The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-17
be that the boys are better, or it may bethat
in this centennial yeaf they are afraid to
venture in such matters. :
EnYARp EyERETT ASD THE OLD CHu

EDWARD EVERETT AND THE OLD CHURCH.
Many more interesting incfdents and an
eedotes might be told OF mem who have
spoken in this building and concerning tile
scenes enacted there III 'by-gone days. Many
citizens will doubtless rece1lect ii Edward
Everett's celebrated Grafton delivered there.
It was in behalf OF, Mount Vernon. The
Hon. Mr.. Yancey was appointed to cnyass
the South and bfr. Everett the North, by
the ladies OF stle e8Iount Vernon Association,
who were making efforts TO raise funds for
the purchase OF fhe place His great id
dress created a thrill throughout the whole
country and had a wonderful effect upon
| the people. He delivered it twice, In this
city. but only upon one occasion at the
First African church. But the old place
was used for SO many purposes that Ii
would be hard TO enumerate them all.
It is stated upon good authority that when
the old theatre was destroyed by fire, in
1911, the African church was used as d re-
ceptacle for the dead and wounded. The
negroes assembled at the church and sang
and prayed during the fire; and they claim.
ed that their church was saved from destruc-
ton by their prayers
The prices paid for the hire Of the build
ing were sometimes high. The first year OF
the war, and even before that time, it was
not an uncommon thing for twenty-five dol
lars to be paid for the use of the house just
for one night.
A CONFEDERATE INCIDENT.
A correspondent yesterday sent us the
following: aasl DIX Il
In reading your very interesting sketch Of
the old African church, in this city, was
reminded OF an incident which, think, has
before appeared in print through Peters
burg war correspondent, but which VIII
readily bear repetition:
During the winter OF 1864 one OF Lees vete.
rams from the rural districts, who had been
imbibing rather freely Of apple-iack (S20 pei
canteen, Confederate currency. Glanced te
be in the city, " running the blockade" F" from
the home-guard pickets. On his way back
to camp he strolled into the African church
for the sake OF getting warm, and com
fortably seated himself in pew conve
nient to the stove. One OF the elder brethren
was exhorting the congregation at the time
from the parable in Scripture where the
sheep and the goats were prominent in his
argument. He was portraying in vivid Ian
glage the terrors of the great Judgment
day, and impressing upon his hearers thai
the saved would be among the sheep anC
the lost among the goats. "On dat day
dear breddern," said he, g de sheep will bt
on de one side and de goats on de udder
and I piously hopes dere will be lots O.
sheep from dis fold. But" with {
pause for effect, "who will be d.
goaty" After an impressive pause h'
repeated in louder tones: 9. say, bred
dern, on dat great day acho'N be de goat p
Another impressive pause and silence every
where. About this time the old Confede
rate began to rustic about in his seat, ant
simultaneously the ominous voice came from
the pulpit, "Who'll be de goat?" The i'm
bibing rebel, drawing himself up as straigh
as he could from his seat, shouted out, "Sc'
here-hic-mister, sooner than see-hic-
this thing play, out-hic-PLL BE DE GOAT
D-N YOU" The effect OF this unexpected
response is left to the imagination OF YOU
many readers.