The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-17
CHURCH NOTES.
Anniversary Sermon by
Rev. Dr. Read.
CITY MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
BAPrIsr CHURCHES SERVICES AT ST. FBTER'
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sRRv1cEs, 80.


the church turns to the second part Of the
great design.
The weather was rather cold, but it had
moderated considerably from the tcmpera
ture of the day previous, and the churches
were, as general thing, we'll attended.
ANNIVERSARY SERMON BY DR.. READ.
On last Sunday, the first Sabbath Of the
twenty.sixth year Of his pastoral relation
with the Grace-Strect Presbyterian church
the Rev. Charles II. Read, d. D., delivered
an eloquent sermon to the congregation o
that church from the text: "For though
preach the Gospel. have nothing to glory
Of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe
is unto me if preach not the Gospel. -
i. Cor; 9, 16.
At the conclusion Of his discourse upon
the design of the institution Of the Christian
ministry, and its dignity, value, and nccesSl
", he said: And now we, as pastor and
people, take new departure in our history
We enter, to-day. upon the twenty-sixtl
wear Of our relation to each other, and upor
the duties and privileges of that relation
TWENTY-FIVE years constitute considerable
perod in the lifetime of an individual, anC
Of a congregation period in which import
ant changes occur. 1t may be proper to re.
fer TO some Of the features of our history
during that period, in which important
chsnges always occur, Without entering
into minute particulars, it may be proper tc
refer to some of the features of our history
during that period.
The correspondence which led to the eStab
liShmcut Of the existing pastoral relation was
between myself and the representative men
Of this church, not one of whom remains
alive on earth at this time. Upon their in
yitation visited Richmond for the first
time in the latter part Of November, 1S4S
A meeting of the session OF this church was
held at the house Of Mr.. Reeve, with whom
I was then guest, on the 29th of No
vember. lS4S, James Gray acting n:
moderator. At that meeting several persons
applied for admission to the church, with
whom conversation was held upon theil
knowledge and experience of saving truth
and this note is entered:
"Rev. MIR. Read being present addressed
the young converts, and concluded with
prayer" lSignedl S. REEVE,
It may be eXcuSable in me to produce thi;
personal reference with the remark that il
is 4 source Of grateful pleasure to me to finC
my name for the first time on the records o
this church in such a connection-in q com
pany of honored men, whose memory is sc
dear, and in the midst OF group of per
sous asking for admission to the fold of the
! Saviour, in whom they professed to have
| then recently put their trust. On the fol
| lowing Sabbath 1.-THE former church edifct
| being then under repairs) preached twice
| morning and night-in the lecture-room
then adjoining, and in the afternoon a
| Rockets, in the Mission church, under the
care of the late Rev. Halsey Dunning.
| On the 18th of January, 1S49, call wa
issued by this church, at meeting presided
| over by the late Rev. j. Parsons Hoyey, tt
| which an acceptance was returned. .
| The following note, under the hand o
Samuel Reeve, clerk, is entered in the SeS
sonal Records:
"The Rev. Charles II. Read, pastor elect
| commenced his labors here on Sabbath, l1tt
March, 1S49." ...
Thus, as was mentioned on the last Sab
bath, that day filled up the measure, by Sab
baths, Of twenty-five years of our connec
ton. During those years important events
and changes have transpired.
| Those who welcomed me, as members o
the session, have all passed away. Not on
Of them remains among US.
The names OF some Of them appear in th'
sessions now in their sons. II will be t
their happiness and honor, aud to the pros
perity and joy Of this church, if they shal
wear their honored fathers manteS.
| Death has gathered large and glorious
harvest from among this people within thi
| period.
We had large number of aged people (as
| indeed, we have Silly in this church. Man,
as noble and true men and women as eve
knew have been enrolled among its members
| Time would fail me to speak particularly O
them ALL and were to specify some l Nigh
seem to do injustice to others.
Upon my introduction, found an earnest
active missionary spirit dltfused among thi
peopIe-a spirit of self-denial and freedom
| from ostentation as to anything like dspla
among themselves, and Of systematic Yea
for the extension of the meaEs of grace il
domestic and foreign fields.
The "Domestic Missionary Society O
Richmond d"-the organ of Hanover Pres
successful operation. This efficient Socict
received regularly large part Of its fund
from this church.
The Ladies' Circle Of Industry, then an
for some years previous in vigorous exist
ence, contributed literally to this fund.
The Mission church, then located at Rock
etts, and which afterwards was removed t.
Church Hill, with enlarged and improve
accommodations, under the name of tn
Third Presbyterian church. That Mission
church for some years received the fosterin
care of this church.
The Duyal-Street church, as it was known
was established by and depended larSei
upon this church for it, suppoT. Its locs
ton was found to be uniayorable for growt
and selfsustculatiop and when, by reaso
OF our severe impoyerishmenL by the wal
and the destruction of our buildings on til
old site by the fire of 1865, we were unabl
longer to continue that support, tn
Duval-Street church was necessarily, dis
solved, and considerable number Of 1t
members proved their grateful affection b.
transferring their relation to this church
Other churches received liberal aid, and thei
support, in part; and, in some instances
| their origin may be traced, directly or ind
rectly, to this church. Among these ma.
be mentioned Holmes church, in Northamp
ton county; Beulah church, in Hanover
and Olivet church, in New Kent.
Bethany church, in Charles City county
| owes its existence 10 the eXertionS of th
late John N. Gordon.
| A number of useful ministers have gon
| forth to important fields, whose names wer'
first enrolled as disciples of Christ upol
our records. Tie accepted theory of th
| life and aim of The Church was not to bea
| fruit TO itself alone, but TO live and labor TO
the spread of Cfrist's kingdom. !.
To this end the members OF this churef
have been from time to time freely parti
toned to other fields where they might b,