Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-26

REV. DIR. WILLIAM Il. HFCHER.
pastor OF Grace-Street church,
the Richmond Female Seminary, located
iust opposite the sacred edifce, next to
the southeast corner Of Foushee and Grace
streets.
The destruction OF the church and It's
valuable contents entails a loss upon the
congregation OF about $4,000, while there
is $500 insurance. or just enough to IL
quidate the church debt. The damage
70 the main building of the seminary Is
about $4,000. while the wing, in which
the young ladies sleep, is left intact, and
the school will be resut "a in three days.
The other fires incident to this one will
swell the total loss by several thousand
dollars
DR. Hatcher and his people. though
naturally distressed at the great misfor-
une that has befallen the church. nre
earring up bravely, and win probably
cut plans for rebuilding on foot at once.
The congregation will hold meeting in
ne First Presbyterian church this af-
ternoon at o'clock when future steps
will be discussed. and it win be decided
where services shall be held tempOra-
rly. DR.. Kerr has kindly rendered the
use OF his church. and there Is some
talk Of occupying the Woodward La
throp store. In the Masonic Temple.
A GREAT PUBLIC CALAMITY.
The calamity TO Grace-Street Baptist
church is one dreadful in its eonse-
Qu,nees. The congregation were only be-
ginning 10 feel thoroughly at home in
their new and elegant place OF worship
after for several years attending services
In an uncomfortable frame tabernacle.
and this church was the JOY and PRIDE
% every member.
In the erection OF the building the
pastor, Rev. DR.. w. r. Hatcher the
Building Committee. and the architect,
the late Albert l.. West. studied the
most modern ami improved styles and
appliances for churches. DIR. Hatcher
and Mr West. made a tour of the north
trn cities. and examined carefully the
most elegant churches in the land, with
view Of erecting for the Grace-Street
congregation a house which would rival
any Of them in beauty Of architecture
and magnihcence OF furnishing. The
structure represented years of labor. OF
study. Of struggle. and It also repre-
fsnted thousands OF dollars OF borrowed
money.
To-day tn, stately edifice is no more;
its majestic cupola stands cracked and
chaued and its cosey apex has gone up
IN smoke and debris The IRE did well
iis work. Its great red tongues be-
gan their ghastly and destructive in
nuences about O'Clock, and in two hours
eny fragments Of the snassive-looking
walls remained. like tall monuments OF
defeated cause.
The good pastor. than whom no man
stands higher In his church and among
his people. and his congregation, as wei!
as the moral community. sustain blow
ifom which 1t will be hard TO recover.
Iae insurance upon the church hardly
covers one third OF the cost OF its con-
t'meiion. and win be entirely consumed
b. an outstanding debt.
Poor. shattered church: II haF ne pro-
ioano sympathy Of a large community OF
Christian men and women.
A FUNERAL TO OCCUR.
The funeral OF Mr. Aibin l.. Shepherd
was TO have taken place from Grace
Street church at 8 o'clock. and the pres
enee OF Rev. Dr. Hatcher and the
janilor at the edifce TO make arrange
rnents for the sad obsequies caused the
discovery OF the iire as soon as Il was
detected. Alarms were promptly turned
Ia. and. although the firtmsn worked he
foicaiiy. Il was impossible to save the
edihce. IL Was only by the most pru-
Gent and indefstigabie labor that the
large seminary building across the
street. sad other nearby houses were
saved from the consuming element The
school was In session. but was disnissed
a. room a. u was evident that the
seho0l building was in daxser. Tho