Alexander County IL Archives History - Books .....Chapter XVII Churches 1910 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 19, 2007, 9:54 pm Book Title: A History Of The City Of Cairo Illiniois CHAPTER XVII CHURCHES ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.—Under the supervision of Rev. C. M. Collins, C. M., of Cape Girardeau, who occasionally visited Cairo to minister to the Catholic people here, a frame church building, about thirty-six feet square, was erected upon posts at the intersection of 18th and Ohio Streets, in 1838. The bell was hung in the forks of a tree in front of the church. This was no doubt the first church building of any kind erected in Cairo. The records of St. Patrick's parish show that Father Collins baptized nineteen persons in 1840, eighteen in 1841, four in 1842, and three in 1843. This falling off was due to the failure of the Cairo company and the consequent abandonment of the town, practically, in 1843. On Christmas day 1844, the Rev. J. P. McGerry, C. M., baptized Mary Ann Lefcovitch, John Shannessy and John Corcoran. There seems to be no record of Catholic church matters in Cairo from February, 1845, to November, 1853; and from this last date the same records show that Rev. P. McCabe had charge here until December, 1858. From the "Cairo Times" of 1854, it appears that St. Patrick's church building, thirty-five by seventy feet, with a large roomy basement, was completed under the supervision of Father McCabe and services held therein on Sunday, June 25th, of that year. The contractor was John Saxton, of St. Louis, and the cost of the building about five thousand dollars. Father McCabe was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Walsh, who continued as pastor until his death, March 15, 1863, Rev. Louis A. Lambert was assistant to Father Walsh from April, 1859, to the September following, and upon the death of Father Walsh, he, then pastor at Shawneetown, was transferred to St. Patrick's church here. In May, 1868, he resigned his charge and went to New York, and was succeeded by the Rev. P. Brady, his assistant, who remained until October, 1869, when he was transferred to Springfield. Rev. P. J. O'Halloran was next in succession and continued until November, 1873, when he and Rev. Francis H. Zabel, D. D., of East St. Louis, exchanged places. Father Zabel remained until September, 1879. Our older citizens remember him and especially his devoted self-sacrificing labors during the yellow fever of 1878. He was a man whom every one in the city esteemed very highly. Rev. Thomas Masterson came from Mound City to take his place and remained until July, 1882. He was succeeded by Rev. J. Murphy, who remained until November, 1885. Rev. Charles Sweeney succeeded him and remained until November, 1889. Then came Rev. James Eckerle, who was pastor until December, 1890, and who was succeeded by the Rev. T. Day. The latter was transferred in November, 1891, and upon his departure the Rev. Charles J. Eschman took charge of the parish. During Father Eschman's pastorate, and in 1894, tne present fine stone church was built. In March, 1902, Father Eschman and Rev. James Gillen, of Prairie du Rocher, exchanged places. Father Gillen remained in charge until May, 1904, when he was assigned to St. Joseph's parish, and Rev. James J. Downey succeeded Father Gillen as pastor of St. Patrick's, and he is now in charge. Shortly after he came he built the new rectory, and later on installed the fine pipe organ now in the church. Until 1879, St. Patrick's had a large congregation, being attended by all but the German Catholics of the city. In that year the bishop divided the city into two parishes, making Fifteenth Street the boundary line. This division reduced the size of the congregation by more than half, as most of the Catholic people resided in the upper part of the city. The Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal).—Origin of Parish: A letter, December 1, 1840, Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, bishop of Illinois, to J. P. T. Ingraham, appointing him "a lay reader among the Episcopalians of Cairo;" a meeting April 18, 1841, the bishop presiding, at which was formed the "Parochial Association of Christ Church Cairo;" organization of "Church of the Redeemer" November 3, 1862; incorporated April 25, 1864, under the title "Rector, Wardens, and Vestrymen of the Church of the Redeemer, Cairo, Illinois." Subscription started May 2, 1858, to erect church; foundation partly laid and destroyed by high water; enclosed fall 1862, occupied several weeks for government hospital, then finished; occasional services by Rev. S. Y. McMasters and other army chaplains; first regular services February 8, 1863. Building substantial frame 44x70 feet, wooden tower, cost $3,000.00, erected on 14th Street (lots 35 to 39, block 44, City, donated by Trustees of the Cairo Trust Property) ; sold