The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-16

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interest was manifested in him, ,asofsceti as
! 10 adds todtheo historic interestro the old
/ sbuildiHg.I adt sl3f auai sad % Jnd. Iaao u
f.io7rHHE 1.isr VAT OF lTffE cSsfsbEsAcY. J,
f. oflcast ainaonig the historic "reminiscences
OF this old building is the famous meeting
tthat took place in 1864 lust after the noted
peace conference at Fortress Monroe, Our
: people did hot know how sick they, were |;
/ the soldiers, though starving, were dream
I ing Of better rations for the future, and our
cause was generally lacking OF that vitality
that betokens success. One, Of the grandest
meeting ever held in Richmond was held in
the Church. ~, XII. =
Stirring addresses were ,,e de- delivered BY Pre-
! sident Davis, Judah 2. BENJAMIN, and other
( fnotables, Which led many OF our staid ,citi-
/ zens to invest much Of their earnings in
rConfederate States bonds, and many OF our
ladies 10 put down on, the platform their
mucf-cherished Jewels. 1t was scene. we'll
worthy af-the MeEn- traditions OF Sparta
for many OF. our ladies took off their breast
4 pins, and bracelets and deposited them upon
the table before the speaker. This was. the
! Inst meetings ever. held in Richmond under
| Confederate auspices. :,..f: ,a,..f.t II q
Il = THE AFRICAN CHURCH SINCE THE WAR.
oscene of transformation could be more
complete than that presented iEithin the
walls OF this old and historic building since
4 the war. We had heard before that fiisa-
greeabie period meetingsin which the great
Webster, the eloquent Clay, and the mag
netic Bolts had figured we had seen during
4 those dark days such men as Davis, Toombs,
I Taucey, Benjamin, and others ''firing the
southern heart" and when the smoke OF the
battle had clared away what was to be seen !?
{; an assemblage OF our former slavcs-the first
ever held in the South. They had been in
vested with all the rights Of citizenship, and
i spoke e.with an assurance that would idicate
t that they had owned The land since the days
OF their birth. Among the men who spoke
to them in their gatherings were Horace
Greeley, Gerritt Smith, Henry Wilson,
General o. L. Howard, Judge Underwood,
and others whose names are prominent in
the history OF southern reconstruction.
! 4 building connected as intimately aS this
has been with the different phases OF Rich
mond's history should never have been torn
down, but as necessity compels it it is ours
to obey. We have only to pray that as the
old church has passed through the different
changes from political strife to realistic
and bloody war, and thence to peace-so
may the new one rest forever and forever.
I BRICK FROM THE OLD BUILDING.
The work OF tearing down the old build
ing commenced on Saturday last, when
some of the shingles from the roof were re-
moved. It has been progressing steadily
ever since, and now the western wing is
pretty we'll unroofed. In company with q
friend our reporter talked with the present
pastor yesterday evening as to the prospects
Of the church and the interest which all the
colored people in Richmond felt in the pre-
sent venerable building. The young gen
tleman who was present during the CONVEX
sation said: "Holmes, you must bring Inc
brick from the old church; I want to keep
it rs q curiosity" ::Yes," said Holmes,
"TH do so; many OF my congregation have
expressed the same wish, and tell them
that all who take away brick must leave
five cents. But I'll call on you, sir, after a
while, and hope you'll add to our little
fund.-" The promise was made and the two
friends left the pastor.
THE NEW CHURCH. ~.
The character OF the new church, which
is to be built OF brick, with front and Broad.
street side OF stock brick, will, Of course,
be altogether different from that Of the old
one. 1t will front on College street, as
there is not room enough for it to front on
Broad street. The building is to cost about
$40, 900, and it is to resemble as near as may
: be the First Baptist church, though the
pitch of neither the main audience-roon
nor the basement Or lecture-room will be rs
high as that of the First church. The pitch
Of the main audience-room will be twenty.
] five feet, and that OF the basement ten feet
There will, be galleries all around the
church, in one Of which it is proposed to
place fine organ so soon rs the building is
ready to receive it. And just here it may
not be amiss to recall the fact that there are
some fine voices in that church, and excel.
lent music may be anticipated when the
choir is fully organized and the church in
order for service.
At present the committee will e:spend
but $4,000 on the new building, which,
when completed, is to seat $500 persons
the old church seats about 1000. The com.
mittee hope to occupy the basement or the
church, at least, by Christmas. Mr.. L.
Wiley Davis is the builder.
POLICE COURT, YEsTERDAY-JuStlceJ y. j.
White presid;ng.-Laura Gatewood COLOR
ed), charged with stealing thirty cents from
the person OF Fleming Jackson, was dis
charged. t~"
James E. Worsham and James Beach (co-
ored), charged with stealing railroad iron
and brass boxes valued at $500 from the
Richmond and Danville Railroad Company,
were sent to Chesterfield county for trial.
n. X. Foster and Mary Foster, disorderly
and creating disturbance in the Good Sa-
maritan Hall. n. Il. Foster was fined $3.50