The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-14

the Richmond Theatre caused such grief
and CONSERVATION in this city and State,
there are many persons in our midst who
remember itwitha distinctncSs that proves
the extent of the impression made upon
their then childish minds. But there are
many, also, who in passing the Monumcn-
tai Church, give not thought to its origin
or to those whose terrible death ii was in
tended To commemorate and TO them
brief rcS'unc of its earlier history may not
hc mintcrcsting.
ON the night of the 26th of December,
1871, the Richmond Theatre, which was
unusually crowded, caught fire at the
commencement of the last act of new
play which was then being represented, in
consequence of one of the stage lamps be-
ing inadvertently raised until it came in
contact with the scenery. In few mi
nutcS the whole building was wrapped i'll
flames, and Of the six hundred persons
present, about Scvcnty-livc pcriShed i'll the
burning building, while as many more died
subsequently from the injuries they had
received.
The following extract from n letter writ
ten by one of the persons present, paints
in vivid colorS the horrors Of the scene:
"last night we were all at the Theatre.
Every family in Richmond, or at least
very large portion of them, were there.
The house was uncommonly full Whcn,
dreadful to relate, the scenery took hre,
spread rapidly above, ascending III volumes
of flame and smoke into the upper part OF
the building, whence, moment after, IL
descended to force Il passage through the
pit and boxes. In two minutes the whole
audience were cnvclopcd in hot, Scorchng
smoke and flame. The lights were all cX-
tinguiShcd by the black and Smothcring
vapor. Cries, shricks, confusion, and
despair succeeded. Oh, moment of mex
prcs>iblc horror. Nothing | can say can
paint the awful, shocking, maddening
scene. Oh to see 50 many ami
able, helpless females trying to stretch to
me their imploring hands, crying, 'Sare me,
sir; oh, sir, $dre me, Sdre me! oh ctcr-
nifty cannot banish that spectacle OF horror
from my recollection"
In memory Of those who lost their ilVeS
in this frighti'ul scene, the Monulncntai
Church was erected, aud twaS opened Tor
divine service III 1913.
Pastors Of the CMuch.-Thc first rector
of the Monumental Church was the Rev.
Richard Charming Moore, d. D., who was
appointed in May, 1914 and on the 18th OF
p;,h",,n ~, - v;r,,;nia Un entered upon his
r I,,.;,,,i,,, ,';.Isnn and rector in Octobcr.
IuII and continued "a ncrform them until
biz doth which orrnrrcd November IL,
ISu
In r,j,rror,. rSo1 tbr Rev. c. 3. Crocs
,,.,, ,I,..,nI ,,s;staut minister and entered
m"n, his dntics immediately after the adj
;,urn,nnrt nftlc Diorcsap Convention. the
J,n"I;nn ~ ,yhirh w,S held in the Nonu-
,n.rt,l CLnrch in Nav. lS25. On February
"a II@n NJ CrnnS ,y.'s rrmovrd to Troy.
~ i,'o' ,,I ,,,,, tnIIn,yi,|
,n:,i,;,',, lo,tar r,,. addrc~.cd 70 him
,'"> -. =, ~
=! n'N'''i' -''''>
nv 'n"'ND' N'' "'"' '''
Rcr. ii. Is. croc>:
Rev. and Dear Sir,-l am very much
gricvcd, from various causes, ut your de-
termination to leave this diocese, and am
sensible that the congregation feel with
myself the greatest regret Ut your depart
urc. A, the canonS of the church require
that vou should take with you the tc>ti-
llonN VI NY alIiNbo''i 'h'''"'N WV
opportunity of tc>tiiying, not only t" your
fidelity in the discharge OF Your "thcla!
duties, but also of the acccptahlllly ol your
services to the people To whom Nou have
miniStcrcd III sacred things. lhcN nave
witnessed the harmony in which we have
lived, and have been taught by our cNam-
pie that the Christian religion is religion
of peace and goodwill.
You carry with YOU, reverend and dear
slr, my best wishes Tor your happiness, noth
temporal and eternal. The Lord bless thee
and keep thee: the Lord make his face to
slime upon thee and hc gracious unto thee;
the Lord lit up the light OF his countc
nance upon thee and give thee peace.
Your atlcctionatc friend and
Father IN Christ jesus,
RcnAED CLAIMING MOORE.
The Rev. Mr.. Crocs was succeeded hv
tLr Rev. Lconidas Polk, who was after
wards B;shop Of Louisiana. and lieutenant
general in the Confederate army, and was
killed in action in 1864 while commanding
Il corps in the Army of Tennessee. Bishop
Polk was succeeded at the Monumental
Church in 1887 hy the Rev. W. Norwood,
now rector of St. Johns Church, who be-
came rector on the death OF Bishop Moore.
In ls15. when the transfer was made to
= paul'S Church. the Rev. George Wood
hr;dgo u d becamc rector Of the Monu
mental Church, which position he still
holds.
The old records of the church show that