Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-18
SATURDAY, NOV, Is, 1899
FROM WEST END.
History and Review of River View Bap
tist Church.

-
q little band of five anxious persons,
who met one bright sabbath morn in
the early spring of 1890 and organized
themselves into new religious body
TO be known afterwards IS River View
Baptist Church.
This church was organized in an IN
finished building, which WAS in course
OF erection and which is now No 316
Washington St., the residence of Bro
Kieh Johnson. This SNAIL congrega-
ticn of five was both church ard Sab
bath school. Brother Geo. E John son
Wss leader, preacher and teacher. In |
Sabbath School, he superintendent, IN |
church. preached and exhorted and |
built up the work.
The little plant began TO grow and |
show signs of future prosperity In
August, 1890, Elder George K. John |
son was elected pastor OF River View
ing pastor no church house had been
secured, no property purchased. nor
had the church money with which to
do anything. A new pastor in q new
Geld with no house, aud all the large
churches OF the city, laboTiug under
burdensome debt, making it almost
impossible to get any assistance from
them, shows himself a shepherd in
deed to be able to build a church and
opposition,
such W as Rev. George +. Johnson.
Having been armed with credentials
from his church. he knocked at the
doors OF the city churches which failed
not oper to him. Chief among these
are the Second Baptist Church of Rich
mord at d the First Baptist Church OF
Manchester, to say nothing CT Ebene-
zer. the mother church
L. rrfrN dnv.
Z. Johr son from her came the leader
of the choir, our departed brother, t.
g. williams, and from her also came
ore of our most active superintendente
of the Sabbath School, brother ]. @. w.
McCraY.
From FIVE members, River View
Baptist Church incren sed AZ members
by baptism and p members by letters
We have lost since organization nine
members: four BY the hand of death,
and five by exclusion.
Our first purchase cost us $500. This,
our newly erected edifice, will cost Us
when complete the sum of $1,000. The
value Of cur property, with corsplet-
ed church edifice will aggregate $500.
We are glad Co say, we owe only about
500 on our work.
Our pews end other church furniture
wInincresse our debt about s4C0, max
ing q total ebt OF about SLIGO and the
aggregate value OF our property $22CO.
and with God As our leader, who has
led US success sfully on thus far and the
continued support of our members and
the assistance OF our friends and the
public in general, we feel fully assured
tbas fir al success will crown our Ia
bors OF love.
These people feel Justly proud OF the
grand work they have so signallE sc-
complished in the face Of msEy stern
obstacles. but having hrst pat their
trust in God, who is all powerful, they
have passed on from one good degree
of grace 10 another until they can see
IN the not far distance the guiding sta
of hope at the mast-top, pointing TO
the heavenly mansion, where the Fa'
4her Of peace, light and love awaits the
happy arrival Of all His faithful chill
dren. There the angelic host OF the
old prophets ard patrTarchs, together
with the redeemed made perfect
through the death, resurrection and
love OF Jesus Christ. our Lord. There
they shall meet to crown Him Lord
over all and to cast theie crowns at
His feet and to praise God. the Father
through the ceaseleEs ages OF eternsl
bliss
They invoke the blessings OF God upon
all Eho have preached & sermon, or
exhorted, prayed or sang, or given
money, or spoken kind word in their
behalf. May peace and prosperity
some upon the land and all mankind
be At peace.
The following are some OF the OH
ciAls who have served faithfully: Rev.
George E. Johnson. pastor; deacoEs;
N. Raine, F. j Racket, %John Ellis, Sr.
&c. Lewis, r L. Jasper, J. Funn. ST.
mon Reid, N. Mosby, NJ. Hill r. L
Jasper, church clerk. Sister Saunders
(now deceased) was the first female
member and was often called the
ssmother of the church," superinte1d
ents: brothers Jacob Bland, *John Ca
non, NJ. Hill, Jacob StovaI, J. w. o
Mc0ray.
The Sabbath School has an average
attendance of about 80 and small ii
brary. Good teachers. The church
has good choir, organ and Organist
an efficient trustee board, togethe
with the building committee have rem
dered good services during the con
structt3n Of the new sdiHce..
Since the organization OF the churc
the hand of death has visited from tn
deacon board to the church pew. fror
the Sabbath School superintendent I
the CLASSES. Part of the host has eros
ed the river and part is crossing nov
Marked thus dead.
Corner stone laid and dedicAtorii
exercises.
The dedicatorial exercises will CON
mence on Sc sond Sunday in DecembS
and continue until the Fourth Hunds
and probably longer. some OF Oh
most eminent and noted divines wi
preach, also some OF the best choirs
our city will render most choice must
They are trying to have every detf
complete for these services and 81
that our friends will aid as financial
and give their sympathy.
They expect to have their nice peV
in by the second Sunday In Decembs
Some OF our most noted men "
speak at the corner stone laying. D
friends and the public in general q
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