1785-1887

St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church Henrico Parish City of Richmond, Vestry Book 1785-1887

FOR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN. Christian Courtesies. Richmond, VA., January 18th, 1873. To the Elders of the Third Presbyterian church: Gentlemen - We the undersigned, a committee appointed by the Vestry of St. John's church, beg leave to present the enclosed resolution, passed to day, and ask your acceptance in the spirit with which the tender is made. You have the full and free use of our church on Sunday, between 2 and 6 o'clock in the afternoon, and the use of our Lecture room, any evening but Wednesday and Friday. We beg to express to you our deep sympathy in this trial to your church, and pray that the Father of all mercies may bless your pastor and congregation. We are gentlemen. Very truly your brethren, THONAS POTTS, DAVID McMINN, JOHN D. WHITEHEAD. Committee. P. S. Our Rector heartily unites with the Vestry in this act of brotherly love. The Vestry of St. John's church are pained to learn of the reported unsafe condition of the build ing owned by the Third Presbyterian church-- Resolved, That we tender the use of St. John's church and Lecture room to the pastor and congregation of the Third Presbyterian church until they have made proper arrangements about a building to hold service in. Resolved, That a committee of three members be instructed to convey this resolution to the elders of the Third Presbyterian church, and to make the necessary arrangements about services. RICHMOND, VA., January 21st, 1873. To Messrs. Thiomas Potts, David McMinn and John D. Whitehead, Committee: Gentlemen: -- The communication from you announcing the generous courtesy of the St. John's Episcopal church, in offering the use of your house of worship to the people of the Third Presbyterian church in their present banishment from their own, has been laid before the session. The courtesy and Christian spirit of this tender is warmly appreciated, and not less so, the earnest and graceful terms in which the offer was communicated. The proposal is heartily accepted in a spirit duly answering to that in which it was made. continued

[Begin second column] continued The undersigned, a committee appointed by the Session of the Third Presbyterian church to announce the acceptance of the tender of St. John's and to present a copy of the official record touching this matter ; beg leave to place in the hands of the Vestry through you the enclosed paper and to add the expression of their warm sense of this act of most Christian courtesy. THOMAS SAMSON, GEORGE W. ALLEN, EDWIN PLEASANTS, Committee of Session. (Extracts from Records of Session.) The official papers extending the use of St. John's Episcopal church to the congregation of the Third Presbyterian church in their present prudential abandonment of their own house of worship, because of the present condition of the Church Hill Tunnel, having been laid before Session, it was therefore, Resolved, 1. That the Session of the Third Presbyterian church on behalf of the people desire to express in the most marked manner their high sense of the Christian courtesy of this action of the St. John's Episcopal church. 2. That we cordially accept the offer as made to us. 3. That the official record of the Vestry and the letter of their committee be spread upon the records of Session, and engrossed with a broad margin as expressive of a grateful incident in the history of this church, illustrative of the real sympa thy between true Christians, and also to mark by a permanent and visible distinction our high appreciation of the spirit of the brethren of St. John's Episcopal church. 4. That a committee be appointed to address a communication to the Vestry of St. John's church through their committee expressing the feelings of the officers and members of this church and enclosing a copy of these resolutions. 5. That the Session record their thanks to the God of all grace, for every manifestation of the growing strength of Christian sympathy in these days of growing strength to the Church of God, and their heartfelt prayer that he would give more and more of his good Spirit to all his servants, until the whole house of God among men shall rejoice in the unity of that Spirit and in the bond of peace. GEO. W. GRETTER, Clerk of Session.

RICHMOND, VA., January 21st, 1873. To our Brethren, The Deacons of the Baptist Church of Jesus Christ, worshipping on Leigh Street, through brother Williams the organ of communication with us--- Dear Breathren,-- The Session of the Third Presbyterian church, now for a time deprived of their own house of worship, have received with marked sensibility, through brother Williams, the generous offer of your house of worship on Leigh St. The undersigned, a committee appointed to do so, would express our profound gratification at this expression of Christian sympathy. Our only reason for not accepting the offer, is, that we had already received and accepted a similar tender from the brethren of St. John's Episcopal church. We give you our hearty thanks and we are instructed to say that the official recording touching the matter is ordered to be engrossed with a broad margin expressive of our warm appreciation of the tender of our Baptist brethren. It will be sufficient to add, that in case the necessity should arise hereafter we will avail ourselves of your kindness, assured we shall find the sympathies now so quickly tendered us not worn out of your hearts. May Grace, Mercy and Peace abound unto you and unto all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. On behalf of Session. Your Brethren, THOS. SAMSON GEO. W. ALLEN, EDWIN PLEASANTS, Committee.

(Extracts from Records of Session.) "The Session having learned that a verbal communication had been received through an officer of the Leigh St. Baptist church tendering the use of their church building to our scattered flock, it was on motion, Resolved, That the committee charged with the duty of replying to the tender of St. Johns' Episcopal church, be directed to write an answer to the brethren of the Leigh St. Baptist church giving them the hearty thanks of this church for their warm Christian sympathy and stating the reason of our declining to accept the generous courtesy offered to us, as found in our previous acceptance of the offer of our Episcopal brethren. Resolved, That this part of the Record of Session be engrossed with a broad margin in marked recognition of another welcome act of Christian sympathy from our Baptist brethren in the household of faith. Resolved, That the committee charged with the answer to our Baptist brethren be instructed to notify them of this order touching the above record. GEO. W. GRETTER, Clerk of Session.

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Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name they Kingdom come: thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread & forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us & lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the Kingdom , the power & the glory forever & ever.