July 2, 1886, to Rt. Rev. George F. Seymour, bishop of Springfield, in trust for "St. Michael Mission" (colored Episcopal) now occupying same. Present Church of the Redeemer, N. E. corner of Washington Avenue and Sixth Street (lots 24 to 39, Block 24, City) a beautiful brown stone edifice, slate roof, cupola, gold gilt cross, cost including furnishings and memorials, $30,899.49, commenced September 28, 1886; cornerstone laid December 7, 1886; finished April 9, 1888; first services April 10, 1888; consecrated by Bishop Seymour November 13, 1892. Rectors of the parish, with time of service: Isaac P. Labagh, November 16, 1862, to January 18, 1864; Thomas Lyle, May 2, 1864, to February 1, 1867; W. W. Rafter, April 29, 1867, to September 16, 1867; J. W. Coe, September 21, 1867, to October 30, 1869; Edward Coan, April 10, 1870, to March 9, 1873; Charles A. Gilbert, November 1, 1873, to January 1, 1877; David A. Bonnar, November 2, 1879, to December 11, 1880; Frederick P. Davenport, June 1, 1881, to November 28, 1891; Fr. A. De Rosset, October 31, 1892, to September 3, 1901; E. L. Roland, November 12, 1902, to November 12, 1906; A. H. W. Anderson, May 1, 1907, to December 1, 1908; George M. Babcock, present rector since May 5, 1909. Wardens: Samuel S. Taylor, Henry S. Candee, 1864 to 1867; Horace Wardner, Samuel B. Halliday, 1867; Horace Wardner, W. W. Thornton, 1868; W. W. Thornton, Henry L. Halliday, 1869; Horace Wardner, Henry L. Halliday, 1870 to 1872; Henry H. Candee, William B. Gilbert, 1872 to 1897; William B. Gilbert, Miles Fredk. Gilbert, 1897 to present time. Vestrymen: (Six elected annually since 1862 in addition to the wardens) have included many substantial citizens, among whom, for want of space, can only be mentioned the old familiar names of Robert Jennings, Alfred B. Safford, Wm. P. Halliday, Charles Thrupp, Jesse B. Humphrey, Wm. H. Morris, David J. Baker, Alex. H. Irvin, John Q. Harmon, C. W. Dunning. Present incumbents are Henry S. Candee, Joseph W. Wenger, Frank Spencer, Henry E. Halliday, John T. Brown, C. Fred Galigher. Present communicants 222. The Presbyterian Church.—On the 20th day of December, 1882, this church celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of its organization. On that occasion Mr. George Fisher, then the editor and publisher of the "Weekly Citizen," presented to the congregation an historical sketch of the church. At the annual meeting of the congregation in 1885, he added a supplemental account, together with a very short manual prepared by the Rev. Albert H. Trick, then the pastor of the church. All these Mr. Fisher caused to be printed in a pamphlet of 35 pages; and it is from this pamphlet that almost all of the following information is obtained. The church building was erected in the year 1855, and dedicated the first Sabbath of January, 1856, but the lots, 31, 32, 33 and 34, block 50, in the city, were not conveyed to the trustees of the church by the Trustees of the Cairo City Property until February 12, 1856. The Rev. Robert Stewart, through whose efforts the building had been erected, preached the sermon at the dedication. Most of the money for the erection of the church came from Presbyterians of the city of St. Louis. The ladies of the Presbyterian church at Alton gave the funds for the furnishing of the church. The names of the pastors of the church and the length of their terms of service are as follows: Rev. Charles Kenmore, October, 1856, to June, 1857; Rev. A. G. Martin, December, 1858, to March 1861; Rev. Robert Stewart, June, 1862 to November, 1864; Rev. H. P. Roberts, January, 1865, to February, 1867; Rev. C. H. Foote, February, 1867, to November, 1871 ; Rev. H. B. Thayer, January, 1872, to March, 1875; Rev. Benjamin Y. George, October, 1875, to October, 1883. From that time to November, 1884, tne church was without a pastor, but was supplied almost all the time by ministers from other places. The Rev. Albert H. Trick was pastor, December, 1884, to November, 1890; Rev. Charles T. Phillips, April, 1891, to September, 1897; Rev. J. T. M. Knox, January, 1898, to May, 1905. The Rev. A. S. Buchanan became pastor in November, 1905, and is now the pastor of the church. The names of the elders of the church and when chosen are as follows: Edward P. Wilcox and James McFerran, 1861; William Cunningham, 1863; Daniel W. Munn and Walter Hyslop, 1865; Joseph B. Reed and John M. Lansden, 1868; George Fisher and Reuben S. Yocum, 1880; Edmund S. Dewey, William White and Slater S. Bossinger, 1890; M. Easterday, 1893; Charles P. Simons, 1896; William H. Gibson and Julius G. Holman, 1904; William S. Dewey and Rollo H. Spann, 1906; and Jesse W. Rule, 1908. The present elders are William White, M. Easterday, William H. Gibson, William S. Dewey, Rollo H. Spann and Jesse W. Rule. The present trustees of the church are Charles Cunningham, William S. Dewey, William J. Buchanan, William