Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-30
EIGHTY YEARS OLD.
The Anniversary Of Historic Monumental
Church to Be- 0bsslYsd To-Day.
SERVICES MORNING AND AFTERNOON.
Appropriate Sermons by Rev. Mr.. stickney
and Rev. DR.. Hoge-Destructio of
the Old Theatre.

Appropriate Sermons by Rev. Mr. stickney
and Rev. Dr. Hoge-Destruction Of
the Old Theatre.
The eightieth anniversary of Monu-
mental church. one Of the most historic
structures In the city OF Richmond. will
be celebrated to-day. While the day is
not the exact anniversary OF the conse-
Grafton Of the church. II was selected be
cause the rector and vestry wished to
have the commemorative exercises after
the recent improvements to the interior
OF the building had been completed.
On the night Of December 20. 1871, while
the beautiful and impressive pantomims.
"The Bleeding Num-" was being present.
cd at the Richmond Theatre. which then
stood upon the site where the Monumen-
tai church now stands, the playhouse
was discovered to be on fire. and seven
ty-two persons, including the Governor
Of Virginia, Hon. George William Smith,
perished in the flames. 1t was to per-
petuate the memory of those who thus
lost their lives that Monumental church
was erected, and that the tablet and
urn were placed within the iron encio-
sure In front OF the sacred ediflce.
Those who met their fates in tina,
frightful disaster were not simply Epis
copalane, but represented almost all
creeds, and 1t has been. therefore, re
gar6ed as eminently proper that the ser
vices to-day should not be simply those
prescribed by the Church ritual. At IL
o'clock this morning the usual morning
service will be held. In this Assistant
Bishop Newton will take part. Rev. r.
s. Stiokney. the new rector, who for the
past few months has done such admira.
BILE work in restoring the old church, VIII
preach the sermon. He Will take as MS
text part of the sth verse of the 3oth
chapter Of Isaiah: "And an highway shall
be there, and way, and II shall De
called the way of holiness"
MUSIC FOR THE DAY.
The discourse will be specially appro-
pirate TO the occasion. and on account OF
Mr.. Stickney's ability as preacher VIII,
no doubt, be heard by very large con-
gregation. The music, under the direc-
tIon of Mr.. Philip S. Powers, VIII be
specially suitable, and VIII be OF the
order which was sung hundred years
ago. The church will still be attired IN
its Christmas decorations, and these VIII
add beauty and solemnity TO the scene.
At 4 o'clock this afternoon the genera
mass-meeting will be held. The services
will be special. and the address OF the
evening will be delivered by Rev. DR..
Hoge. OF the Second Presbyterian church.
To these services the public at large are
invited, as they deal with matter IN
which not only the Episcopal Church,
but the entire people, should feel 30
much historic pride.
The vested choir will, OF course. sing
upon both of these occasions. ana whne
the music will be old. 1t will not be the
less beautiful and impressive. Inc sur
pliced choir, while as yet so new thlng
in Virginia, has been very highly spoken
of without regard to creed, and is con-
| sidered by a great many church-going
people as a most solemn and impress
alive way of conducting the music or
church. Several of the choristers are not
| Episcopalians.
It seems exceedingly appropriate that
Monumental church, a structure erected
as a monument to the memory OF nose
who pershed in the theatre disaster
should have as its rector man OF sucn
| liberal Views In reference TO all things
nertaining to the welfare Of the Church
| OF Christ. Rev. Mr.. Stickney has been
| noted wherever he has been for his broad
| and generous views. and has been recog-
nized by church-peoble of all denomina-
4 .tiops as q Christian worker or hign type.
progressive and liberal IDEAS, ana one
| whose sole aim Is the salvation or man.
| While O. resident of the State or Norm
| Carolina he was called upon anu niu
| preach at gatherings of various Christian
| bodies. He delivered a discourse once. by
| reouest. to the Scotch Covenanters, ana
| again he preached for the Quakers Col
| leee. I'm Gulford county, n. c., and re-
| ceiyed the most encouraging sort or COM
| ment from the press of that state upon
| his liberality in church matters.
| TO ERECT THE MONUMENT.
| As before stated, the Richmond Theatre
| and seyenty-two Of the most esteemed OF
| Richmond's citizens were burned on the
| night of December 26 1911. and imme-
/ diately afterward the Work or erecunB
| n suitable monument In respect 10 the
| memory of those who perished In the
| DANES began. The bodies Of the dead
| were almost entirely consumed, and were
| inferred right upon the spot where the
| sated old theatre stood and where the
| Monumental church now STANDS as their
| memorial. Prior to the destruction OF
| the play-house some funds had been
] raised by the Association to Buiid a
| Church on Shockoe HILL" and this organi-
| zation threw its means and power 10 aid
| the Citizens Committee, and with a con-
1 tribution of 5000 from the Town Hal or
| Common Council, the present church was
| built. The money contributed by the
| Town Hall was used for the purpose OF
nurchasing the lot on the condition that
| n should be forever hereafter used Tor
| purposes Of divine worship. 1t seems una,
| the disaster had so shocked the ciVihzeu
| world that II was determined that nc
\ other amusement or dancing should ever
| take place upon the spot where the inca
/ tire stood.
| THE FIRST RECTOR.
| On the Sd of April. 1914. Monumental
church was completed. Richard Chan-
| n,ng Moore was chosen its first rector
| and soon after made Bishop OF Virginia.
| AS his first Episcopal act, on the 10Th OF
| November. 1914, he consecrated this sacreu
| ad,dce From the day OF Its opening
within IT'S walls and under its ample dome
have gathered for solemn and devout wor'
| sbtp many OF the noblest and best OF tne
| nnonle-great statesmen, learned ana lus'
| iudees. professional men, scientists MS
torians, and poets.
| Here Revolutionary and later patriots
| and devout men and women OF every wan
| and station have come TO worship uou
| And from this old church and her SUNDAY
| SCHOOL
heroic souls. reverend bishops. faithfn
clerevmen, and worthy laymen, that have
helped TO accomplish whas has made tht
name of Virginia honored, among theiI
| Rishop Moore, Lay Of Easton, van OF
kansas. Williams Of Japan, Dudley o.
| kentucky. Polk of Louisiana, and lately
pishon Iohn z. Newton. Here Bishops
Johns and Newton were consecrated' anc
here Bishops Meade and White nave
| often officiated.
HERE ARE THE RECTORS.
Below is given a complete list OF I'M
rectors and assistant ministers OF th'
Monumental church. and the dates o
their service in such capacity:
Right Rev. Richard Charming Moore
u. D.. rector Isli-1Sl.
Rev. John Buchanan. ID. D.. assistan
minister 1Sl4-lS22.
rev. william II. Hart. assistant minis
ter 1S22-1s25.
Rev. Robert T. Croes. assistant minis
ter 1S25-lS3o.
Right Rev. Leonidas Polk, assistant
| minister 1s30-1Ss2.
Rev. Joseph II. Nichols. assistant min
lister 1s32-lSS4.
Rev. Thomas jackson, assistant minis
| xar l221-ls3S-