USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > Annals of Henrico parish > Part 14
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Charles Coupland and General Andrew Ronald will com plete my mention of the lawyers. The first was a man o great eminence in his day, and the second of such standing il his profession as to be one of the counsel in the celebrate( British debt cause.
Here we find the remains of that saintly man, Rev. John Buchanan, long a rector of the church, whose affectionate relations with his Presbyterian brother, the Rev. J. D. Blair has been so often the theme of tongue and pen, and were se beautifully described in the eloquent sermon of the Bishop this morning.
One minister's grave attracts our attention as seemingly re out of place. It is that of Rev. William Graham, the intel lectual giant of the Valley. Commencing life as a labore: fel in wa res on his father's farm, he acquired the rudiments of an educa tion by studying after his day's work was over. Afterward by teaching while studying, he passed through a classica course at Princeton, and was selected as principal of Liberty Hall Academy, which has become Washington and Lee Uni be P ser versity. He entered the ministry, but continued to conduc the academy, and when soldiers were called for in the Revo lution he formed the students into a company, of which he took command, and offered their services to the State. A: Re evidence of his varied acquirements it may be mentioned, tha Co Do ho he wrote the Constitution adopted by the men who attempted to set up a new State in the western part of North Carolina called the State of Franklin. And he entered into the dis cussion of the Federal Constitution when it was proposed, re Gec an of sisting its adoption in its unamended form. He was one of the most active and powerful advocates with his pen and tongue of the measures which resulted in the entire separatior of Church and State in Virginia. As a clear and cogent and mos na reasoner, it is believed he had no superior among his contem- poraries, and the impress of his mind has been continued or his country in the distinguished pupils he trained. The fall ablest of them all was Dr. Archibald Alexander, who through
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his presidency of the Theological Seminary at Princeton may be said to have moulded the Presbyterian Church in America. Dr. Graham died June 8, 1799, in this city, while on a visit to his friend, Colonel Robert Gamble. More than one me- moir of him exists, but perhaps the most interesting is that by his distinguished pupil, Dr. Alexander.
Colonel Robert Gamble, the friend of Dr. Graham, also lies buried in the yard. He was of the Scotch race which settled in Augusta county. After gallant service in the Revo- lution, he acquired a large fortune as a merchant, and re- moving to Richmond, occupied an elegant residence on the hill that bears his name. At that residence his two accom- plished daughters were wedded, one to William Wirt and the other to Judge William H. Cabell.
Colonel Edward Carrington lies buried, according to his request, at the spot where he stood and heard through an open window the great debate on the arming of the colonies. He felt that here the ennobling spirit of patriotism was kindled in his bosom, which animated and sustained him ever after- wards in war and in peace, and here he desired that his last resting place might be.
Among the eminent physicians who are buried here may be mentioned Drs. James Currie, Andrew Leiper, with whom President William Henry Harrison studied medicine ; James McClurg, one of the most eminent men of his time, who served with great distinction on the medical staff during the Revolution, and was one of the Virginia delegates to the Convention that framed the Federal Constitution; John Dove, beloved by more than one generation, and especially honored by his Masonic brethren, and James Beale, whose grave is still fresh. In this yard we also find the grave of Geddes Winston, son of the emigrant William Essex Winston, and a representative of the numerous and honorable family of Winston.
But I must bring these short notices of the dead to a close, and yet there is one other I cannot omit, as his early life was most intimately linked with mine, and the recollection of his name and person fills me with the deepest emotion. In the fall of 1848 there matriculated at the University of Virginia, a youth of slender frame and of a remarkable handsome face,
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in which were blended sweetness and genius in an unusual degree. We attended a number of classes together, and were members of the same literary society. Soon a friendship sprung up between us such as only schoolmates enjoy, and this grew and strengthened for two sessions, until in June, 1850, we graduated together, he taking the degree in two years, an unusual feat, and only achieved by youth of extraordinary capacity and industry. When the day came for us to part, we exchanged our society badges in token of our lasting friendship, and wrote sentences in each other's autograph books breathing the warmest affection. I can recall now the pale student, in whom all had come to recognize the happy blending of the lion and the lamb, as he wrote in my book these words: "When hereafter you think of your college friends, may the most pleasant emotions be experienced by you when thinking of the most sincere of them all. John Tevis Points, Staunton, Va."