H. Sutherland, Arthur B. Turner, Walter H. Wood and Quinton E. Beckwith. In 1893, the congregation decided to erect a new church building, and many of the members residing in the upper part of the city, it was thought best to build further up town, and accordingly lots 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, in block 51, in the First Addition to the city, on the southeast corner of Eighteenth Street and Washington Avenue, were purchased June 10, 1893; and on the 23d day of December of that year, the lots on Eighth Street and the building thereon were sold and the proceeds, with the subscription moneys, used in the erection of the church on the lots named. The Eighth Street lots had been conveyed to the church for church purposes, with a clause in the deed providing for a reversion. To extinguish this right so as to enable the congregation to sell, they paid the sum of one hundred dollars per lot. The new building and the manse property were completed in the year 1894, under the pastorate of the Rev. T. C. Phillips, who took up the work of the new church enterprise with great earnestness and carried it on to a successful and speedy completion. The present membership of the church is three hundred and ten. The Methodist Episcopal Church.—The few early Methodist families in Cairo were served by missionaries who made occasional visits in 1852 and 1853. The earliest of these were Revs. Henry C. Blackwell and T. C. Lopas, who held services and preached to the six or eight Methodist families at that period. Rev. Ephraim Joy visited Cairo and preached a few times later. The First Methodist Episcopal Church society was organized in 1855, and proceeded to raise funds for the erection of a church. They were successful in their efforts and work on the building was begun in the summer of 1856. It was used for services in February, 1857. The church was of Gothic style, .38 feet wide by 60 feet in depth, with a 20 foot ceiling. A Mr. Van Ness was the architect, and McKenzie & Carnahan were the builders. Rev. G. W. Hughey was pastor during the building of the church. He was succeeded by Rev. R. H. Manier in 1856. A revival was held in the new church beginning in February, 1857. The church was dedicated on March 1, 1857, in the presence of a gathering of about two hundred persons. Rev. Dr. Akers preached the dedicatory sermon from the text, "And he was afraid and said this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." Rev. Mr. Shumate followed in a short sermon, in which he appealed to the sympathies of his audience regarding the church debt. He succeeded in raising a collection of $43. Subscriptions were also made amounting to $375.00. During the Rev. Mr. Hughey's pastorate, toward the close of the Civil War, a frame parsonage was built at a cost of $2,300. In 1891, the present brick church edifice was erected at a cost of nearly $11,000. The building committee in charge at that time was composed of George Parsons, Wilton Trigg and W. H. Oakley. The pastors of the church from the organization of the society up to the appointment of the present incumbent have been as follows, viz.: G. W. Hughey, in 1855; R. H. Manier, 1856; J. A. Scarritt, 1857; C. Babbitt, 1858; G. W. Jenks, 1859; L. Hawkins, 1860; J. W. Lowe, 1861; G. W. Hughey, 1863 to 1865; M. A. Bryson, 1866; John Vancleve, 1867; Erastus Lathrop, 1868; F. M. Van Treese, 1869-70; F. L. Thompson, 1870-73; J. L. Waller, 1873-75; J. D. Gillham, 1875-77; A. P. Morrison, 1877; W. F. Whitaker, 1878-80; J. A. Scarritt, 1881-83; E. A. Hoyt, 1884-86; J. W. Phillips, 1887-89; S. P. Groves, 1890-93; F. M. Van Treese, 1894-97; J. A. Scarritt, 1898-1905; and W. T. Morris, 1905-08; Rev. J. G. Dee, the present pastor, succeeded Rev. Mr. Morris on September 22, 1908. In 1909, the present parsonage was built at a cost of about $3,000.00. The present church membership is 250, with a Sunday-school enrollment of 400 and an average attendance of 250. Prof. T. C. Clendenen is president of the board of trustees, and Edwin Bond, Sunday-school superintendent. The Immanuel Lutheran Church.—The Immanuel Lutheran Congregation of Cairo was organized in October, 1866, by Andrew Lohr, Christian Schulze, Robert Bribach, Henry Harris, Gustave Beland, Henry Miesner and Fred and Henry Whitcamp. Services were at first held in the hall of the Relief Fire Engine House on Seventh Street, the first pastor having been Rev. J. Dunsing. About five years after the society was organized, it purchased a frame building on Douglas Street, west of Washington Avenue, which had previously been used as a Baptist church. The congregation occupied this building until 1896, when the present handsome brick church was erected. This edifice is 30 by 50 feet, a semi-circular altar recess in the rear, an organ recess on the left, and a library room on the right. The cost of the building, and its furnishings, was $10,000. Two years after