The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915 Page: 303
438 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Allen's Reminiscences of Texas, 1888-1842
my hand-writing, except a page or two in the beginning, in the
archives of the Republic.
Rockville, Ind., April 4th, 1881.
Resume.22-I find that on day before yesterday, April 1st,
1838, forty-three years ago, I preached my first sermon in Texas.
On Wednesday, March 28th, I landed in Galveston, then a very
small place, a custom house and navy yard, the largest establish-
ments in the place. One old war vessel, The Potomac, consti-
tuted the navy of the Republic.
On Saturday, March 31st, I landed in Houston, then the Capi-
tal of the Republic. On Sabbath, April 1st, preached three times
in the old (then new) Capitol to good congregations. There had
been no preaching in the city for a long time. There was then
no Church organization of any kind, no house of worship. The
Capitol and the Court House were the only places used for
preaching: Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Baptists, or
Roman Catholics had to use the same halls. There was already
a theatre, which was generally well patronized, and saloons still
more patronized.
Just a year after my first preaching in Houston, organized the
Presbyterian Church, the first Church in the city, ten members,
James Burke, chosen Ruling Elder.
During the winter and spring of 1839, many ministers of dif-
ferent denominations appeared in Houston, as Dr. John Breck-
inridge, Prof. Yates, of Schenectady, N. Y., Rev. Stevens, of Bos-
ton, Hoes, agent of the American Bible Society, Timon, a Roman
priest, Chapman, Protestant Episcopal. The first Methodist
Church was organized soon after the Presbyterian by a Bro.
Hoard, as also the Protestant Episcopal, all within a month or
six weeks. The first Temperance Society and the Bible Society
were organized in March, 1839. Sam Houston, Dr. Brecken-
ridge, and Henry A. Foote all made temperance addresses about
that time. From my note book, I find that I delivered the first
temperance discourse ever heard in Houston. It was on the 20th
of Jan., Sabbath evening, 1839."Texas Presbyterian, VI, No. 14. May 20, 1881.
303 '
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 18, July 1914 - April, 1915, periodical, 1915; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101064/m1/309/?rotate=90: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.