USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > History and reminiscences of the Monumental Church, Richmond, Va. : from 1814 to 1878 > Part 16
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In Bishop Meade's address to this convention he also speaks of the death of the Rev. George Adie, a most beloved brother and fellow-laborer in the church of the diocese. It is refreshing to read the bishop's estimate of his character.
The parochial report of the Monumental Church, Richmond .- Rev. Geo. Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. John W. Atkinson as lay delegate. Communi- cants, 169; contributions for church purposes, and · for the sufferers at Norfolk and Portsmouth, caused by yellow fever in 1855, $329.23; total, $1,976.23.
Our vestry held but two recorded meetings this. fiscal year; but they were interesting to the church,
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especially one of 27th December, 1855, when a re- port was made by the committee-Messrs. James H. Gardner, J. H. Poindexter, John H. Tyler, and John L. Bacon-who had been so active and liberal towards the discharge of the organ debt, that the entire balance of $1,128.59 was now paid; and they requested that the report be entered upon the minutes of the vestry.
The other meeting was held on the 12th May, 1856, when Mr. John W. Atkinson was chosen the lay delegate to the annual meeting of the convention held in Fredericksburg, on the 21st of that month.
1857.
The convention met in St. Paul's church, Bristol Parish, Petersburg, on Wednesday, 20th May. Pre- sent : Right Rev. Wm. Meade, D. D., bishop, and Right Rev. John Johns, assistant bishop, Rev. H. S. Kepler, Richmond, as secretary, and Mr. J. Wilder Atkinson, assistant secretary, pro tem.
It was at this meeting that Bishop Meade read a letter of the 16th May inst., from Mr. G. T. Bedell, at New York, announcing that the two Messrs. Wm. H. and J. L. Aspinwall, of that city, had each placed in his hands the sum of ten thousand dollars towards the erection of the buildings for the semi- nary near Alexandria.
Parochial report of Monumental Church Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. John W. Atkinson, lay delegate from same. Com- municants, white, 183; colored, 1-total, 184. Con- tributions, $2,196.11.
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Two meetings of the vestry were held during the fiscal year ending the 20th November, 1857, to-wit: On the 4th December, 1856, and 12th of May, 1857. In the former proceedings a deficiency in the revenue of about $225 was exhibited by the treasurer, and a resolution adopted for each member of the vestry to make a private collection towards its liquidation ; and it was also resolved to continue the salary of the organist at $100.
At the latter meeting, a communication from Mrs. Lucy P. Smith, in behalf of the ladies of the church, enclosing a check for $725 towards the payment of the debt of the church (being proceeds of a fair held by them for the purpose,) was read, and the secre- tary requested to acknowledge the same, and the thanks of the vestry for the liberal effort of the ladies on such an occasion. The entire debt was then discharged, and the residue was to be appro- priated towards the contemplated repairs of the church.
It was at this meeting that Mr. James H. Gard- ner sent in his resignation as vestryman and senior warden, and the vestry determined not to accept it ; but at a subsequent meeting Mr. Gardner urged, as a reason for not consenting to withdraw it, his ad- vanced and feeble state of health, but was willing to act in concert for the welfare of the church at all times with the other members as long as he lived and was able to do so.
1858.
The convention met in Christ church, Winchester,
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Wednesday, May 19th. Present: Right Rev. Wm. Meade, D. D., bishop, and Right Rev. John Johns, D. D., assistant bishop, with Rev. H. S. Kepler, of Richmond, as secretary, and Mr. James Entwisle, Jr., of Alexandria, assistant secretary.
Parochial report of Monumental Church, Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. Geo. D. Fisher, as the lay delegate from same. Com- municants: Present number, white, 204; colored, 2 -total, 206. Contributions, $2,310.27, exclusive of minister's salary and other regular expenses.
The vestry held but two meetings during this fiscal year, the one on the 31st December, 1875, when the annual report of the treasurer was read, and a committee appointed to examine the same, which was accordingly done, and approved.
The other meeting was held on - May, when the election of a lay delegate from this church to the annual meeting of the convention of the diocese, to be held in Winchester, on the 19th of May, 1858, was ordered, and Mr. George D. Fisher, appointed as such.
1859.