Our lives, which had flowed so intimately together for two years, now diverged. I entered upon the drudgery of the law, he chose the higher calling of the Christian ministry, and prepared himself as a missionary to China, for which his great aptitude for languages seemed so well to fit him. But the deadly climate of that country soon shattered a phy- sical constitution, never strong enough for the spirit it held, and he was forced to return with impaired health. When sufficiently restored he entered upon the duties of a country charge. In the winter of 1859-1860 he was called to this church, and was recognized at once as a model rector. Lis- ten to the recorded testimony of his Vestry: "He found our church destitute of means and material. From a bankrupt congregation, cold and listless audience, and an emaciated Sunday school, and general supineness pervading the whole church, he introduced warmth, activity, vigor. Seats here- tofore vacant suddenly became filled to repletion, and an ex- tension of the accommodations became necessary ; our treas- ury became adequate to the demands made upon it, and that treasury which was always the object of his deepest solicitude had accessions made to its members. The interest imparted by him to the church soon found its way to its adjunct, the Sunday school, and its crowded walls soon resounded to the
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glad voices of a happy little congregation. We do not mean to attribute this success solely to the frequency of his public ministrations. It would be unjust to his memory were we, while according him praise in this particular, to omit to enumerate his constant devotion and attachment to his con- gregation, incessantly manifested by his untiring energy in visiting the sick, consoling the afflicted, sympathizing with and appropriating to himself their afflictions; ever on the alert to administer the consolations of his office and heal the wounded and broken hearted. Whether affliction visited the parlor or the garret, there was he to be found, and if one of those accustomed happy little faces was absent from its place in the Sunday school, straightway he bent his steps to know the cause of detention."
But this happy pastorate was not to last long. It became apparent that the seating capacity of the building must be en- larged or a new church built. This last, which involved the abandonment of this venerated building by the congregation, was not to be thought of, and it was determined to close the building for a short period, in order to add new pews. The rector in the mean time visited his old parish in King Wil- liam. While there, a guest of his kinsman, Robert E. Hill, the disease which had driven him from China returned upon him with great violence, and after a sickness of a few days, death on the 10th of June, 1860, ended his short but bril- liant career. The ladies of his congregation and his brother Masons claimed the honor of placing a stone over his grave. Seldom has one tomb closed over so much consecrated learn- ing in a youthful form. He was learned beyond his years, and was fitted with an unquenchable desire for knowledge. But he loved knowledge only as she was the handmaid of wisdom; out of the service of her heaven-born mistress he trusted her not.
" Who loves not knowledge ? who shall rail Against her beauty ? May she mix With men and prosper ? Who shall fix Her pillars ? Let her work prevail. But on her forehead sits a fire ; She sets her forward countenance
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And leaps into the future chance, Submitting all things to desire. Half grown as yet, a child, and vain, She cannot fight the fear of death. What is she, cut from love and faith, But some wild Pallas from the brain Of demons, fiery hot to burst All barriers in her onward race For power. Let her know her place ; She is the second, not the first. A Higher hand must make her mild, If all be not in vain ; and guide Her footsteps, moving side by side With wisdom, like the younger child : For she is earthly of the mind, But wisdom heavenly of the soul, O, Friend, who camest to thy goal So early, leaving me behind, I would the great world grew like thee, Who grewest not alone in power And knowledge, but by year and hour In reverence and charity."
But my task is done. It only remains for me to utter the sincere prayer which finds a response in the heart of every Christian patriot, that the same kind providence that has here- tofore preserved this building and filled it with sacred mem- ories may continue to keep it as the Mecca towards which an ever-increasing throng of liberty-oving pilgrims shall bend their steps ; and when the sands of another hundred and fifty years shall have fallen from the hand of time, and our chil- dren and children's children shall lie with us in the tomb, may a new generation, in the full enjoyment of civil and re- ligious liberty, gladly commemorate its three hundredth anni- versary, and find a pure religion still ministering at its altar.
