The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-08-04

SulppeO udoltudllv together anu edCu
received with respect and affection the
instructions of the minister who belonged
to the other Church.
st. Johns church, on Church Hill, was
not used by the Episcopalians, except at
Easter and Christmas. 1t was their only
house of worship.
Mr.. Blair's influence as the teacher of
classical school for boys, and subse-
quently OF female school, was consider.
able. His discipline was mild and pa
ternal, and based upon Christian princi-
pies, with which ne aimed to Undue the
minds Of the young people committed to
his care. AS many of these belonge to
the principal families of the city, and
afterwards rose to conspicuous places in
social and public life, it is probable that
his instructions acted as a healthful
leaven in society at that day, and tended,
in some good degree, to counteract the
prevailing tendency to worldliness, fash
ion. and infdelity.
Under Mr.. Blair's ministry, at late
period of his life, the house built for the
Shockoe Hill Presbyterian church, on
the corner OF Eighth and Franklin
streets, became the place of worship for
the Presbyterians under his cafe. The
organization Of this church was subse-
quent to that of the First church, which
as we shall see was organized in 1912 /;
so that the Shockoe Hill church was
really the Second church, though never
known by that name. 1t was afterwards
called the United Presbyterian church,
and continued to bear this name till the
house of worship was burned at the fall
of Richmond in April, 1865. 1t is now
known as the Grace Street Presbyterian
church."
Rev. John D. Blair's life closed Jam
uary 10th, 1928. He had entered his
sixty.fourth year. On pages 455-462 of
George Wythe Munford, may be found
an interesting funeral discourse by Rev.
j. B. Hoge; and other tributes to his
memory, which were published in the
RicAmond Enquirer.
His descendants are, to this day, con-
spicuous for their usefulness in the
Church, and in classical and Christian
education; and also in the judiciary, and
perhaps other departments of the State
Rev. John D. Blair's successor at the
Shockoe Hill church was the eloquent
and pious John Blair Hoge, son of Rev.
DR.. Moses Hoge, who died of consump-
ton, on the 31st of March, 1926, at the
early age of Sc.
First Steps Towards the Transfer of
Mr. Rice.
AS early as 1910 some pious Presby-
| terians in Richmond began to consider
the question of building house of wor-
ship in the part of the city which was
most convenient to the dwelling places
of the people. The spot where the Old
Market stands was then the centre of
population, Sla sssae liait of the city
westward was in the vicinity of Ninth
street, beyond which, in that direction,
the land was "piney old field
The services at the capitol conducted
alternately by Parsons Blair and Buch-
anan, were not largely attended and
religion was overshadowed by the inhu-
ence of social life which was attractive
by the charms of intellect and the re-
Gned courtesy that prevailed in the me-
tropolis of Virginia. There were bril-
liant men and women in the society of
Richmond. The courts and the Legisla-
ture drew to the city distinguished per-
sons from al parts of the State. The
commerce of the place increased its
wealth, and its tendency to luxury and
gayety. Not few of its merchants and
their families, drawn from distsnt parts
of the United States, and some from
Europe, became leaders in society and
by noble public spirit began to lay the
foundations of future prosperity. A
deeper and more pervading element Of
piety and Christian conservation was
greatly needed, to grow with the growth
and strengthen with the strength of the
city. Both the Episcopal and Presby-
terian churches felt the want of separate
and energetic organization and both, as
we shall see, were suddenly startled and
stirred towards this desirable consumm ma
ton by public calamity which touched
the heart Of the city, and covered its
polite and polished circles with mourn
ing and lamentatlon, and woe.
The Baptist and Methodist Churches
had in the meanwhile been established
in the town, and the seeds of religion
sown by their earnest preachers bore
fruit; but the harvest was plenteous and
the laborers few.
Mr.. Rice was not unknown to the Pres
byterians Of Richmond, and their atten-
ton seems to have been directed to him
as suitable minister to take charge OF
the work proposed in 1910, viz: the