Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-28
HONOR DIR. HATCHER.
Twentieth Anniversary Of His Grace
Street Passionate Fifty Celebrated.
INTERESTING EXERCISES LAST NIGHT.
gOnsratulalOry Addresses by Many Of
His Brethren In the Ministry.
RECEPTION AND REFRESHMENTS.
rhe Great Church Crowded with the
Friends OF the Popular Pastor-rhe
services on supday-Drtcf Review
of hts sueccssfuI Labors.


Rev. Or. william T.. Hatcher entered
yesterday upon the twenty-Grsi year OF
His pastoratc OF Grace-S,rcet Baptist
Church.
The conclusion Of one decadS OF sue
resSfui work In the Masters cause and
fhe beginning OF another. with every
prospect fun OF promise, was marked oy
a dual celebration. IN which hearty con-
vratulations were extended for what has
been accomplished, and strengthening as
surances were given Of cordial co-opera-
tion IN what Ties before.
Sunday was the anniversary, and the
day was given up by the church TO a
wropcr celebration OF this joyous event
both Of its history and that Of It's hon
prcd pastor. There were interesting ex-
ercises IN the morning, and the annual
church meeting was held in the after
moon The services last night were OF
ssnore pretentious character, and were
sander the auspices Of the Baptist Minis
se.s' Conference. Of which DR.. Hatcher
ss president. The heart Of the whole Bap-
A,st people was In the movement ana
scsrace.streets pastor received sUch 'es-
,xlmoulai OF affection and esteem as IS
skeldom given.
The church was beautifully decorated
.eyith palms ana exotios and rare outflow
iers and over the pulpit was hung beau
siful design OF immortelles, In the centre
pf which in bold relief appeared the
sglires ls75-ls95. Last nights programme
consisted Of congratuIatory remarks made
by brother ministers. interpreted with
xoIos by Captain Cunningham and Mr..
n. S. Jacobs. Of Chicago. and congrega-
tional singing. The exercises were OF an
Exceedingly inspiring character, ana all
seemed bent on the one object-that Oh
ho,ng honor TO a man Of strong religious
character. whose simplicity. large-heart-
edness. and kindly mlnistrations have en-
cleared him to his people
Promptly at 500 O'Clock. every seat In
The large church having previously been
occupied, the pastors, representing almost
every Baptist church and every denomi-
nation In the city, emerged from the
study and took seats. which had been pre-
pared for them on the platform.
An organ voluntary was rendered py
AFR. Edgar Justis. after which the Grace
Rtreet choir sang Ntts SMN'Ns
them-the Gloria In Exceisis.
rev l.. r.. Thornhil pastor OF BAN
bridge-Street Baptist church, Manchester,
ar Hatchers first charge, then ohered
nraver. and Rev. II. A. Bagby, OF calvary
rhurch. read a selection from the
Scrjptures. The hymn, stand Up, stahu
I'm for Jesus" was next sung IL Delhs
sziven out by Rev. Dr. H. W. Battle pas
Sor OF the First church, in PETERSBURG
-1, mr.
rendered TO accept that be now occupies
DIR. LANDRUMs ADDRESS.
This was followed by an address de-
siversd by Rev. Dr. W. w. Landrum'
she yiee-presldent of the ministers con
ference, and the presiding ofhcer OF ,ne
anniversary celebration. Dr. Lahuiurh
Bald: <-,,- q, r,at,a
m bappy night OF It, The joyous eNer-
rise b-fore US. II ] may forecast them,
Dx,Ill certainly close by or before . o cioCh
to-r.orrow morning. From now VII /"
,h'clock the presiding officer. II ne ntly
trneets the requirements OF the occaslon
will occupy the platform All other
speeches will be limited to seven minutes
feach. ,. -
'sha manuscript contains over sixty pages
sf commercial note paper contrary 10
INV habit. / shall have TO read most OF
what / say, and say great zeal II
ivead all the letters Of congratulSuon
that have poured in on our honored ana
teloyed friend. 1t is most interesting
.pccasion 20 all OF us who are present, ana
ao Thousands who are absent The
highest order Of animal, 1t has been said,
A. man; the highest order OF man,
christian: the highest order OF Christian,
a Christian minister. II this adage be
frue, IL is easy to see why his brethren
pf the Baptist Ministers Conference, OF
this city, desire TO honor Chrls'lan
shinister who has preached the Gospel for
over thirty-fve years, and served con-
linuously and successfully one church
Tor the space OF twenty years. Besides,
OR. Hatcher is our elder brother; our Sc
hior In years: our superior In Office; and,
81 all the tuth were told, perhaps in
good many other ways. In word. we
love him; we love hts church, we love
bis wife; we love his children; we love
EVERY thing he has and is and we cannot
help saying SO on this glad anniversary
Occasion.