the church was erected, a primary class Sunday-school room, 16 by 30 feet, was built in the rear of and connected with the church. This was a gift from Mr. and Mrs. A. Lohr. The first service in the new church was conducted by Rev. J. G. M. Hursh. The dedication of the building took place on May 9, 1897. Rev. S. S. Barnitz officiated, and was assisted by Revs. H. L. McGill, E. H. Kitch and D. C. Hurst. Rev. G. P. Heilbig, the second pastor, assumed charge in January, 1870, and remained until December, 1872. Rev. C. Duerschner was pastor from April, 1873, until January, 1879. Next came Rev. E. Knappe in May, 1879, and remained until November, 1881. Rev. Carl Schuart was in charge from July, 1882, until his death on August 4, 1885. Rev. W. Englebracht served from September, 1885, t0 November, 1888; and Rev. J. F. Moenkemueller, the last of the German pastors, from July, 1889, to July, 1892. At this time the congregation decided to become English speaking and it united with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Southern Illinois. Rev. H. C. Grossman, the first English-speaking pastor, assumed charge in January, 1894, and resigned in November, 1895. Then came Rev. W. C. Seidel, serving until July, 1896. Rev. J. G. M. Hursh was pastor from January, 1897, until February, 1903. He was succeeded by Rev. George A. Bowers, D. D., who resigned in April, 1904. In August, 1904, Rev. C. H. Armstrong accepted a call and continued until December, 1909. St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church.—St. Joseph's church was built by the German Catholics of Cairo, and was completed in the spring of 1872. Lots were secured in the summer of 1871, on the southeast corner of Walnut and Cross Streets. In September the contract for building the church was let to R. M. Melcher and Son, of St. Louis, for $15,500. The corner-stone was laid on Sunday, October 22, 1871, Rev. D. S. Phelan, of St. Louis, preaching the sermon. The first mass was celebrated in the new church on Sunday, April 22, 1872, it being a solemn high mass. Rev. C. Hoffman was the first pastor, and remained about two years. William Kluge and Peter Saup were the first lay trustees. St. Joseph's continued as a German church until 1879, when Bishop Baltes divided the city into two parishes, making Fifteenth Street the boundary line. He then designated St. Joseph's as the parish church for all Catholics, regardless of nationality, residing north of the boundary line. Several years later, Seventeenth Street was made the dividing line. Since Father Hoffman's departure, the successive pastors have been: Rev. G. Hoppe for two years; Rev. Louis Lammert for three years; Rev. Thos. Hogan, one year; Rev. O. O'Hare, three years, having died in 1883; Rev. C. Sweeney, two years; Rev. L. Hinsen, one year, and Rev. J. B. Diepenbrock from November, 1886, to May, 1904. Rev. James Gillen, the present pastor, succeeded Father Diepenbrock in May, 1904. During Father Gillen's pastorate, a fine modern two-story brick school-house has been built in the rear of the church at a cost of $18,000. It was completed in the winter of 1905-6. In 1907, the congregation purchased a modern residence for the pastor adjoining the church property. The Christian Church.—The Christian church in Cairo was organized in May, 1866, with the following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Hay; Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Fenton, Mr. and Mrs. Morrison, Mr. and Mrs. McCauley, Mr. and Mrs. Trumbo, Mr. J. C. Talbot, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Cundifr, Mrs. Mary E. Clark, Mrs. White, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Gilkey, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Seely, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Layton, Miss Gilkey and Miss Smith. Rev. G. G. Mullins, of Chicago, was the organizer. S. R. Hay, A. B. Fen ton, and Mr. Cyrus were made overseers, and J. C. Talbot and R. J. Cundiff, deacons. The Trustees of the Cairo City Property donated the society four lots on the north side of Eighteenth Street, between Washington Avenue and Walnut Street. A frame church building 36 by 55 feet was soon erected at a cost of $4,500. In 1894, tne congregation secured a new site on the northwest corner of Sixteenth and Poplar Streets, and the church was moved there. In 1909, work was begun on the new brick church. For various reasons work has been delayed, and the church is yet in an unfinished condition. It is estimated that the cost of the new church will approximate $25,000. The former pastors of this church have been as follows: Revs. L. S. Brown, John Friend, R. B. Trimble, F. A. Sword, C. W. Mar-low, C. S. Townley, E. W. Simmons, W. G. McColley, Clark Braden, L. D. Hill, W. F. Wieland, R. A. Sickles and Mr. Carpenter. Rev. Frank Thompson is the present pastor. The Cairo Baptist Church was organized on Monday