Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-06
THE RICHMOND DtsPATCH-TUEsDAY, APRIL 6, 1897
ON THE APP0MATT0X
BAPTIST CHURCH DEDICATED IN
PETERSBURG SUNDAY.
Interesting serviccs-Two Sermons
from the Same Tcxt-HistOricnI-A
Missing Lctter-snntchcd n Pocket
Book-CathOIic Notes.

| cial)-The new Second Baptist church,
corner OF Sycamore and Oak streets.
OF which Rev. A. J. Frstoe is the pastor,
was dedicated to the worship OF God,
with impressive ceremonies yesterday.
There were three separate services
morning, afternoon. and highland the
church was crowded on each occasion.
Rev DR.. II. W. Battle preached the
dedicatory sermon. selecting as his text
the first verse Of the 12d Psalm; i
was glad when they said unto me, let US
go into the house OF the Lord Upon
this text he built most admirable and
appropriate sermon.
At the conclusion Of the sermon Rev.
\. j. Friscoe made a financial statement,
and DR.. Battle conducted the collection.
The congregation Of the Second church
pledged 500 and that Of the First
church gave over 500, In addition to
about 5000 already contributed.
At the afternoon service Rev. DIR. j.
| W. Rosebro. Of the First Presbyterian
church. preached to a large assembiage.
taking the same text as DIR. Battle had
done in the morning. DR.. Hatcher, Of
Richmond. ALSO spoke briefly and
preached an able sermon at night.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
The members Of Market-Street tnow
the First Baptist church. recognizing
| the importance Of extending Baptist
| views and tenets in the city, mat on
the 9Th of September. 1854. to discuss the
matter The result was the organization
of the church with the following con-
| stituent members: o. Ellyson. John j.
! Cooper. H. II. Harris. J. V. A. Tucker.
| Henry c. Clarke. Charles Il. Allen, !. {.
Schoolfeld, James NJ. Pope, Mrs. M. Il.
Ellyson. Mrs. =. A. Scheduled, and Mrs.
| II. +. Wyche.
| The church was regularly constituted
on the nth of December. 1854, with Rev.
r. - Skinner. Of North Carolina, as pas
tor, and twenty-one members. lot was
subsequently obtained on Byrne street
between Liberty and Halifax streets. and
while the church was being erected the
| congregation first held services at pri-
! vate residences, and afterwards-from
June 10. 1855. to February 10, lS55-in the
Classical Institute now the public High
| SCHOOL,, on Union strset.
The first church building was com
pleted. and was dedicated March l6, 1886.
! The total cost was 81 SCS0l The church
was admitted TO the Virginia Baptist
Association in May, 1850 at the sixty
! fifth annual session Of that body, held
in Norfolk. After having had six pas
| tors. the church. in 1866. received into
| it's membership young man from Lynch-
burg, J. +. Hutson. who Joined by let
| ter. The piety and zeal he manifested
soon caused the church TO license him
10 preach, and so thoroughly did he
| fiji the calling that the church called
| him as it's pastor and his ordination
took place on November q, 1866. Rev.
J. T. Hutson remained pastor Of the
church for about ten years. during which
time the church grew in membership. and
about 5000 was raised and expended in
| improvements.
SEVERAL PASTORS.
Rev. J. +. Hutson resigned the pas
torate June IS. 1876. and was succeeded by
! Rev. George J. HOLIDAY. on October l.
1876 Since that time the church has
had several pastors. and has passed
through varied experience. which at
times almost threatened its existence
1t was about I'VE years ago that the
| present pastor. Rev. \. J. Fristoe. Of
| Baltimore accepted a call TO the pas
torate. and the beautiful ediiice dedicated
yesterday is no less a monument TO his
| zeal and indefatigable perseverance than
TO the self-denal and Christian fortitude
|
When he took charge of the church there
was only a membership of 14S; now there
| are Us. and they are as live and energetic
| n body of Christian workers-poor in this
worlds goods but rich in grace-as can
be found anywhere.
The new church. which occupies a CEN
| trail location. at the southwest corner of
| Sycamore and Oak streets, Is Of brick,
trimmed with granite. neat spire en-
bellishes the exterior, while the interior
is a model of modern architectural skin.
The ceiling is OF metal. neatly painted.
and the furniture is oak, while the win
dows are Of opalescent and Cathedral
| glass The lecture-ToOm and main audi
forum are provided with every convent
| ence. and. as a whole, the church is one
10 be proud of. The total cost amounts
! 10 about $4,000 and the total debt, up TO
Yesterday. amounted TO S777. At yes
| terday's meetings about 500 was raised
! which reduces the amount to about $1,000
1t is no reflection upon other churches
to say that this congregation, taking into
consideration its trials and tribuations,
the financial condition Of its members,
and the difficulties surmounted, has ac-
complished a task which would have paled
the faces and sickened the hearts of a
less resolute, though more numerous, band
Of Christians.
FUNERAL OF DIR. PETERSON.
The funeral of Rev. f. NJ. Peterson took
| place Sunday afternoon from the High
street Methodist Episcopal church, Of
which ne was the pastor. The church
was crowded and the services very i'm
| pressive. Rev. DR.. w. T.. Edwards, pas
tor Of the Washing church.
conducted the services, assisted by the
| other Methodist ministers of the city
and the body was laid to rest in beautiful
1 old Blandford Cemetery. The stewards
| Of the church acted as pall-bearers.
A MISSING LETTER.
On Friday a special delivery letter
said to contain a considerable sum OF
| money. addressed TO Mary Williams
| (colored), was taken to her house. She
was not at home. and the letter was
left with Jessie Fisher. neighbour IL
was misplaced al Fishers house and
could not be found 10 be given TO the
owner. Whereupon, Jessie Fisher was
arrested on a warrant sworn out by Mary
| Williams TO answer the charge of making
away with the letter, and the case came
before the Mayor this morning, Hon. W.
| II. Mckinney appearing for the accused.
After examination, during which the fact
was not established that the letter con-
| iained any money, the defendant was
| honorably acquitted.
CUTTING AFFRAY.