Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-13
OLD AFRICAN CHURCH
IT'S HISTORY LINKED WITH THE
GROWTH OF RICHMOND.
THE SCENE or GREAT MEETINGS.
Being the Largest Building Here, IL
WINS Used for All Large Gather
ings-Greatest Orators of the Day
Heard There.

The picture herewith presented Of the
old African church will recall to many
citizens OF Richmond an old building that
for many years was landmark In ths
city, and IS associated with customs that
have been swept away by the tide OF
years.
II was the second house OF worship oil
the First Baptist church. IL was erected
about lS02, at the corner OF Broad ana
College streets. during the pastorate Of
the second pastor, Elder Courtney. 1t
was subsequently enlarged at various
times by additions on three sides. making
a cruclform ediAce 100 by 70 feet. 1t was
without any pTetcnslons TO architectural
symmetry, but caoable Of accommodate.
ing a large congregation. AS long as IL
stood II was the largest building In the
city. and so was used for various pur-
poses. Ii was torn down i'm 1876 to make
way for the present house Of worship
erected by the First African church
ALL woRsHIPPED TOGETHER.
From its building until 1910 1t was the
home OF the church in which the white
and colored parts OF membership were
together-the larger in much larger pro-
portion. As a place OF entertainment
and amusement it had no equal In me
city. Ole Bull charmed hundreds Of peo- /.
pie in it. Tom Thumb was greeted In H.
Patti. Sontag, and Parodi were heard III
il. Paul julien played the Carnival Of
Venice" on one string In IT. The Nir'
ginia convention Of 1920 was held in "
from December to January 18th. The las'
time that Madison and Marshall ever
held a seat i'm a public assembly was uh'
der its quaint roof The reputation Oh
many local orators was formed IN IT,
Marmaduke Johnson. Benjamin watkins
Leigh. John Minor Bolts. Roger a. Pryor
William c. Rives Judah =. Benjamin,
John Tyler. and many others ADDRESSED
vast audiences from its platform. bu-
ward Everett delivered his celeoratea
grafton in behalf Of Mount Vernon IN II.
Roger A. Pryor's speech In the puiluins
| was probably the first occasion upon
which the Confederate flag was display
| ed In Richmond. ,,,,,>,c
! LAST CONFEDERATE MEETING.
I Not least among the "reminiscences OF
the old building IS the famous meeuhs
in 1864 Just after the noted Peace Son.
| ference in Fort Monroe. The people oiu
| not know how disheartened they WERE
the soldiers though starving were
| dreaming OF better rations. Stirring du-
dresses were made by Jefferson DAVIS,
! Judah p. Benjamin. and others Great
| enthusiasm was awakened Many iadles
nres.nt took off their much-cherisheu
| towels and laid them on the table pelors
| the sneakers. II was the last meeting
ever held in Richmond under Confeaera'e
auspices. , c,or-,,
After the war Horace Greeley, "errI'
smith Henry Wilson. General Ho"aiu,
land others prominent I'm those days SPOKE
10 large gatherings in 1t. But as 'ne
scene OF DIR. Robert Rylands pas'ora'7
Of the colored church for twenty years,
during which the eloduence or the e'oer
Andrew Broaddus John Kerr, isaac A.
Hinton. and J. B. Jeter thrilled us
crowded gatherings dhe long, loud praise
NJ ole-fashioned songs as the SOUND u
many watersO. and the prayers OF VIC
roor ballowed its walls. more tender
farewell was said 10 the old house as
disarpeared I'm the new house that no"
etands I'm its place.