Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-04-27
A GREAT DAY IN PETERSBURG.

.
day with the Gilfield Baptist Church, |
and the people of Petersburg.
Amid . mighty throng of people, the /
fiue granite monument TO Rev. Henry |
Williams, ID. d. was unveiled at the
Blandford cemetsry OF this city.
Atsn sarly hour the people began to
gather st the grousds, and by 2 p. m
Uht re were three thousand or more
people on hand to witness the greatest
event that has taken place among our
people since the war.
PLACES CLOSED.
The public schools and factories of
the city CLOSED by special order so as
to allow all to attend these exercises.
Promptly at 2 p. m. Captain ]. A o.
| Stevens, the chairman OF the monu
ment committee called the people to
order and had the Gilfield choir to sing
the aoxology. Rev. Henry Madison
then led in q verv feeling and sppro-
pirate prayer. Asleep in Jesus was"
next sung.
THE BJRoT STATED.
Chairman Stevens in choice words
| set forth the object Of the gathering,
which was to dedicate this monument,
erected by the Gilfeld Baptist Church
aud Sunday School to the memory OF
L bu6 lhLC NJ hOhOAOA PoobOAs ~ We ne
Williams, d ID.
He then q roduced Met. william Fl.
johnson, Score tary Of the committee,
who read q concise and interesting re-
port Of the church and Sunday School
in erecting this monument.
He showed that The frat collection
for this purpose was just $lS 90 raised
in March, 1000 and that since that time
the sum Of Fifteen Hundred and Six
ty three Dollars had been raised and
that the monument had been fully
paid for and all the expenses connect
d therewith, and the recsipts were in
the hands of the treasurer.
DEsCRlPTIoN OF THE MONUMENT.
TIL monument ia OF fine granite, H.
teen feet, seven inehes in height, with
base six by six feet square; and OF
fine proportions throughout. This
monument is finely polished and hA,
letters Of large g. zs, setting forth the
+. life and character Of DR.. Williams.
Captain stevens led forward little
Erniee Robinson and Carrie Rawlin 70
each ter years old, who at the giTer
signal pulled the cords and the vel
fell from this magnificent structure
and the thousands Of people gszad il
rapture and wonder upon that I'm,
work Of art.
{ THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS AHTAIM,
At this point the GilAeld sunda,
3 School sang, 'On Jordan's Storm,
Banks ! stand" Then the Chairman
introduced Or. W, f. Graham, of Ricl
mond as orator of the day,
DR.. Graham was in hHe trim, and 70
nearly an hour held that vast assem-
blsge spellbourd, as he, in oharmingl
haantsfui lanunann ard a,
words pronounced q most benefittin
eulogy upon the life, work and cbarac
ter OF the late DR.. II. Williams, Jr.
DE. GRABAM's GREAT RFFoRr.
This was q mastery effort of d.
Grshsm. and he was highly commend
ed to the great crowd present
The pastor OF the church made son,
u remarks, commenting the church an
{ Sunday School for their devotion I
the memory of DR.. Williams. and 10
the successful way in VIII Oh they hs
e carried this work TO success.
He emphasized the fact that Re,
e Williams had erected his own monr
u ment in his grand chursh building an
in the lives and character OF the WON
en- and men trained by him in CHRIST
y ian service.
REV DIR. Boiling THERE.
d Rev. r. 81. Bowling d. D., of Mo-
d folk made . most felicitous address
!, and Rev. O. B. w Gordon mad soru
Ie very appropriate remarks.
Among the ministers on the plnt
ii form were ReVs. Jas. Keissr, I. i
ID Bowman, Berry Anderson, Harris an
G. others.
D. The various committees also occl
}: pied seats on the platform.
The widow Of DR.. Williams remaine
seated in her hack near the monI
u nent. Miss Mabel Harris, the nice
of Rev. DR.. Williamsf and Miss \
h HarveI, whom he reared, occupie
% seats on the front OF the platform.
i'll There were about one hundred an
D. fifty persons on the large rostrum'
The Gifted church and Sund q
"a School are deserving OF great cred
"a fer their 10y atty and successful effor
10 in this enterprise.
of