LETTERS OF CONGRATULATIONS.
Now. my written speech will begin.
Congratulations have come to Dr. Hatch
Dr. from every part of the country. 1
tannot read this large package OF letters;
feel that i must name the writer's ana
read one or two extracts
Letters have been received from Rev.
Dr p. $. Henson, Chicago Ill; Rev. Or.
George c. Lorimer, Boston, Mass; Rev.
Dr Edward Judson. New York city; Rev.
Dr. c. c. Biting. Philadelphia: Rev. Or.
a.. II. johnson. Upland. Pal Rev. DIR. O.
a.. Gregory, Baltimore, Md. Rev DR..
Charles T.. Taylor, Wake Forest, n. c.;
Rev. Dr. a. J. s. Thomas, Greenville, 5.
e.: Rev. Or. j. r. Hawthorne, Atlanta,
4sl1 NJ
Ga: Ex-Governor w. j. Northen, Atlanta
ga Rev. DIR. c. A. Stakely. Washington,
ID. c.; Rev. DIR. Malcolm McGregor, jack
konvine. Fla; Rev. Or. j. Nj. Frost. Nash
WILLIE Tenn; Rev. DIR. II. r. Acree, Knox
Vile. Tenn; Professor Otes Nj. Mason,
Smithsonian Institution. Washington city;
Rev. William ii. Whltsill ID. d., president
southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
louisville KY; Rev DR. II. +. Sproles.
jackson, Miss. Justice Jonathan Haral-
ron. Montgomery. Ala. president South
ern Baptist Conventions: Rev. Or. George
"A Isoptcn. Nashville. Tenn. offering con-
Rratuiations on behalf Baptist Ministers
conference Of that city: Rev. DIT. w. ID.
Powell Touoa, Mexico: Bishop John
a.. Newton. Rev Dr. NJ. ID. Hoge Rev.
CDR. r.. Z, Kerr; Rev. DR.. Thomas 3.
Runaway. fredericksburg Va; Rev. DR.
"a U. Owen. Portsmouth, Va: Rev. DIR.
M r. Wharton. Norfolk; Rev. Dr. j.
q. Lake. Ipperville. Va. Rev l.. n.
43roughton Roanoke, Va; Governor
Charles T. o'Ferrall, and others.
OUR PRESIDENT.
Rev. J. b. Hutson. for many years
president OF the Ministers Conference.
shade the first address OF eongratulation,
nnd spoke on behalf OF the conference.
Ole said: Long pastorates among the
Baptists OF Richmond. have been excep-
sional. You viii perhaps be surprised TO
know that Or. Hatcher, in whose honor
We meet tonight Is the fourth Baptist
pastor whose period OF active service with
the same church has extended through
score OF years. And should he continue
"a this relation little more than a year
scnger there viii have been but one PAS
tofate Of our denomination In all the
history OF this old city 70 exceed his.
on this somewhat notable occasion
nave been appointed 10 bring 10 our
tsSeemed brother the warm cOngratuls-
tlons 81 the Baptist Ministers Confer
snee' OF which he is the honored presi-
gent This conference was originated. I
believe. IN the days OF Dr. burrows. and
ne was its first president. lie was truly
great man-Iearned. eloquent, energetic,
auieh-wlt'sd and geniai-and among the