USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > History and reminiscences of the Monumental Church, Richmond, Va. : from 1814 to 1878 > Part 20
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to our general council. Immediately, therefore, on receiving the circular of Bishop Hopkins, I wrote to our presiding bishop, proposing that he should call a special meeting, or if this were impracticable, then suggesting a conference of the southern bishops.
"As the interruption of the mails and the lines of travel rendered it impossible to convene the council before the meeting of the general conven- tion, the bishops of the south have been invited to assemble at Augusta, on the 27th of this month. With this call I am prevented from complying by my duties in this council, which cannot adjourn in time for me to reach Augusta on the day appointed.
"This however, is less to be regretted, because as the conclusions of the bishops could only be ad- visory, and their advice now can be of little prac- tical importance, as the policy to be pursued is al- ready indicated by the opinion expressed by bishops individually, and by the separate action of several dioceses. From that policy it is not probable the general council would dissent. Be this as it may, we cannot afford to suspend all action till the deter- mination is so reached. This would be for us to lose a fit opportunity for responding to the fraternal overtures which have been noticed, by permitting the general convention to adjourn under the impres- sion that the diocese of Virginia is unfavorable or indifferent to ecclesiastical re-union. If we desire to prevent such impression, and avoid any embarrass- ing consequences, it will be for this council to de- termine how this may be best effected-whether
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simply by resolutions, which will be a virtual ac- ceptance of re-union, or further, by commissioning those who shall be chosen as delegates to the gen- eral council, which is to meet at Mobile in Novem- ber, to represent this diocese in the general conven- tion, which is to meet in Philadelphia in October, with instructions to appear there personally, and take their seats, when, in their judgment, the in- terests of the church will thereby be promoted. The adoption of one or both of these expedients will prevent even the appearance of unbecoming reluc- tance in reference to a result which we regard as certain-will place us in favorable position for availing ourselves of the most propitious juncture for its accomplishment, and evince the respect which we have for our obligations to our sister dioceses of the south, by recognizing the organization which we formed under the pressure of necessity, and con- cur in dissolving when required by considerations of Christian expediency.
"If the endeavor to present a correct view of our position, and of the policy which it suggests, reveals the inclination it has given to my own judgment, it has but done what I have no desire to avoid. I trust it has been effected without even the ap- pearance of presumption, or a word that would pro- duce any other excitement than such as is insepar- able from a subject of paramount interest.
"In its treatment little skill or power would be needed to reanimate and inflame those violent pas- sions which have been aroused by the occurrences
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of the past four years. The tempest might readily be reproduced by a simple recital of wrong and suf- fering which have been endured. These, indeed, may not soon or easily be forgotten, nor is this re- quired; but they may and must be forgiven. To perpetuate their disturbing force, by vividly picturing to ourselves and others their severity, may serve the purpose of selfish wreckers, who find their pro- fit in dispoiling the corpses and seizing the fragments of rich freight with which the storm may strew the shore.
" Christians are to be peacemakers. Their heaven- descended motto is, 'On earth peace, good will to- ward men.' In 'following after the things which make for peace,' as they are commanded, they care not to calculate how long wounded sensibilities may be expected to weep, or memory be allowed to elim- . inate their wrongs. The proffered hand may be ac- cepted before the lacerations it has inflicted are healed, or often it would be impossible to do so at all, for there are lacerations which the heart cannot cease to feel till it ceases to beat. We are to be imitators of Him who, 'whilst we were sinners,' died for us; who, when pierced in every limb, prayed for the forgiveness of His persecutors, whilst they were rending Him in their rage. 'Even as Christ forgave you, so do ye,' is the rule and measure for His followers. And with this pattern of prompt and unsolicited forgiveness of complicated violence and wrong, infinitely surpassing all that man can ex- perience from his fellow man, it would ill-become
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those who profess and call themselves Christians to nourish resentments by dwelling on injuries, or to plead sorrow, which it is proper to feel, in delay of reconciliation, which it would be wrong to defer,-a plea which, if it is allowed, may be in force for life, and adjourn reunion for the consideration of a ge- neration unborn.
