The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-07
OUR CHURCHES.
A RAINY hsUHrAY, HUT LARaELY
.Si5Ss ATTENDED.
THRTTETH ANNUAL isERMoNA1
IS THE MONUMENTAL. 7.
:lIis5'1s' INTERESTING lsTATIsTIcs.
DIR. HOSE FRKACEfEs ABOUT
MOODY AND s8NKEY.
ADDITIONS ANDgBApT4sMs. 4

Il So .E rts.- 80 Z =
&c.,51.5. SO. 81 &c.
The rainy weather on Sunday eaye 5ro.,
fmise OF sman congregations as fiH sayerai
churches in.the city, but they were all wen;
Igttended, and the services In nauY,o them
iwere OF unusual interest. eSs. Paups ana
the Monumental there were very large corr,
4 Igregations. It was the second Sunday In
Advent, and there were services appropriate
to the day in the Catholic and Episcopal
i churches. In the other churches there were
q number Of additions and baptisms.
Epfscop aIs
4; MONUMENTAL. 800. ..;. 4 4
The services at the Monumental church Oh
Sunday morning were attended with unu-
sual interest in many respects. 1t was the
occasion of the delivery of the annual SER
mon it was the first Sunday that the new
choir had ever sung together; it was the oc.
casion of the administration of the holy COM
| munion; and it was the last Sunday that
divine service will be held in the lecture
room, for the church will be ready for occu-
pancy next Sunday. -
There was very large congregation pre-
sent considering the weather, and the music
1
Annual Sermon. j
The asHrly.loYea pastor OF the church,
Rev. George Woodbridge, DID,, delivered
the annual sermon, which was one Of much
| interest 10 the econg gregation, and was listened
to with marked attention and respect. He
had no text, but commenced by saying that
the day was an even'ful enc in the history Of
the congregation. Just thirty years ago to.
day, my beloved people, said he, we took pos
session of this church in the name of the
Lord: and now, to. day, we stand here once
more to praise and bless His holy name. "
The history OF this church is in some re-.
| spects peculiar. During its existence 1t has
| bad but two rectors-if we except the short
period of two Bishop Moore and my.
self, Of what other church in this country
can the same be said? The permapence Of
the pastoral relation has become so, disturbed
/ and 30 Inconsistent that it now continues
but very few years; and congregations
| are agitated with the breaking up of the pas.
torai relation, and perplexed with the diff.
culties Of choice, and frequently with the
I suspension of services altogether for con-
siderable length OF time.
There is another popularity. There has
never been, through the grace ana mercy of
God, q single ruff1e Of discord since 1t was,
first opened. During Bishop Moore's rec
torship everything moved on 30 barmo.
niously thatno root of bitterness ever sprang
up 10 trouble them but peace and happi.
ness, truth and justice, religion and piety,
were established among them. And during
my own rectorship, said he, do not recol.
lect one instance of discord which has ever
risen up to trouble US. To the Lord alone
be the praise. .el
This Church ,oas Opened
for the first time on the 9th Of May, 1914.
| The sermon on that occasion was preached
by the ,Rey. William Meade, afterward the
bishop of this diocese.
Bishop Moore was consecrated to the Epis-
copate on the 18Th of May, 1914, and imme-,
diately afterwards entered upon his duties as
rector of the Monumental church. He died
November. 1912. The Rev. DR.. Norwood
succeeded him, and continued In the rector.
ship about two years.
The second Sunday In Advent, the 7th Of.
| December, 1S45, the congregation of Christ
church took possession of this church, and
to-day is the thirtieth anniversary Of that
event, ct that time the number Of commu.
nicants was one hundred and three, of whom,
three were, in the following June, admitted to
holy orders.
! Church Statistics.
Since then to the lst day of last May 1854
have been admitted to the communion Of the
church; G22 have removed and received let
ters Of dismission: ia have died; and l9
have either withdrawn from the holy com.
tmunion or have been suspended. The mum.
ber of commupieants as last reported is 237.
There have teen 140 adults and 733 infants
baptized. There have been 2e4 marriages
and 623 funerals. The amount collected in.
dependent of the regular expenses OF the
church-such as ministerial salary, music,
sexton, etc.-is $50, ,755.79. This amount is
| for the general purposes OF beneVoence and
of the church-not only diocesan, but gene.
raj. Ten persons have been ordained to holy
orders in this church, of whom three are
now resting from their labors In the grave.
! Three others have been consecrated as
bishops in the Church, of whom Eight Rev.
/ Charming Moore Williams is now the de.
Ivoted, self-denying, single.hearted mission
ary bishop to Japan. s.
| DIR. Woodbridge next paid q handsome
tribute to the vestry, among whom there has
never: been, said he, augh1 but the utmost
harmony of feeling.
In the review OF the past he thought there
l was great cause to- bethankful and for en-,
couragement. = .E,
The Repairs to the Church.
He next alluded to the repairs to the
church, which are about being com.
pleted. They have been done in most
beautiful manner, and with great taste and
economy He complimented the faithful.
i ness Of the committee entrusted with the
management of the improvements, and said
I that the congregation owe, them a debt Of
! gratitude for what, they have dene. But.
they will find a higher reward In the appro.
baton of Him for The love OF whom they have,
I,been willing to make the sacrifice Of their
/ time and labor. The painting Of The inte-
rior has algeady been paid for by the LIBERAL
ity Of the committee and few others, but
the painting of the exterior isyetto be pro-
Ylded fer. And will you not, my beloved
people, when next Sunday .you once more
occupy your accustomed seats in the house
| Of God, put in the plates as your thank fer
/ ing enough to pay off at once the whole
debts 1t would be Q most noble and gene
rous work to pay off the whole debt at
once. .ss - s :. g =
In conclusion DR.. Woodbridge said: We
| know not how long, mg beloved people, the.
relation which has subsisted between US for
4 90 many years will continue. In the erdt-.
/ nary course Of human events 1t must be
j short, very short. When a few more suns
tshall have gone their annual round, when O.
j few more 'AdYent shall have come and
gone, this relation will be closed In death.
4 God grant that when the Master coneth and
i eslieth ls 70 our long and last account We
NAV each Of us be fonnd faithful. AS look
back on the years that have passed Il think 1,
can say: :. i hare tried to be faithful in The
duties of roy ministry. I have labored and
prayed to be faithfuL And yet the prayer
will inyoluntarilyf rise, Lord, enter not into
j W Wotuh rnA9