Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-12

REV. DIR. CHARLES n. READ.
situated at Eighth and Franklin streets.
His election took place on the llth ol
January. 1919 the vote standing: or
Rev. Dr. Reed, 81; for Rev. j. ID. Mltch-
ell. 20; Rev. Stephen Taylor. Z; Rev a.
II. BOYD. l. His election was then maze
unanimous, with three exceptions. inc
election took place after three meetings
held January 5th, 9th, ana llth, Nhich
we're presided over by Rev. j. Parsons
Hovey as moderator Mr.. Francis B'
Hart was the secretary Of the meeting
and the elders were Messrs. James Gray
John y. Gordon, John ID. Munford, Flem-
ing James. John Caskie, c. Il. Williams
and James Caskie.
FOLLOWED EMINENT DININES.
DR.. Reed accepted the call and entered
upon his pastoral duties March il, 1873.
He followed in the line Of many eminent
divines, Tor the church was one OF the
Oldest in the city. "Parson' Blair was
the first pastor. Rev. DR.. John 3. Hose'
uncle Of the late Rev. DR.. Moses ID. Hoge,
succeeded him. and was in turn succeeded
by Rev. Stephen Taylor. Rev. \. u. Pol
lock followed. and Rev. Joseph Clay
Stiles. ID. D., father Of Major II. j. Stiles,
was DR.. Reeds immediate predecessor.
The history OF the church from the
time of Or. Reeds election until the
civil war broke out point TO steady de-
velopment During the evacuation OF
Richmond the old church was destroyed
by fire, together with the lecture-room'
in which DIR. Reed kept the greater part
of his library
AN ARDENT SYMPATHIZER.
In spite of DR.. Reads northern afhlia-
lions. he was an ardent secessionist, and
remained true to the Southern Cause
throughout the war; rendering splendid
service i'm the hospitals and among the
soldiers, besides ministering TO the fami-
lies represented IN his congregations 1t
was when his church was destroyed, how
ever. that DR.. Read rose 20 the greatest
height. and with inheXiblc purpose and
untlring zeal he started out 10 raise the
money to build a house of worship for
his flock Every one was so Impoverished
that at the outset his avOwed purpose was
ridiculed but Or. Read travelled North
and South, preaching ana canyassing Tor
the building fund, and il was due entirely
to his efforts in this direction that the
church was built on the northeast corner
of Grace and Fourth streets. 1t stands
there to-day a monument TO the old
pastors courage and tenacity OF purpose
for by his own efforts he raised all the
money necessary, except $4,000. This
sum was paid off some twelve years ago
through the efforts of the ladies Of the
congregation.
RESIGNED TWELVE YEARS AGO
DIR. Read continued TO be the active
pastor of the church until July 80, 1887,
when he submitted his absolute and UNI
conditional resignation of the office Of
pastor Of the church" At that time his
health was breaking down, and he wrote.
"The interests OF our beloved church are
present 20 my thoughts and heart, at
home and abroad, by night or by day.
Studying how | might best promote the
prosperity Of that church." he goes on
10 say that he feels no longer equal TO
the strain of his pastoral duties. on the
llth of October, 1851 he retired altogether
from his active labors.
SOME PUBLIC SERVICES.
DR.. Read is a man of deep spirituality,
a fine preacher. sound in doctrine. and
eminently gifted in prayer.
He it was who delivered the prayer al
the laying of the cornerstone OF the
famous Washington monument in the
| Capitol Square, and during the time that
| his congregation was without a church
| he preached at alternate services with
| Or. HOge at the Second Presbyterian
church. where his flock took refuge. and
! II was thought by some that he was the
| equal, if not the superior. of DR.. Hoge.
| About year ago Or. Read lost his wife.
! who had been a helpmate, indeed, par
| ticularly in his church work. Mrs. Read
was a Miss Walker. Of New York State.
THE ORDER OF SERVICES.
The order Of the special service to-day
is as follows:
Anthem. by the Choir; Doxology; Prayer
| of Invocation. by Rev. Jere Nither-
spoon. ID. D.; Hymn. announced by
Rev J. Calvin Stewart: Reading of Scrip
lures. Rev. Donald Guthrie Prayer Rev
Il. +. Kerr, ID. D.; Anthem. by the Choir;
Reading of resolutions and introduction
of speakers, by Rev. Jere Witherspoon,
ID. D.; Addresses. by Rev II. y. Topper
ID. D., Major Robert Stiles Rev. j. T.
Smith, ID. D.: Hymn. announced by Rev.
d. X Walthall; Benediction. by Rev. ~.
i. Kerr, ID. ID.