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REV. DR. DAVID GRIFFITH.
BY J. STAUNTON MOORE.
Rev. Dr. David Griffith was chosen Bishop of Virginia by he second Virginia Convention, held in 1786, by a vote of 2 out of 49. He resigned his claim upon that office in May, 789. He was the de facto Bishop of Virginia for this period, but was not such de jure. At the Convention held in Richmond in 1787, Dr. Griffith was its president. The Con- ention urged the churches to raise funds to pay the expenses ncident to the consecration of a Bishop, and instructed the Standing Committee to apply without delay to Bishops White nd Provost, or either of them, to admit the Rev. Dr. Griffith o consecration, by whom the request would have been granted ut for the obligation to the English Bishops, to whom they elt in honor pledged not to admit any one to consecration ntil three Bishops had been obtained from England.
So depressed was the condition of the Church in Virginia, nd so little zeal was found in her members, that it was im- possible to raise funds sufficient to defray the expenses of the Bishop-elect to London. In response to the appeals of the lergy, only twenty-eight pounds were raised, a sum totally nadequate for the purpose. Dr. Griffith's want of means vere so limited he could not himself bear the expense across he Atlantic. Dr. Griffith, as shown by Saffell's Records of he Revoutionary War, was both chaplain and surgeon of the Third Virginia Regiment, as it stood in 1777-1778. The following certificate attests his service: "These are to certify hat the Rev. Mr. David Griffith was recommended to the committee of Congress and appointed by me to do the duty of chaplain to my brigade at the time the committee came to Valley Forge, which I think was about the 1st of February ast. Given under my hand this 16th day of October, 1778.
"(Signed) WM. WOODFORD, Brigadier General."
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The following resolution is extracted from the minutes :
"In Congress July 23, 1776.
"Resolved, That Dr. David Griffith be appointed to the sta- tion of chaplain and surgeon in the Third Virginia Regiment, he being a person of uncommon merit, and there being few surgeons of abilities who will enter into the army in that State. This appointment not to be drawn into precedent. That Dr. Griffith draw pay in both these capacities for the time he has served in the regiment." Under the act of the General Assembly of Virginia he received land warrants for Revolutionary services. In 1789 he was appointed by the Virginia Convention a representative to the General Conven- tion at Philadelphia, which met that year in Philadelphia. His health at this time was feeble; he reached the city, but was never able to take his seat. He died at the house of the Bishop of Pennsylvania on the 3d day of August, 1789, and the journals of the Convention attest the respect which was entertained for his character. The senior clergymen of the deputation from each State attended his funeral as pall- bearers, the residue of the Convention as mourners, while his friends, Bishop White and Mr. Andrews, the lay delegate for Virginia, were chief mourners.
Dr. Griffith was born in the city of New York, and was educated partly in that place and partly in England for the medical profession. After taking his degree in London, he returned to America and entered on the practice of his pro- fession in New York about the year of 1763. Determined to enter the ministry of the Episcopal Church, he went to Lon- don in 1770, and was ordained by Bishop Terrick, August 19th of that year, and returned as missionary to Gloucester county, New Jersey. The following year he accepted the charge of Shelbourne Parish, Loudoun county, Va. He con- tinued in it until May, 1776, when-being an American not only in birth, but in heart-he entered the service as chaplain and surgeon. He continued in this service until 1779. In 1780 he became the minister of Christ Church, Alexandria. He is represented as a man of good size and prepossessing appearance and pleasant manners, and as enjoying the con- fidence of General Washington and the army. From the
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year of 1780 to his death, in 1789, Dr. Griffith was the much esteemed pastor of Christ Church, Alexandria, and that called Little Falls, on the Potomac. During the greater part of his rectorship General Washington was his parishioner, having a pew in Christ Church, and Dr. Griffith was a welcomed guest at Mt. Vernon.
