The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-06-19
:PARK.PLACE CHURCH.

THE CORNERSTONE LAID DyYEsTERDAY
EvENING-THE CROWD QUITE LARGE
NOTWITHSTANDING THE UNPRoPrTIoUs
| -.wEATHER-THE CEREMONIES. ,sln aal
The cornerstone of Park-Place Metbo-
dist church, to he erected on the northwest
| corner of Franklin and Pine streets, was
laid yesterday evening by Joppa Lodge. No.
40, A. f. and A. NJ, assisted by mem
bers of other lodges and Richmond Com
mandery, No. 2, Knights Templar. The
Masons formed in line at the intersection of
Third and Franklin streets--Wor. Peyton
Wise chief nlarshal--and, with Voelker's
band Mt the head Of the column. ,uboyed oup
Franklin street to the church lot. The
clouds were dark and threatening, yet there
were several hundred people in attendance.
A stand had heen erected for the officials OF
the occasion and for the band and choir, and
though quite large it was crowded. c1-
| Rev. Messrs. Wills (presiding elder)
Ware, SIedd. Royal, Judkins, White, Lit
tleton, Bradley, Lafferty, and McGilvray.
were present. "A number OF other clergy-
men were prevented from attending by the
unfavorable weather. Wor. Howard Swine
ford, OF No. 40, presided and conducted the
ceremonies. The opening prayer was Of
fered by Rev. Brother r. N. Sledd, chap
lain, and the singing was under the direc-
ton Of Mr.. Gill, superintendent Of the Male
Orphan Asylum, the band playing accom-
paniment. -.. -, ,...r,..
The lead box laid in the cornerstone con-
tanned the following articles :an;. j.. o.,
l.. Historical sketch and bylaws Of Joppa
Lodge, No. 40, A. q. and A. NJ, with list Of
officers and members.
Q. City papers and other periodicals-to
Wit: Daily Dispatch, Whig, Enquirer, and
State, the Richmond Christian 1duocate,
and Our China ,Hisitor. ......,.:.. -sa... . ..-
ga copy Of the programme OF the pre-
sent ceremonies. x. .,,...-,,. ....''..s.
4. Parchment, inscribed with the name OF
the liberal donor to whose munifcence the
erection of this church ediice is mainly due.
5. A paper containing the names OF the
architect of this building, the present pas
tor of Park-Place Methodist Episcopal
Church South, the superintendent OF the
Park-Place Sunday school, and also the
names OF the President of the United States,
the nresent Governor of Virginia, and the
present Mayor of Richmond. -, ...;. :;
! G. a historical sketch OF the Sidney Me
thodist Mission Sunday school. - ~.
:. Photographs in water colors OF Mary
Pace, infant daughter of Mr.. j. B. Pace, and
of Otey Edwards, son of Leroy S. Edwards,
grandson of Rev. John E. Edwards, D. D.,
made and presented by NJ. J. Powers, Of
Metropolitan Lodge, No. IL. Photograph
of Rev. j. E. Edwards, D. D.
After the cornerstone had been laid with
due socmnity Rev. DR.. Edwards, the pas
tor OF the congregation (Which now wor-
ships in the church on Main street just west
Of the Park, made very brief address,
referring to the history OF the church !;
speaking in thankful praises Of the liberality
OF the gentleman without whose aid this
enterprise could not have been undertaken,
and returning thanks to the Masons for
their services. The assemblage was then
dismissed-rain being expected every mo-
ment.
The Park-Place church had its origin in
Sunday school organized on the goth day
OF May, 1855, by the architect Of the chapel
now about to be erected. Shortly after the
organization of the school a society was
formed at that place, called the Sidney Mis-
sion OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, and about the year 1857 house OF
worship was erected. In the fall OF 1875
the society at this place became a self-sus-
tanning charge under the name of the Main
Street Methodist Episcopal Church South.
At the end of one year it was determined
to erect new house OF worship, and lot
was purchased at the northwest corner OF
Franklin and Pine streets, and the name Of
the society again changed to Park-Place
Methodist Episcopal Church South.
A design for the new house of worship,
corner of Franklin and Pine streets, has
been prepared, consisting OF main build
ing so by so feet, fronting on Franklin
street, with tower surmounted by stee-
pie reaching to the height Of $50 feet. At
the rear of the main building, and connect
ed with it, is chapel building, forming a
transcept, 80 feet deep and 73 feet 6
inches long, the end fronting on Pine street.
This is the building about to be erected.
The Sunday-school room will occupy the
middle portion, and will be 80 by 46 feet,
and 26 feet pitch to spring line, and 81 feet
to apex OF vault. Each end OF the build
ing will be divided into two stories in
height. .r
The first story, on Pine street, will be an
entrance hall, and the second the PASTORS
study and entrance to gallery which is to
be located at the eastern end of the main
ROOM In the western end the first story
will be used for Bible-class room and a
private room, with stairs ascending to the
second story, which is to be used for the
! infant-cass room. Both these rooms.
the main room ty movable sashes, which
will allow them to be thrown into one with
the main room ut pleasure, and nccommo-
dations will thus be afforded for about four
hundred auditors. ........
The building is 10 be in the Gothic order
of architecture, partaking somewhat OF that
division OF it known as the perpendicular
style. The building will be OF brick, with
stone and iron trimmings, painted outside
and handsomely grained and tinted inside.
It is expected that the present building will
be completed by the 1st of November next.
The whole was designed by Albert l..
West, architect, and the present building is
being erected under his superintendent.
This is his thirty-ninth church improve
| ment. .-. i. ...-
] Masonic ELECTION. stated convo-
cation OF Harman Royal Arch Chapter, No.
1 sc, held at Masonic Hall, on Twenty-ffth
street, on Monday night, June 18th, 1877,
the following officers were elected: ID. Z.
High Priest, William S. Murray; E. King,
W. NJ. Williams; E. Scribe, George r.
Waldman; Treasurer, NJ. E. Companion 4.
FL. Duesberry; Secretary, William Wilson.
| The oficers-elect made the following ap-
pointments Captain OF Host, Charles h.
Scherer; Principal Soiourner, Charles E.
| Ross Royal Arch Captain, E. L. Johnson;
Master OF Third Vail, L. NJ. Cullingworth;
Master OF Second Vail, S. W. Farrar; Mas
ter OF First Vail, James Netherwood Chap
| lain, Rev. I. T. Wallace; Stewards Com
mittee: Charles Fl. Hasker, Charles g.
Walker, j. Staunton Moore.