USA > Virginia > Henrico County > Henrico County > History and reminiscences of the Monumental Church, Richmond, Va. : from 1814 to 1878 > Part 24
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Due notice was given on Easter Sunday that the congregation, under the ninth canon, should meet the next day, for the purpose of electing a vestry for the coming year.
Accordingly the Sunday-school room was opened for that purpose, but only two members of. the con- gregation were present; nor was any subsequent meeting for that purpose held in 1878, hence the former vestry continued in office, and the following compose the names of same: Messrs. George D. Fisher, senior warden and register ; John H. Tyler, junior warden; Wm. H. Powers, treasurer; Rich- ard H. Meade, H. D. Whitcomb, John Tyler, Charles R. Skinker, Peter H. Mayo, Peter C. War-
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wick, Thomas Potts, Dr. E. T. Robinson, Thomas L. Alfriend.
The next meeting of the vestry was held on 24th of April, all present but two, who were out of town The senior warden opened the meeting with prayer, after which he called the attention of the vestry to a letter from the Rev. Mr. Armstrong, expressing his hope and intention to be with us on the third Sunday, (19th of May), but that he did not think he would be able to attend the council at Lynchburg, on the 15th of that month, but would be reported as the pastor of the Monumental Church on that occa- sion. A reply to Mr. Armstrong's letter, by the register, was read, and approved.
The treasurer handed in a letter addressed to him and the vestry, by the Rev. Mr. Kepler, returning his thanks for the amount which was presented for his services rendered the congregation on several Sundays since the death of our late pastor, thereby enabling the church to be kept open by his and the services of the Rev. Mr. J. H. Stringfellow, who had come to our diocese from Columbia, S. C., in March, and who was also compensated in like man- ner. By the help of these two friends, and that of our city clergy, the Monumental Church was kept open each Sunday after the death of Dr. Wood- bridge, until the arrival of Mr. Armstrong.
The election of lay delegate to the annual meet- ing of the council, on [the 15th of May, at Lynch- burg, was then made, and the senior warden, Mr. George D. Fisher, chosen, and his travelling expen-
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ses directed to be paid out of the treasury of the church. Mr. Powers was elected as alternate dele- gate.
The next meeting was held on the 1st of May; two members only were absent. At this meeting it was decided that an especial appeal, in the form of a printed circular, should be distributed in the pews, asking the congregation, on Sunday, the 12th, to make as large a contribution as possible towards the discharge of the church debt. Some discussion at this meeting was had as to the proper disposal of part of the alms, and it was concluded to postpone the matter until the arrival of Mr. Armstrong. After some other interesting conversation relative to our church matters, the register asked leave to read his letter of resignation.
He mentioned in that paper, that but five blank leaves remained in the record book which he com- menced the 4th of December, 1845, with the vestry's proceedings, to the present time; and he was thereby reminded that "a new leaf" "must now be turned over," and a new record book procured.
He thought and felt that more active and supple fingers than his own were necessary to commence the new book with, and therefore hoped it would be the pleasure of the vestry to select a younger mem- ber to fill the place of register. As long as he feels able, it is his wish to continue in the service of the church he so much loved; and while tendering his resignation as register, he did not mean it to be un- derstood that he resigned as vestryman, or as senior warden.
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After the reading of the paper, on motion of Mr. Peter H. Mayo, and duly seconded, the following resolutions were adopted:
"Resolved, That in receiving the resignation of Mr. George D. Fisher, as register of the Monu- mental Church, as a vestry we recognize, with no ordinary degree of gratitude, his faithfulness and most satisfactory discharge of the duties of his of- fice, and we hereby assure him, in thus accepting his resignation, that we do so with regret, and only agree to it in deference to his own wishes, and with sincere thanks for his past services.
" Resolved, That Mr. Fisher's letter of resignation be recorded in this valued book, as peculiarly ap- propriate in closing the record to this date, on the occasion of the change of 'rector ' and 'register.'"
After the adoption of the above resolutions, the vestry proceeded to the election of a new registrar. The nomination of Mr. Thomas L. Alfriend was then made, and being duly seconded, he was unani- mously chosen to fill the office, and accepted the compliment just paid him with the assurance that he: would perform the duties to the best of his ability ..
