Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-15
A HISTORIC CHURCH.
interesting Facts In Connection With the
CfaceStreet Congregation.
PERSONNEL OF THE PASTORS.
Taylor, Wilson, Jetcr, and Hatcher,
N strong Qunrtette of Ministers.
The Houses of worship--some of
the Deacons-Other Notes.

,Grace-street Baptist church. whose
beautiful house OF worship was swept
tway by fire ON the afternoon OF Febru-
airy 9th, has been a remarkable ihsu-
mtion in many respects. Its history Is
almost as interesting as that OF the oioer
Marches of this city. Its past mas
heen characterized by wonderful zeal ana
endurance, and by almost phenomenal
physical and moral strength. Its pas
tors have been men who have been IN
The front ranks Of the Baptist ministry
NJ the State for the past fifty years. and
ss Influence has ever been far-reaching
and powerful in the cause OF Christ.
Grace-street church was child OF the
Second Baptist church. 1t was an on
,pring of a cottage prayer-meeting, ana
had its birth in a private house on Duvai
,treet. in the northwestern part OF the
.ity. When first organized 1t assumed
the name of the Third Baptist church'
Although IL was then small and feeble II
had some good men In It's original con-
.t,tnency. Among these were Lewis Ia.
Montague George Woodfin, John ID
Valentine. John Jacob, and j. Weisiger'
In whose parlor the church was organ
lzcd. In a little while the church out
grew its narrow quarters. ana, larseiy
with borrowed money, erected pam
brick house Of worship at the corner
Of Marshall and Second streets, ana IN
that building had its habitation Tor thir-
teen years. ~,
Its first pastor was Rev. Henry heel-
ing, for many years prominent nsule
among the Richmond Baptists. he was
, man Of decided literary and theological
,ulture and was best known, perhaps,
AZ editor of the Baptist Preacher sort
az hornileticaI magazine. which he pub
l,shed. Mr. Keeling remained pastor
from 1899 10 1897, but never became very
Intimately identified with the church. he
bvyned and occupied a handsome bricK
residence in the lower part OF the CITY,
and becoming convinced that MS peo-
ME were careless as 20 his support pc
cause of the imposing domicile In whlcn
be dwelt. he addressed them causuc
otter. in which he reminded them that
'she could not live on bricks ana NOR
tar" ,.,.
lTnon his retirement, Rev. Lewis a.
Anderson became pastor VINO, alter one
years service. went West "here ne
Ia long and honorable career as
minister. During the vacancy HeV, w H.
Pvland and a Mr.. Barker, or the VIZ
rinia Baptist Seminary, alternately sup
Piled the pulpit.
In July. 1896. Rev. James Il. Taylor'
lust then retiring from the chaplaincy
~ the University of Virginia. accepted
me charge Of the church. This was,
indeed. a fortunate arrangement. III
was under his excellent training that the
gecond church had been equipped Tor mat
hiVh career of usefulness which IL mas
slnce had. and now. with his ripened
,xnerience. systematic habits. ana al
most Incompatible pastoral tact, he came
10 perform a similar service for the Ihlio
church
WAS A GREAT, LEADER.
T,r Tevlor was cautious and undemon-
,.rat,ve but he was a great leader. He
.e,gnea supreme, but he was careful not
n throw out the ensigns of his authority.
ia gloved his iron hand IN VeNet.
Through his persuasion, and not WlIhou1
Iecided opposition on the part OF some
brethren. the church abandoned us houss
An Marshall street. crossed Broad, ana
,rected another and better edifice at the
.orner of Grace and Foushee streets
rhat house is an abiding monument 10
he energy, sagacity. and foresight OF
lanes r. TAYLOR. He marked with
PROPHETS eye the coming progress OF the
itv. and seized the most strategic anu
,entral point In the line OF that progress
,or the location OF the new house. MUCH
,f the money for that building was Sc
mred through his personal eHoits' anu
WAS contributed by persons who We're not
members OF his church, ana, IN many
Eases not Baptlsts at all.
when. in 1915, the church took posses
sion Of its new quarters. Its former name
vas discarded. and it became Grace
r,ree. Baptist church. But DR.. Taylor
,as not destined to remain with the
.hurch. He became corresponding sscre-
,ary Of the Foreign MISSION Board OF the
southern Baptist Convention in 1886 ana
Rev David Shaver was CHOSEN ms sue
,essor. Mr.. Shaver was brllilaht anu
,cholarly man. but his pastorate was cur
hort by III health. Ever since he mas
go deharred from the pulpit by throat
troubles. but he has won distinction IN
he sphere OF Christian Journalism. lie
am lives. and Is at this writing con-
sected with the Christian Index, OF At
anita, Ga.
He was followed in the pastorate OF the
.burch nv Dr. Edward Kingsford. He
vac an Englishman, OF generous culture
md high Christian character. lie was
liso an able preacher. and unlike Dr'
raylor, rigid and severe In his methods.
He had the eyes OF critic, ana agaihsl
hat which seemed wrong in his sight ne
was never slow to utter censure. with
his exacting and imperious spirit II was
not easy 10 maintain harmony with an
Institution so intensely democratic as an
American Baptist church. After use
hui. and In the main, harmonious pasto-
rate OF several years, he resigned in the
spring OF 1852.
REV. DIR. JETER'S CALL,
Rev. DIT. j. y. Jeter received his call
10 the Grace-Street church while on
visit TO Virginia I'm 1852. 1t has been
hinted that the church was influenced, In
part at least, 10 selecting him for It's
pastor by the hope that many members
from the First church, resident In the
western part OF the city. would cast
their lots with him In his new field. He,
too. may have cherished this hope and II
he did, he ought not to be blamed, for at
that time the church was not strong
sither In wealth or numbers
In this, however. they we're doomed 10
disappointment II is said that at the
time of his installation. DIR. Ryland. with
that bluntness Of speech which Is part
Of himself, CURLY announced that II
need not be expected that the First
church would furnish any recruits for
the reinforcement OF Graee-Street. lie
said they were not coming. and they
did not. Mr.. Sands said facetiously that
Dr. Ryland must have been a prophet
inasmuch as only one member of the
First church ever followed Dr. Jeter
and that was an accomplished and love
" Christian woman, who. In after years
became FIRST mistress OF his heart. and
then member OF his flock. Tho record
shows that there were occasional trans.
fers Of membership from the First Il
Csrace-street, but they were made fol-