evening, Oct. 26, 1880. The council was composed of Rev. W. F. Kone, of Huntsville, Ala., and Revs. Geo. L. Talbert and A. J. Hess, of Columbus, Ky. The organizers were George W. Strode, Mrs. Mary P. Strode, C. B. S. Pennebaker, Isaac N. Smith, Mrs. Louise E. Smith, A. J. Alden, Mrs. B. E. Alden, Hasen Leighton, Mrs. Sarah E. Parks, Mrs. M. J. Dewey, Mrs. Martha Whitaker, Mrs. William Martin, W. C. Augur, Mrs. Julia C. Augur, Mrs. N. E. Caster, and Mrs. Sarah S. Stickney. Elder A. J. Hess was the first pastor and remained until January, 1883. Elder A. W. McGaha served as pastor from March, 1883, to October, 1883. He was succeeded by Elder John F. Eden, who remained one year. The church was without a regular pastor from Elder Eden's departure until June, 1886, when Elder A. J. Brown was secured, and he continued as pastor until June, 1887. In September, 1887, Elder R. H. McNemer took pastoral charge and remained four years. Elder W. B. Morris was next in service, and served the church from August, 1891, to October, 1893. Elder Geo. P. Hoster was pastor from March, 1894, to September, 1897; Elder W. Sanford Gee, D. D., from January, 1898, to January, 1903; and Elder T. J. Porter, from April, 1903, to September, 1906. The present pastor, Elder S. C. Ohrum, assumed charge in January, 1907. Soon after the church was organized, the trustees purchased the Turner Hall property, a frame building and three lots on the northeast corner of Tenth and Poplar Streets for $2,500.00. The building was converted into a church edifice and so used until 1894, when it was removed to the rear of the lots and a new brick church erected. On June 8, 1897, a fire destroyed the frame house and left only a portion of the walls of the brick building. The brick church was reconstructed during the fall and winter of 1897, and was opened for worship on January 1, 1898. In the spring of 1903, the church purchased a house and lot on Poplar Street, adjoining, and remodeled the building for a parsonage. In 1908-9, an annex was built to the church at a cost of $7,000.00. A fine pipe organ was placed in the church in January, 1910, at a cost of $2,000.00. The present officers of the church are: Trustees, C. B. S. Pennebaker, Dr. A. A. Bondurant and George A. Hilburn; clerk, F. W. Cox; and treasurer, John C. Gholson. The present membership is about 400. The Calvary Baptist Church.—This church was organized September 8, 1897, m tne hall room of the Hibernian Engine House at the corner of Washington Avenue and Douglas Street, by Eider J. W. Hunsaker, of Anna, as moderator, and Elder E. B. Sullivan, pastor of the Lake Milligan church, as clerk, and assisted by J. B. Anderson, F. D. Atherton, and W. R. Lane, as Deacons, also of the Lake Milligan church. Eighty-one persons became members at the organization— charter members, as they are sometimes called—almost all of them being well-known citizens of Cairo. Quite a majority of these persons had been members of the Cairo Baptist church, the first Baptist church organized in the city, whose church building is at the corner of Tenth and Poplar Streets. The following named ministers have been pastors of the Calvary church, for the times stated: The Rev. Geo. P. Hoster, D. D., until October, 1900; the Rev. W. C. Rutherford from thence until March, 1903; the Rev. R. A. Sickles until August, 1904; the Rev. S. P. Ma-honey until February, 1907; the Rev. L. D. Bass, D. D., until March, 1908, at which time he was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. L. G. Graham. The first board of trustees were J. L. Sarber, J. W. Burns, and F. W. Koehler; financial secretary, J. A. Cox; treasurer, W. F. Gibson, and church clerk, John C. Gholson. The congregation continued to worship in the hall of the said engine house until August, 1898, when they removed to their new church building at the corner of Poplar and Sixteenth Streets. The present officers, besides the pastor, are: J. A. Cox, E. G. Hoppe, W. F. Gibson, W. T. Landon, T. W. Benson, Henry H. Stout, and J. D. Gill, deacons; trustees, T. O. Webster, Claude C. Stanley, and O. B. Archibald; treasurer, E. G. Hoppe; clerk, J. L. Benson; Sunday-school superintendent, J. E. Neff; assistant, T. W. Benson. I have not been able to secure any account of the Southern Methodist Church, whose place of worship is in the upper part of the city, and hence its absence. Besides the eleven foregoing church organizations, there are also eleven organizations of and for the colored people. These are given on page 20, of our present city directory. Almost all of them have their own church buildings, some of which are a great credit to their congregations, such as the First Missionary Baptist Church, at the corner of Walnut and Twelfth Streets; the African Methodist Episcopal Church, on Seventeenth Street between Washington Avenue and Walnut Street; the Missionary Baptist Church, at the corner of Nineteenth