" This statement, which I deemed it my duty to make, is presented with the fervent prayer that in this and all other matters which claim the attention of this council, we may have grace to perceive and pursue that course which will be most accept- able to Him who is 'the Author of peace and Lover of concord.'"
Mr. Wm. H. Macfarland offered a resolution that a committee of thirteen be appointed to take into consideration that portion of the address which re- lated to the reunion of the Northern and Southern Episcopal churches. Pending the discussion of this resolution, the council adjourned until the next day at nine o'clock.
And on the next day the council, by resolution, changed the number of the committee to seven, and the president thereupon appointed the following as the committee, to-wit: Rev. Drs. Andrews, Gib- son, Kinckle, Peterkin, and Messrs. Macfarland, Massie and Lee, who made the following report, which was adopted:
"1. That the Christian and conciliatory course of our respected diocesan in his correspondence with the presiding bishop and other members of the Pro-
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testant Episcopal Church of the United States, touch- ing a reunion with the general convention of said church, meets our cordial approbation.
"2. That this council appreciates and affection- ately responds to every sentiment of fraternal regard which has been manifested in the correspondence re- ferred to.
"3. That this council is of opinion that the objects which all the parties interested may be presumed most to desire, will be best accomplished by referr- ing this subject to the next general council.
Signed,
C. W. ANDREWS, W. H KINCKLE, J. PETERKIN, C. J. GIBSON,
W. H. MACFARLAND,
N. H. MASSIE, CASSIUS F. LEE."
Parochial report of Monumental Church, Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. George D. Fisher, lay delegate (for the meeting of council, September 20, 1865.) Communicants, 203; contributions, total, $6,674.05.
REMARKS .- These contributions were made before the capture of Richmond, on the 3rd April, and in Confederate paper money; since then the contribu- tions have been principally for objects within the parish, except the collection for the treasury of the diocese, and in United States paper currency.
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1866.
Parochial report of Monumental Church, Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. Johh H. Tyler, 'lay delegate to council in Alexan- dria. Communicants, 214; contributions, $704.50 .*
At this meeting of the council, Rev. Dr. Pendle- ton, chairman of the special committee appointed to consider the subject of Mr. Cassius F. Lee's resolu- tion, presented the following resolution as the re- sult of their deliberations :
"WHEREAS, the conditions which rendered ne- cessary the separate organization of the southern dioceses no longer exist, and that organization has ceased by the consent and action of the dioceses concerned ; and whereas, the diocese of Virginia, unchanged as are her principles, deem it most pro- per, under existing circumstances, to resume her in- terrupted relations to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, therefore
"Resolved, That this diocese do accordingly now resume its connection with the general convention of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States, and that the bishop be requested to send a
* NOTE .- This great change of figures in currency from the previous four years' reports, it must be remembered, was pro- duced by the ending of the Confederate war in April, 1865; at which time it required $60 of Confederate paper money to buy $1 of United States gold. This will give the reader a pretty ac- curate idea of the disadvantage under which the southern States were resisting the Federal government, in the effort to estab- lish a separate Confederacy, and as the result has proved, pro- vidence did not permit to take place. G. D. F.
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copy of this preamble and resolution to the presid- ing bishop, and one to the secretary of the house of clerical and lay deputies."
The vote was called for by orders, and stood as follows: Affirmative, clergy, 57; laity, 36. Nega- tive, clergy, 9; laity, 11. So the resolution was thereupon declared to be adopted.
Report of the committee on the state of the church in Virginia, so far as it can be ascertained from statistics, is exhibited in the following table:
Baptisms: adults, white, 243; colored, 26-total, 269. Infants, white, 415; colored, 108-total, 523. Communicants, white, 6004; colored, 62-total, 6,066. Marriages: white, 331; colored, 117-total, 448. Confirmations: white, 439; colored, 24- total, 463. Funerals: white, 506; colored, 53- total, 559. Sunday schools, 54; teachers, white, 747. Sunday-school scholars, white, 4,048; colored, 373- total, 5,168. Contributions, $30,199.59.
