1835, a Convention of the Dioceses of Mississippi and Alabama, and of the Churches of Louisiana, was held in New Orleans, under the authority of a Canon of the General Convention, allowing said Dioceses and Churches to unite in the election of a Bishop. This Convention adopted a Constitution, and assumed the title of "The South Western Diocese ;" and proceeded to the election of the Rev. Francis L. Hawkes as their Bishop; who declined the appointment. During parts of the years 1835, and 1836, the Church was favoured with only occasional ministrations; and in the autumn of 1836, Bishop Brownell again acceded to the invitation of the Vestry to pay them a visit; and continued with the Parish through the winter. In the spring of 1837 he consecrated the new church edifice, Christ Church, Canal Street. The following appropriate hymn formed a part of that interesting ceremony: On the 15th of February, 1837, the Wardens and Vestry unanimously elected the Rev. N. S. Wheaton, D. D., then President of Washington College in Connecticut, as their Rector; who entered on the duties of his office in November, and was instituted early in the following year. On the 28th of April, 1838, a Convention of the Clergy and Churches of Louisiana was held in Christ Church, for the purpose of organiz ing said churches into an independent Diocese. A Constitution was adopted, and delegates were appointed to attend the General Convention, to be held in Philadelphia, in September of the same year; at which time, Louisiana was admitted as a Diocese in connexion with the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The first Annual Convention was held on the 16th of January, 1839; when, by a unanimous vote, the Diocese was placed under the full Episcopal charge and authority of the Rt. Rev. Leonidas Polk, D. D., then Missionary Bishop of Arkansas. The charge was accepted, and Bishop Polk continued to officiate as Bishop of the Diocese till the General Convention of 1841. To that Convention, a memorial was presented, from a Special Convention of the Diocese, held in May of the same year, soliciting the election of a Bishop of Louisiana; which resulted in the appointment, by an unanimous vote of both houses, of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Polk to the office. As the history of Christ Church is, in fact, the history of the Church in Louisiana, during the early period of its existence, the narrative has not been interrupted by a reference to ecclesiastical proceedings in other parts of the State. On the 16th of March, 1820, a church was incorporated under the title of "The Episcopal Congregation of Baton Rouge." The members of this congregation have been few in numbers, and are held together by the voluntary ministrations of the President of the College. The Church has never been regularly organized. On the 7th of February, 1829, Grace Church, St. Francisville, was incorporated, a congregation having been previously gathered by the labours of the Rev. Mr. Bowman, who came to St. Francisville as a Missionary in 1826, and remained there till his death, which happened in August, 1835. The Church was supplied, with occasional interruptions, by the Rev. Messrs. Monroe aud Ranney, till 1839; when the present Rector, the Rev. D. S. Lewis, was called to the charge of the Parish. St. Paul's Church, in the City of New Orleans, was incorporated on the 14th of February, 1840, under the pastoral care of the present Rector, the Rev. Charles Goodrich, who commenced his labours in the autumn of the year 1838. The church was consecrated in March, 1840, and is a very neat and convenient edifice. FINIS. |