The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-04
LOCAL. MATTERS.
Church NOfeS.

Church Notes.
BAPTlSMS AND ADDITIONS-REy. MR.. ARM-
sTRoNG's FIRST SERMON AT THE MoNUMES-
TAL-1NTERESTING SERVICES ELSEWHERE,
&C., &c.
At the Second Presbyterian church in the
morning the sacrament OF the Lords sup
per was celebrated, at which time fourteen
new members were received into the
church-nine OF these on profession OF their
faith and five by letter.
Or. Hoge announced that OH next Sum
day afternoon he would begin series OF
short sermons, the service to commence at
6 o'clock and close quarter before Z. !
AZ the First Baptist church on Sunday
morning Rev. w. G. Schaefcr preached q
most acceptable sermon.
At the SeyeDth-Street Christian church
three persons were baptized.
At Grace Episcopal church Bishop Lay
preached. ..-.
At the Broad-Street Methodist church on
Sunday Rev. j. J. Lafferty administered the
communion.
At Clay-Street Methodist two persons
were received on profession Of faith.
The anniversary exercises OF Centenary
Sunday school were held on Sunday after
noon, and missionary collection taken,
realizing handsome amount. Rev. S. A.
Steel and the pastor delivered addresses.
One person was received on profession and
one by certificate.
At the Manchester church one person was
baptized.
At the First African Baptist church on
Sunday 2GS candidates were baptized, 50 OF
whom were Sunday-school scholars. There
were 375 candidates. and the residue will
be baptized on Sunday next. The cere-
cf ha1
O'Clock and was concluded ut y NJ.
At the Monumental church on Sunday
morning and afternoon there were very
large congregations to hear Rev. Mr.
Armstrong; first sermons. In the morn
ing he preached on the subject OF charity,
and in the afternoon on the full religion.
Both morning and afternoon the music was
very fine.
At the conclusion Of the morning sermon
Mr.. Armstrong said:
My dear brethren, / should be doing Vio-
lence to my own feelings, as well as to what
would seem to be the fitness OF things, did
] not make some special allusior to the Pc
culiarly- interesting and solemn circum-
stances in which, as clergyman and people,
we meet together to-day. In now almost
twenty years OF a ministerial life l am free
to say that have never realized to such an
extent as do now the responsibilities that
gather around the pastoral relation; and l
have assumed this present relation, and [
enter this morning upon its active duties
with an embarrassment bordering very
closely upon fear and trembling. | may ac-
count for this partly, though not wholly,
on the principle that the more experience
we have in the practical work OF the minis
try the more deeply sensible we become
- sf,,1n
young man who has just girded on
the harness may foresee along his
path but shade-trees and flowers, and
may have scarce any emotion but confidence
and hope; but he who has already worn
that harness for number OF years will look
out upon the future, ut least, with dithdence
in his own strength and powers OF endur-
ance, and, with heart trusting only in God,
will be disposed to cry out, "Who is su1ll-
cient for these things?
But to this realization Of the magnitude
and difficulty OF the work thus brought
home to my heart by some experience there
is added to-day this reflection, as tending
greatly to intensity this embarrassment, and
to deepen it into fear and trembling-this,
that here issume to Wear the mantle that
has been bequeathed by the lamented and
deeply-venerated Dr.. Woodbridge, and to
prosecute the work in which he was SO long
and so successfully engaged.
cannot conceal fron myself the fact
that succeed in office him who was so
very dear to all your hearts, who went out
and in before you so long, breaking unto
you the bread OF life, and to whom the old
est as we'll as the youngest among you
looked up as to father and with the love
and trust of devoted children. l suppose
=
asked for or bestowed upon me than this,
that may be enabled so to carry on the
work from which DR.. Woodbridge has, by
the Master lie so faithfully served, been
discharged, thatI may in after years COM
mend myself to some measure of that love
and reverence which you have given him,
leave behind me when my work IS done
somewhat OF the record that he has left,
live in the hearts OF my people as he lives
in yours, and wear crown as richly set
with ransomed souls as gems us he now
wears.
think may freely say it will be my own
sincere pleasure to administer the affairs OF
this church as nearly as can according to
the principles on which my yenerated pre-
Gecessor administered them. You willvery
cordially accord to me, am sure, the right
OF 4 true and full individuality; yet in ex-
ercising this right have no fears that |
shall feel disposed to alter in any impor-
tant matter the modes OF doing things to
which you have been so long accustomed by
one who was so distinguished for his love
of orders us well as for his wisdom and
grace. We will be followers OF him as he
also was OF Christ. And by honesty OF
purpose, by devotion to the blessed Saviour
and the Church which he has purchased
with his own precious blood, by mutual
charity and forbearance, and by hearty
and untiring cooperation for the salvation
of souls and the spread Of Christ's king.
dom, we may make the relation upon which
we have entered. to day-solemn as it Is, and
| involving great responsibilities and hard
| labor as il rdoes--we may make it by Coos
grace and mercy a comfort to ourselves, 9
blessing to men, and an honor to God. AND
thus may it indeed be for Jesus sake 't
Amen. , Is, sa = sts .- -,
On Wednesday afternoon there will be
social meeting Of the congregation in the
ilecture-room for the. purpose OF meeting
Mr.. Armstrong
OuALlF1ED.-Mr. George D. Wise quail
| fed Yesterday as Common Wealth's attorney
! for the Hastings Court.
/ Rey. j. Il. Armstrong, OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church was authorized to cele
brate the rite of matrimony within this
4 H0,, v$ fs