachers have been called to that station, among them were William Hickman, Jr., W. C. Blanton, Frank H. Hodges and others.

The first pastor called to the Evergreen Baptist Church after its organization in 1883 was Rev. Frank Hungerford, who has been and is an exceptionally strong preacher. It is worthy of note that four of the strongest Baptist preachers who ever had charge of churches in Franklin County were educated for the law, towit: Silas M. Noel, F. H. Hodges, Green Clay Smith and B. F. Hungerford.

The Frankfort church Avas organized in 1816 with thirteen charter members. The first meetings were held in the church building, which was erected in 1812, on the southwest corner of the old capitol square. This building was erected by act of the Kentucky Legislature. The money with which it was built was the proceeds of a lottery. The trustees of the building were appointed by the Governor. It was intended to be non-sectarian. There was considerable controversy and contention among the Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists over the use of this building which continued from about 1817 to December 1825 when the house burned.

The most noted Baptist preachers in Kentucky have been in charge of the Frankfort church, among them are named John Taylor, Silas M. Noel, Porter Clay, the Ijrothcr of Henry Clay. The controversy between Porter Clay and Peter Dudley shook the church to its foundation. The pastor preferred three charges against Col. Dudley, and he in turn made thirtyone charges against the preacher and later added one other, that of insanity. The trials of these charges took up several weeks and they resulted in no good to the churcli.

isicr became very much impaired on account of some idle talk which connected his name with that of a young married woman, a member of his congregation and with whom gossip said lie Ava.s very much in love. After some time this lady withdrew from his church and became a regular attendant and an earnest worker in the Methodist Church where she continued the rest of a long and useful life. She was known as an earnest, faithful worker in the Methodist Church, and at the time of her death only a few of her intimate friends knew that she was not a member of that church.

General Green Clay Smith was the pastor in charge of the Frankfort church for several years prior to 1878. He graduated at Transylvania University in 1850. He represented his county in the Kentucky Legislature and his district for two terms in Congress. He volunteered as a private in the 4th Kentucky Federal Cavalry; was promoted to Major General for meritorious conduct in the engagement with Gen. Morgan at Lebanon, Tenn., May 5, 1862.

He was Governor of Montana, and nominee for President of the United States on the prohibition ticket. He practiced law for several years before he entered the ministry.

F. W. Eberhnrdt, the pastor in charge (1912), is regarded as one of the strongest preachers of that denomination in the State. The Frankfort church is in a flourishing condition. Its membership is larger than ever before. The meeting house is crowded at every service.

The first Presbyterian Church organized in the county was in 1705. Tt Avas located near what is now the Anderson County line. It was known as the Upper Benson or Little Benson Church. Rev. Samuel Shannon was the first preacher in charge. The church building, erected about 1796, was 28x40 feet. It was built of hewed logs and chinked with an excellent quality of mortar. The work was done by the friends of the organization, and the material used was taken from the adjoining woods. The roof was made of clabboards and fastened on with hand-made wooden pegs. The building has stood for more than a century. It has outlived the church organization. Many noted pioneer preachers visited it, and regular preachers Avere in charge of it for more than half a century.

The next church of this denomination was organized near Bridgeport in 1805 and was known as the Lower Benson or Franklin Church. The Rev. Samuel Shannon was one of the chief organizers, and in a short time after the house was built he moved into the neighborhood and divided his time between the two churches. This church came under the supervision of the Frankfort church in 1834. The preacher in_ charge at Frankfort preached there in the afternoon of each Sunday. This arrangement continued until the close of Rev. John R. Hendricks' ministry, since which time the church has accomplished but little.

In 1808 there was an act passed by the Kentucky Legislature granting a lottery franchise, with the object of raising $4,000 for the purpose of building a church ; which was built in 1812. The building w^as used harmoniously for a few years and no efforts w^ere made to organize a church, but as soon as the Baptists, Presbyterians and ISIethodists commenced quarreling about who should have the right to use the l^uilding each of them commenced a church organization. As the outcome of this religious controversy the Presbyterians were the first to withdraw from the contest and they commenced holding their church meetings at the Love House, at that time the chief hotel in Frankfort. And in a short time (1815) the first church organization was effected, but there was no regular pastor called until 1817, when Rev. Eli Smith began a service which continued for about ten years. After he resigned the church was without a pastor for some time; the Ruling Elder also resigned and the church organization came very near being destroyed. John J. Crittenden. John IT. TIanna. Mason Brown and other public spirited men, who were not members

Some time after that Rev. John T. Edgar was prevailed on to accept the charge and in a short time thereafter there were sixty portions added to the church mem])ership. His pastorate ceased in 1833 and in 1834 Rev. Daniel Baker was in charge for two years and tlic church continued to prosper under his ministry.

