The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-22

elder of the Richmond District. win
preach. The auditorium of the church
will be handsomely decorated.
The present pastor of Trinity Is
Rev. Starke Jett, who has done most
successful work here.
The advance in Christian work In
Richmond since a faithful few gath
cred on Sunday morning. May %.
1915, in the church building at Nine
teenth and F'renklin. has been mar
velous. Trinity Is probably the oldest
SUNDAY School in the South in point
Of continuous operation and m amher-
ship.
Sketch OF 100 Years Work.
The following sketch has been pre-
pared of the history of the Sunday
School and of Trinity Church by one
familiar with the facts:
The first Methodist Church built in
Richmond was located at the corner
OF Nineteenth and Franklin Streets.
Historians say 1t was built in 1893.
The pastor in 1914 was the Rev.
Ethelbert Drake. 1t Is recalled of him
that every Saturday he visited the
families of his congregation and in
structed the children in the truths of
the Bible. He was succeeded by the
Rev. John Hardy.
OfGaukxtu An 1910.
In 1918 Mr.. Hardy organized the
present Trinity Sunday School. the
services being held In the gallery of
the church. Mr.. Hardy himself was
superintendent OF the Sunday School.
But he soon found that the surround
ings were not suitable for Sunday
School work and the school soon
thereafter began Its series of moves.
For thirteen years ii was virtually
driven from pillar to post" before 1t
found a resting place. After locating
at numerous places only to move
again in short time. the school finally
settled down to a permanent location
In the new Trinity Methodist Church.
II was, in fact. only when the new
church was built that the Sunday
School began its real work of organ
ization. and when its influence began
10 be most felt. The Sunday School
occupied the basement of the new
church. which was located on Frank
lin Street.
Burned In 1886.
In 1895 the church was burned, De-
ing rebuilt the following year and the
Sunday School returned to the churcn,
not having lost service.
In 1860 the school was moved to the
present Trinity Church at Twentieth
and Broad Streets. There the scnooi
has carried on it's work up to the
prassnt time, No doubt many Will say
at the great day. II was born there.
The work OF the school has been
carried on by men prominent In both
the social and business life OF the
city. Thomas NJ. Pemberton, one Of
Richmonds well-known business men.
who was for thirty-fiye years superin-
tendent of the school: Charles r.
Rady. one of the best known drug
lists OF his day: James =. Riddick,
John w. Ferguson and William a.
Crew. who have since passed on TO
their reward. ably assisted IN carrying
forward the work.
Charles w Hardwicke and 9.
walford are still blessing the school
~ their efforts. The present superin
tendent, Thomas B. Turner. deserves
great credit for his untiring Efforts
Church Also Fgourtshlng.
Not less blessed with fruition hae
heen the Sunday School than Inc
church itself. The centennial of the
church was celebrated in 1899 From
! small membership the congregation
Mas grown to be one Of the largest and
most influential in the city.
The Rev. Starke Jett. the present
~. sss,rs OF the church., has doae notable
work in adding members to the roll
and sincreasing the influence of MS
Althongh he has been