The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-30
CHURCH NOTES.

line mourning drapery in the Episcopal
churches in respect to the memory OF the
Late Bishop Johns has been removed, and on
Sunday the churches were well filed, and the
pulpits occupied by the regular pastors, all
OF whom returned from Alexandria several
days ago. . .~. rs - f,Fn ~
at Trinity Methodist church Rev. George
II. Ray preached in the morning and the
pastor at night. AT 3fain-Street church
Rev. w. w. Bennett, D. D., preached in
the morning and the pastor ut night. 4a
AT the Second Baptist church on Sunday
morning, after an excellent sermon by Rev.
DR.. Hopper, OF Connecticut, the church had
its regular communion, at which two per
sons were received into the fellowship OF
the church. ~. E,i..
AT the Grace-Street church ON Sunday
morning the pastor preached his first anni-
yersary sermon. His text was /: " He thanked
God and took courage" After brief ex-
position Of the text he presented an inter-
| esting and inspiring history of the church
during the year. At the annual church
meeting in the afternoon copy of the SER
mon was requested for publication. 1t con-
tanned number Of statistics of the most en-
couraging nature. During the year there
have been two hundred and forty-four ad.
ditions to the church, and the membership
is now over eight hundred, while the Sun.
day school is the largest in the city.
The annual mass-mecting of the Grace.
Street church was held on Sunday afternoon
at O'Clock. Reports from the committees
in charge OF the benevolent enterprises o1
the church were read, from which we pre-.
sent the following: Roll strength Of Sunday
school, 10; roll strength Of infant class
1872; average attendance Of the school du
ring the year, SOP number of scholars con.
Yerted during the year, 101.
The Committee OF Visitation Of Christian:
and Strangers reported S74 religious visit:
made. Amount expended for benevolent
objects, 81, ,120.9S. There was also organ
lied IN the church, last December, Boys
Society and a Girls Society. The former
had raised since its organization s134, ant
the latter Sl54.50. This fund is to be eX
pended upon the church building.
Interesting addresses were also made.
Rev. Mr.. Holmes, of the First African
Baptist church OF this city, baptized eighty
one candidatcs-men, women, and chill
dren-at Manakin on Sunday. About three
thousand persons were present. Five boat
loads went up from Richmond, and among
those present were many white persons O.
this city, who rode up in buggies, car.
riagcs, etc.
At st. Peters cathedral Sunday morning
high-mass was celebrated by Rev. Fathe
Hanley, and an eloquent, instructive, ant
pleasing discourse delivered by Rev. Fathe
Stenson, Of the diocese of Achonry, Ire
land, on ''Prayer and its Efficacy" -
In the afternoon the customary floral offer
ings in honor of the Virgin Mary, whicl
annually occurs during the month of May
took place. The boys OF the parish, headet
by the Sodality Of ST. Aloysius and the girl
OF the Sunday school attached to st
Joseph's Female Academy, entered the mail
portal Of the Cathedral in procession, tn
latter wearing white wells and bearing ban
ners inscribed with the numerous titles be
slowed upon the Blessed Virgin, ant
all with bouquets OF beautiful flow
ers. After marching through the va
rious aisles of the church the chill
dren filed through the sanctuary ant
deposited their bouquets at the foot OF tn
statue of the Madonna, which was placed OF
q raised platform in front OF the main altar
At the conclusion Of the offering the sane
tuary, with the three affairs brilliantly il[umi
mated, and the temporary oratory, at whicl
the floral tribute had been offered, resplen
4 dent with its many burning tapers an
beautiful flowers, presented most impres
sivc and pleasing spectacle. During tn
movements of the procession the children
of whom there were about three hundred
Joined with the choir IN singing yarlou
hymns and the Litany of the Blessed Virgin
Rev. Father Janssens made a few appro
pirate remarks; after which Vespers wer
sung, concluding with benediction OF tn
Blessed Sacrament, the beautiful muSi
being eXcelently rendered by the fu
choir