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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE
PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE
BAPTIST, SAVANNAH, GA.
BY VERY REV. JOS. D. MITCHELL, V. G.
IX.
The Reverend Anthony Carles.
The last record where Father le Mercier’s signa
ture occurs as Rector of the Savannah congregation
is dated July 25, 1803. There is an interval of about
five months when Savannah was without a priest; and
then, under date of December 1 8, 1 803, we first note
the signature of the Rev. Anthony Carles, who signs
his name as “Priest Rector per interim of the Church.”
Anthony Carles was a native of France, and at the
outbreak of the Revolution he had gone to San Do
mingo, where he remained but a short time when,
with other French inhabitants of the Island, he was
forced to leave on account of the insurrections there.
He was a near relative of the Marquis de Montalet and
his sister Madame Cottineau; and it was no doubt on
account of this relationship that he came to Savannah,
with the approbation of Bishop Carroll. It is evident
that he did not intend in the beginning to take charge
of the Savannah church, for his signature as “Rector
per interim” occurs several times until February 7,
1804, when his name appears as “Carles Rector” and
sometimes “Rector and Priest.”
He remained as Rector of the congregation until
December 1 8 1 9 a long term of office and served
the church faithfully during all those years. There
are gaps in the records from time to time indicating
periods of absence. We know that he made frequent
visits with Madame Cottineau and her sons to the Is
land of Sapelo, and remained there as the guest of the
Marquis Montalet. We also have records of his vis
its to Augusta, where he celebrated Mass and perform
ed other church duties in the house of M. Bignon on
Broad Street, just as his predecessor had done for so
many years before. It was during one of these pe
riods of absence that we find fifteen records, dated
from April 19th to 22nd, 1806, signed by Father le
Mercier as “Rector of the R. C. C. of Charleston.”
The next record after these is dated February 26,
180 7, and signed as usual, “Carles Rector.”
Growth of the Congregation
The revolutions in France and San Domingo con
tinued during these years to bring a host of refugees
to America, and many of them came to Savannah.
Most of them arrived destitute and almost penniless,
and the number was constantly increasing. The lit
tle chapel on Liberty Square became entirely too small
to accomodate the people, and the trustees therefore
petitioned Council in June, 1 804, for an extra lot on
which they might build a larger church. This peti
tion was rejected by Council owing to the fact that
there were no city lots laid off at that time which had
not already been disposed of. The chapel was accord
ingly slightly enlarged, as there was room to extend it
in front to the street; but even then it was not nearly
large enough an indication that the people were
faithful in attending the church services.
Thus for many years we find the Catholics of Sa
vannah crowded in the little building, attending Mass
when their pastor was in the city, and during his ab
sence gathering in the church on Sundays and on the
occasion of funerals when, as the records often state,
“common prayers were said,”—a practice which is
still .carried out even at the present day on some of
the country missions in Georgia. Mr. John Dillon
usually presided at these services—doubtless owing to
his being best fitted to read the prayers in English.
The Second Grant of Land
On the 26th of April, in the year 1811, the “abbe
Carles,” as he was familiarly known, together with the
trustees of the church, made a second petition in be
half of the congregation for an extra lot. The wording
of this petition is preserved, and we therefore give it
in full, as it occurs on the city records:
“The Roman Catholick Church of this City has
been incorporated for several years past, and author
ized to hold real and personal estate. Your Honor
able Body in the infancy of the said Church allotted
a lot of land to build an edifice consecrated to that
religion, which building was thereafter erected from
liberal subscriptions among themselves and other
citizens of Savannah. Owing to continued emigration
from Europe and the West Indies, settling on these
hospitable shores to avoid death or persecution, the
said congregation has grown numerous and respect
able, and formed of citizens and inhabitants of Sa
vannah; but, from the troubles and ruin in the West
Indies and Ireland, those whose consolation is placed
in the practice of the Roman Catholick Religion are
mostly unable to give that assistance which other
churches receive from their congregations, by which
the repairs of the church and other incidental ex
penses fall heavy on a few. As Your Honorable Body
has ever been anxious and solicitious to promote the
cause of religion and the propagation of every reli
gious sect whose tenets tend to the maintenance of or
der, peace and charity; also in the encouragement of
literature and education, as branches in which society
is highly interested, and has liberally contributed by
vacant lots to every separate institution, Your Peti
tioners therefore pray that, considering the rapid in
crease of Roman Catholicks in this City, their mis
fortune, their uniform respect for the laws and or
dinances of the City, the distressed circumstances of
the greatest number, Your Honorable Body will ap
portion another lot within the precincts of the City for
the use, benefit and advantage of the said Church
(only one-half of a trust lot having been originally
given) ; and therefore enable Your Petitioners to in
crease the scanty funds of the Church, and promote the
interest of an institution which has for its basis, love
of Cod, charity to men and obedience to the laws.”
The Report of Council
This petition, having been read and discussed in
Council, was referred to a select committee, which
committee, after careful consideration, made report
as follows:
The Roman Catholick Church was heretofore en
dowed by the corporation with a half of a trust lot.
The said Church was then in its infancy and with a
very small congregation. Since that period, as truly
observed by the petitioners, the congregation has con
siderably increased, and that increase composed of
persons whose circumstances have not aided that
Church. Viewing the whole tenor and conduct of
those persons, who belong to that persuasion, and the
reasonable and just claim which they have on the
bounty of the Board, we do recommend without hesi
tation that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, as
it appears to the committee that this Honorable Body
have heretofore granted to other religious societies
and institutions more than one lot. V^e recommend
that lots No. (1 7 and 18) seventeen and eighteen in
Elbert Ward be conveyed to the said Church for the
use and benefit of the congregation.”
Accordingly, under date of August 2, 181 1, a deed
in fee simple was given by the Mayor Aldermen to the
Vestry of the Church, for the two lots mentioned. This
deed was accompanied by a diagram showing the size
and location of the two lots, and certified by Isidore
Stouf, City Surveyor. Isidor Stouf was a native of
France and was himself a member of the Catholic con-
gregation. He it was who laid out all the old city lots
West of Jefferson Street. His name occurs several
times on the Church records, his death being record
ed under date of June 22, 1822, over the signature of
the Rev. Robert Browne.
The two lots given to the Catholics occupied the
small city block facing Elbert Square on the East side
of Montgomery Street, between Hull and McDonough,
and the West side of Jefferson Street, just back of
the Municipal Auditorium. No church was ever built
on this site owing to the poverty of the people; but
(Continued to page 15.)