The convention met in Christ church, Norfolk, Wednesday, May 18th. Present: Right Rev. Wm. Meade, D. D., bishop, and Right Rev. John Johns, D. D., assistant bishop, with the Rev. H. S. Kepler, secretary, and Mr. John W. Atkinson, assistant.
Parochial report of Monumental Church, Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. John L. Bacon, lay delegate from same. Com-
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municants: Present number, white, 198; colored, 2: -total, 200. Contributions: Presented by the. ladies of the church in connection with the sewing society, $900-total, $3,907.01.
Besides the white Sunday-school, there is a flourish- ing colored one, with about fifteen teachers, (white); thirteen communicants were transferred to Grace church, and one to St James.
The vestry held three very interesting meetings. during this fiscal year, the first on the 22nd Decem- ber, 1858, at which a committee was appointed to ascertain the cost of certain repairs, and painting the outside of the church, and report to a future meeting. Also a committee, composed of Messrs. Jno. Adams Smith and George D. Fisher, appointed to take the necessary steps for new trustees of the. Monumental Church building, in place of those who» have died.
The second was held on 19th of April, 1859, and' Mr. John Adams Smith reported to the vestry that Mr. Wm. H. Macfarland had kindly consented to, present to the court of hustings for the city of Rich- mond, the three names advised by the vestry, to wit : Messrs. John W. Atkinson, (then of Richmond,) Philip Rahm, and John Tyler. At this meeting also, Mr. Jas. H. Gardner, in behalf of the com- mittee on repairs, made a verbal report (so far as- the cominittee had gone) of the cost of repairs to the outside of the church, including two coats of the best paint, and that the same may be done this spring and summer; all of which was agreed should be-
17
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done. And at this meeting also, the vestry ap- pointed Mr. John L. Bacon lay delegate to the annual meeting of the convention of the diocese, to be held in Norfolk, on the 18th of May next, and Mr. J. W. Atkinson, as alternate.
The third meeting was held on the 6th of June, when the vestry gave the committee on repairs the authority to have other repairs, in way of painting the inside of the church; such as the galleries and doors and windows, also frescoing under the gal- leries, as well as the recess of the chancel; and the entire cost then estimated was $595.
1860.
The convention met in Christ church, Charlottes- ville, Wednesday, 16th May. Present : Right Rev. William Meade, D. D., bishop ; and Right Rev. Johns Johns, D. D., assistant bishop ; and John W. Atkinson, of Richmond, as secretary.
Morning prayer was read by Rev. C. J. Gibson, rector of Grace church, Petersburg, and the opening sermon was preached by the Rev. Cornelius Walker.
At this meeting a very interesting report of the "state of the church " was made by eight of our clergy and laymen, which may be here introduced with- out impairing the specialty of this history, and at the same time give to the younger members of the Epis- copal Church in Virginia who have since grown into manhood, as well as others out of the diocese, a pretty correct view of the political aspect which mat- ters were then assuming in our diocese, and its bear-
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ing on our ecclesiastical sky at that time. The re- port begins thus :
" From the constitution of this committee, under the standing rules of the convention, it seems to be supposed that something will transpire through the Episcopal and parochial reports, or be otherwise ob- tained, which it will be desirable to have considered and put in form for action by the convention itself.
"Nothing of this sort having come before us, ex- cept that referring to the religious instruction of the colored population, already so ably provided for through the agency of a special committee, we might content ourselves by simply reporting this fact. But in deference to what seems to be expected of the committee from the usage of former times, they venture to submit briefly their views upon some measures for improving the state of the church, and making it what its Divine Head would have it to be.
" To increase or modify our canons at this day, is deemed but a small part of the object of our annual five days' continuance together. The opening of the convention at an earlier day in the week was for the avowed purpose of allowing more time for preach- ing the gospel, for progressive concert, and especially for devising means for evangelical aggression, where- by this vast diocese, and the region beyond it, might be more effectually subjected to the powers of the gospel.
"For years there have been numerous vacant parishes, besides large districts embracing entire counties, in which there are no parishes, and but
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very partial means of grace from any source, who are shut up to such provision for their spiritual ne- cesssities as shall be made by the people of the State itself.
