The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-23
THECITY OF PETERSBURG
arm sUOP BAPTIST Gu URCH DEDI-
TED-INTBRESTING HISTORY.
a suI. for $4,000 Damages by letter.
Carrier Against Police ohcer-sa'o
Of Fine Farm in Dinwiddie.

pt,TrRsRURG, VA. July 2-Special.--
w., tnteresting exercises were held to-
da, IN Prince George county, nine Hllles
southeast OF Petersburg. Inc occasion
which called together mulhtuue OF pev-
ME from the surrounding counties was tne
| dedication Of a new meeting house on the
sif. where the Old Shop Baptist chui.I
noople have worshpped for a perlon
whereof the mind Of man runne'h ho' ~
the contrary. r,oiraii,,
Davenport's but after the frst meeting
house had gradually gone TO des'rueuon
the congregation worshipped III SooppI
shop and thus took on the name Oh O'u
Shop" .,z,,,o, Ia
not known, but there Is documentary eEi-
dence that the church had over one nun
bred and sixty-three members as carry
II was the forerunner Of all the Baptist
churches in this section and chiefly rom
its membership was formed the nucleus
OF tho large First Baptist church OF TINS
city. ,,
A CHECRERED HISTORY.
Its history has been chcckered and fuli
of interest. At one time. owing to the eN-
odus to the city churches 1t claimed 10
have had but one member. Mrs. Lucy
Tucker. She never deserted the old
church, and whenever a Baptist passed
that way she arranged for him at her
home.
This unique condition OF affairs lasted
for twenty years, and the heroic OLD SIS
ter defed any ecclesiastical power known
to Baptists TO disband her.
About 1871 "A presbytery consisting OF
Revs. Southwood, Tustin and Gwaltney
reorganzed the church with membership
of fourteen. From this time on the
church seems TO have prOspered until dur
ing the war when its membership were
scattered and its meeting house torn down
by the Federal troops to build winter
quarters.
After the war a former beloved pastor,
Rev. j. A. Strachan again re-OrganiZed
the church. and ii again entered upon
its long and varied history has been bless
ed by the pastoral labOrs Of such men
as James l.. Gwaltney, w. ID. Bailey, j. l..
Freeman, II. w. overly J. A. Strachan, J.
present beloved pastor Rev. j. W. Hart.
There is a tradition that the celebrated
j. b. Jeter was for brief while pastor OF
this church. But the writer has been un-
able 10 confirm IL.
THE NEW EDIFICE.
To-day a large and elegant meeting
house was dedicated Rev. II. w. Battle,
D. D.. pastor Of the First Baptist church.
I'm this city. preached the dodicatory ser
mon. Masonic exercises were also held
which were conducted by Prince George
A THIEF CAUGHT.
Harry French, alias John Gordon. alias
Walter Rogers, white man. who is
charged with stealing a steer from Henry
Jones colo-ed. OF Dinwiddie county, and
also with stealing a horse from Mrs. Fra
Zier. of Chesterfield county and a wagon
from J. +. Williams. Of this city. and who
was arrested at Lawrenceville Bruins
wick county a day or two ago. was
brought here this afternoon by an officer
for trial.
The Hastings Court was engaged to-
day in the trial Of the suit Of w. +. Crow
der. colOred. VS. X. :. Chandler. for
1900 damages for assault and battery.
Pending the examination of witnesses the
court at s o'clock this evening adjourned
to 10 o'clock tomorrow morning
Crowder Is a letter carrier at the post
office here. and Chandler is Lieutenant Of
the police force. Hon. William r. Nc
Kenny is counsel for the plaintiff and
Messrs. Mcllwane d Hamilton represent
the defendant.
Mr.. W. r. Lambert, of this city. has
purchased the stock of the Petersburg
Rolling Company.
Mr.. A. Y. Stuart well-known real es-
tate dealer of Dinwiddie county. has sold
the De Witte farm. in Dinwiddie county
containing Col acres, for $4,000. to Mr.
Rissin. of Ohio.