The meeting then adjourned until Monday evening, the 13th; but before doing so it was proposed and agreed that the resignation of the former register should take date on the 1st of June, as it was now ascertained that the Rev. Mr. Armstrong would not be with us until that time.
Accordingly, on Monday evening, the 13th of May, the vestry met at the residence of Mr. Wm.
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H. Powers, all present but one, who was out of the city. The senior warden opened the meeting with appropriate prayer, and the proceedings of the pre- vious meeting were read, and approved. A resolu- tion was then adopted, that Mr. Thomas Potts be re- quested to return the thanks of the vestry to the Rev. Dr. Eccleston,* of Newark, N. Y., for his kind- ness in filling the pulpit of the Monumental Church morning and afternoon the Sunday previous, and for his admirable and acceptable sermon on each occa- sion.
The annual report of Bishop Whittle, at this meeting of the council, is particularly interesting, and so is the report of the committee on "the state of the church," as to Federal matters, and signed by the committee composed of Rev. G. H. Norton, Rev. J. S. Hanckel, Mr. Hugh W. Sheffey, Mr. Robert T. Craighill .- June, 1877.
Bishop Whittle, in his address this year, (1878,) says: "In his address to the council in 1872, my venerated predecessor earnestly warned communi- cants against the inconsistency of indulging in a 'demoralizing dissipation,' which he denounced as that lascivious mode of promiscuous dancing, styled the 'round dance.'
* NOTE .- When Dr. Eccleston declined the call to the Monu- mental Church, he said he expected to visit a near relative in Richmond, and would fill the pulpit the second Sunday in May if it would be agreeable to the vestry. This meeting is the last one recorded of the vestry's proceedings in their book, com- mencing with the 4th of December, 1845. The next record book begins, with Mr. Thomas L. Alfriend as register, the 1st of June, 1878 .- G. D. F.
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"This scandal, he said, 'is not to be tolerated in the Church of Christ. Let every appeal be made, in the way of affectionate remonstrance, judicious teaching and earnest prayer, for the reformation of those led astray, 'if God peradventure will give them repentance.' If all such efforts prove unavail- ing, and to remove the scandal, and at the same time employ the last expedient for awakening the offender to a sense of his sin and danger, it becomes necessary to resort to the exercise of decided dis- cipline, it must be done.'
"I adopt this language as my own, that he being dead may yet speak on this important matter. Perhaps his words struck some as being too strong and harsh when they were first uttered, who think very differently now, after six years' observation and experience.
"Certain it is that many of our wisest and best people, ministers and laymen, judging the tree by its fruit, have become alarmed lest the effect of this dreadful evil of round dancing shall be, not only to injure pure and undefiled religion in the church, but even to sap the very foundations of all social virtue and morality. I will not discuss its character and consequences. For while St. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus that it was a shame even to speak of those things which were done by some in secret, I should feel ashamed even to speak, as the truth would require, of this thing which is done openly before all. I will only say, that I trust no man or woman will be presented for confirmation who means
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to continue to participate in this abomination. And if the ministry of the church have no authority to discipline communicants as 'notorious evil livers' who practice it, surely this council should not fail to clothe them with such authority by canon.
"The action of the last council in cutting off the State of West Virginia from the diocese of Vir- ginia, and erecting it into a separate diocese, was ratified by the general convention, which sat in Bos- ton last October. The primary council of the new diocese was convened in Charleston, on the 5th day of December, 1877, and was duly organized as 'the Diocese of West Virginia.' I having elected to be attached to the diocese of Virginia, the diocese of West Virginia was placed by its council under my ' full episcopal charge and authority,' and has so con- tinued to the present time. The Rev. James H. Eccleston, D. D., was elected bishop, but he having declined to accept, the first annual council met in Charleston, 27th February, 1878, and made choice of Rev. George W. Peterkin for that important and responsible office, a result in which, I am sure, the church in Virginia greatly rejoices. His consecra- tion is appointed to take place in the city of Wheel- ing, on the 30th instant, after which the complete establishment of the new diocese will have been con- summated. I recommend that this council appoint a committee to confer with one which has been ap- pointed by West Virginia, to consider any pecu- niary or other questions between the two dioceses which may need to be settled.