Two meetings of the vestry for this fiscal year were held. The first on the 4th December, 1865, when the two vacancies in that body, which occurred by the removal from the city of Messrs. John W. Atkinson and John Waterhouse-the first to Wil- mington, N. C., and the second to Fredericksburg, Va., (but in the mean time making a trip to Europe), were filled by the election of Dr. James Bolton and Mr. John Harrold.
At this meeting also an interesting annual state-' ment was made by the treasurer of the church, ex- hibiting the deficit by estimate of but $353.85, as well as what was then due the rector.
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It was the prostrated condition generally (grow- ing out of our late war,) of our people which caused so bad an exhibit; still, an appeal was determined to be made to the congregation to do all in their power to reduce the debt, and they did so as liberally as they could, and have always done. Our rector's salary was raised to $2,250, and the organist, $300, and sexton to $200. Our principal lady singer re- signed her place in the choir because the salary of of $200 was too small.
The next meeting was held on the 13th of May, 1866, when Mr. John H. Tyler was elected the lay delegate to the annual council, to be held in Alex- andria, on the 16th of that month.
In a part of the report on " the state of the church", for 1866, the committee say :
"The restoration of the church in this diocese to its former prosperity is a vast undertaking, and it is gratifying to witness the sense of dependence upon God, the hopefulness and determined spirit with which, in some parts of it, both clergy and laity have entered upon the work. Several subjects more or less intimately connected with it, having been re- ferred to special committees, they are here omitted. But there is one subject upon which the committee, after a somewhat extended conference with clergy and laity outside their own number, hold it to be the duty of the council to speak most distinctly and most solemnly at this present time, and that is the state of church discipline in the diocese, which is always one of the most important features in 'the state of the church.'
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"The committee cannot, of course, be informed of all the facts, but enough has come before them to show that there is a heavy pressure against those barriers which rubrics and canons have interposed between the church and the world. Scandals are reported, and examples of worldly conformity in- compatible with a Christian profession, which, never- theless, the pastor is unable to arrest, because doubt- ful whether he would be sustained by the voice of the church.
"The ministry, and especially its younger portion, are entitled to this support, and it is doubtless the wisdom as well as the duty of the church to extend it, nor expect that the wholesome intent of her dis- cipline can be accomplished without new appliances adapted to new developments of evil, and these still further varied in their application by the living voice.
" The old maxim that ‘ prevention is better than cure,' was never more applicable than in the present case. Much of the reproach brought against the church from the evil living of its members, might be prevented by a more protracted examination and trial of candidates for confirmation, and in fact by instructions which should precede the application for admission to that rite, in order that all may know beforehand what is expected of those who ap- ply, and this not in general terms merely, but by such specifications touching the distinctive marks of the life in Christ Jesus, and what the church means by 'pomps and vanities,' and what it is that the
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candidate understands himself to renounce in the confirmation vow, so that there may be no defective instruction on the one side, or misunderstanding on the other. Were this attended to, application will not often be made prematurely ; for when once made it is either successful (as is commonly the case) or embarrassment ensues, which had better been avoided.
" It appertains to the clergy, not only to reprove and rebuke, and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine, but also to receive into the church and to exclude from it. It is they who practically give tone to all, and the character of the communion in time takes its complexion from the discipline ad- ministered by them.
" But when scandals have actually arisen, the mode of procedure is provided by law. The rubric requires expulsion from the communion for ' no- torions evil living,' and the 19th canon specifies in part what shall be considered notorious evil living, for it expressly says that it shall not be understood to include all the causes for which expulsion from the communion may take place.
"It specifies public balls, theatrical amusements, and the habitual neglect of the public worship of God. Doubtless public balls may be held in private houses, and all the scandals arise from dancing, drinking, and caronsal, which the canon was intended to repress. And what must be thought of those who will avail themselves of some exception in de- tail to live as the world lives, keeping upon the out- ermost verge of what the law will allow, so as to
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leave it in doubt, even by the most indulgent judg- ment, whether their conduct does or does not amount to notorious evil living.
"Discipline is admitted by all authorities to be- one of the essential notes of a church of Christ; and can that be a church of Christ, or other than a de- cayed or fallen one, in which nothing less shall sub- ject a member to expulsion from the communion than that which would also subject him to a civil prosecution.