In 1847 Rev. Stewart Robinson commenced service and he resigned in 1853. From that time until 1854 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. John R. Hendrick. In 1855 Rev. J. P. Safford accepted the charge for two years. He was succeeded in 1858 by Rev. B. F. Lacy, who continued in charge until 1861, when he accepted the position of chaplain in the Confederate Army, and the church thereupon dissolved the relationship existing between him and the church. In 1862 Rev. John S. Hays accepted the position which he held until 1867.

In 1877 Rev. J. W. Pugh accepted the call and remained until 1882. After he resigned the church was without a pastor for two years. Dr. Blayney returned in 1884; his pastorate was a long and useful one. He was broad minded and liberal in his views and he did a great deal for the betterment of the city and citizens of Frankfort. He was one of the leaders in securing the capital appropriation of a million dollars in 1904. Dr. Blayney resigned in 1906 and Dr. Jesse R. Zcigler accepted the charge in 1907. He, too, is a l)road minded and philanthropic christian gentleman who is calculated to do much good in the work which he has undertaken.

In 1823 a lot was purcha.«ed on Wapping street, fronting 100 feet and extending back 200 feet. On this lot the first church was built in 1829. In 1849 this property was sold to the Catholic Church and other property bought, located on

The earliest Catholic Church station in Frankfort was the house of Mrs. Ellen Barstow. This building stood opposite the Capitol. It is not known who said the first mass, but it is supposed, however, that it was Father Badin.

In 1826 Rev. Francis P. Kenrick preached occasionally in Frankfort. Rev. George A. M. Elder, who was located in Scott County, also preached occasionally. A dwelling house near the entrance of the tunnel was the first property purchased by the Catholics. This dwelling house, known as "the tunnel house" was fitted up for a church. This was afterwards sold for two thousand dollars and the sum expended in the purchase of a church building, which \Vas erected some years before by the Presbyterians and used by them for their Sunday service. This property is located on Wapping street, near the Custom House and is still in use by the Catholics. The purchase was made by Rev. James Madison Lancaster, who was the first resident pastor of the church. Prior to this time the Catholics at Frankfort had been served by the pastors stationed at the church, St. Pius, in Scott County. This property Avas purchased in 1849 and in 1850 Father Lancaster commenced the erection of the new church. The old church was very much smaller than the new, and it was left standing, and was used by the congregation while the new one Avas being built. The new one was built around and over the old one. When the new church was nearly completed the old one was razed. This church is still standing and it is knoAvn as the "Church of the Good Shepherd." Since it Avas first built it ha.s been enlarged and improved and it is noAV considered the handsomest church edifice in the diocese.

Rev. James M. Lancaster was born in Kentucky in 1810. He Avas also educated in Kentucky, but he Avas ordained to the priesthood in Rome in 1836. In 1848 he Avas appointed by Bishop Spalding, pastor at Frankfort. He Avas an earnest, honest AA^orker at the Frankfort station. For seventeen years he did much good and many Avere added to the church during his ministry. In 1867 he was called to Covington and in 1868 he was transferred to that point. Father Lancaster was a man of more than ordinary talents, lie had excellent conversational powers and was greatly loved hy his people. He was succeeded by Kcv. Lambert Young who remained at the Frankfort station until 181)7, when he resigned and returned to his home in Ireland. A'^ery few pastors of any church were ever regarded so highly by all the people of Frankfort as was Father Lambert Young. His refusal to testify in the United States District Court at Louisville, concerning information which he had obtained by reason of the fact that he was a christian minister, and on account of which he was sent to jail for several months for contempt of .court, only increased the love and admiration of his j)eoplc for him. The card which he issued at the time of his release from jail explaining why he had taken the course he did was almost universally commended, not only by the mcmlicrs of the Catholic Church Init also by all other well informed peo])le throughout the country. The i)ext minister in charge of the Frankfort station was Rev. James L. Gorey, who died in a short time, and was succeeded by his brother, Rev. William E. Gore}^, and in a few months he was succeeded by Rev. Edward Donley, who only served the Frankfort station a short time when he was succeeded by Rev. William Cassander, who did not like Frankfort, and in a few months he a})andoned the position without leave of the Bishop. He was willing to accept such punishment as might be inflicted on him rather than to return to a position he did not like. In 1902 Rev. Thomas Major was sent to the Frankfort station where he remained until his death in 1911. Father Major was converted to the Catholic faith during the Civil W^ar. He was a Confederate soldier. He was captured and sent to a jail in Chicago where he fell sick and was ministered to by some nuns. These sisters of charity converted him to their religion. He was not as well educated as the priests in the Catholic church ordinarily are but he was well thought of by both Catholics and protestanis. Some of his warmest friends in Prankfort were not meml)ers of his church. The Rev. J. A. Flynn succeeded to the Frankfort station in 1911. He seems to be well equipped for the position. He is regarded as an intelligent, well educated christian gentleman, less friendly, perhaps, than his predecessors, but fully awake to the needs of the church. There are about two hundred families, which average about four members to the family, under the watch-care of the Frankfort pastor.

