The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-21
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SORROW {, AUSED
BY CHURCH FIRE {
ye-Ayenue congregat on Has
Sympathy Of The Entire City.
TO TAKE STEPS TO REBUILD. J.
Subscription Hooks Viii Be Issued at
once. aud the Mo'k Of Raising
Finds Commenced - The
Loss ard Insurance
TO TAKE STEPS TO REBUILD E

Not since the burning OF the Grace-Street
Baptis, Church. three years ago. has there
been a fire in Eaahrnoaa causing such
reuera. distress ana 58rccw as that which
yesterday morning s.oyed the Grove.
Avenue Baptist Ghs.rti:. The S:e was dis
astrous 10 the Church for several reasons.
j.: wipea away one OF the handsomest
houses Of divine worship in the South. and
left the congregation withou. means to
put up another edi:ice. The handsome
church was only insured FOR sl5.Hp, ana
there is a debt on the church properly
which takes s1l.0G9 of the insurance money.
The house, organ and other FURNISHINGS
cost $4,000 and had been paid Tor, tae
"a 900 debt being excepted. Inc tTe ie.l
the church without a house OF worship
and with but si,GOd In money, save s1naii
sum probably less than a.9n. Whlch IS 10
. the credit of interest and redemption.
Members of the congregation are Simply
dazea by the distressing news OF the IRE
Many of them did Dol know their pace
of worship had been DESTROYED unui thes
read the morning papers yesterday. IN
this class were q number who mad attend
ed The entertainment given in the pase-
anent last night by Mr.. Maurice, OF Man
chester. for the benefit of the Sewing
Circle of the congregation. Mr. Maurice
had jus. paid 500 for a new stereopncon
machine which he left in the church over
night, and this was burned, greatly 10 Inc
ct1agrin of the entertainer.
When the entertainment came to close
all the lights were put out. and Mr.. L. n.
Elicit, chairman of the Board OF Deacons,
went through the lower part OF the build
ing to see that everything vas all right.
He says he saw no fire and nothing calcu-
lated to cause any apprehension OF fire
about the premises
HEAVY LOSSES
The loss on the church and church fur
niture is si2,0 600 and the insurance is sl5.coa,
placed as follows: With the United States
Insurance Company. j w Gordon, agent
$1,000; with the Mutual Assurance Society
of Virginia $1,000.
Mr. j. N Cullingworth carried an in
srrance of $4,000 on his property, which
IS damaged to the extent Of $500 to 8, Goo
HIS policies are placed as follows: With the
Phoenix. of Brooklyn, j. 3. Moore and
: Company, agents. E6,5e3; with the Hart
ford Fire Insurance Company. j. 3. Moore
and Company, agents. 5000; with the
Phoenix, of London, 3. c. Wherry, agent,
$500.
Mrs. Cannon's loss viii probably amount
to $1,000. It is fully covered by insurance.
The magnificent library of DR.. j. B.
Hawthorne. pastor Of the church, was
completely destroyed. It was established
in the church building and not book was
saved. Tic library was valued at $1,000
and there was no insurance on il. The
loss is an irreparaaole one so far as DR..
Hawthorne is concerned, as many Of the
hooks and papers cannot be replaced. DR..
Hawthorne also lost large collection of
sermons.
The male members OF the Grove-Avenue
Church met yesterday at u o'clock at the
Second Baptist Church for the general
consideration of plans Cor the future. A
meeting Of the congregation will be held
Monday night at the Church of the Cow
enant, at which time active measures
towards securing funds for the rebuilding
Of the church viii be taken.
After PRAYER by DR.. T. S. Dunaway
yesterday DIR. J. g. Hawthorne took the
chair and opened the meeting with brief
reference to the calamity which had over
y taken him and his people He spoke
feelingly of the destruction of their beau
iiful house of worship. and, strong man
though he is, his emotion at times over
came him, and he was too full for utter
ance. He said. however, that he was
less concerned about the loss of the build
Zig than about the way his people would
Lcilave in t.leir: af4iiciion. He asked them
10 bear up under their affIiction and
in true Christian spirit to accept the
dispensation of Heaven. He said that
he beliNed the Sioye-Avenue Church
would prove equal TO the occasion, and
thai the members would come to the
rescue in that spirit which has always
characterized them.
MANY EXPRESSIONS.
DIR. Hawthorne said that on every hand
he had received not only heartfelt express
sons OF sympathy. but also offers of ma
tsi!al aid. He presented letters from Mr.
y * Mckee, OF the Y. A. c. a., offering
the use OF the Association Building; from
Superintendent C. II. Ryland of Rich.