The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-10-19
LOCAL MATTERS.

| = hrfensire Cogfo9rdfion Great Destruction a
fr2potg-About 2 o'clock Yesterday morning the
extensive cabinet-makng establishment of Mr Jno
~. Befvin- fronting on Governor street and running
through til" square 10 18th street. between Main
anu FRANKLIN, was discovered to be fire and the
"iarn immediately given. but before the firemer
noua be aroused and get out their apparatus the
names had spread from room to room and building
20 building, until Mr. BIS entire premises were en-
'eioped in flames, his family and himself barely
having time to escape.
That the progress ami extent of the fire NAV he
Ihe better understood, will briefly describe the
premises. Fronting Governor street was a
large three story frame building, running nearly
nan way through the square to 10Th street the first
moor OF which was used as salesroom, filled with
hhe pianos and the most costly furniture. The Sc
Sohd moor was used storage room for fine fur
hiture; and the third also used storage for less
costly articles; while the attic was occupied for
manufacturing mattresses. On 18th street was ano
tner large three story frame building the second
ana third floors of which were used as workshops
oy MT Belvins employees, tho first floor being oc
cnpied by Mr.. A. Arscll tin-shop. by Mr. Ste
pneh Chlidrey as a turning shop, and by Mr. Bel
YIN as stable; while in the yard were number OF
small sheds and large quantity of lumber. The
hie was doubtless the work of an incendiarv and
When frft discovered was burning rapidly on the
east end of the workshop fronting on 10Th street,
Ina few minutes the flames spread and communi.
Gated with the west end of the Governor street
building, and almost instantly the entire premises
were wrapped in one sheet of fire.
Some OF the neighbors on discovering the fire
hastened to Mr.. Belvin's front door and aroused
nm and his family, who barely had time to csc ape
with their lives. They then succeeded in saving
his books and papers and small portion of t1rni.
tIre in the ware-room, but were soon forced to
give up their labors-the fire becoming so intense.
from the falling in of the roof and the vast amount
of burning combuStble materials that they could
not withstand the heat
On the North of Mr.. Belyin's stands the large
four story brick tenement owned by the estate of
VIM. MITCHELL decd, and occupied by Messrs Hab-
liston q Bro. Fortunately for the property on
Franklin street. the South wall of this building was
thick, dead one, and prevented the fire from ex.
tending i'll that direction but as the wind was
blowing gentle breeze from the Southeast. the
flames communicated to the three story brick build
ing owned by the Fire Association Northwest cor.
ncr of Bank and 18th streets, an fired the roof and
window frames but was prevented from spreading
by the exertions of several gentlemen, who labored
necessarily to save it from destruction. The resi-.
dence of Mr. Isaac j. Mercer, on the Southeast cor
ner OF Bank and 18th Streets was also set on fire
In two or three places, but sustained very little
damage.
On 10Th street. the flames spread South and com.
municated with Mr.. James Yarrington's carpenter
shop, which together with its contents were en-.
next took fire and was nearly burned to the ground
From 18th street the flames spread east. partially
destroying Mir. Samuel s. Suthcrlands back shop
and Nlr. Charles D. Yales back shop and then
building owned by Mr. VIM. Ritter and occupied
by Mr.. Samuel Ii. Harwood. furniture estab-
lshment, which is completely gutted from top to
bottom, Notwithstanding the untiring efforts of the
remen to stay its progress Here, however, the
flames were eventually subdued, after a great des-
ruction of property. e..
Mr. Belvin's loss cannot fall below Sa0.O00 on
which he had an insurance of $6,OOG-S4,5 500 of
which fall ON the the Richmond Fire Association
and 800 on the Virginia Fire and Marine In ad-
Iii tot
lost their tools, and as many of them have families
and are dependent on their labor for support, the
loss to them is exceedingly heavy.
