The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-19
Ono Hundred Years Agobs

| The CENTENNIAL OF TUE FIRST BArTTST
| cBURcH-AN INTERESTING EvEST-sxETcH
or THE "OLD" CHURCH-PRoGRAMM FOR
THE OCCASION, &C., &C.
The readers OF the Dispatch have been
apprised that the one-bundretb anniversary
OF the First tOld) Baptist church occurs
during the present year. IL Is proposed 10
| celebrate this important event in the history
OF our city with appropriate exercises. The
celebration will occur on the Sih and 9th Of
June, after the adjournment OF the State
anniversaries In Petersburg. A brief sketch
OF the history OF this church will not be
without interest 10 the general reader:
In the year 1880, while the British forces
under C0rnwalis were wagiDg war upon
Virginia and other new States, and vainly
endeavoring 10 subiugate them, this church
was organized With fourteen members. At
the same time scarcely less fierce conflict
for freedom OF religious worship bad been
waged aud weI-nigh won; so that victory
was about to crown the champions OF re-
| ligious liberty as she did soon after the SOL
dicrs OF civil liberty on the plains OF York
town.
Then Richmond held only about eighteen
hundred inhabitants. ST. Johns Episcopal
church was the only house OF worship IN
the city, where service was held usualsy
only three times year-viZ., at Christ
mas. Easter, and Wbitsuntide.
The principal part Of the town was below
Sbockoe creek and upon Church Hill. The
beautiful emiBeDce now adorned by the
Capitol was pine forest. Ravines, impas-
sable for carriages, interrupted intercourse
between ShOckoe and Church Hills.
The church was organized, it Is said, It
the house OF Mr. Franklin, on Union Hill.
Subsequently it wor,hipped in small
church building at or near the northeast
corner Of Cary and Third streets. Rev.
Joshua Morris was the first pastor, who was
succeeded by the late Reys. John Courtney,
John Bryce, John Kerr, |. Il. Hinton, and
J. B. Jeter, ID. d., and Drs. Manly and Bur-
rows, now Of Kentucky, and DR.. Warren,
now OF Georgia, and the present pastor,
! DR.. Hawthorne. Within the church's his
tory there have been co-pastors aud pastors
pro tenn, as the late Revs. Andrew Broad-
dus. Sr., ID. d.. Henry Keeling, and G. B.
Gennet, and Drs. d. b. Winfree, j. l.. NJ.
Curry, and III. A. Upper, who now occupy
| fields Of service in our city and vicinity.
The numerous denomination Of Chris
tians OF whom this church has been GEN.
tury-plant Of wondrous growth and beneti-
cence viii take and diffuse genuine inter-
est in this ensuing memorial OF 4 religious
body whose history is almost the history Of
Richmond. But the interest will by no
means be confined to Baptists. For that
large catholicity OF religious sentiment
which peryades the pious people OF Rich
mond will joyousy hail an opportunity,
such rs this, 10 express itself in fraternsl
gratulatious and gratitude to the good
Giyer who has preserved and strengthened
the weak and tender plant, until, with
strong root. towering trunk, and broad
branch, it stands an object OF moral beauty,
and, better, source Of moral and spiritual
blessing TO thousands wIo have crossed the
/ food and others who are crossing now.
/ ProqrQmme. Sth June, 10 A.
NJ: Reading Scriptures by the pastor, Rev.
J. Il. Hawthorne, ID. D.; prayer by Rev. ii.
| Alien Tupper, ID. d.; History OF the
! Church." address, by Rev. j. l.. Burrows,
| y. D., OF Kentucky " Sketches OF Deceased
| Pastors" address, by Rev ". D. Thomas, D.
! D., Of Virginia. Afternoon session, O'Clock: :
Reading Scriptures, by Rev. b. Manly, d..
d., OF Kentucky; prayer by Rev. j. H..
Eager, OF Virginia; L" History OF the Houses
OF Worship oi the Church." by Deacon G..
/ Walthail "Sketches OF the Officers OF the
Church." address, by J. b. Watkins, Esq. (;
" History OF the sunday School," by
Deacon c. Walthall; History OF the
Organization OF the First African
Church, and the RELATION Of the First
Baptist Church to the Colored People," by
Rqv Robert Ryland, ID. D., OF Kentucky.
Night session, O'Clock: Jeter Memorial ;
PRAYER by Rev. Z. w. Warren. ID. d., OF
Georgia; Relation OF the Church to Edu.
cation" by Rev. j. l.. NJ. Curry, ID. d., read
4 Nv, DaN I ~
Hawthorne, d. d. address by Rev. William
T.. Hatcher, d. ID. Wednesday, 9th OF June
10 \. NJ: Reading OF Scriptures by Rev,
L. W. Warren. D. D.; prayer by Rev. b.
Manly, ID. d.. Missionary Work OF the
Church." address, by Rev. II. A. Tupper,
-. D.; fraterna addresses by Revs. Il.
Donald, d. D., ID. B. Winfree, ID. d., and
Messrs. II. X. Ellyson and Thomas j.
Evans. Evening service, s O'Clock Sermon
by Rev. J. l.. Burr oTs, ID. ID.
The exercises at each of the sessions viii
be enliveued by appropriate music, and be
closed with the DoXOlogy and benedictiOD
An event OF so great concern and import
ance to the large and influential class OF
Christians whose centennial memorial il
celebrates cannot fail to awaken a lively
interest in the entire community. The city
will no doubt be thronged with visitors
and the present beautiful church edidce be-
crowded 10 IFS utmost capacity. There IL
scarcely 4 State in the Union in which
there does not live some former member
Of the sold" church. Her sons and
daughters will doubtless come from ial
mater, and to offer thanksgiyings for heI
|