The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-26
Funeral OF Rev. Scott Gwathmey.

Rev. Scott GWathmeV, pastor OF the
Fourth African Baptist church, on Church
Hill, was buried yesterday afternoon from
the church OF which he was pastor. There
was an immense concourse OF colored peo-
Pile present, but there were few who were
able to take part in the services from the
fact that the vast crowd outside OF the build
ing kept up such 4 talking that it was next
to impossible to hear anything that was going
on. 1t was perhaps the largest gathering OF
colored people that we have bad 10 Richmond
for many years. Long before midday yes.
terday perfect stream OF people were pass
Ing continually to the church. and when the
services commenced there were fully five
thousand people on the outside OF the
church, and the building itself crowded to
its utmost capacity. The remains were
conveyed from the home OF the deceased,
on Thirtieth street between \ and o
streets, to the church about 8 o'clock, es-
cortcd 10y scvcra! eolnrcd societies and long
procession OF carriages and persons on foot
Every carriage that could he hired in the
city was engaged for the funeral, the num-
Der being over $50. Before the arrival OF
Policemen Franklin, Tucker, and Burnett
at the church the crowd was so dense on
the front porch, on the east side Of the
building, that several women were made
for the efforts OF those officers the re-
suits would have been very serious.
Upon the front Of the church was the in
scription, marking the time Of the erection
and dedication OF the building QS75), the
name OF the builder. and underneath hung
Il ncatlv-framed picture Of the deceased, all
drapcd in mourning. While the vast assem-
blagc awaited the arrival Of the remains
from the house, the congregation within the
building sang Il number OF hymns familiar
to the coored people. The pall-bearers were
Washington Ham, Nicholas White, John
Brooks, Richard Cooper, Spencer Miller,
and w. 3. Woad, laymen; and Rcys. }. II.
Holmes, Il. Wells, Z. Saunders, w. BraX-
ton, and 4. Binga. The ministers carried
the body into the church from the steps on
the south side, the remains having been
conveyed to the church in Il hearsc drawn
by four white horses. When the coffin, cov-
cred with flowers, was borneinto the church,
many persons outside as well as those
within the building sobbed and cried aloud,
creating no little excitement. The case was
placed upon table just inside OF the door,
and the services began with the singing OF
hymn, Rev. 4. Blnga lining the hymn
out. Rev. J. Fl. Holmes then read the 18Th
chapter OF Revelations. and prayer was Of
fered by Rev. Eli Saunders. The most i'm
pressiye feature OF the service followed
the singing by the church choir OF an an
them, "Bessed are the dead who die in
the Lord" 1t was indeed beautiful.
at the conclusion of this singing Rev.
John Jasper, OF the Sixth Mount-Zion
Baptist church, delivered a sermon from
the front portico OF the church, his text
being from the 7th chapter OF Revelations,
| 18th and 14th verses. He began by refer
ring to bis intimate acquaintance with the
deceased for the past fourteen years; read
memoranda prepared by Gwathmey's for
mcr owner, giving the date Of his birth
| NS29) and much other personal informa-
| ton not necessary to relate here. lie
came from King William county. however,
and the speaker said when he first knew him
he was a stcmmcr in tobacco-factory that
he was perfect gentleman; he was conf
dent he was called by God to preach the
Gospel. which he said he had done falthlullE
ever since the renovation OF the South. lie
then proceeded with the discussion OF his
text, which he said in the beginning was Il
tremendous heavy one. He delivered a
characteristic sermon OF some length; after
| which the immense procession OF carriages,
bugeics, wagons, and vehicles Of all kinds,
societies and persons on foot, followed the
remains to Sycamore hurying- ground, where
they were inferred With the usual cercmo-
| MES.
| Among the whites who attended the fure-
raj were Rev. DR.. Dickinson, Rev. Charles
| Ii. Corey, DR.. Knox, and others.
|