4

THE LEONIDAS POLK MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

The Very Reverend William H. Nes, D. D., D. C. L., Chairman

The Rev. Philip P. Werlein Miss Josephine Nicholls

The Rev. Frank L. Levy Mr. Joseph Merrick Jones

Miss Emily H. Huger Mr. Harold L. Sims

Dr. Warren Kearney, Secretary-Treasurer.

COMMITTEE ON MEMORIAL SERVICE

The Very Reverend William H. Nes, D. D., D. C. L., Chairman

Mr. Horace Renegar, Vice-Chairman Dr. Warren Kearny

The Rev. Robert H. Manning Mr. Raymond J. Martinez

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 10, 1806, Leonidas Polk was destined
for a military career; but although he graduated from West Point with honors
he had already announced his intention of resigning his commission after the
required year of service. At the military academy he had undergone a profound
religious experience which prompted him to enter Virginia Theological Seminary
in 1828. Less than a month after his ordination in 1830 he was married to Miss
Frances Devereux of Raleigh. He became the assistant to Bishop Moore in
Monumental Church, Richmond, Va., where his untiring labors brought about a
breakdown of health sufficient to force his retirement from active ministry for a
time. In 1834 he returned to the active ministry, taking charge of St. Peter's
Church, Columbia, Tenn., apparently without remuneration.

At the Convention in 1835 Polk was evidently regarded as a leading Clergy-
man of the Diocese. He was chosen as Clerical Delegate to General Convention
and a Trustee of General Theological Seminary, a member of the Standing
Committee and of other important committees of the Diocese. But again he
threw himself into strenuous work and again in 1837 his health forced him to
retire to his plantation. Yet, although he was unable to be present at General
Convention when a Missionary Bishop for the Southwest was to be elected, he
was with "impressive unanimity" selected for the office, and was consecrated
on December 9, 1838.

His title was limited to Arkansas, but his jurisdiction actually included
Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana; and as though this were not enough, he
was "requested to give Episcopal oversight" to the Republic of Texas. At the
meeting of General Convention, October 16, 1841, he accepted election of the
newly-formed Diocese of Louisiana and became its first Bishop.

His quarter-century as Diocesan is distinguished by a remarkable expansion
of the work of the Church throughout the State, and of this work the outward
monument is 33 churches built by him. Among his outstanding characteristics
was his tolerance of other faiths, and his desire to better the condition of the
slaves. But not least of all the elements of his greatness was his devotion to the
cause of Christian culture in the South. His grandfather had founded the Uni-
versity of North Carolina and it was the Bishop's dream to found an Episcopal
University. He therefore took the initiative in projecting the University of the
South at Sewanee.

In 1861 the insistent solicitations of the leaders of the Confederacy called
him to be a General in the Army. With profound searchings of conscience he
made his decision. Criticized by some, misunderstood by many, he took, not the
easy way, but what seemed to him the right way. In 1864 it brought him to a
soldier's death.

He was buried beneath the altar in St. Paul's Church, Augusta, Ga. His close
friend, Bishop Elliott, at the end of his funeral oration said that the Diocese of
Georgia was honored by the custody of the body of Bishop Polk "until the Church
in Louisiana claims it as its rightful heritage". It is therefore with the generous
cooperation of St. Paul's Church in Augusta and with the approval of Bishop
Polk's descendants that his body and that of his wife are now brought to rest
in the Cathedral Church of his beloved Diocese.

THE LEONIDAS POLK MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

The Very Reverend William H. Nes, D. D., D. C. L., Chairman

The Rev. Philip P. Werlein Miss Josephine Nicholls

The Rev. Frank L. Levy Mr. Joseph Merrick Jones

Miss Emily H. Huger Mr. Harold L. Sims

Dr. Warren Kearney, Secretary-Treasurer.

COMMITTEE ON MEMORIAL SERVICE

The Very Reverend William H. Nes, D. D., D. C. L., Chairman

Mr. Horace Renegar, Vice-Chairman Dr. Warren Kearny

The Rev. Robert H. Manning Mr. Raymond J. Martinez

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, April 10, 1806, Leonidas Polk was destined
for a military career; but although he graduated from West Point with honors
he had already announced his intention of resigning his commission after the
required year of service. At the military academy he had undergone a profound
religious experience which prompted him to enter Virginia Theological Seminary
in 1828. Less than a month after his ordination in 1830 he was married to Miss
Frances Devereux of Raleigh. He became the assistant to Bishop Moore in
Monumental Church, Richmond, Va., where his untiring labors brought about a
breakdown in health sufficient to force his retirement from active ministry for a
time. In 1834 he returned to the active ministry, taking charge of St. Peter's
Church, Columbia, Tenn., apparently without remuneration.

At the Convention in 1835 Polk was evidently regarded as a leading Clergy-
man of the Diocese. He was chosen as Clerical Delegate to General Convention
and a Trustee of General Theological Seminary, a member of the Standing
Committee and of other important committees of the Diocese. But again he
threw himself into strenuous work and again in 1837 his health forced him to
retire to his plantation. Yet, although he was unable to be present at General
Convention when a Missionary Bishop for the Southwest was to be elected, he
was with "impressive unanimity" selected for the office, and was consecrated
on December 9, 1838.

His title was limited to Arkansas, but his jurisdiction actually included
Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana; and as though this were not enough, he
was "requested to give Episcopal oversight" to the Republic of Texas. At the
meeting of General Convention, October 16, 1841, he accepted election of the
newly-formed Diocese of Louisiana and became its first Bishop.

His quarter-century as Diocesan is distinguished by a remarkable expansion
of the work of the Church throughout the State, and of this work the outward
monument is 33 churches built by him. Among his outstanding characteristics
was his tolerance of other faiths, and his desire to better the condition of the
slaves. But not least of all the elements of his greatness was his devotion to the
cause of Christian culture in the South. His grandfather had founded the Uni-
versity of North Carolina and it was the Bishop's dream to found an Episcopal
University. He therefore took the initiative in projecting the University of the
South at Sewanee.

In 1861 the insistent solicitations of the leaders of the Confederacy called
him to be a General in the Army. With profound searchings of conscience he
made his decision. Criticized by some, misunderstood by many, he took, not the
easy way, but what seemed to him the right way. In 1864 it brought him to a
soldier's death.

He was buried beneath the altar in St. Paul's Church, Augusta, Ga. His close
friend, Bishop Elliott, at the end of his funeral oration said that the Diocese of
Georgia was honored by the custody of the body of Bishop Polk "until the Church
in Louisiana claims it as its rightful heritage". It is therefore with the generous
cooperation of St. Paul's Church in Augusta and with the approval of Bishop
Polk's descendants that his body and that of his wife are now brought to rest
in the Cathedral Church of his beloved Diocese.