Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-24
chairs. jardlnieres. etc. presents seem
Of rare beauty.
TO-MORROw'S PROGRAMME.

Oh rare beauty.
TO-MORROw'S PROGRAMME.
II need not be- said that the Church u
all aglow with grateful delight In view
OF the completion OF their splendid struc-
'urc. They have built It I'm time OF
distressing financial trial. and Mt great
cost, and now that their long-deferred
hopes are to be realized in the entrance
into their new temple. their cup OF Joy
Is very full.
There Will be three services in the new
church tomorrow. In the morning the
sermon will be preached by DR.. John A.
Broadus, one OF Americas greatest living
preachers. The afternoon meeting VIII be
one OF special interest. Addresses will be
delivered BY DR.. X. J. Willingham ana
Rev. George &. Needham. There VIII be
choice singing.
All the Baptist churches OF the city Will
be closed at night In honor OF the Grace
Street people. IL will be memorable ser
vice Addresses will be delivered by Drs.
Cooper, Landrum, and Broadus.
The music of the day Will be OF the
highest order.
Grace-streets Distinguished Pastor.
The present pastor OF the church, Kew.
DIR. William Eldridge Hatcher. fas
served the congregation for nearly nine
teen years, and these have been years OF
continuous growth in popularity and in
iuence. az well with other denominations
as with the Baptists. He Is a minister OF
the masses. known personally or by sight
To the entire community. and claimed
by all. Or. Hatcher was born in Bedford
county OF old English stock, July 70,
1884. and Is a grandson of minister who
after serving church In Chesterfield
81 ri Tfu no. IL ny q
he was only years Old and when his
father was quite advanced In years.
Young Hatcher was a delicate child.
and being unable TO do much work on
the farm, devoted n great deal OF his time
to reading. by perseverance In this re-
spect and with the aid OF a common
school education he fitted himself to
teach school by the time he was IS years
old.
ENTERS COLLEGE.
lie had been converted and baptized
at the age oc g. and in 1854 entered Rich
m0nd College as a ministerial student.
He was graduated from that institution
In June, 1855 with the degree OF Bachelor
OF Arts. his graduating essay being an
index OF his character, his methods Of
thought, his simplicity. directness. and
power. The subject was. THE Gradu
ate, What He Thinks Of Him self. What
Others Think OF Him. His Privileges. and
His Responsibility to the World and to
God" As a college student The future
pastor Of Grace-Straet BAPTIST church
proved himself keen deba-er. and was
one or the founders OF the now flourish
ing Phlologian Society Of Richmond Col
lege. His religious zeal also asserted
itself To the end Of accomplishing great
L. ~
HIS FIRST CHARGE.
DR. 1Iatchers great desire was a coun-
try pasiOrate but about the time OF his
graduation Jeter George. who had begun
10 build "A church I'm Manchester. died
and Mr.. Hatcher was called To take up
The work. lie entered the field under
very discouraging circumstances, but IL
was rot long before he had completed
the Bainbridge-Street church, Manchester,
AMI raised a congregation weak In num-
bers and finances To a vigorous and -four
ishng condition. He remained with this
church eight years, and while its pastor
married Miss Jennie Snead. of Fluvanna-
the noble partner of his work ever since.
After the close Of the war DR.. Hatcher
served the Frankin-Square church, Balti-
more. two years, and then accepted n call
10 the First Baptist church, Petersburg,
remaining with the latter eight years.
While in Petersburg he was not only in
deiatigable In building up the First church.
but perhaps did as much. If not more,
thar any other minister of his denOmna-
ton i'm rebuilding I'm the surrounding coun-
try churches which had been burned or
devastated during the war.
CALL TO RICHMOND.
From his Petersburg charge Or. Hatcher
| catue to the Grace-Street church here &c
succeed Rev Or. Wilson At that time
| th- church was divided in sentiment, and
| the prospect before the new pastor was
anything but bright. Bat TO viii had al
ways been to do with DR. Hatcher. His
great powers of organization, his faculty
for smoothing rough places. his genius
| for telling people their failings in th'
nlaiucst and most convincing Language
without being offensive, and above all hi
Jealous conservation TO what he considered
| his own duty enabled him To triumph
/ over all obstacles lie soWed the seed o.
| harmony and union right and left, In
| fused new life and energy into all &c
partments Of church labor, and while h
| directed he also led the vine dressers
| The present great church edihce is tn
| monument that tells the story of VIVA
he has accoS plshed
VISIT TO EUROPE.
DIR. Hatcher spent the summer an(
autumn of ISIS abroad, and while in Eng
| land preached for Mr.. Sturgeon in the
! METROPOLITAN tabernacle. While In Eng
! land ne sought out the clOse-cOmmunior
Baptists. and was thu means OF establish
| ing fraternal relations between them am
Baptists of the South. lie was appointed
"A delegate from the Southern BaptiS
! Convention to the Convention OF Close
Baptists in London last year, but coul'
not leave the present church building Tn
/ terprise.
! pr. Hatcher is president Of the Educa
! ton Board, Of the Board OF Trustee
of the Baptist Orphanage, and OF th'
I Evangelical Alliance. Of this city.
| Grace-Streets pastor is possessed O
a magnetism that Is hard TO define, bu
makes itself felt with young and old
Or Hatcher's boys" are an institution
Of his church. He attracts the boys o
his congre cation by the influence of
certain companionship, his straighttor
wardness inducing candor and honesty II
! dealing with him. and commanding conn
| dence. His open, frank countenanc'
draws one to him irresistibly. He Is
/ 10 less forcible writer than speaker an'
has contributed largely 10 the religious
| Iress Ever since he entered the ministry
he has been lending a helping hand L
the education OF the worthy young. While
"A struggling minister in Manchester h
wrote for the press I'm order TO secur
surplus money for this work, which h
| considers no less duty than preaching
! the gospel. He sometimes has severa
/ young men at school or college for who's
! expenses he holds himself responsible
Some of these he gets assistance for an
| others he takes care Of himself. No
| few OF the most distinguished youn'
men in the Baptist Church have beef
helped by him In getting their education
He is a liberal but quiet giver, and ha
perhaps dedicated more churches than an.
other minister of his denomination. Hi
donations to the new Grace-Street churcl
building amount to some $500.
His style OF speaking is direct, clear
cut. and marked by an individuality tina
always leaves an impression, and Is a NJ
ticeable illustration of the potency {
| earnestness. His sermons convey wit
them a conviction OF his own convctio
Of the truth of what he utters. The vigC
rous intellect which shows Itself In HI
countenance and finely-mOdelled head pei
vades all Of his discourses.
Or. Hatcher is peculiarly adapted
that department OF the pastors work en-
braced I'm visiting. and is always we
come. not only in the homes of Baptisti
hut In ba b.rq.e NJ h, f,4opip Of he