The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-14
THE METHODISTS IN COUNCIL

| THE METH0DlSTS In COUNCIL
THE MEETING AT THE BROAD-STREE.
! CHURCH EXPLALNgD-AF INTERESTING
DEBATE-THB CHANCES FOR CHURCH
EXTENSION IN THE VEST END VIVA
THE OTHER DEMONSTRATIONS H4Vl
DONE-CHAPELS THAT ARE EYB-SORES
ETC, ETC.
In response to call signed. By Messrs
Thomas Branch, W. Holt Richardson, r. 81.
Whitlock, T. Wiley Davis, Gilbert j. Hunt,
j. Thompson Brown, Robert Perdue, David
Parr, and Charles Hagap, representing Cen.
tenary, Broad.Streef, Trinity, Union-Statiop,
Clay-Street, Sidney, Manchester, Nicholson
Street, and Oregon-Hill Methodist churches,
about seyenty.fve-may be a few more
ladies' and gentlemen assembled last night in
the Bsoad.Street Methodist church to con.
| slider matters Of importance to Methodism
| in this city.
| There was no fire in the furnaces, or very
| little, and the church was 80 cold that there
seemed at one time 10 be little chance of get.
| ting up much enthusiasm even among the
| warmest friends Of that good' cause that was
SO earnestly pressed upon the meeting to.
| wards the close.
ITS OBJECT EXPLAINED.
Just before O'Clock Mr. j. Thompson
Brown called the meeting to order and nom.
| mated Mr.. j. N. Wilkinson as chairman.
Mr. Wilkinson was accordingly selected, and
| Mr.. Brown, after 6rst modesty declining,
| consented to act as secretary.
| Bishop Doggett offered AN appropriate
prayer; after which Rev. W. W. Bennett,
D. D., explained that the meeting had been
/ called for the purpose of extending the
church operations, particularly in the west.
| ern part of the city. He said that they must
have larger and better church-building in
Sidney, which every Sunday is taxed to its
utmost to accommodate its large and in.
creaiing membership. He then gave an
interesting history Of Sidney Mission from
its establishment until now, when it
is so crowded. He said that it was not an
individual enterprise, but one in which all
members should take part. Within the
! past eighteen months two Episcopal churches
| have been erected; another neW chapsl oi
another denomination has been established
the Catholics have purchased lot, and they
are going to put up an imposing editice; the
| Presbyterians have bought lot, and the
Baptis;s, too, and we, said the speaker. are
|
| be made. He was aware that all the Metho-
dist churches had been at great expense to fit
| up and repair their churches, but they must
now lend helping hand to the enterprise in
(! the West End.
WHAT IT WILL COST TO BuILD 1T.
| DR.. Bennett next referred to what the
| enterprisng friends of the cause had already
done in the West End. They have bought
| an eligible lot fronting sixty ieet on Cherry
street. Upon this lot there Is large brick
| building. The bricks In that building viii
90 far towards constructing the church.
| Plans have been submitted by some of the
best builders for church fifty by seventy
| feet with q schoolroom forty by fifty
feet, which will be completed, ready
for occupancy, for $4,000. He thought that
| there ought to, be q church there which
| would cost about $4,000. He believed it
| could be built; but @e Intend, said be, to
| have the next best one, and that will be the
| $4,000 editice; and II we fail to raise the
money among the Methodists we mean TO
canvass the city from one end to the other
and solicit the aid of oil.
| A BIT OF WAR HISTORY.
Rev. Mr.. Ray, pastor of Main.Street
church, was the next speaker in behalf of the
cause. He said that the church must be
built; there must not be any 1--WE will try !"
about 1t. He then went on 10 give quite an
| interesting sketch of bis pas oral life for q
brief period in Richmond when the city was
in the hands of the Federal soldiers. he
was temporarily in charge of the Broad
Street church while DR.. Duncan was away.
One day a person came into bis study and
said, "I am Rev. MIR. Cramer: am q
brother.in.Iaw of General Grant, and
want to preach In this church next Sun
day." Mr.. Ray told him that he would
give him C reply later. When he came
! back he said to MIR. Cramer thai
he did not know Whether he was {
preacher or not, and even If he was h'
thought 1t very doubtful whether his rays
people would like 10 hear him preach; ant
if he was preacher he thought he nigh
have at least waited uptil be bad ueen invitet
to preach, even il be was General Grant
brother-in.aw.
He then spoke of his residence In Rich
mond eighteen years ago and bis connection
with the Clay.Street mission, and wound "
by telling the meeting bow goodly sur
could be raised and said that they meant t
have $15, 1000, and that they would canvas
the city thoroughly to secure ii.
1 A NATTER OF LIFE AID DEATH.
Rev. Mr.. YandersIice Dex' urged the i'm
portance of the move. He said 1t was
matter of life and death. II we do not buil'
a church for the congregation we might 8
we'll close up the doors Of the present build
ing. For seventeen years we have, said be
had undisputed possession Of the territor,
in the western end of the city. Now thes
people rbe other churrhes) are crowd
: ing US on all sides. He knew that
large proportion OF the population. il
that neighoorbood waned to 60 to
Methodist church. bu' they would now ever
come down as far a. Tr nity, Broat. Stree.
land Centenary, becau.e there was no accom-
!, modation for them in the West End. There
were many persons Wno, if they were no
, converted in the Methodist Church, woult
20 down to perditIou, because he knew tha
ihey would not be converted IN another
church. Therefore it vas matter OF llf'
and death that rew and spacious church
should be built.
BISHOP DoGdsgT's orEloN.
Rev. D. S. Doggett, D. D., said that tn
, subject was one worthy OF toe most plou
consideration, and bis heart was fully in II
|, success. He rather enjoyed the secret WA.
,, in which the mee'irg had been gotten up
for many persons had not the least idea VIVA
il was for.
Az the conclusion OF the Bishops remark
the Cnair suggested that it might DC wen I
postpone any action at this meeting, and re
, fer the whole sui joct 10 the oticia! boards Q
= the several churches, and let the boards TAI