Dr. Griffith was not only a patriot at this crucial period in the history of his country that tried men's souls, but his love for and interest in the Church shows that whilst not conse- crated a Bishop according to the rubrics of the Church, his heart was thoroughly consecrated to her interests. His deep concern in the welfare of the Church and his earnest solici- tude for her condition is voiced in the following letter, writ- ten in 1783, to Dr. John Buchanan :
"Dear Sir,-You may recollect the conversation we had when I had the pleasure of seeing you at Richmond ; that we mutually lamented the declining state of the Church of Eng- land in this country, and the pitiable situation of her clergy, especially those whose circumstances are not sufficiently inde- pendent to place them beyond the reach of want. I am satis- fied our Church has yet a very great number of powerful friends, who are disposed to give it encouragement and sup- port, and who wish to see some plan in agitation for effecting a business so important, and at this time no necessary. It is (and very justly) matter of astonishment to many that those whose more immediate duty it is to look to the concerns of their religious society should show so much indifference and indolence as the Church and clergy do, while the leaders of almost every other denomination are laboring with the great- est assiduity to increase their influence, and, by open attacks and subtle machinations, endeavoring to lessen that of every other society, particularly the Church to which you and I have the honor to belong, in whose destruction they all (Quakers and Methodists excepted) seem to agree perfectly, however they may differ in other points. Against these it behooves us to be cautious. But, unless the clergy act con- jointly and agreeably to some well-regulated plan, the ruin of our Church is inevitable without the malevolence of her enemies. Considering her present situation and circum- stances-without ordination, without government, without
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support, unprotected by the laws, and yet laboring under injurious restriction from laws which yet exist-these things considered, her destruction is sure as fate, unless some mode is adopted for her preservation. Her friends, by suffering her to continue in her present state of embarrassment, as ef- fectually work her destruction as her avowed enemies could do by their most successful contrivances.
"In the late contest for a stake of the last importance to this country, it would have been imprudent to enter on a regulation of ecclesiastical affairs, or to attempt anything that might interrupt that union which was so necessary for our mutual security and preservation. But that time, God be thanked, is happily over, and those reasons no longer exist. It seems to be high time for those whom it concerns to be engaged in the important business of regulating the affairs of the Church. I have been for some time in the hope that some of my brethren near the seat of government would have set on foot this necessary business; and my reason for ad- dressing you at this time is to be informed whether anything of the kind is begun or intended-the time when, the place where, and manner how-and if nothing of the kind should be yet determined upon, to request of you, as your situation renders it no way inconvenient, to undertake to promote a Convention of the clergy for that purpose. I shall also pre- sume to offer my advice. In order that the measures agreed on may be generally acceptable to the clergy and no objection remain to impede their future execution, it will be necessary to have as numerous a meeting as possible. I would recom- mend to have the clergy summoned to this Convention both by public notice and private information; for, as the Virginia newspapers seldom come into this and several other quarters, perhaps the end would be best answered by sending printed circular letters to all quarters of the State; if circular letters were not sent, many of the clergy might not have timely no- tice. I would recommend this Convention to be called on the authority of the few clergy contiguous to the seat of govern- ment-the notices to be signed by the whole of them, or one as chairman. I would advise the notices to be couched in general terms, to avoid, as much as possible, assigning reasons for it, especially such as may alarm the Dissenters and rouse
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them into opposition. The time for sending and publishing these notices should be near three months before the intended Convention, that the clergy might with certainty be informed of it and be prepared to leave their homes. As Richmond is near the centre of the State, I think it is the properest place to hold the Convention at. The time for holding the Con- vention I would recommend to be about the 20th of April next. It will be impossible to have anything like a full meet- ing in the winter season; and about the season I have men- tioned, the weather is generally fine for travelling and the roads settled. Besides, our plans should be agreed upon previous to the session of Assembly, as we must necessarily have recourse to it for the repeal of those existing laws which made a part of the old establishment, and which, while they do exist, must prove ruinous to the Church in spite of any regulations the clergy may adopt. I have not the pleasure of knowing Mr. Blagrove, chaplain to the House of Assembly, but I think his name, or yours, or both, would not appear improperly at the bottom of the notices, or anything that will answer the purpose. If the above proposal should be adopted, I shall be much obliged to you for informing me of it as soon as it is determined on. Please direct to me at Alexandria, either by post or some private hand. If a meeting is likely to take place, it would not perhaps be amiss if yourself and our brethren in your neighborhood were to digest some plan for the consideration of the Convention. If it was well con- sidered by sensible men what regulations were wanting and what reform necessary, it would save abundance of time. If I have timely notice, I will cheerfully devote all the spare time I have to this service. And if the Convention is re- solved on, I will engage to send the notices to all the clergy in the Northern Neck above Falmouth, if the copies or a form are sent to me in time. You may remember that when I had the pleasure of seeing you I expressed a wish that a coalition might take place between us and the Dissenters; it is still my most earnest wish, but I am now satisfied it is a vain one; and I think our Church has no chance of preserving any of its ancient and excellent forms of worship, but from the united zeal and efforts of her clergy. I think it is this alone that can preserve her very existence. I am, etc.,
"DAVID GRIFFITH."