"In reference to the work of missions within the diocese, there is cause for joy in the energetic and well directed efforts of the committee in Richmond, and the success which has attended their labors thus far, as appears in their admirable report, and it is hoped that at least two missionaries may be imme- diately employed for Western Virginia. But, in this connection, the committee have had their minds drawn to the state of the church in this diocese, as it stands related to the whole work of domestic mis- sions.
"On the foreign field, the influence of no diocese has been so extensively felt, while on the domestic field this influence is comparatively indirect and par- tial, and this, too, at a time when it is plain to all who will listen to the premonitions of coming events, that the great interest of the world is the more thorough Christianization of the American people. An intelligent survey of the human race, in this age, would lead to the conviction that the happiness of the whole depends more upon the course of things in this country than in any other. By the close of the century this will be the most powerful nation upon the globe, and the most populous, except China ; and what are the probable spiritual fortunes of this grandest mass of human life which the world ever saw ? As Christians, we need not be told that
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its spiritual character will determine its temporal con- dition; and that this temporal condition will re-act with tremendous force upon its spiritual character.
"From various causes the liberties of this country are greatly in advance of its religion. Suffrage is universal. Whatever may be the result of an ex- periment which never in human history has suc- ceeded, we are committed to that result. No earthly power can now deliver this country from this do- minion of the popular will except through scenes which few have the nerve to contemplate. The ma- jority is the government. That majority is not now under the control of Christian principle; it is poor, and the time is not distant when, from commercial disasters, it may be temporarily suffering for the ne- cessaries of life. We have no anchor to stay us in such a tide of affairs. Hence, the opinion enter- tained by so many of our wisest citizens, that the materials for our destruction early in the next cen- tury, if not in this, are being precipitated upon our shores from the nations of western Europe, and that the end of our government and of our liberties awaits only the reflux wave of population from the over-peopled west. Property will seek protection from the poor in any government; nay, the poor from the violence of each other. Despotism will be the result, and religion, too, as in all despotic countries, be turned back to grind in bondage. Viewed from a human stand point, and in the natural relations between causes and their effects, the fore- going view is probably the true one.
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" But is there no other light in which to view our future? Has the church of God, so ignored by the philosophers of this world, been placed here for naught? Is not the religion of Jesus Christ, as com- mitted to and administered by this church, to modi- fy, nay control, the cause of human history ? If our country is to be saved, it will be saved by the Bible, and not by the constitution. If our country is to be saved, it will be saved, not by the wisdom and virtue of the people, but by the grace of God delivering them from their folly and their sin. Our hope is in Him who dwelleth in the heavens. But will the church hear the voice of God now so loudly uttered in His providence ? Will she know her day, her office, her responsibility, and rise to the oppres- sive greatness of her work? And what is the utterance of that voice which may now be heard crying in this wilderness of political and social agitation, as it is addressed to the ear of the church ? It is this, and none other, Evangelize-evangelize- evangelize. Stand upon the banks of this flowing tide of people, nay swim with them, and evangelize as you go. But how is this to be done? God works by means and measures. Do we need new measures ? No, not as at present made known to us; but the pro- secution of old measures with new zeal. We need in greater abundance, good schools, good papers, good tracts, good books, and, above all, good min isters of Jesus Christ.
" How shall we set forth the office and power of the evangelical press ? We have a society admir-
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ably ordered for its use, to which attention has been called in former reports of the committee on the state of the church, and in the addresses of the bishops, especially to that to which we listened at the opening of this convention. Will we support this society, and use it ?
"Another and more efficient form of imparting evangelical knowledge is through evangelical educa- tion in schools, from the lowest up to our noble Uni- versity. We thank God that our State exhibits the highest order of education, uncorrupted by the in- fluence of scientific infidelity, but we wish to see this education more than Christian in a general sense. We wish it to be evangelical. Why should the educators hesitate to commit themselves to all that God has revealed for the training of immortal minds ?
