Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-03

Tho Grove-Avcnue Baptist church. the
cornerstone Of which viii be laid to-day
with appropriate Masonic and Christian
ceremonies is a child OF tho First Baptist
church Of this city.
As early a. the autumn Of 1857 tho keen
eve OF DIR. Burrows (thcn pastor Of the
First Baptist church, saw the importance
Of mission work in the west end of tho
CITY and began II in the home Of william
Hondrick. residing on what was thon
known as the ScuAlctown road.
A. opEN-AIR MEETING.
The work met with such success that in
the following june large open-air meet
ing was held m Aliens grove at which a
sufficient amount OF money was subscribed
- justify the commencement Of build
ING.
4 lot was purchased on the corner Of
Robinson aud TAYLOR streets and a neat
chapel erected at the cost OF s2.50O.
THIS chapel was knOwn as the sidney sec-
tion a the First Baptist church, and for
several years was under the control Of that
body.
THIS CHURCH.
On tho LET Of March. 1863. the mission
was organized into "a church, and The pas
toral services of Rev. j. NJ. Pitcher Sc
cured
In September. 1876. through the advice Of
thcpostoI, Rev. Harvey Hatcher, and tho
BAPTIST churches Of Richmond, u was
unanimously resolved 10 move the build-
ing to some point nearer 10 or Ia tho city
ol Richmond"
A lot was purchased on the corner Of
Main and Beach streets. and the chapel IN
which the congregation now worships was
erected. and the church has since been
known ~ tho -Main-Strect Baptist
church.
DEBT.
The expense of moving was great, and
for several wears the church was heavily
cucumbered with debt. hut through the
eNcrtions Of tho pastor Professor Edmund
Harrison and the conservation of tho
incmbcrship its was finally hquidated and
property now valued at $4,000, was St.
cured % the congregation.
DB. GOODWIN PASTOR.
in the beginning of tho present year tho
Rcv. ". j. Shipman, under whose ninistTa-
tions the church hal greatly prospered,
resigned. The church unanimously called
Rev. = 4. Goodwin, -. d., 20 succeed him.
This was considered q decided advance, ms
Dr. Goodwin was then receiving much
larger salary than they could afford to pay
him. and was greatly beloved 10y the largest
congregation in the city. But the church
CITY of Dauyillc free from dobt, one of the
most beautiful and costly churches in the
State, and the large number added 70 the
Ielch-Street church through his ministry.
omiuently qualified him TO lead them, and
against the earnest remOnstrance OF ms
congregation he resigned and accepted at
once the pastorate Of the church upon the
condition that the congregation would
build new house of worship.
THE NEw CHURCH.
The lot on which the present chapel Is
located was too narrow on which to erect
% building that would meet DR.. GOodwin's
idea of ecclesiastical architecture, and be-
sides the noise from the electric railroad
which runs on Beech street made 1t neces-
4arv % seek another location. Ihls,
through the efforts OF Messrs. William Hall,
Robert Crump, and Major AlOnzo Philips
was secured ON Grove avenue and Dr.
Goodwin AT once accepted the call and adj
dressed himself 20 the work.
RAISING MONEY.
Ina few weeks q subscription Of $4,000
was secured and a building committee con-
eisfinc of Mcssrs :. A. Goodwin. William
Hall Edmund Harrison. Alon20 Philips,
Calch Jacob. j. II. DickersOu, :. II. Hern-
don. and 4. j. Wray were appointed aud
invested with power 20 erect new build
ing on the present eligible lot situated On
Grove avenue.
The BUILDING.
The building Is TO be Gothic IN form,
and was designed by Captain NJ. j. Dim
mock. one Of the most accomplished Grchl-
tccte IN tins city. The materials ont 81
which it Is being constructed are brick and
brownetOno and when completed 1t Will
be model of beauty and convenience.
The SUNDAY school department Is so con-
etructed that all the apartments can be
thrown together and will seat l,5OO chill
dTen.
Tho auditorium. amphitheatre in style
will contain 300 sittlngs and VIII give to
every hcnror face view of the platform
and the audience.
go bee an open marble bapustry. we'll
arranged toilet-rooms, three large paTlors,
aud pastors study.
THE COST.
The cost Of the whole building, including
the lot, Will be about $4,000
The building is being rapidly pushed
forward and the contractor confidently
expects to have 1t ready for occupation IN
the early spring Of next year.
The Building Committee Is composed OF
thoroughly practical businessmen, and,
aided bv the pastor. this church, which
will bee an ornament TO our growing city, IS
an assured success.
THE CEREMONIES.
This cornerstone will be laid by the
Grand Lodge of Masons of Virginia. who
will be escorted from 1T. Albans Hall 10
the site los the two communicates of
Knights Templars aud the blue lodges Of
the city.
A good band Of music has been employ
ed and chorus organized 10 assist III the
ceremonies.
A platform for the speakers has been
erected ON the church lot i'll front of tho
building.
After the work is accepted from the Ma
sons th, exercises VIII be as follows, Rev.
y. B. llutson presiding; Invocation, Rev.
$. e. Clopton; Scripture selections, Rev.
y. NJ. Frost. ID. D.; prayer, Rev. X. III. Pitt
address. Rev ". f. Hatcher, D. d.. hymn,
An Hail the Power of Jesus Name;
short addresses los Rev. W. ". Landrum,
d. d.. and Rev. George Cooper. ID. d.,
bcncdiction, Rev. Theodore Whitfield,
ID. II.
BUTLER-BURWELL.