"The real prosperity of the church is inseparable from her purity, and should her time and her strength in council be expended upon rules for the conduct of a growing externalism, while those in- tended to produce holy living are neglected, how will her light and glory as a witness for Christ be dimmed, and the ruin of immortal souls be going on apace within her own bosom.
"A more searching administration of the gospel is indeed indispensable; but even 'this can be but partially successful without a restoration of the . spiritual discipline and government of the primitive church. This discipline came from Him who knew what was in man, even as regenerate, and the best means of reaching cases which He foresaw would always be in the church-cases not of wilful de- clension, from whom nothing but separation can be desired, but of those who, in the judgment of charity, have been the subjects of renewing grace, yet have fallen into some error in religion or viciousness of life, injurious to the church and ruinous to them-
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selves, and are yet wilful and refractory, and to whom reason and Christian counsel are addressed in vain. It was for such as these that the spiritual censures of the church were provided, not for their destruction, but for their salvation, and such was their ordinary result.
"Access to the apostolic church was easy, but a continuance in it was more difficult. The doors of the sanctuary stood open, but the building was kept clean."
No names are attached to the above report on "the state of the church" of that year; but those who were appointed as such were Rev. John Gram- mer, Rev. C. W. Andrews, Rev. W. H. Kinckle, Rev. C. J. Gibson, Rev. W. L. Hyland, Dr. F. T. Stribling, Gen. Asa Rogers, Judge David May, Mr. Cassius F. Lee, and Mr. Tazewell Taylor.
1867.
The vestry held two meetings during this fiscal year, to wit: One on the 19th December, 1866, when a committee was appointed to draw up an appeal to the congregation to increase their con- tributions, so far as to pay the rector $2,500 as his salary, and also to increase the salary of Mrs. Locker- man, our chief singer in the choir, to $300.
At this meeting Mr. Ro. W. Powers was nomi- nated and duly elected a member of the vestry, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation and re- moval of Col. F. G. Ruffin to his farm in Chester- field, and on account of the distance, was prevented from attending the meetings, particularly at night.
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The next meeting was held on 29th April, 1867, when Mr. John H. Tyler was elected the lay dele- gate to the annual meeting of the council, to be held in Staunton, on the 15th of May following.
Bishop Johns, in his address, towards its close, says: "I now beg leave to notice a document of very great interest to this diocese and to the church at large. I mean the declaration of a large number of my brethren in the Episcopate, in reference to cer- tain ritualistic movements which have troubled the Church of England, and threatened to disturb our own.
"When that declaration appeared, I thought it proper to introduce it in this diocese by a few lines reciting its history, and commending it to your con- sideration, as timely and appropriate. The abuse with which it has been assailed shows that it was. not issued an hour too soon, or at a venture.
"On this subject I have now only to ask of you, dear brethren of the clergy and laity, to unite with me in endeavoring to keep the church in Virginia on the basis and within the limits recognized and prescribed by our general and diocesan legislature.
"In conducting public worship, our Book of Com -. mon Prayer is the only authorized directory. Let it then be our honest aim and earnest effort to observe its provisions, as far as our circumstances may per- mit, avoiding and discountenancing all variations for which it does not provide,-so moving together in becoming uniformity according to its Scriptural order. Within the limits it prescribes there is am-
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ple room for all the diversity compatible with sound faith and sober worship. Other than this, I trust, this diocese will neither crave nor endure.
"The service which satisfied our fathers suffices for their children. Let us seek no change, least of all, such change as may be calculated to adulterate the doctrine, and, as we believe, impair the holy and wholesome services of our Protestant church."
At this meeting Bishop Johns alluded to a di- vision of the diocese, as he understood had been talked of, but which did not originate with him. And he also informed the council that he stood ready to unite in the approval of an assistant bishop, if the council could see its way clear enough to sup- port one.
Parochial report of the Monumental Church, Richmond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. John H. Tyler, lay delegate to the council in Staunton, 15th May. Communicants, 204; Contri- butions, $2,536.93.
1868.
