The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-04-08
FIRST BAPTIST
Continued from Page One,)

to the deacons, and through them to
the congregation. to build a suitable
house of worship on Monument avenue
and the Boulevard. bounded as fol-
lows:
Four hundred and eleven feet on
Monument avenue. 400 feet on Park
avenue, $40 feet on the Boulevard, $50
feet on Mulberry street
| have purchased this ground. and
hold same as trustee for the First
Baptist church. This ground is val
ued at $4,000, and 1 offer to contri-
butte this lot. together with $3.50 900.
making a total amount including the
lot, of 5000 geo for the erection or the
building. | would give more but for
fear IN the case of my death in the
meantime. I might embarrass my
estate; but if / live / shall consider
1t privilege to give more, in case it
becomes necessary, for / long to see
the grandest. nohlest and finest church
building in the South occupy t%s ~
/ do not care that nay name shall Is
connected or in anyway mentioned in
the erection of this new church, but
1t Is my wish and desire that suitable
memorial tablets be placed in the
Ichnrch for my mother and wife.
[ am ready to pledge this obligation
for the building Of the above church
the First Baptist church. Should the
congregation wish to have a part IN
the expenses of the new building 1t
VIII be my pleasure to have them 10
so, even to make the church handsomer,
larger, or purchase a fine organ and
the furnishings of the church
would not have any member deprived
of contributing any amount he wishes
to give. but [ feel it my duty as we'll
%o MT ha
prise by pIedgng myself and my
estate to the extent Of s350e00 to be-
put in the church building OF course,
whatever is given by the menhcrs tu
addition to my Contri bution VIII eua-
| bic us TO have just that much better
/ furnishings and building Iawould Ike
TO see our noble congregation worship
ping in the most commqdtoas, conve~
| nlent and attractive buildings in the
South. / wish before / join my loved
ones on the other shore, to provide as
| lar as is acceptable 10 our member
ship, for a building in which our church
may continue to enlarge its sphere Of
| influence and power.
! Somehow, l feel called upon to do
this. feeling that if | do not do it. It
Will never he done, and I trust that
. you can see Is far ahead in the future
as / do, and realize that our church
/ building Will be surrounded ny a negro
| population fifty wears from now, or
| perhaps less time than that. because I
i believe that they VIII own all north
of Bro I'D street. I do not see where
else they can go and for that reason
am anxious while l live 10 provide
for another church building. Remem-
Der, i do not want to do ANYTHING to
detract from our present building and
location, and those of our membership
who feel that they would sometimes
like to worship there, | appreciate that
sentiment. and would he only too glad
} TO see us have an assistant pastor, ana
nave service there every Sunday
Should my offer be accepted, 7 am
ready to deed the lot to the trustees
OF the First Baptist church, and shall
expect the church to have $sarge If
the building enterprise by the appoint
ment of building committee, etc.
and l would not feel that l owned one
cent more in this building, by tho
contribution OF $4,000 or more which
/, l am ready to contribute. than the
poorest member of the church who
was not able to give a penny
/ respectfully submit the above COR
Your prayful consideration, and hone
the Lord will direct you in the right
direction for the Advancement Of his
cause and Kingdom.
i Yours in bonds Of love
Il w. :. FORBES.
i In expressing his views on the sub
Il ject. DIR. Mcdaniel said.
You will bear witness to the nas-
; tors neutrality upon the question of
a rev church building and location
! Until "A majority OF the deacons had
expressed themselves as favorable. he
has been reticent upon that subject
Did l entertain an opinion contrary "a
the deacons | should hesitate to ex-
press 1t. Their collective wisdom, is
surely greater than that Of any in.
ur situation. their disinterested spirit
their devotion to the history and ira
ditions of our church, their unselfish
service. Of Itch we are all maindfu
ividual. Their long familiarity witt
and for when grateful their concern
for the continued growth and pros.
perity of this congregation, their ex.
ccptional maturity OF judgment, and
their unfeigned love for God, qualify