Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-15

In bis prime. He knew no higher nono'
than TO uphold DIR. Jeter In every en-
terprise. Professor George r.. Dapney'
OF Richmond College. was gentienan
OF classic tastes and deep piety-neVe,
notably active but always on hanu anu
true. DIR. A. ]. Coons, VINO ionom,u
DIR. letter from ST. Louis, was couruy
man. a confidential friend, ana reaay
helper OF his pastor. John Il. nen
go was en- evidently sincere, consci-
entIous. and attentive that ne was vi
great value in the church
TT Sands then a gifted young
LAWYER was chosen a deacon soon aiter
Dr Letter came, and was, perhaps, the
most intellectual and progressive leader
,n the church. To this list might De
added many others--the Ragiands'
crntchfelds. Evanses. Minors. Manlys.
starkes. etc.-who accorded to the pastor
the highest and most ahectionate sup
port.
THE CHURCH AFTER THE WAR.
After the war Dr. Jeter became one OF
the proprietors of the Religious Herald
and after carrying the burdens OF tne
pastorate and the paper for severn
wears he found 1t necessary to tighten ms
cares. and this he did by resign'"s '"e
charge OF the Grace-Street church.
or Rev N. w. Wilson then the pastor
OF the Farmville Baptist church, and IN
a short time the call was extended 70 MIN
TO become pastor OF the Grace-Street
church The call was accepted. ana Dr
Wilson remained as pastor Tor aoou.
five years. DR.. Wilson was man OF
surprising abilities as preacher. In ,he
pulpit he was a prince. HIS eloduehce
speedily won for him the admiration OF
pA HnnQTpRa-
ton grew rapidly under his ministry
This noble minister went TO New orleans
whe~ after a brief and laborious pasto-
rate. ,1e fell n victim to yellow-fever.
DIR. HATCHER CALLED.
DR.. w. C. Hatcher was called from the
pastorate of the First Baptist church OF
Petersburg TO succeed DR.. Wilson, anu
entered upon the duties OF his position
I'm May, 1875. The history Of DR.. Hatcher
pastorate would be the history OF the
church for the last twenty years. There
have been nearly two thousand addltohs
TO the church under his ministry Two
new churches-the Calvary nnd the west
View churches-have been sent out from
the Grace-Street Baptist church within
the score OF years during which Dr.
Hatcher has been pastor, and several
other new churches have received large
accesslons from this church. While by no
means the richest OF the Baptist churches
Of the city, the Grace-Street people have
been famous for their liberality. Their
contributions to missions and church
building have been numerous. Last year.
in spite OF the tight times and the
church debt, the church gave nearly S,5Oo
10 foreign missions The church mas
often shown its liberality in voting for Its
pastor TO go out and do UNCONVENTIONAL
lett II lie
church TO say that 1t has been prominent
and active in all the leading philanthropic
and charitable enterprises OF Richmond.
It's pastor is recognized as quite catholic
and public spirited, and he end his church
are ever ready to enter into interdenoml-
national movements. The Grace-Street
Sunday school has a reputation peculiar
" It's own. and its ordinary congregations
are among the greatest in the South.
THE CHURCH BUILDINGS.
Up TO 1890 the church worshipped in
uuadrangular succeed building, which
was inadequate and uncomfortable. Dr.
Hatcher started private subscription
with a view to charging the building
but by the time he had collected $500
the sentiment of the church asserted IT.
self so strongly in favor OF a new build
ing. and in the spring Of 1890 the new en-
terprlse took form. A tabernacle was
erected at the corner OF Pine and Grace
streets. and the church worshipped there
n little over eighteen months. BY that
time the basement OF the new building
was finished. and furnished home for
the church until March, 1894. when the
noble auditorium was completed and oc-
cupled The church was exceedingly hap
by in its new house. and II was terrible
blow when on the 18th of February the
magnificent pile crumbled into dust.
But Or. Hatcher and his people have
had various experiences. They know how
70 tackle rough problems and buoyed az
they now are by the extraordinary kind
ness of their friends. they are entering
with glowing faces upon the task OF
building new house, which all OF their
friends say must be worthy Of the church
and the city.