The vestry held three meetings this fiscal year, viz : on 4th January, when the treasurer's annual report to 1st December, 1867, was handed in and approved. And a vacancy having occurred in the vestry by the death of our much valued friend and brother-vestryman, Mr. James H. Poindexter, it was unanimously agreed that Mr. Peter H. Mayo be and is hereby elected a member to supply the said va- cancy, and the secretary be requested to inform him accordingly.
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The next meeting was held on the 12th of May, when Mr. John 'Tyler was elected the lay delegate to the annual meeting of the council, to be held in Lynchburg, on the 20th instant, and Mr. Peter H. Mayo the alternate.
The next meeting was held on the 26th October, when the condition of the finances of the church was freely discussed, and a committee was appointed to confer with the choir on the subject of two or more sacred concerts, for the purpose of raising the neces- sary means to pay off a debt, then existing, of about $800.
Both the bishops delivered their annual addresses, and Bishop Whittle for the first time since his elec- tion as assistant, on the 17th May, 1867. He says : " That owing to delay on the part of the then pre- siding bishop (Hopkins, of Vermont,) in communi- cating the necessary information to the other bishops, he was not notified by his successor, the present pre- siding bishop, that his election had been sanctioned until the middle of February, 1868." His consecration took place in Alexandria, on Thursday, 30th April, 1868, Bishop Johns officiating, assisted by Bishop Lee, of Deleware, and Bedell, of Ohio, the latter of whom preached the sermon on the occasion.
Parochial report of Monumental Church, Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector ; and Mr. John H. Tyler, lay delegate to the council in Lynch- burg, 20th May. Communicants, 208; contributions, $2,222.10.
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1869.
Parochial report of Monumental Church, Rich- mond .- Rev. George Woodbridge, rector, and Mr. George D. Fisher, lay delegate, at annual meeting of the council in Fredericksburg, 26th May. Com- municants, 226; contributions, $1,824.50.
The vestry held five meetings during this fiscal year. First on the 19th December, 1868, when the treasurer, Mr. George D. Fisher, tendered his resig- nation, a copy of which is recorded on the vestry's proceedings of that date, but was not accepted, and he was requested to continue acting as treasurer until the next meeting of the vestry.
The second meeting was held the 31st March, 1869, when a resolution was adopted to collect the pew rents quarterly after the 1st of June next; and at this meeting the resignation of Mr. Fisher was accepted, and a resolution of thanks passed, for the service he had rendered the congregation as trea- surer, and the same was entered upon the vestry's record.
Mr. Wm. H. Powers, a member of the vestry was then elected as the treasurer, and accepted the trust, with the promise to do all in his power to pro- mote the interest of the church and congregation.
The third meeting was held on the 17th of May, when the rector announced the death of our valued brother vestryman, the late Dr. Jas. Bolton. Where- upon very appropriate resolutions were adopted, and the secretary was requested to have published in the Richmond newspapers and Southern Churchman.
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At this meeting Mr. George D. Fisher was ap- pointed the lay delegate from Monumental Church, to the annual council of the diocese, to be held in Fredericksburg, on the 26th inst.
The fourth meeting was held on 15th November, when the system of "envelopes" was presented and adopted upon the commencement of the next fiscal year, (1st December.)
Mr. John Tyler was elected a member of the committee on music, and an organist was authorized to be employed at a salary of $500, if it was found expedient to give as much. A new sexton was also needed after the end of the present year, and Mr. Horace P. Edmond was chosen as a proper person to employ one. At this meeting Mr. Robert W. Powers sent a letter of resignation as vestryman, and it was very reluctantly accepted.
The fifth meeting was held on the 30th of Novem- ber, when the financial condition of the church was presented by the treasurer, exhibiting a deficit of about $300, unless the pew rents were more promptly paid.
Bishop Johns, in his address upon this occasion, in adverting to ritualism, says: "It is not ritualism as such that offends and alarms. This is inseparable from public worship. All are ritualists. The ques- tion with us is one of degree, and our complaint is, not only that it is being pressed and practised to a degree incompatible with the simplicity and spirit- uality of the religion of the gospel, but that, by some at least engaged in this movement, this ex-
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