Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-05-07

to the Fifth Street Baptist Church
Richmond. Va. where he now breaches.
He thought the debts Of the churches
in Alexandria and Danville-the last
named amounting to about $4,000 90
were large enough but on coming to
the 18th Street Church he found debt
of $4,000 COL He found noble and
brave people who joined hands with
him in the work. To-day the debt is
reduced to about $1,000. 90. His great
est rally in his present charge was that
of 1898 when he lifted in one effort
$I700.
Large and intelligent congregations
attend regularly upon the services at
the Fifth Street Church. His church
has a membership of over twelve hun
dred. The work of saving souls has
been peculiarly blessed under Rev.
Graham's charges. In Alexandria
some four hundred were baptized
about one hundred and fifty in DAN
Vile; about five hundred in Richmond.
In great revival in his church in 1894
there were 438 converts. OF this large
number over three hundred joined his
church.
Rev. Graham has been many times
honored by his denomination. In
Arkansas he was in one year elected
Secretary OF two Baptist Associations J;
and in 1881 made secretary of the State
| Sunday School Convention which met
that year in Little Rock.
In Virginia he has made his way to
the front. Fifteen years ago he met
| the Baptist Convention for the first
time in its annual session at the old
First Baptist in Richmond. He was
then but young man unknown in the
state having only been pastor in Alex
andria two weeks. To-day he is we'll
known and stands high with his breth-
rem and the state of his adoption.
He has by invitation and appointment
delivered addresses and sermons be-
fore the conventional and associational
bodies of the state. In 1898 he deliver
ed the address to the graduating
class of Richmond Theological Semi
nary. He has preached the Baccalau-
rate sermon at the Virginia Seminary,
and in 1895 preached a thanksgiving
sermon on "Christian Strength, the
Safeguard of the Race" before the
faculty and students of that Seminary,
and read by special request of DR.. 6
Nj. P. King, paper on 1.-THE Duty
of the Church to Educate it's ministry
This last mentioned paper by request
of the Ministerial Conferences presided
over by Rev. VIM. A. Credit, A. M .,
was published in the Christian Banner
In the year, 1895 Rev. Graham by re-
quest of Rev. Frank L. Wilkins, d. d
secretary, delivered an address before
the Sixth Annual international Con
vention of the B. Y. p. O., in Mil
waukee, Wis, before at least 15OO(
people from all over the world. Tit
address along with his cut was publish
ed in the regular Proceedings Of tina
great body.
In 1897 at the National Baptist Cor
vention he preached q sermon on ed
ucation, the Basis OF Permanent Sue
cess, from Isaiah 33 g, that at one
gave him e national reputation as
strong man for his race. The Conven
ton ordered its publication for gener
al distribution.
Rev. Graham is q member OF tn
Board of Managers of the Virgini
Seminary, first vice-president of tn
Virgins Baptist State Convention an
president of the Richmond Beneficis
and Insurance Company. This las
named institution was organized ii
1894 and under the fostering care an
keen executive ability Of Rev. Grahar
it has become great power in Oh
land. 1t pays ut thousands of dol \
monthly for sick and death claiml
gives employment to 125 young me
and women Of the race and has alread
donated 20 the Union Universt
scheme $4,000 In cash, and this mali