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"I owe it to you, my dear brethren, and to myself, to say that I have been enabled, by the help of God, to accomplish an amount of visitation work during the past year greater than ought to be expected of any man, and greater than I can promise to per- form in the future. I feel able to do all that is necessary, in my judgment, for the interest of reli- gion and the growth and prosperity of the church, and more than this is not required of me by the canons. I do not, therefore, ask for any relief or assistance. But whether what I have done has been, or what I may be able to do hereafter will be, satisfactory to the diocese, it is for you to decide. If a more fre- quent visitation of the churches is demanded, there is but one of two ways, as you are aware, by which it can be secured, viz; either by a division of the diocese, or by the election of an assistant bishop. As to the first, I am convinced that a large majority of the people on the south side of James river are utterly opposed to cutting off that part of the State as a separate diocese; and my opinion is, that a large majority of the people of Virginia are opposed to any division whatever. From the measure of division, therefore, with my convictions, I should feel obliged in conscience to withhold my consent.
"As to the other method of relief, I will merely say, without at all discussing the question, that so far from being able to see any objection to an assis- tant bishop, it is just what, in my judgment, this diocese and many other dioceses ought always to have. With this candid, and I trust plain, state-
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ment of my views on this subject, I leave it to you to do something or nothing as you may think best.
" In closing this my tenth annual address, I beg to be permitted to put on record an expression of my very deep and grateful sense of the unvarying forbearance, confidence, and kindness which I have received at the hands of my beloved brethren, the clergy and laity of this dear old diocese of Virginia. " May God, by His Holy Spirit, direct, sanctify, and govern you in your present work ; and may He abundantly bless you and those whom you represent, both now and ever more, through Jesus Christ His Son. Amen."
In December, 1875, the vestry requested the Rev. Dr. Woodbridge to furnish the congregation with a copy of his sermon which he preached on the close of his thirtieth year's ministry in the Monumental Church. It is very interesting and instructive, and gives a synopsis of the internal work of the church during that time worthy of record in any journal, but especially does the compiler of this history re- gard it as a privilege, as well as a pleasure, to in- clude it among its pages ; but before reaching it in its due order, he desires to give the reader some ex- tract from the private journal of Dr. Woodbridge, which he has been privileged to copy, exhibiting more in detail a diary of his work, both in his own parish church, as well as when away on ministerial duty, and for recreation. His numerous friends, I feel sure, will, like myself, be interested in all he
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has said, and it will the better remind us of his faith- fulness in the cause of his "Master," which, to him, was above "all price." The correspondence will be found on page 423, which led to his consent to fur- nish the sermon alluded to.
His journal commences by giving an extract of each Sunday's texts, morning and afternoon, during the year, and also those of other ministers who as- sisted him; and at the close of the year, he records the aggregate number of sermons which have been preached.
During his third year, (1848), the church was closed for nine Sundays, owing to the extended re- pairs.
In his fourth year, (1849), he preached under the proclamation of president Taylor, during the week, on thanksgiving day.
In his fifth year, he says : "For five Sundays the church was closed to put up the new organ, and once in the evening to preach Mr. John Robinson's fune- ral sermon."
In his sixth year, he preached on thanksgiving- day ; and on Sunday he preached Mr. Miles Macon's funeral sermon.
In his seventh year, (1852), he mentions a convo- cation which was held for a week in February, in the Monumental during the day, and at St. Paul's at night. The clergy who took part in the services on that interesting occasion, were the Rev. Messrs. Chisholm, Walker, Cummins, Gibson, and Jackson.
For his eighth year, (1853), among those who
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preached in the Monumental, on the 17th of April, was the Rev. Edmund Waller Hening, a native of Richmond, and missionary to Africa. Mr. Hening became blind from the effects of the climate in Africa, and returned to the United States, making his home in Philadelphia.
Dr. Woodbridge that summer left home on Tues- day, 12th July, and was absent seven weeks. He preached in Albany, Norwich, and Philadelphia while absent.
In his ninth year, he was called on the 12th March to Albany, in consequence of the death of his dear mother. In August and September he was at the Sweet Springs, and Col. Burwell's in Botetourt county. The church was closed that year five times owing to bad weather.
In his tenth year's record, he says he was absent from 6th August to 13th September; visited Wythe county, and preached a week. Thence to Union, in Monroe county, and attended an association with Rev. Messrs. Baker and Pendleton. From there he went to the Sweet Springs; thence to Fincastle, and thence home.