The Episcopal Church in Frankfort was organized about 1835. Bishop B. B. Smith, then Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky, commenced work creating interest in a church building at Frankfort. Some one in New York sent him a thousand dollars to be used for that purpose. In the following year a lot on Washington street was purchased for $200 ; at that time it was a crab orchard with a lawyer's office near the center of the lot. B. B. Sayre had formerly taught school in the building and it was used for a church building for some time after Bishop Smith purchased it. The parish was organized with eight communicants. The Rev. Mr. Purviance was in charge until 1841, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. F. Dobbs. In 1842 the corner stone of the church was laid. The building was thirty by sixty feet and it was patterned after the "Grecian Church of the Ascension," in Canal street, New York City. In the fall of 1842 the church was consecrated and the Rev. Mr. Presby was installed as rector. He was succeeded by Rev. Moses H. Hunter, and in 1846 the Rev. John N. Norton became rector. During the 23 years of his rectorate the parish enjoyed the most prosperous years of its existance. In 1850 the church was enlarged. On the 8th day of August the corner stone of the present building was laid. On the 12th day of August, 1852, the new church was consecrated by the Bishop, who was assisted by Rev. James Craik, of Louisville; Rev. Dr. Claxton, of Madison, Indiana; Rev. Thos. I. Trader, of Danville; Dr. Norton and Rev. Mr. Venable, of Fr^inkfort, in the presence of a large congregation. The church and furnishings cost twenty thousand dollars, all of which was presented by Mr. John H. Hanna, a lawyer who was located at Frankfort. Mr. Hanna and his wife also endowed the parish school.

ganizcd for the purpose of building a rectory. They purc'lia-sed a lot for a thousand dollars and built the rectory and furnished it. In 18G7 the church was enlarged by building a transept and a new chancel, and the Diocese purchased a house and lot adjoining the church, on the opposite side from the rectory, as a home for the Bishop. In 1870 Dr. Norton resigned. He was a thoroughly educated man who did a great deal of good while in Frankfort. He not only looked after his church work but he also wrote several books and almost an endless amount of tracts which he distributed throughout the county. Kev. lAicicn Lance was the succeeding rector. He remained two years and was succeeded by Rev. Henry T. Sharp. He remained six years, when he resigned, and for ten months there was no rector but services were held l)y AVm. H. Hampton, who was afterwards ordained.

Under the administration of Rev. R. L. McCready the old mission of "St. John's in the Wilderness" was revived and the Bishop's residence purchased from the diocese and converted into a parish house, which was made a home for the parish school and orphanage. On Nov. 1st, 1906, the church was badly damaged by fire, but it has since been refitted, and as a memorial there were erected a handsome pulpit and altar, with its furnishings. A legacy of $5,000 was left to the church by John and Lewis Ilarvie. Miss Fannie Williams also left some money with which to build an orphanage. There are at present (December, 1912) about three hundred members of the church in good standing.