RT. REV. JAMES MADISON, D. D., BISHOP OF VIR- GINIA 1790 TO 1812.
BY W. G. STANARD, OF THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Rt. Rev. James Madison, D. D., a member of the same family as President James Madison, was a son of John Madi- son, who was long a prominent citizen of Augusta county, and was born in 1749.
He was educated at William and Mary College, and prior to the Revolution was professor of natural philosophy and mathematics in that institution. He succeeded John Camm as president of William and Mary in 1777, and in conjunction with Jefferson, then a member of the Board of Visitors, made many improvements in its constitution, nota- bly that of introducing the elective system.
In 1790 James Madison was chosen first Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, and was consecrated at Lambeth Palace, London, in September of the same year.
Bishop Madison seems to have entered upon the duties of his office with a sincere desire to elevate the character of the Church and to employ a commendable zeal in the prosecution of such measures as would be likely to promote its prosperity, but his efforts proved of but little avail, and the Church sunk so low that some even of its best friends began to despair. We know now that the disestablishment of the Church laid the foundation of its present vigor and usefulness ; but at the moment this reform, like many reforms, seemed to work chiefly for evil. The loss of Church property, the poverty of the people, the moral degeneration consequent upon a long war, the violent opposition of other branches of the Church, and the spread of French infidelity combined to almost work its ruin.
Though almost any one might have failed to stem the tide of destructive influences that threatened the Church in Vir-
RT. REV. JAMES MADISON, D. D., First Bishop of Virginia.
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ginia, Bishop Madison may not have been the best man for the difficult task. There is no doubt that he was learned and good, and his broad Christian charity is shown by the fact that in the General Convention of 1792 he introduced a propo- sition for a union "with all sincere Christians." It has been sometimes thought that his devotion to scientific subjects and to the affairs of the college detracted from his usefulness as a Bishop, and it is evident that, while profoundly a Christian, the bonds of Churchmanship lay lightly upon him.
Bishop Madison married Miss Tate, of Williamsburg, and died in 1812, leaving several children.
RT. REV. R. CHANNING MOORE, D. D., BISHOP OF VIRGINIA 1814 TO 1841.
BY W. G. STANARD, OF THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Richard Channing Moore, descended from a prominent New York family, and son of Thomas Moore and Elizabeth Channing his wife, was born in the city of New York on August 21, 1762, and died at Lynchburg, Va., on November 11, 1841.
He was educated at King's College (now Columbia Uni- versity), studied medicine, and commenced the practice of that profession, but becoming a communicant of the Epis- copal Church, he not long afterwards determined to enter the ministry, and was ordained a deacon July, 1787, by Bishop Provost, of New York. Admitted to priest's orders in September of the same year, he was called to the charge of Grace Church, Rye, Westchester county. In 1789 he became the rector of St. Andrew's, Staten Island, and in 1809 of St. Stephen's, New York City. In each of these parishes he was much beloved and did very successful work.
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