The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-10
THE CENTENARY
OF SPARTA Church
Large Party Of Richmond People
to Be in Attendance-Post-
Conference Elections.


Quite a. number Of Richmond people
will be present to-day at the celebration
OF the centenary of Sparta Bapt1se
Church in Caroline county. Several prom
inent local pastors and many laymen Will
attend Among the party will be
College; DR.. R. H. Pitt of the Relig-
ious Herald; Rev I. s. Boyles, OF the
Randolph Church; DR.. George
Cooper, of the First Church; Rev. w.
T. Hundley, Of Barton Heights. and
many others. DR.. A. P. Montague pres
ident of Furman University, in South
Carolina, will be there.
The history of Sparta is intimately
connected with Baptist history in Vir-
ginia The career Of tie church has
been a remarkable one, and so far as
several ministers here have been able
to ascertain is entirely unique. For
three-quarters of a century it has had
but three pastors, and all three were of
the same name and of the same fam
lily.
-'he church was built one hundred years
ago and and is thus one OF the Oldest
in the State Tho name Of its first pastor
COLD not be learned to-day, but its real
history began about seventy-five years
rCo, when Andrew Broaddus-'B Broad
dus. the Great''-who was al one time at
the First Church in this city. took charge
Of 1t Under the ministry of this noted
di.!r e, who, before his death, became
national figure and who Is now Bap-
t.st saint, the church flouriShed and grew
famous DR.. Broaddus was an orator Of
distinguished abilities and many are
tho incidents told Of his prowess In de-
bate.
TIE next pastor Of the church was An
drew Broaddus. Jr., son of the other.
For many years he continued the great
work his father had begun and then
the church passed into the hands Of his
son. another Andrew Broaddus. Dur
ing the past fourteen years the last
na.:.ed has been the pastor CT Sparta and
he is to-day.
Thus. the church has had succession
Of Andrew Broaddus and has been for
tnuate in it. The occurrence is unique
in the extreme and so far as is known is
without parallel In the history Of the
Baptist or any other denomination.
Now at the celebration OF its centen-
airy Eaptists will gather from far and
near to do the old church honor. The
RapI ahannock Association. to- which it
b.l.rgs is one of the largest in the
State and every pastor in it will try to
be there tomorrow. great gathering
of 800 or 1000 people is expected
The Christian Advocate Of this week
contains in its current issue the an
nouncement of several post-conference
elections which affect the Southern
Methodist Church.
The Rev. S. NJ Godbey. D. D., last of
Missouri for three years editor of the
Pacific Methodist. said to be a man of
has been elected by the Book Committee
assistant to DR.. Winton in the editorial
nagement Of the Nashville Advocate
The Rev. Seth Ward, D. D, pastor of
a prominent church in Galveston, Texas,
has been elected by the Board of Mis-
sions assistant secretary to DR. Lambuth.
Dr. Collins Denny has been reelected
chairman Of the Book Committee
An effort will probably be made to
make education a question of chief in
terest at the different Baptist Associa-
tons in Virginia. which will soon be-
gin holding their annual meetings The
Religious Herald of this week has an
interesting editorial on the subject, say
ing in part:
Or. Rob't Frazer and Hon. St George
Tucker are the Virginia representatives
OF the Southern Education Board. We
hope they may find it possible to visit
many, if not ALL of our associations, and
we earnestly urge the committees who
arrange the programmes for these meet
ings to give either of them who may be
present a good opportunity to present
this great cause"
A number of the well-known citizens Of
Pocahontas. Va, the little town in Taze-
we'll county, are dissatisfied that in the
introduction of prohibition in that sec
ton. it was excepted and have determin-
ed to set the conditions changed if pos
sible A big petition will be gotten up
for presentation to the Legislature and
the matter will be pushed for all it is
worth. a mass-meeting has been called
for July 10TH and the Rev. G. II. Craw-
ford. of this city. superintendent OF the
Anti-Saloon League, has been invited to
deliver an address.
Several of the Episcopal ministers of
the city will visit Hanover county next
week to assist in a revival meeting TO
DC held at ST. Paurs Church at Hanover
Co.l thouse by the Rev. Mr.. Hepburn.
Among those who will be there the
Rev,s John Moncure, D. D, Landon r.
Mason Cary Beckwith, Otis Mead and
Martin Johnson.
The Rev. j. W. Caldwell. of New Or
leans grandson of the late Rev. DR..
Palmer who was recently killed by a
street-car, is in Bon Air for the summer
with his family. His wife before her mar
riage was Miss Ellie Parker. of this city
Last Sunday the Rev. Mr.. Caldwell
preached for DR.. HaZen.
BIJOU IMPROVEMENTS