The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-14
.5PETERsBURG.


PROSPEROUS coLcaEp COS R EoATIaN--Aa sa-
: :. !, =, amp on NEARLY TwENTY-THREE Hun
nart,--I. AY1Sa THE corn ER-sToNE OF THEIR
Il yrw 5EpIFIcg--coTToH AND TOBACCO RE-
cEIprs-gxcURsIoN 10 THE CAPEs--TWo
GASES OF LocKJAw-A CHESTERFIELD
FARMERS EXPERIENCE, &C.
Icarrcspopdencc or the Richmond Dtspatch.l
AUGUST 10, 1878.
The Gilfeld CnIored Baptist church, the
CORNERSTONE OF whose new editice on Perry
street was laid last evening. is one OF the
Oldest OF the colored congregations In
the State. It was organized In 1885,
aud for number CT years Wor-
sbirped in understanding house on me
banks OF the Appomaltox river near wnere
the depot OF the Atlantic, mississippi ana
Ohio railroad is now located. 1t was men
known, as the Sandy-Bcach church, taxing
It's name from the sandy bank on Whlch Tue
church was built. In 1917 the congregation
bought their present lot, on Ferry street,
unon which from time to time, as they grew
in numbers and wealth, they have built four
churches, each an improvement in size ana
anp,arance on the preceding one. The
present building fronts 105 feet, and runs
back 10 depth OF 60 feet, where 1t is at
tachcd to large brick chapel, now used Tor
worship. On the left. front is an octagon
tower Sc feet high, and on the II Sht
square tower rising LOG feet to the top OF
the spire. Through these towers the three
galleries are reached. The church Il OF tne
Homanesque style, and Will comfortably
scat ], 400 people. The walls are four brlcks
thick from the foundation to the galleries.
The interior finish is to be OF the best style'
and light will be given by sas-reflectors 10
hn ocfiyn1tp Of The
cost was $4,000, but the congregation re-
duced these figures to about $4,000 by rent
ing brick-yard and making their own bricks
to the number OF 100000, and in otherwise
assisting in the labor Of digging the founda-
ton. They have shown an earncstness ana
love in the work which reflect greatly to
their credit, not only in their liberal con-
tributions, but in their readiness to labor.
The present pastor is Rev. Henry Williams,
Jr., who took charge in 1865, when the
membership was 1900. He has increased
the membership to 2,2GS, and during MS
ministry has organized from this congreSa-
ton three independent and one mission
church in the adjacent counties. With the
execution OF the old African church in
Richmond, the Gilfcld congregation is be-
Iieved to be the largest in the South. For
seventv-fve years they have enjoyed unre-
stricted religious liberty. The ceremonies
attending the laying OF the cornerstone
were conducted by Pocahontas Lodge, No.
I, =. and a. Masons (coloredO, and were
witnessed by great crowd OF people,
among whom were many whites.
The receipts Of cotton at this port 1or
some weeks past have been very light, and
will continue so unit! the new crop begins
to come in. The stock Of last years cotton
in the country tributary to Petersburg Is
very nearly exhausted. The receipts OF to-
bacco, however, are liberal. and there is little
or no falling Off in the inspections.
A very large party of ladies and gentle
men lett the city this morning on an excur-
sion to Norfolk, Old Point, and the Capes.
The weather was very unpropitious, but it
did not deter many from going. The cX-
cursion was one OF series given Tor the
benefit OF the Malket-Street Methodist Epis
coral church.
Two severe and doubtless fatal cases OF
lockiaw have been developed here within
the last day or two-one OF them in q girl
aged about thirteen years, daughter OF Mr..
Alexander Condor, caused by running 4
large splinter in her foot; the other in a CO.
lored man named William Brown, caused
by MASKING his hand.
a Chesterfield farmer living not far from
this city seeded his wheat last fall at an en-
pense of S240, and sold his crop Anew DAYS
ago for ST.. His farm was in the track OF
one OF the hal-storms that occurred about
harvest time, and his crop was almost to-
tally destroyed. Others in his vicinity SUI
fered to considerable extent in the same
way.
We have had a very fine rain to-day, last
ing for some hours.
Moore's Swamp Baptist church, in SurrY
county, which has recently been rebuilt and
enlarged, will be dedicated next Sunday.
ROBIN ADAIR.