"But the first springs of education may be largely controlled by the church in families and in Sunday- schools for the whole mass of children who have no adequate Christian instruction at home. Would to. God that the committee could suitably express their own convictions of the importance of this work. No earthly occupation surpasses it in dignity, im- portance, or in promise. Some of our most eminent jurists and statesmen have become Sunday-school teachers, and deem it an honor and a privilege to be thus employed. First impressions are strongest, and are likely to endure for ever. Geology tells of a period when the present rocks were soft, and these rocks now bear indented on their bosoms the impressions of the tiny feet of birds whose whole
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species have long since been extinct. But impres- sions mnade upon the tender bosom of childhood will endure when these rocks have given up their charge in the fires of the last conflagration.
"But the special work to which the Christian is called, is that of preaching the gospel to every crea- ture,-beginning at Jerusalem,-beginning at home, first of all, incomparably first, we hesitate not to say, in our own State, which the gospel only can carry safely through coming events ; and then in all the States of this Union. In this work no church has a more important mission than our own. It has some qualifications, and so far set forth some responsibili- ties, which are peculiar, and we long to see the whole land penetrated with the conservative, elevating and refining Christian influence of the Episcopal church.
"But what are we doing for its propagation at home, especially we in this diocese, and to what ex- tent is the influence of our whole church felt upon the consolidating mass of western life, whose future conduct is to be so decisive of the happiness of the world ! As in our own State, so elsewhere it is, not for want of open fields and calls to possess them that we are so little felt. The cry for men grows louder and louder still,-men of sense and culture, of energy and wisdom, and, above all, of deep evan- gelical piety, willing and capable of enduring some- thing for Christ.
" The destitute people pour their petitions into the ears of the bishops, and the bishops report them to the church, but with what partial effect, as yet, we
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all, alas, too well know. But let us not fix our at- tention so much upon the operations of the church as an organized body, as upon the fact that each one of us, as individual Christians, has received a divine commission to look for men, and otherwise evange- lize at home, in our own families, among our neigh- bors, in the parishes to which we belong, and be- yond these limits so far as the way may be opened. The tongue is a mighty member, and how forcible are right words !
"Bringing thus all our notions to the standard of God's word, and permitting ourselves not to propa- gate or hold any doctrine except as we are persuaded that the same may be concluded and proved from holy Scripture, we shall be at once missionaries for Christ, and profitably employed in our several spheres. Wishing through the convention to direct the attention of the whole diocese to their special duty, the committee submit the following, resolution :
"Resolved, That every rector in this diocese be earnestly requested to bring the subject of domestic missions, diocesan and general, prominently before his congregation at an early day, and obtain contri- butions for the same."
The above report is signed by Rev. C. W. An- drews, D. D., of Trinity parish, Shepherdstown ; Rev. Wm. N. Pendleton, D. D., of Grace church, Latane Parish, Lexington ; Rev. J. A. Latane, Trinity church, Staunton ; Rev. T. M. Ambler, Bruton parish, Williamsburg; Mr. John B. Dabney, Moore parish, Campbell county ; Mr. R. H. Cunningham,
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St. James' church, Culpeper county ; Mr. Samuel H. Lewis. Mr. R. C. Nelson.
Parochial report of Monumental Church, Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. John Wilder Atkinson, lay delegate. Communi- cants, 207 ; contributions, $5,384.65.
The vestry held four meetings during this fiscal year, viz : one on the 19th December, 1859 ; one on 28th February, 1860; one on the 21st March, and one on the 14th May, 1860.
At the first one, Mr. James H. Gardner, in be- half of the committee on repairs to the church in the summer and fall of that year, exhibited a de- tailed statement of the cost of painting, etc., amount- ing to $1,502.51; towards the payment of which $813.78 had been contributed by the ladies of the congregation and their sewing society.
At the second meeting, the resignation of Mr. James Evans, as organist, was handed in, and a re- solution of thanks to him for his services so many years, and at so small a compensation, and also for his generous offer to continue as organist until his place could be filled, was adopted, and a committee, composed of the rector and Messrs. John L. Bacon, Wm. H. Powers, and Thomas U. Dudley, requested to express to him by letter the acceptance of his offer, as well as the high appreciation which the vestry and church entertained for him.
The next meeting was held on the 21st March, when Mr. Poindexter, chairman of a committee ap- pointed on the 28th February for the procurement
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of another organist, reported that a German gentle- man, Mr. W. T. Grabau, teacher in one of our city schools of music, and a communing member of the Episcopal church, had agreed to fill the place as or- ganist at two hundred dollars per annum.