In his eleventh year (1856), he says on the 19th April Rev. Mr. Mercer preached in Christ church, (meaning what was usually known as the "Pine Ap- ple" church, in the valley, opposite Seabrook's tobacco warehouse,) and that night the church was burned down. That summer he left home the last of July for the county of Nelson, thence to the Montgomery Springs, and preached two Sundays, and returned
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home the 26th of August. It is to be observed, in many instances when he left his own pulpit he made an exchange with some other minister, and always each month, unless absent from the city, ad- ministered the holy communion.
For his twelfth year (1857), 19th April, he records, " This morning my portrait was finished by Monsieur Gillaum, and sent home. It was taken at Mrs. John Robinson's especial request, to be hung up in the vestry room."
Mrs. Robinson was a warm friend of Dr. Wood- bridge, and a communicant of Monumental Church ; an old citizen, and mother of a large estimable family, among whom, distinguished for talent and legal attainment, are two sons, Messrs. Moncure and Conway Robinson, the former now of Philadelphia, and the latter of "The Vineyard," near Washing- ton, D. C. Dr. Woodbridge spent the month of August this summer in the county of Orange, with the family of Mr. - Conway, but returned home on the 19th to marry Mr. A. B. Guigon, (afterwards city judge,) to Miss Sarah Bates Allen, and then went back to Orange to finish his visit.
With November, 1858, Dr. Woodbridge closed his thirteenth year's ministry. He says: "On the 10th of May I went to New York, to attend the anniver- sary of the American Bible Society, as delegate from the Bible Society of Virginia. Stayed with my nephew, Edwin Hendricks. Saw my sister Lucy, and spent until Saturday with her. Then went to Philadelphia and paid a visit to Mr. Edmund Cren-
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shaw. From there went to Winchester, on the 18th, to attend the meeting of the convention. Preached on the 20th, and left on the 24th, in company with Bishop Johns. Spent one day with him, and then came home."
Two Sundays in August he was at the Salt Sul- phur Springs, and returned home in September.
In his record for his fourteenth year (1859), he says, " The church was closed on the 22nd of May, as he was at the convention of the diocese in Nor- folk. After that, he visited the Eastern Shore ; preached twice at Eastville, and returned home the 3rd of June." After the first Sunday in August, he says, "as the church was to be repaired this summer, I was obliged to leave the city." He went to Montgomery Springs and Abingdon and preached. On the 4th of September he preached at Christians- burg, in the Methodist church. He then came to Lynchburg; on Tuesday to Amelia Courthouse ; on Sunday preached at Grubb Hill; and Monday, the 12th, reached home.
On Wednesday, October 5th, the general conven- tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States commenced its session in St. Paul's church, Richmond, and was opened by a sermon from Bishop Otey, of Tennessee. At night there was service in the Monumental, and every morning at cleven during the first week. The second week, service at night only. On the 9th, in the morning, Rev. Alexander Vinton; in the afternoon, Rev. M. A. De W. Howe; and at night the Rev. Dr. Little-
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john preached in the Monumental. On the 16th the Rev. F. L. Hawkes, in the morning, and the Rev. R. C. Coxe, in the afternoon, and at night Bishop Odenheimer preached in the Monumental. On the 23rd, Rev. Dr. Stevens in the morning, Bishop Lee in the afternoon, and at night Bishop Elliott preached in the Monumental. The conven- tion adjourned on the night of the 22nd October.
This was a most interesting period in the history, both religious and political, of the United States. This too was the first time in any of the southern States that the general convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church was held, and it brought out the strongest manifestation of Christian sympathy and unaffected hospitality towards the members of the convention who had come from those sections of the Union in which great prejudice against the in- stitution of negro slavery then existed. But the people of Richmond on this occasion opened their homes and their hearts, and were untiring in their efforts to make their friends "feel at home;" and to. a great degree they succeeded. But the time was near at hand when the great political struggle was to begin; and the following fall elections, with Mr. Lincoln as president in 1861, decided the issue; and with the close of the civil war in 1865 ended the institution which had produced so much political discord between the two sections of the United States for upwards of twenty years or more.
In his next year (fifteenth), as usual he attended the annual meeting of the convention, held in Char-
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lottesville. In June he went to Gloucester county with his daughter, Elizabeth. On the 26th he at- tended the examination at Alexandria, of the High School and Theological Seminary. He left home for the north with his daughter, Elizabeth, on the 31st July, and returned on Friday, 7th September.