The Disciples' or Christian Church of Frankfort was organized December 2, 1832, by Elder P. S. Fall, assisted by Elder John T. Johnson. The charter members were P. S. Fall, Nancy Fall, Ambrose W. Dudley, Eliza G. Dudley, Elizabeth Bacon, Elias B. Myers and O. L. Leonard.

where he had been preaching for five years, and established a young ladies' seminarj'^ at Poplar Hill, three miles northeast of Frankfort. Prior to that time only a few preachers of that denomination had preached in Frankfort. John Smith, who was known in that day as "Raccoon John Smith," had preached at Frankfort some years before that. He was a very rough and uneducated man but he had a great deal of natural ability and shrewdness, and he was a good debater. His reputation had preceded him and all the churches were closed against him, but he secured the court house, w^hich was packed with legislators, lawyers and other professional and business men. His text was, "And when .John came to Frankfort his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city wholly given up to sectarianism." The church was organized in the court house and for some time their meetings were held there ; afterwards John L. Moore's residence was used as a meeting place. Their first church was built in 1842 on the present site at a cost of $4,531.31. It was burned November 2, 1870, after which there was no preacher or church building for two years.

In 1872 the church was re-built at a cost of $26,000. Mrs. Emily Tubman, who had been raised in Frankfort, furnished the necessary means with which to build and furnish it. It was dedicated August 11, the Rev. Isaac Everett preached the dedicatory sermon. From the organization of the church to 1857, a period of twenty-five years, Mr. P. S. Fall was the only regular preacher. Several other preachers occupied the pulpit for one or two Sundays in the month during a part of this time. Among these were Enos Campbell in 1845, L. L. Pinkerton in 1846, Samuel Pinkerton, 1848, Carroll Kendrick, 1850, and John G. Thompkins in 1851, but Mr. Fall did most of the preaching and he did it without any compensation. He returned to Nashville in 1857. At that time the membership of the church immbered 221, of this number 83 of them were received by baptism.

Rev. W. T. Moore succeeded Mr. Fall as pastor. He commenced his service on October 1, 1858, and continued for about five years. During his ministry ninety-six members

I\cv. W. S. Crutfhcr became pastor in 1805 and remained for only one year, but during the year tliere were twenty-five additions to the church membersliip.

Rev. T, N. Arnold wa.s the pa.slor in charge for about eighteen months, when he was succeeded by Rev. Aylett Rains for a period of one year. During his service there were thirty additions to the church.

Rev. T. N. Arnold returned in 1870, and he was in charge when the church Avas burned. Perhaps the stormiest period of the church was during the ministration of Mr. Arnold. The question of whether or not the organ or other musical instrument should be used in the church was the one on which the congregation divided. Mr. Arnold took the position that no music, except that of the human voice, should be used in the worship of God. Many of his congregation differed with him and for some time a split ih the church seemed impending. On January 5, 1873, Rev. B. B. Tyler became the pastor and remained for three years. During his time, there were one hundred and one additions. Rev. L. N. Early succeeded him, but he remained for only a few months.

Rev. George Darsie was called to this station in 1870 nnd remained until his death, June 4, 1004. He went to Boston during this time but he was not satisfied there and he came l)ack as soon as he could make his arrangements to do so.

From the organization of the church to 1882 there were received into the church 040, .and there was lost by death, removal, etc., 390. At the present time (1912) there are about nine hundred members.

Rev. George Dar.sie was greatly loved, not only by the members of his own church, but also by the people of Frankfort generally. At the time of his death it was thought that no one could acceptably supply the vacancy, Init the ability and christian spirit of his successor endeared him to his people lo such an extent that they felt they had sustained an irreparal)le loss when he resigned. The present incumbent seems endowed with the same christian graces of his predecessors and in a short time will doul)tless be regarded as highly as were those who preceded him.

