Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-04

or Church and Freemason streets.
opened his house to the Methodists for
preaching Tor years before church
was erected.
|, FIRST CUMBERLAND STREET
CHURCH.
The site on which the present church
stands was purchased from Arthur
Moore. OF HEREFORD county, n. c.. for
two hundred and nifty pounds (si .25O)
current money OF Virginia." The deed
or conveyance was made to John
Strallon. Richard L. Green. John
George, Hance Baker. James Dawley.
John Reynolds and Francis Butt, trus-
tees. February 20. 1900.
In April OF that year Bishop Asbury.
being In Norfolk. was shown the
draught of the proposed new edifice. in
alluding to which he says: saturday
m L visited the brethren in Norfolk.
they presented me with the plan of q
new house. 5ox7o.' He then odds:
wonder of wonders! II is to be built
on the lot adjoining that on which the
old est. Paurs) Episcopal church now
stands"
This house was completed perhaps.
In the first part of the year 1902. The
congregation was worshipping in It
certainly in March. 1903. for Bishop
Asoury In his journal under that date
says: II preached in the new house,
the best In Virginia belonging to our
society: The pulpit is high with a wit
ness-like that awkward thing in Bal
timore calculated for the gallery and
two high for that"
1t was n brick structure, smaller
than the present building. and stood on
the same site. This church was the
scene of many of the grandest
triumphs the gospel ever achieved In
Norfolk. 1t was favored as the seat
of numerous gracious revivals of reli-
gion and as the place were hundreds
of souls were born of God.
THE SECOND CHURCH.
The second church was built in 1888
and dedicated Sunday. March 9th, 1884,
by Its pastor, Rev. DR.. VIM. A. Smith
DESTRUCTION OF THE SECOND
CHURCH.
| This building was destroyed about IL
O'Clock Thursday night, March I'd, 1916,
with Its entire contents, including the
library of the pastor, Rev. III. B.
| Cowles. This building was insured for
$4,000 which was promptly paid. This
furnished the greater portion of what
was required to erect another house.
THE THIRD CHURCH.
The present building. erected on the
same site. was finished in December,
1S4S. and dedicated on Sunday, Jan
uary Sth. 1Si9, and set apart to the
worship of Almighty God with appro-
pirate services. the dcdicatory sermon
being preached by Rev. John T.. Ed
wards. It's pastor. Many hallowed
memories cluster around this old
church which. with to-day's closing
services. will be remembered more en-
dearingly among the rich legacies to
Methodism in the past. 1t has not only
maintained a healthy and vigorous
existence itself. but has from time to
time sent out numbers of Its most in
fluential and useful members to aid
In establishing other churches while
tho frequent and powerful revivals
with which 1t has been favored have
proved blessing to many who belong
| to other communions. 1t has achieved
a grand and glorious destiny under
the blessings Of God, and as we go out
| from here to worship In our new and
more copncious building let us carry
the Holy Ghost with US and THE glory
of the latter house may be grenter
than the former"
Dr. Johnson read the following list
of some of the preachers who have
served the church during the past one
hundred years: Tho first regular pas
tor was Rev. John King and then came
In the following order his successors:
Revs. VIM. A. Smith David S. Dogget,
Thomas Crowder. Henry b. Cowles,
William Wadsworth. Nelson Head,
Frank Stanley. Robert Michaels, Davis
+. Wells. Thos. a. Ware. p. A. Peter
son. VIM II. Christian. John d. Black
well. e. NJ. Peterson. A. c.. Brown, A.
G. Bledsoe. All of them died in the
faith except Rev. Nelson Head. who
is numbered among the following
pastors who are still alive and some of
them in the active work: Rev. John B.
Dey, Rev. II. c. Cheatham. Rev. j. M
Anderson, Rev Joseph II. Riddick
Rev. w. C. Starr. Rev. w. V. Tudor
Rev. w. II. Atwill and your present
pastor
God has wonderfully helped us in the
noble army Of members who have so
faithfully served the church in various
official capacities. and who have ceased
from their labors and entered upon
their heavenly reward. among whom
are the following: David Duncan.
John Carroll, Richard CRANBERRY. T. +.
Constable. Arthur Cooper. John Banks.
w. III. Starr. Alexander Martin JAS s.
Southgate. Josiah Shipp. Henry Hous-
man. Jemnel Peed. the sweet singer in
Israel: Joseph II. Dawson James d.
Cannon. W. d. Aydiottr, Chat Nash.
John NJ Keeling. Chas. Armand, James
Simmons JAS. +. Dey.
God has Eraciously blessed the
church in glorious REVEALS of religion
under the following pastors: VIM A.
Smith. John r. Edwards. p. 4. Peter
son. +. NJ. Peterson. Joseph II. Rid
dick w. c. Starr and 4. O. Brown
I'm inaugurnting the movement for
our new house OF Worship God has
siennlly blessed us In raising UP
friends TO help us in this our time OF
need. felt that the time had arrived
for the now advance After my an
nointment &c your pastor determined
TO do all could TO save the old church
along with her glorious record of the
past. This was the great anxiety OF
our iamenred hut sainted Dr. Brown
I feel now that my own and his great
est desire has heen achieved When
we go into orr new apartments 7 want
God IN m with ne and tberc mood No