After this year (1860) he was prevented visiting his friends in the north, until the close of the war in 1865. But the church was kept open during the war, and he was faithful in the discharge of his duty, not only as pastor, but friend to the afflicted and wounded, whenever and wherever he could offer sympathy and consolation.
For his sixteenth year (1861), Dr. Woodbridge mentions, under date of 4th January, 1861, that it was fast-day, appointed by President Buchanan, for the distracted state of the country, and his text was from the 3rd chapter of Habakkuk, 2nd verse.
The services on that fast-day, which were held in conformity with the proclamation of President Buchanan (then soon to retire from office), will give to the reader who was too young to comprehend fully the serious position of our country some idea of the approaching trouble and distress which was apprehended from an effort on the part of the slave States to form a distinct Confederate government.
It is worthy of note to record, that many, very many church people, who assembled in worship under the call of President Buchanan, on that 4th of Jan- uary, 1861, had all their lives loved and cherished the " Union of the States" under the Federal con-
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stitution; still clung to the hope that no war would ensue upon the incoming of President Lincoln, on the 4th of March; and that our political troubles would soon be settled in peace. But it was decreed otherwise, and the trial was no doubt necessary, in order that we might in the end be a more united people.
Under date of 21st April, Dr. Woodbridge re- cords: " Church thin; the troops called out to drill, and the 'Pawnee' reported to be coming up the river with 1,500 troops."
It is a little remarkable, but true, that on the same Sunday (21st April, 1861,) a similar excite- ment and fear from movements of troops existed in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In the case of Richmond, the approach of Federal troops, and in that of the three other cities the movement of Confederate.
Under date of 15th May he records: "Conven- tion met in Richmond, as Alexandria was considered insecure from the Federal army in Washington. It adjourned on Thursday evening, Bishop Johns being afraid, and anxious to get away."
In September (29th) he records a visit to Buck- ingham county, on a convocation held there, when the Rev. Mr. Dashiell and Rev. Mr. Nelson preached for him morning and afternoon.
For his seventeenth year (1862), Dr. Woodbridge says in his record of March: "I left the city on Wednesday (the 12th) at 3 P. M. to attend a con- vention in Augusta, Georgia, to form a Confederate
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Bible society. I remained there until Monday the 24th, when I left, reaching home on the evening of the 28th."
He again records the following: "I left the city Monday, 25th August, and went to Buchanan, where I preached on the 31st. The first Sunday in Sep- tember I preached in Fincastle. I went to Lexing- ton on Thursday, and preached on Sunday the 14th. Tuesday I returned with Edwards, who was sick, to Buchanan, and on Wednesday went to Fincastle, and preached Thursday. In the evening preached to the soldiers. Tuesday again I preached to the soldiers at night, and Rev. Messrs. Scott and McGuire exhorted after the sermon."
This year, upon several occasions, Dr. Woodbridge records his sickness. One week in February he was confined with mumps; and on other occasions dur- ing service he had to stop, and others assisted him to complete the service.
He also records the funeral occasion of two per- sons hela in high esteem by all the congrega- tion, as well as other citizens of Richmond and the State, to-wit: Mr. James E. Heath on the 29th of June, and Mrs. John Robinson on the 9th of No- vember.
It must not be forgotten that we are now in the midst of the civil war (1862.) Our southern States all blockaded by the Federal navy as well as army; our supplies gradually diminishing in every direc- tion ; many of our clergy driven from their parishes, and many following the army as chaplains ; hence,
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those who are in the city are called daily to admin- ister to the sick and wounded in the hospitals in and around the city, and to bury the dead. Under this condition of things it is not to be wondered at that many of our city churches were often closed ; for many of the ladies of Richmond, as well as those who were refugees from other cities in the southern States, were in daily attendance at the bed-side of the sick and dying soldiers of both armies. Volumes could be written of the courage and personal sacri- fice of comfort and ease, encountered during the en- tire four years of the war, by the women of the southern States. But those deeds of mercy, in many, many instances, have their record only in heaven. I allude to them here for information to such of my readers who were too young then to realize our condition, and for others who were remote from the scenes of so much mental as well as bodily suffering.
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