Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 26.djvu/270

 260 Southern Historical Society Papers.

gregation, and it was enlarged by throwing a transept across the eastern end, thus adding two wings to the building, enlarging and beautifying it at the same time. These alterations were carried out by Mr. George Gibson, an honored deacon of the church, and per- haps the only original member now living.

An incident connected with the early history of the church illus- trates the growth of the city in a westerly direction. When the officers of the First Presbyterian Church proposed to purchase the lot on which the Second Church stands, it was earnestly opposed by an influential member, on the ground that it was too far up-town, and that a congregation could not be gathered at such a remote re- gion.

SENT OUT ITS FIRST COLONY.

In the year 1882 the Second Presbyterian Church sent forth its first colony, now known as the Church of the Covenant. It occu- pied the building erected on west Grace street, near Richmond Col- lege, the chief contributor being the late Dr. James McDowell, son of Governor McDowell, of Rockbridge county. Its first pastor was Rev. Peyton Harrison Hoge, under whose ministry it was steadily advancing until his removal to Wilmington, N. C. He was suc- ceeded Rev. A. R. Holderby, who was succeeded by Rev. J. Calvin Stewart, under whose administration another locality was chosen and a new church erected. This is now one of the most flourishing churches in the city.

THE OLD-MARKET MISSION.

The second colony sent out from this church was the Old-Market Mission, which has now become the the strong and well-organized Hoge-Memorial Church. This proved to be one of the most suc- cessful enterprises of Dr. Hoge's life. About twenty years ago he commenced services in the spacious hall over the Old Market, and it was a success from the first. The size of the congregation was lim- ited only by the size of the hall; a flourishing Sabbath-school was established, Bible classes, weekly lectures, visitations from house to house, and all the agencies by which the temporal and spiritual good of the people in that part of the city could be advanced were em- ployed. So large did the work become that Dr. Hoge found it impossible to continue to preach three times every Sunday, and per- sonally to satisfy the requirements of two congregations, as he wished to do, and in consequence the Rev. L. B. Turnbull was called as an