Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-12
THE STATE AT LARGE.
pxkgassUxa AND VICINITY.

The Centennial Year ~ "cs"os
Yssm church IN Pessrsbars-The site
n~usss ~ Bsshss Ass~vy.
fCesresrondeuce Of the Richmond Dispesch.l
pKrErspuRa, December II. 1884.
The centennial year Of Methodism ia The
Tinted states IA not without Its historical
tutefc<t in the city Of Petersburg. Tue
6rst N eihodis, church here was built but q
few years after the declaration OF peace
4. betvcrn The states and Great Britain
following the Revolutionary war. Fran.
els AsbuYy. first 81 superintendent
and - first bishop OF The Metho-
dist Church In the United States OF
America, several times visited our town
and preached bcre, and be was the pur-
chaser 81 The "lott" on which the iirst
Meihcdlst church here was erected. On
this PORT the following abstracts from the
record.books OF the Hastings Court viii be
Of interest 10 Methodists throughout Vir-
rinis, and especially 20 that denomination
here:
Alta Hastings Court held for the town OF
Petersburg. NJ "the house OF John Hare,
on the I'd day Of july. 1853, an "indenture
OF Bargain and sale" between Abraham
Evan. Of the town Of Petersburg, OF tue
ore part, and Francis Asbury. superin-
tendent OF the Methodist Episcopal Chureh
in the United States OF America, OF .hs
other part, was ordered 10 be entered OF
record. This indepture witnesseh inat on
the 10Th az Nav. f7Ss, Abraham Evans.
for and In confederation Of the sum OF
eighteen pounds three shillings ana ten
pencc. current money OF Virginia. to bin IN
hand, paid BY Francis Asbury, hath grant,
ed. bsfgained, sold, alieDed, released.
cpfeofed, and confirmed unto the said
Francis Asbury, superintendent Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church In the United
States OF America. aud his successors, for
and In behalf OF the said Church forever.
n certain lot or parcel OF land (at the cor
ner Of Friend and Market streets, contain.
ing fC,5S.t square Links, or nearly one
sixth part Of an acre" The receipt Tor
the mouey paid for the lot by Francis
Asbpry Is also recorded.
ON The Goth Of February. 1896. there
was entered Of record a deed from Francis
Asbury, Bishop OF the Methodist Episco-
pal Church In the United States oil Aineri-
ca, conveying TO joseph Harding, Nathan
lei Lee, and others, trustees, for ard IN
consideration OF the sum OF S6l.5o. the
above lot. 10 be held by them and their
succe ssors in Office, "chosen accord
ing The plan laid down IN the
Methodist form Of Discipline that
they shall continue n house or place OF
worship for the use OF the members OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church in the United
states. and IL future trust and confidence
that they shall permit such ministers and
preachers belonging to the said Church..
who are duly authorized by the General
nrd YEARLY Conferences. aud none others,
10 preach and eXpound Gods holy Word
therein
A plain wooden editice was constructed
on his lot, IN which the Methodists wor-
shipped for some years. AS the coDgrega-
ficn increased larger church-building be-
came necessary. aud the church on Union
street fuow, and for some years past, oeen.
pied bv colorcd people, was built. Here
the Methodist congregation worsbipped IN
Ill 1874, when, shortly after the General Con-
ference Of that wear (hcld IN the Union
Street church). they moved into the
Washington. Street church, then just com
plcted. From the little wooden church on
Bishop Asbury's lot have sprung six or
seven churches and chapels and member
ship Of several thousand. The lot on
which the first little church was built, now
comprises portion OF the beautiful front
grounds of Mrs. Ilcath's residence on
Market street. The spot is revered 10y
every sincere Methodist in the community.
Messrs. Walters. OF Baltimore. aud
Bridges and Devine. Of the Wilmington
and Weldon railroad passed through this
city q day or two ago. going south.
There have been reports current for
some time past Of a probable early
consolidation Of the several railway lines
between Wilmington and Richmond.
but nothing authentic has ever been
given 10 the public on the subject. II IS
believed that st the approaching meeting
OF the stockholders OF the Petersburg rail-
road. TO be held on the 10th instant, II
there is any truth In these reports, some
action Will be taken.
The market to-day was crowded with
offerings Of loose tobacco. and il was not
until nearly night that the last warehouse
was reached by the buyers.
ROBIN ADAIR.