Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-11
ON THE APPOMATT0X
VERY INTERESTING OCCASION IN
PETERSBURG.
IT,, cornerstone OF the New 81.
tobn's Episcopal Church Lnid-An
,,.,or,cai skctch-Two Robberics.
p.rsenaI and General Notes.

t,o,ou street. OF which Rev. w. A. r.
edwin Is The beloved rector, was laid
,hl. afternoon. with imposing ceremonies.
.,ere was a large assemblage OF people.
e-.tracing all denominations, to witness
,,e services. All OF the Episcopal min
,.,,-s o.. the city and most OF the clergy
~ sister denominations were present.
Under The auspices Of Powhatan Starke
r,oiys No l24. the beautiful and impress
s.ye ceremony OF the Masonic Ritual, in
c.8eni 20 the laying Of the cornerstone,
vas multlessly performed, preceded by
the singing Of the professional hymn.
"Ihc Church's One Foundation"
The church portion of the service was
conducted by the rector, Rev. W. A. X.
Goodwin, and the responses by the people
we're hearty and earnest. The singing
rs excellent
The address on the occasion was de-
Ntcfel by Rev. r.. A. Goodwin, rector
o. S. Johns church, Richmond. who
was for some years the rector OF this
church. His ministry here preceded that
Of Tie present rector.
CONTENTS or THE STONE.
The following articles comprised the
contents Of the stone: Handsomely bound
copies OF the Holy Bible and Book Of
Common Prayer a list Of the communi-
csnts Of the church. a list Of the vestry-
men. a list OF the officers. teachers. and
pupils OF the Sunday school; copies of
the Southern Churchman, Church Stand
ard. and Of the daily papers of Rich
m1nd and Petersburg: Journal of the
Episcopal Council OF the Southern Do
cese Of Virginia for 1897. printed sermon
on Hard Times" by the rector, Rev.
W. a. r.. Goodwin: sermon on Church
and Churches" by Rev. Thomas Spencer;
Canons Of the Diocese of Southern Vir-
gnia. report Of the first morning Sun
day school Of ST. Johns. the programme |
Of the day, sketch OF the church, old |
coins. &c.
SKETCH OF ST. JOHNS CHURCH.
St Johns church has an interesting
history. 1t sprang from seed sown by
one devoted churchwoman, Miss Mar
garet Wallis, who taught a small pri-
waite school on the northwest corner Of
South and Shepherd streets She in
toTested a number of earnest and ac-
tive Christian men and women, most !
all Of whom were engaged in the work
Of the Sunday schools at Grace and st.
Paurs churches. in the establishment
OF a mission school for work in the
western part of the city. Among the
former were the late Dr. #. Stanley
bockwith. the Rev. Emmett W. Couch,
the late W. c. Lumsden, the late Rev.
Alex. Weddell, the superintendent of
Grace church Sunday school. and T. S.
i3cckwith, Jr In her schoOl-room with
her day-school as a nucleus an after
noon Sunday school was established.
With Or. II. S. Beckwith as superintend-
mt. Other workers became int rested
md soon "the Protestant Episcopal Lay
association" was organized, and an
)ther work OF the same character was
established on Bollngbrook street.
which resulted in what is now the
church OF the Good Shepherd, in Bland
ord, a memorial to the late David b.
remnant. or st. PauIs The association
undertook the financial support OF these
missions. In 1867 an eligible lot 120xlsO
'eet on the corner Of Washington and
Dunlop streets. was purchased by the
ISOLATION. 10 be held for the sole bene-
III Of the Protestant Episcopal church,
nd on this lot the first building to be
Ised as a home for the new congrega-
ion of ST. Johns was erected In 1870.
As soon as the building could be occu-
ned "a hourshing Sunday school, en-
racing thirty classes, was organized,
nd the subject of pastoral Work was
onsidered. The services OF Rev. NJ. r. |
Mccormick were secured, and he began
he work of City Missionary In 1873. and
ontinued ii until 1874. Under his minis
~ a morning Sunday school was or
anized. kev. j. w. Magill succeeded
lr Mccormick, and AT the meeting OF
be Council OF Virginia in 1874, ST. Johns
vas admitted as a new parish in union
18th the Diocese OF Virginia. Mr.. Ma
il labored zealously and successfully
NTH ili-health forced him TO resign.
no church was subsequently, enlarged
D accommodate the growing congrega-
on. In 1878 Rev. DIR. c. j. Gibson tenn
orarily assumed pastoral charge of the
hurch. in addition TO his duties at
race church. and from 1879 TO 1885 Rev.
homas Spencer was the rector. Du-
ug the ministry OF the latter d com
iodious building was erected I'm the rear I
the church Tor the, purposes Of a.
sading- and library-room, and this in
Tuition has proved of great benefit ,
fter Mr.. Spencers retirement. on ac-
cunt Of ill-health. Rev. John Cameron
Iobson and Rev. +. q. Scott served as I
ctOrs. In 1889 Rev r. n. Goodwin. /,
ow Of Richmond. then in charge of the .
shop Payne Divinity School. in this :
lNs became rector. IN 1875 MI OOOu- s
'in resigned 10 accept a call TO St 7
ohns church In Richmond, and he was p
lcceeded by his nephew. the present !
sctOr Rev. w. A. X. Goodwin, who !,
as labored most earnestly In the build Z
Ig up OF the church. and who has en- e
cared himself 10 the whole community c
y bis pure life and his catholic, Chris
lam spirit. In the fall of 1896 1t was
etermined TO make a strong, united eff
lfJ TO build new church. The East c
: Offering in 1897 amounted to over b
'VQ-a nest-egg, from which has o
p'ung the large sum necessary to- erect e
me Of the most beautiful churches in .
he city. "
THE NEW CHURCH n
me new edifice soon 10 be consecrated Il
~ the honor and glory and worship of -
''D VIII be a very handsome structure -
7. uaIS brick laid in red mortar with m
!. "Nstone trimm ngs. It's front will be d,
= Hhest Washington pressed brick. l.
~. tower, rising TO height of ninety s,
ie"' 4eet' VIII stand at the north 5!
49, corner Of the church. The ar O.
~ ~, ,ule VIII be pure Romanesque-the ~,
ans low and the roof high The vesti- u,
uie at the front entrance will be large.
ne "iSiue measurement of the church is
0 people
TWO ROBBERIEs. 81 81
Last night a freight-car on the siding fe
the Richmond and Petersburg railroad, &c
TINS cily, was robbed of six caddies pa
TOBACCO. subsequently,, five caddies -, .I'
ere found near by, and 1t is supposed ~
t tnlCVCs were frlphfencd of hefore A..