Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-23
COVENANT CHURCH
SOLD TO MASONS
Park Avenue Building to Become
Scottish Rite Ca
thedral.
BOUGHT BY LlBERTAS LODGE
Allan Fails to Take Up Option on
Grace Street Church
Building.
BOUGHT By LlBERTAS LODGE

Al meeting of the trustees OF
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church.
held on Wednesday night of last week
II was nEreed to sell the church prop
erty at the northeast corner OF Park
Avenue and Harrison Street including
the chapel In the rear. to the trustees
OF Libcrtas Lodge No. s. of the Ancient
and Accepted Scottish Rite Of Free
masonry, for 1850. OF which Si2.5U0
is 10 he paid in ash upon execution of
the contract of sale. and a not. for
$4,000, which is To he given for the
deferred purchase money. payable two
or three years after date, whenever
possession Is rendered by the church
authorities. The church. In addition,
agrees TO pay interest upon the cash
payment at the rate Of per cent per
annum until possession is given.
The purchase includes the pipe organ
now In the church. the heating plant
and the seating equipment in both
church and chapel. The deal was prac-
tically closed last night. when the
trustees OF Libcrtas Lodge. Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite OF Freemasonry,
were authorized and directed to sign
the contract with the trustees Of the
church, agreeing to purchase the prop
erty on the terms mentioned
CHURCH WILL. ERECT
HANDSOME NEW BUILDING
The Scottish Rite committee in
charge Of the matter consisted Of Rob
ert a. Crump. chairman; o. J. Sands,
Thomas B. McAdams. o. y. Hawkins
and G.. NJ. Robinson. The agreement
az TO the final terms Of possession
will give to the church organization
y,,f,ln
church for the combined congregations
Of Grace Street Church and the Church
of the Covenant under their agreement
as to consolidation reached some time
ago. The formal contract will be. ac-
cordingly. executed between the
church and lodge. embodying this
On. and after the first Sunday in
April the two congregations Will wor-
ship as one congregation In the Park
Avenue building. and steps will he
taken in the near future to purchase
lot upon which new church. modern
in Its appointment. and with n seating
capacity adequate to the needs OF the
enlarged congregation. will be erected.
The Gracc-Covenant Church, under
the provisions of the merger OF the two
congregations. Is owner OF the lot and
church building on the northeast cor
ner OF Grace and Fourth Streets.
fronting eighty-seven feet on Grace
street. with n depth of lSO feet on
Fourth Street. the present value OF
which is. even in the present some
what dull condition Of the real estate
market, estimated at $4,000 Consid-
erinR the estimated value of the Grace
Street Church property, upon which
$4,000 is due as forfeit for an uncon-
sumnated sale. and the purchase price
or the Grace Covenant property. the
combined congregations will have on
hand for the purchase OF another site
between $4,000 and $4,000 to er-
pend. and with this amount one Of the
handsomest church buildings In the
city may be constructed and suitably
fitted.
ALLAN SURRENDERS
FORFEIT OF s1O.oOO
Two years ago tho Grace Street
Church property was sold 10 Edgar
Allan. Jr.. and associates for $4,000
with the privilege that tho congrega-
ton could hold the property during
TWO years while II was looking about
for another site. Mr.. Allan. It Is un-
derstood, afterwards became dissntis-
fled with his bargain. and surrendered
tho forfeit of $4,000 which was paid
down. Now the Grace-Covenant con-
EreGation owns the property, and esu.
mates its value at $4,000. With the
approach OF business houses or the
residential districts OF East Franklin
and Grace Streets, it is believed tbat
there Will be no difficulty in selling the
Grace street property at n fair value.
and 1t may I've held by the combined
congregations until such time as II de-
sires to sell 1t its own consideration.
I.ibertas Lodge. No. ., OF the An
cient and Accepted Scottish Rite OF
Frecmasonry. Will occupy the present
Grace Covenant Church at such tim.
as II may gain possession as q cathe-
dral for the order. and it Will be tho
only property so used In the city.
Libertns Lodge now occupies head
quarters IN the Masonic Temple, on
West Broad Street.
After the business session of the
lodge. In which the terms Of sale were
considered and agreed upon, DR.. Henry
Ridgely Evans. Of Washington, made
an address on Masonic SYMBOLS"
which was az highly entertaining as
Instructive. This is Or. EvaDss second
appearance here before the members
OF the Scottish Rite, having delivered
an address before tho same lodge about
two years ago.
NO DECISION IN FRANK CASE