Protracted meetings haA'e l)een held in this church b}^ several noted preachers, among whom can be named, John Smith, Curtis J. Smith, Barton W. Stone, John T. Johnson, John Rogers, D. S. Barnett, Jacol) Creath, Sr., William Morton and Alexander Campljcll. The Rev. Alexander Campbell was at Frankfort on three different occasions, to-wit: 1S35, 1836 and 1842. When he first came to Frankfort all of the churches were closed against him except the Methodist, who offered him the use of the church building, which he accepted. The doctrines preached by him were bitterly opposed by the other denominations and his followers were called in derision. Reformers or Campbellites. The Baptists were especially bitter against him, as well they might be, for he split nearly every Baptist Church in the county. The prejudice engendered against him did him a great injustice. His book, titled "Alexander Campbell's Christian Preacher's Companion," or "The Gospel Facts Sustained," stamps him a great man. Succeeding generations will and should rank him with Martin Luther, John Wesley and other great reformers. He was Irish by birth and was educated for the Presbyterian ministry. He withdrew from the Presbyterian Church and joined the Baptist. In 1823, during a debate in Mason County, Kentucky, he avowed the doctrine of "Baptism for the remission of sins." This doctrine separated him from the Baptist Church. The Baptist Churches in every section of the State became disrupted, in some instances whole congregations followed him and for a while the very existence of the Baptist Churches in the State seemed imperiled, and the other churches throughout Kentucky were, more or less, affected by the spirit of "heresy" so termed by the other denominations.

When the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch, in America, was organized in 1784, the Episcopal Chnrch had been in existence, in this country, one hundred and seventy-seven years. The Baptist Church for one hundred and forty-five years and the Presbyterian Church seventy-nine years.

At a conference held in the city of Baltimore in 1786, Bishop Asbury sent James Haw and Benjamin Ogden to the Kentucky Circuit; they reached the territory of Kentucky in tlie latter part of the sunnncr of 1786. In 1787 the work in the west was divided into two circuits, one of which was known as Kentucky apd the other was called the Cumberland. In that year James Haw was returned to the Kentucky Circuit, and Thomas AVilliams and Wilson Lee w^ere appointed his' colleagues. A report of the conference of 1787 showed a membership of ninety in Kentucky. In 1788 the conference was again held at Baltimore. Thomas "Williamson, Peter INIa.ssie and Benjamin Snelling were sent to the Lexington Circuit, with Francis Poythress as the Presiding Elder. At that time there were no stationed Methodist preachers in the western country. The Lexington Circuit embraced the section of the country afterwards known as the counties of Fayette, Jessamine, Woodford, Franklin, Scott and Harrison. The first conference held in Kentucky was at Masterson's Station, five miles from Lexington, in the year 1790. There were only six members of the conference present. Henry Burchett was sent to the Lexington Circuit, where he remained until 1793, when John Ball and Gabriel Woodside were sent for two years. In 1706 Aquilla Sugg was in charge, but in the latter part of that year his health failed so that Thomas Scott was sent to take his place. The circuit at that time included Lexington, Versailles, Frankfort and sixteen other stations. Organizations or societies had been previou.sly formed at each of these points and the Rev. ]Mr. Scott reported that most of them were in a healthy condition. Thomas Scott afterwards left the ministry and practiced law and held political positions for the remainder of his life.

western country, had some trouble with Bishop Asbury and on that account withdrew from the Methodist Church and became a preacher in the Presbyterian Church.

Thomas Wilkinson was one of tlie greatest preachers of that day. Ho dressed in plain homespun clollics, and could not be induced to wear black. He would often liave his whole audience in tears.

William liolman found no church building in Frankfort when he came in 1822. In the following year, April 15, 1823, Ijenjamin Hickman transferred to the trustees of the Methodist Church a lot fronting 50 feet on Ann street and extending back the same width one hundred feet. On this lot was built a small frame church which remained there until 1849, when it was torn down and a brick church wa.s built. In the year 1854 this structure wa.s destroyed by fire. In that year the lot on Washington street was purchased and the present church was built. During the pastorate of Gilby C. Kelley in 1886, this building was improved by the erection of the stone front and other improvements. The evangelist Sam Jones preached the sermon re-dedicating the church. An immense crowd was present.

The greatest preacher who was ever stationed at Frankfort was H. H. Kavanaugh (1832). He was afterwards a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

William McD. Abbott was a strong union sympathizer. While stationed at Frankfort in 1801, took occasion one Sunday morning to pray very earnestly for the success of the Union Army. To his great surprise more than half of his congregation arose from their knees and left the church.

There have Ijeen several able preachers located at the Frankfort station during the past quarter of a century, but for some reason the church has not flourished to any great extent. In 1912 there are only about three hundred members, the most of wdiom are poor. The minister in charge is an able, earnest man who is calculated to do much good, but the church organization does not have that aggressiveness which brings success.