Mr.. Harwoods loss in furniture, etc, will not fall
short of SlS,U 900, on which he has insurance of
$4,000; S5 COO in the Richmond Fire Association,
$50 90 in the Valley Co, and 49, 900 in the Virginia
Fire and Marine.
Mr.. Ritter's loss is estimated at SeOGO and has
an insurance in the Mutual Assurance Society to
cover that amount.
Mr. Childrey's loss will amount to 500, on which
he had no insurance.
MIR Jas Yarrin ston lost S5OO-no insurance
Mr. X. W. Aliens loss is about Sl50-no insl,.
rance .-..-
And Messrs Sutherland and Yale lost about
&l00 each.
Tie Synod of Tirginid-N,o ScAool-commenced
its session in the United Presbyterian church, on
Wednesday, the 18th inst, at half past 7 o'clock,
F. NJ.
Rev Patterson Fletcher late Moderator preached
the opening sermon from lst Corinthians lst and
2lst verses-'1t pleased God by the f;oliShness of
preaching to save them that believe" in connection
with Mathew 9th, 37th and 3eth The harvest
truyis plcnteous but the laborers are few Pray
ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will
send forth laborers into his harvest" The Reve-
rend gentleman declared that Christ and Him cru
cited is the great central truth of the gospel which
imparts grandeur to all other truths and saves
from contempt the weakest instrument engaged in
its promotions; but the pulpit is the instrumentaty
exalted by the Lord above all others. He then
proposed to show the duty of the church TO raise
up and send forth Ministers of the Cross and argued
the dignity and Importance of the Ministry 1st
because dvinely appointed in all ages to the work;
ID because divinelv adapted. Angels might have
been the preachers, but could only have recommend
ed the gospel on the testimony of others. God chose
those that have experienced its power. They re-
commend it & remedy they have tested-can say
as Andrew to Simon ace have found the Mesiah;'
3d-The results of the ministry attest its dignity
and Importance.
He then proceeded to show how plenteous is
the harvest and enforced the command pray
ye," showing the dependence of the church upon
prayer. Without prayer the case Is hopeless-the
world is yolley of dry bones. He feared that the
church, viewing her vast outward machinery OF
learning and wealth, and power, was becoming
self-complacent and losing the vital power of
PRAYER He then made warm appeal to the
church the nursery of the ministry, showing the
necessity of q revived state of religion in order to
raise up ministers and of heartfelt interest
NN-~
hearthstone and the domestic altar. The Importance
of offering facilities for education to pious young men
was shown by the fact that onehalf of the mission
aries of the American Board, and onethird of those
of the Home Missionary Society, had been sought
out and assisted by the American Education Soci-
ETY. The minister concluded his remarks in a feel
ing and appropriate manner, and was listened to
with deep interest by a large and Intelligent au-
dence
The sermon being ended, the Synod met for
business, Rev. Mr.. Fletcher opening it with fer
vent prayer.
Rev BYRON SUNDERLAND of Washington, was
nominated and elected Moderator, and after few
well timed remarks took the chair.
On motion, the roll was called, and the following
ministers and elders answered to their names
Winchester Presbytcry-Rcv j. j. Royal, A ID
Boyd, ID. d., Patteson Fletcher and Henry Mat
thews
District of Columbia Presbyfery-Ress. John T.
Smith, VIM McIain. VIM. Il. Eva, Byron Sander
land III. Dunning, A. q. Caruthers L. n. Haskell
| and Elders Campbell, Wilson, and Miller OF Wash
ington, and Hopkins of Baltimore.
Hanorer PresbWcru.--Revs. j. ID. Mitchell, u. W
Lyburn, G. IT, Read, III. 3. Osborn, John Howard
J: J. Mcmahon l.. p. Ledoux, G. w. Adams, ant
Elders Letcher of Liberty, Gaines of Hanover
Christian of New Kent, Williams, Rennie ant
Price, Of Richmond.
Cierks-Rcv. Henry Matthews and G. w Adams
were elected CIerks