The next meeting was held on the 14th of May, when Mr. John W. Atkinson was elected the lay delegate to the annual meeting of the convention of the diocese, to be held in Charlottesville, on the third Wednesday of the present month.
1861.
The convention met in St. Paul's church, Rich- mond, on Wednesday, 16th of May. Present : Right Rev. William Meade, D. D., bishop, and Right Rev. John Johns. D. D., assistant bishop, with Mr. John W. Atkinson, as secretary.
Morning prayer to the creed was read by the Right Rev. John Johns, D. D., assistant bishop, and the residue by Right Rev. Thomas Atkinson, D. D., bishop of North Carolina. The convention sermon was preached by the Right Rev. William Meade, D. D., bishop, from the text, "And Pharoah said unto Jacob, how old art thou; and Jacob said unto Pharaoh, the days of the years of iny pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been."-Gen. xlvii. 8, 9 verses.
Upon calling the roll, it was ascertained that of the clergy, including the two bishops, there were present 36; and of laymen only 20 who answered
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to their names. On the second day four other clergy and two laymen were present.
Parochial report of Monumental church, Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. Geo. D. Fisher, lay delegate of same. Communi- cants, 215; contributions, $3,955.
REMARKS .- There are three Sunday-schools con- nected with the church-two white, and one colored. A part of the colored has just been transferred to St. Philip's (African) church, just erected in the city.
Two meetings of the vestry were held this fiscal year, one on the 7th January, 1861, when an exhibit was made by the treasurer of the church as to its then condition, and also to extend the time which the committee on the enlargement of the Sunday- school room desired.
The next was held on the 13th of May, when a delegate to the annual meeting of the convention was chosen, and Mr. George D. Fisher appointed. It was to be held again in Richmond, as the war had broken out, and no other place could then be fixed upon.
This interesting period of the history of the church in Virginia, and indeed of all the churches south of the Potomac river, may be an apology sufficient at this moment to remind the reader of a closing part of Bishop Meade's annual address in regard to the political condition which the State of Virginia had but one month before assumed by the passage of the ordinance of secession ; and at the same time it will be perceived how often results vary from the
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prediction of the wise and good men of every age, and in truth that " God's ways are not as our ways, nor His thoughts as our thoughts."
But before I make the extract, to which allusion has just been directed, it is very interesting, as well as sad to many now alive, to have their memories recalled to the departed clergy of our church, who were so highly valued and beloved at the time Bishop Meade made that address.
He says: "It now becomes my painful duty to record the deaths of some of our brethren in the ministry during the last year.
" The Rev. Mr. Zimmer, while acceptably per- forming his duties at City Point, was visited by a dispensation of Providence, which disabled him both in body and mind from any other service. After much suffering. he died in the midst of the kindest nursing care, in the asylum at Williamsburg.
" The Rev. Mr. Points, who was for some years our missionary teacher in China, and ever longed to return to that country, and purposed the same if Providence permitted, was cut off in the midst of his days, and at a time of most acceptable service in St. John's church, Richmond, much lamented by a sorrowing congregation and bereaved relatives.
" The Rev. Dr. Empie, also, who for some years has resided in another diocese, though canonically con- nected with our own, has also died, being full of years and wisdom. For integrity, conscientiousness, soundness in the faith, and every domestic as well as ministerial excellency, few have ever equalled Dr.
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Empie. He is remembered with affection and es- teem by all who knew and now survive him.
" To this enumeration of deaths among the minis- ters in connection with our own diocese, I only do justice to my own feelings, and to those of many others, by alluding to that of one who was born among us, and was for a long time a most laborious and acceptable minister in Virginia, as he was after- wards a most zealous and beloved bishop in the dio- cese of Alabama. From his first entrance on the ministry, I was intimately acquainted with Bishop Cobbs, and loved him dearly for some of the most interesting qualities which belong to human nature. His disinterested devotion to the work of the min- istry, and constant readiness to promote the comfort of all within his reach, were most striking traits in his character, and endeared him to all who knew him. The most uninterrupted friendship existed between us during his residence in Virginia, and continued to the close of his life. I look forward with holy delight to the renewal of the same in that world where parting will be no more.
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