Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-17

n. Hatcher Talks TO Rls Congregation
About Their Serious Loss
Ne Was Glad to Know That There
Had Been No sorrowfui Mourning
To worship mt the College Next
sunday Morning.
sunday Morning.

Sunday morning opened with towering
clouds and an irregular fan OF snow
Makes. But as the day advanced 'he
.,o.,bar grew more dsagreeable, until,
vvhen the time for church-going arrived
there was a steady downpour OF RAIN
n was one OF those days when the church
xoer Is tempted to dispense win pr
yileges Of the sanctuary, and 10 uon
his gown and slippers and cultivate hs
lounge and his newspaper. But In spite
NJ the forbidding weather. suihcieh'
+, number Of the Grace-Street Baptist peo'
pie assembled at Beth Ahaba' OF
Eleventh street, 10 fill comfortably
the floor of the auditorium, with a small
contingent In the gallery. DIR. Hatcher
opened his sermon with an affecting de-
scription of the Babylonian captivity. lie
recited the downfall Of Jerusalem, the
destruction Of the temple, the carrying
away of the leading people into captivity
of their humiliation and their despon-
dency while captives In foreign lana'
the scorn and ignominy which their
enemies cast upon them, and their I'M
perishable loyalty to their religious faith'
as Expressed I'm the memorable words,
'If forget thee, oh, Jerusalem, let my
right hand forget its cunning. III
do not remember thee. let my tongue
cleaye to the roof Of my mouth
TALK OF FIRE.
For the first time since the burning
of the church DIR. Hatcher spoke quite
freely Of the serious loss which the peo-
pie had suffered. He spoke OF the long
cherished dream he had Of building a
house for the Lord, OF the sacrifice ana
care which IL cost many OF them ana OF
the unfeisned pride and affection which
they had for the religious home ana
then of their desolation. which feil upon
them when they saw 1t 50 suddenly de-
stroyed.
He said that II was now time Tor the
church to turn and with dispassiona'e
ewes. study the event. 1t was gratify-
ing to him 10 know that scarcely one
irreverent murmur or sorrowful lamen-
tation had been heard TO fall from any
lin Those who had poured out their
tears had refrained their lips from re-
bslious or respondent utterances. He
had no blame TO utter against any hu-
man being. and really none could
even IN a moment OF excitement, enter
into controversy with that Providence
which rules in all earthly things.
Nor does II become US" said Dr.
Hatcher. "to make haste TO read the
divine secret out Of this lamentable event
Wise men are slow 10 interpret Provi-
dence, and. II We cannot be wise, we
can at least initiate the wise in not
meddling with the secret things OF God
We know that in the fearful calamities
Ter 81 troc
chastisement for sin: II was the Divine
rebuke OF apostasy. apathy. and persis-
tent transgression. We cannot shut our
eyes as a people to the fact that there
was much In our condition what must
have been unsatisfactory and even dis
pleasing TO the Lord. II II be true that
God had in mind 10 rebuke us for our
unbelief. and TO ohasten us for our fol-
lies by this seeming disaster. we can
not be too thankful for His gracious
severity.
THEIR FAITH NOT BURNED.
I'VE learn from this event that there
are some things i'm our religion which
can pass unscathed through the fire.
What we have lost was valuable. but
what is left to us is invalusble-our
faith. our fellowship, and our eternal
hope"
Inc sermon ttOctu WIN an oBbNsAi A'i
renewed devotion. which brought tears
TO many eyes. Several persons applied
for membership during the day.
At night Dr. Hatcher preached at
the First Baptist church. and. in spite
Of the rain, there was quite fair
turnout Of people. II Is understood that
on next Sunday morning the Doctor and
his people will worship in the chapel at
Richmond College. This arrangement has
been made for the convenience OF many
of the members in the West End who
have been making quite long Journeys
10 the synagogue and the downtown peo-
pie thought II but Justice that they
should take the long walk next Sunday.
Or. Hatcher will hold his weekly pray
er-neeting at the Calvary church to-
night and at the close will have bap-
ism.
DR.. Hatcher has received subscription
81 500 from Colonel John y. Cary for
his new church. The Broadus-Memorial
Baptist church has subscribed 800 DR..
Hatcher has also received contributions
from Professor Hemlin, Of the University
Of Texas, and Rev. p. t. Hale. OF
birmingham. Ala. Dr. Hatcher baptized
forty-eight persons last week.