and Walnut Streets, and St. Michael's Episcopal Church, on Fourteenth Street between Washington Avenue and Walnut Street. One will see in Chapter XXV how the colored population of the city and county has increased since the year 1861. They are as likely to remain here and grow in number just the same and as long as they do further south. So far as the churches are concerned, the colored people have received little aid or guidance from the white people, notwithstanding their great need. The former have not repelled the latter. It has been a matter of aloofness, rather, on the part of the white people. Cairo is a southern city, not only geographically but racially. In the latter respect, it is not much more likely to change than in the former. The colored people are here to stay, just as they are throughout the South. The situation is not of our nor of their making. To make the best of it, both races should do all that can be reasonably expected of them. The white people claim to be the superior race. Let them prove their superiority by showing that they can do more than the other race for the situation, concededly more or less difficult and embarrassing. If the colored people of our city, with all the advantages of education provided for them by the white people, if they, their church members and preachers included, have been bought and sold at election times until the elective franchise in their hands seems to be a travesty, they can very truthfully reply that the white people, the office-seekers and the so-called politicians, have been their purchasers. Whatever may be said of their weakness or of their ignorance or of their poverty, one thing at least can be safely said, and that is, quite too many white people among us have sought by the use of money and other like inducements to take advantage of their weakness, their ignorance, and their poverty. Too much of the influence of the white race upon the colored has been debasing instead of elevating. More to the same effect and tenor might be said, but the above is broad enough to sustain very many specific charges. On the other hand, the colored people have scarcely furnished any kind of a man or leader to rise up and utter a protest that would reach the ears of his own people or those of the other race. Few white people seek to help them and they seem to be without any real leaders to conduct them on to a better state of things. What they most need seems to be protection against office seekers. Self-protection is best and most needed. But it is scarcely to be hoped for. Is it not clear that this rising up and protesting against the widespread venality of our elections should come first from us who are most at fault? There are a large number of worthless and debased negroes in our population. The occurrence of last November, resulting in the lynching of James, should not be unduly charged to the colored race; but the demeanor of a great many of them as exhibited just following the crime and during the presence of the soldiers here indicated quite too much a sort of indifference to the situation instead of indignation against the crime and the criminal. It will be well for both peoples, especially for the colored people, to observe that the experiences of our city during the last eight or ten months have separated them still further apart. It has come to be generally believed that the white women of the city must exercise more care. There may be a little more risk or danger than during years past, but the one dreadful occurrence has effected a great and perhaps a needed change. It is very manifest that this whole matter to which I have thus briefly alluded furnishes an important not to say a striking lesson to both races in our community, more especially to the colored race or people, who perhaps find themselves quite too often the greater sufferers. NOTE.—A number of the sketches of the churches, contained in this chapter, were prepared, at my request, by members of the organizations. I asked for very condensed statements; hence their brevity. I may also here state that the church property of St. Patrick's Church represents an expenditure of not less than fifty thousand dollars, that of the Presbyterian Church of about thirty thousand, that of the Cairo Baptist of about twenty thousand, and that of St. Joseph's Church, including its school property, of fifty-five thousand. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A HISTORY OF THE CITY OF CAIRO ILLINOIS BY JOHN M. LANSDEN WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS CHICAGO R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY 1910 COPYRIGHTED, 1910 BY JOHN M. LANSDEN The Lakeside Press R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY CHICAGO File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/alexander/history/1910/ahistory/chapterx131gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 29.3 Kb