Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29


Of short while when the building will
disappear forever and nothing be left to
mark the spot where 81 has been stand
!nr save the records Of the past. This
venerable structure Is located on the
northwest corner Of Tenth and Perry
streets. Manchester, and n portion OF
th- building encroaches upon Perry street.
O recount OF this fact there is a PROPOSE
ton now pending before the City Council
of Manchester 10 tear down the old struc-
tura. cut away the embankment, and
ma.e 10 conform TO the true level OF
= rly street
OVER A CENTURY OLD.
Just bow long II has been since the Old
Plank church was built there is hardly
any one living who can tell. The late
james NJ pcriue and Dylah Gary, or
Manchester, both OF whom, after living
beyond the period allotted by the Psalm
lsj. passed 20 their reward but a compare
lively short while ago. knew more per-
haIs about the Oh Plank church than
any Of their brethren" From converse
tons / have had with them about this old
landmark, ana which i have preserved IN
shorthand notes taken az the time, It
appears that the Old Plank church had
u- beginning In l7S5. or thereabouts.
Here is an incident that may be of some
interest, particularly 10 the Dispatch
readers IN Manchester, and which Is en-
VOWED from the hleroglyphics referred to:
lu the year 1882, the preacher in charge
Anthony Dbbrell. was sent back with
Wau by the name Of Frank Stanley, and
LOWS j.. Shdmore was presiding
elder az the time. He held the old quar-
.erly meeting in the Old Plank church,
tuI preached one morning at II O'Clock.
He gave notice then of a love feast TO be
ht.i u the afternoon. one corner of the
shurch was reserved for the cOlored peo-
2ie IL was called the colOred peoples
corner" showing the respect they had
fIr the c0iOred people. In that quarterly
meeting the presiding elder called for re-
fiouscs and there were none. He called
'he second and third time, and sang a
couple OF verses. just over In that "col-
ot4 corner" there sat an old gray-haired
man. with his head as white as frost lie
ait.a lut said. Brethren, am a stranger
in your midst; not a face do j know;
nevertheless, i am a Methodist. and have
Deem a Methodist, 10, these many years,
ana ] desire now 10 give you my name;
my name is John Smith i left this
,hirca forty years ago. and was one OF It's
uist members. We had meetings. occa-
fon1ly preaching by a local preacher.
members Of the church. We had a happy
time. and. now. have been away forty
years. and as / am here now, desire TO
Know o. there Is a single surviving
member"
just over IN the "amen corner" old
SISTER Hewlett, one Of the best souls that
ever iNei cried out from under her big
White bonnet Yes. Brother Smith. one
living. ] know you, Brother Smith. and
'he happy times We had here. Oh. they
a.' precious 20 my memory" Just as
tf- closed ola Sister Potts cried out In
iar same strain. Brother Smith then
~ 't- ot Tie comforts and joys OF reli-
si ana his remarks were 50 touching
tal affecting I don't believe there was
liy eye 80 the house. and at its close
''e people were getting up as fast as
i-'f could all over the house and speak
-t lti greater meeting l never saw
A 400 ihe days OF ny life.
4Ae good old Brother Smith had been
member Of the Plank church a few
l.ar before ne left Manchester for that
t' ol forty years, and other remarks
''e by him on the occasion referred 10
ID. '.- organization Of tho church at
to-. i1N
SOME OF THE OLD PREACHERS.
Lorenzo Dow. famous preacher in
Gus Cay preached In the old Plank church
'l several OCCASIONS He was known all
r Ne country. and was a typical
A.-,il-la preacher OF the eighteenth cen
.'y. Tie was a most remarkable man,
'"- Was a great student of history. He
"4'l nave been a useful man. Surely he
bard and earnestly enough.
"t.n Anthony Dibrell Jesse Lee,
louis Sk.dmore. and Zschariah Han
"'r about closing their ministerial ca
'''F ai The Ola Plank church there were
'Ae so-ng men coming on 10 take their
i.ts Zoo The Methodist neld-young men,
' who seemed 20 catch the religious
,'F'or OF the saints. They were David Seth
10 Leouidas Rosser. Leroy N. Lee
lLi William A. Smith. They all preach
az The Oh Plank church. and after
"e'l' became famous I'm Southern Me-
when the Old Plank church was organ
yea thcfe was no other church in exist
"'e DO Manchester. but the Fplscopa-
.aNs had their church organization
ABOUT twelve or fifteen Methodists I'm
hester got together ana Organized
@ members OF the Methodist Church.
reese few purchased house on the cor
usf OF Tenth and Perry street. and wor-
Skipped there together. There was no
wsanization OF circuits then. as there Is
e. 'la udy IN the course or ,time cir
e1hs throughout the country we're organ
hed by the names OF the counties. Ches-
'eiheld Circuit. after the conference. had
2Niy one preacher. IL was a large cir
.1ll taking in Manchester. a small por-
Won OF Powhatan county. down the Apo
"siiox and up the James.
Ihoae were the days OF "the rife. axe.
.na ss--.le-bags" Henry -. Bascom. az
"'"Sfas great bishop In the Methodist