On May 27, 1884, the South Frankfort Presbyterian Church, South, was organized by a conmiission from West Lexington Presbytery. There were thirty-one members enrolled, all of whom had signed the petition for the organization of the church. Joseph Rol)inson, Thomas G. Poore and Peter Jett were installed as the first elders. The church building had been erected on the same lot where the present building is located. It was a frame structure and fronted on Third street. On June 1, 1884, the church was dedicated, Rev. E. O. Guerrant i3reached the dedicating sermon. In a short time after the church was organized it was transferred from West Lexington to Louisville Presbytery. On September 8, 1886, union was effected with the old Franklin Church near Bridgeport. Dr. E. O. Guerrant and others preached during the summer of 1884. On October 31, 1884, Rev. Robert E. Caldwell was called and he became the first regular pastor.

On November 6, 1904, the present church building was dedicated. It was completed at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. The old building was given to the Salvation Army, whose officers removed it to the army headquarters on Clinton street. North Frankfort.

The First Baptist Church (colored) was organized in 1833. Prior to that time the white and colored people Avorshiped together. A colored man by the name of John Ward donated the ground where the church stands. The deed was made to the First Baptist Church in 1844.

The first regular preacher was Henderson Williams, who began his service in 1838 and served five years. Thfe preachers who succeeded him whose names have been preserved were James Monroe, 1845; Robert Martin, who remained for twenty years and who baptized hundreds of converts; George W. Patterson, Eugene Evans, (1887). J. W. Hawkins left one thous- and dollars in the treasury with Avliich to puix-liase ground for a new elmrch. Robert Mitchell, A. ^L, D. I)., purchased the lot on the corner across from the CJovernor's mansion on High street, at the price of $4,000, and petitioned the City Council for the right to build the church. The city refused to grant the right and a long legal fight ensued. The Court of ^Vppeals passed on the case in 1904 and sustained the church, and the building was erected at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. It is the handsomest building for colored people in the State. C. C. Wakefield succeeded Dr. Mitchell in 1903, and W. R. Payne became pastor in 1904 ; Dr. W. T. Silvey in 1905, since which time he has performed an acceptable service for the church. During his eight years of service the church has prospered; the membership in 1912 numbered seven hundred and forty-two.

The Corinthian Baptist Church, located on Mero street, between St. Clair and Washington streets, was organized in 1876. James H. Parrish was the first regular pastor called. He was succeeded by C. C. Stumm in 1879. Rev. Reuben Strauss was called in 1882, and in a few months thereafter he wfs succeeded by .James ISI. ]Ma.son, who continued in the work until 1884. The succeeding pastors are as follows: E. Richie, 1884; R. H. C. Mitchell, 1885; W. H. Craighead, called temporarily; Wm. A. Creditt, 1890; Benjamin W. Farris, 1892; W. E. Claybrook, 1896; D. S. Oner, 1897; E. T. Fishback, 1898; F. G. Brookins, 1909, and E. J. Jackson, the present pastor, was called in 1910. Rev. Jackson is highly regraded by both races. The church property is valued at $15,- 000. Membership number 105.

The St. John A. M. E. Church was established in 1839. The first building was erected in that year on the old site on Lewis street. The building and grounds were given by Mrs. Triplctt, a white woman, to her servant^-^, Benjamin Dunmore and Benjamin Ilunley. It was afterwards deeded in trust to Harry Mordecai and George Harlan. The first pastor was George Harlan, who was in charge until 1840. Those who succeeded him were Moses Pitman, Aaron Green, Reuben Thomas, Henry Henderson (1850), Anderson Bryant, Jacob

Williams, Henry Hensley, William Brown, Henry J. Young, Ross Lee, Jilson Francis, Geo. H. Schaffer, Washington Hill, Grafton Graham, Alfred Newman, C. J. Waters, B. F. Lee, J. W. Riley, Chas. Herbert, Jessie Henderson, George Steamer, Levi Evans, D. S. Bentley, J. W. Asbury, J. F. Thomas, G. H. Burk, Geo. W. Bryant, Emanuel Wilson, J. M. Turner, J. W. Frazier, P. A. Nichols, G. F. David, J. M. Holt, D. D., 1906; J. Allen Viney, 1907-8-9 ; T. A. Thompson, 1910. During the pastorate of Rev. J. Allen Viney the mortgage debt of two thousand dollars was paid. The "mortgage burning" was the occa.sion of great rejoicing among the members.