Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-27
MASONIC MEMORANDA.
AN OLD RELIC RESURRECTED.


tsidneyI Methodist Episcopal Church.
Seldom in lifetime is an opportunity
offered, o. has Just occurred, to exam
inc the contents of box from corner
stone laid by generation gone by.
Though of q recent date, about thirty
years ago, yet few are now living who
remember the event, when the Ma
sonic fraternity, together with large
concoursc Of people, gathered around
q box to listen to the orator Of the
occasion, Rev. John e. Edwards. What
memories hang around these musty old
books and papers and the contents OF
the box placed in the cornerstone Of
the Sydney Methodist church.
Strange to say, though incased in q
cemented stone box and tightly soldered
in q strong copper case, yet when first
examined they were saturated with
dampness to an extent that the bindings
Of the books and pamphlets would fall
away when disturbed. With this ex-
ccption all was in order. Among the
many interesting articles found was a
note with these words " Donor Of the
church lot, Mrs. Catherine Bethel.
Trustees John B. Morton, Charles
Hagan, Luther p. Ellis, Robert Smith,
Thomas Hewett, David A. Brown,
William ID. Pemberton. Preacher in
charge: Thomas G. Hayes, P. Z.
Thomas II. Jones, A. T." All Of these
are dead, with but one or possibly two
exceptions.
The box rescued from the old build
ing on Main street when torn down has
been kept, and after replenishing IT
with new data, together with its old
contents. was deposited few days ago
in the northeast corner of the new ad-
dition of Park-Place church, the pres
ent place of worship Of the former con-
gregation. There was no ceremony in
so doing, as on q former occasion. This
was had when the Masonic fraternity
laid the cornerstone to the present
building. As a matter Of interest a
list Of the old as we'll as the new arti-
cles contained in the box is appended
Old Articles.-A letter dated 25th
August, 1856, the date Of laying the
cornerstone Of the "Old Sidney
Church "; the donor Of the lot, Mrs.
Catherine Bethel; trustees, John b.
Morton, Charles Hagan, Luther p. FL
lis, Robert B. Smith, Thomas Hewett,
David A. Brown, William ID. Pember-
ton; preacher in charge, Thomas c.
Hayes, p. f.. Thomas II. Jones, A. E.
Quarterly Review Methodist Episcopal
Church, D. S. Doggett editor, 1856
minutes of the Annual Conference,
1855; proceedings Of the Grand Lodge
of Virginia, 1856; Masonic textbook ;
bylaws of Richmond Commandery,
1855; bylaws Of Richmond Lodge,
No. 10, 1865 bylaws Of Dove Lodge,
1856; bylaws of st. Johns Lodge,
No. Sc, IS43; bylaws Of Aurora Lodge,
No. 1l6, 1853 bylaws Of Richmond
Fayette Artillery Richardson's AL
manac, 1856; proceedings of Grand
Encampment of Knights Templars,
1856; bylaws of Lafayette Royal
Arch Chapter, 1853; j. W. Randolph's
Mercantile Calendar, 1856 card w.
W. Snead, silver-plater; John w. Da-
vies's stone-cutter's advertisement ;
Richmond Whig, August 25, 1856
Richmond Enquirer, August %, 1856 ;
edmond Christian Adrocate. August
il. 1856. published by Coulling, Ed
ards 4 Bennett; Holy Bible Motho-
cist Discipline.
Ner articles Deposited.-Iiistory OF
the church from organization to date,
with a beautiful tribute to the munih-
cence Of the donor of the new church
now in erection choral services Of the
Sunday school; roll OF the members OF
the church. Cards-James III. Capers,
Eminent Commander Richmond Com
mandery, No. 2; j. Thompson Brown,
p. +. G. of Richmond Commandery,
No. 2; Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation membership certificate roll
Richmond Commandery, No.; bylaws
Lafayette Royal Arch Chapter, 1880 ;
Richmond Commandery, No. G, Scot
tish Right Masonry, thirty-third de-
gree Richmond Hunting Club invita-
tion to early breakfast; Pilgrimage Of
De Molay and st. Johns Commandery
to Richmond in 1881; Encampment ol
Richmond Commandery at Old Point
in 1879; Reception Invitations to Ban
quet Washington and Richmond Com.
manderies Proceedings of Grand
Lodge of Virginia at Yorktown Gen.
tennial !; List of Library Books P. p.
Church Confederate States cur
rency; Confederate States fractional
currency-tens, fifteens. fiftics, dollars
five dollars on Exchange Bank OF
Tennessee-War Issue a; various United
States postage-stamps; Roll Of General
Assembly Of Virginia Constitution
and Bylaws OF Richmond Home for
Old Ladies; Dispatch,
State, Wing, and Richmond Progress
Of 1885; Brazilian Coin, 90 Reese, by
Miss Lillian c. Rodman, Park-Place
Sunday school.