A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 35

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Church, Alexandria, to take charge of it, with the privilege of spending a portion of the year in Frederick and not entire- ly relinquishing my engagements there.

After three unworthy ministers, the next in order of time past was the good Dr. Griffith of whom I have already spoken, as the first Bishop-elect of Virginia, but who was prevented by poverty from going to England for consecra- tion. His predecessor was Lord Bryan Fairfax, of whom I have something to say in another place. He was a pure and conscientious man, the friend and neighbour of General Washington, and a true Englishman. He attempted, in a series of private letters, which one of his children showed me and which have since been published, to dissuade Washington from engaging in or pursuing the war. Gen- eral Washington dealt very tenderly with him in his replies, knowing how conscientious he was, and being much attach- ed to him and the elder Lord Fairfax with whom he had lived. There was associated with Mr. Fairfax the Rev. Mr. Page, who afterward moved to Shepherdstown, and of whom I have heard that venerable old lady, Mrs. Shepherd, speak in the highest terms as an evangelical man of the school of Whitefield.

A few remarks on my ministry during the two years of its exercise in Alexandria may serve to cast some light on the progress of the Church in Virginia from that time. 1st. The old Virginia custom of private baptisms, christening- cake, and merriment, had prevailed in Alexandria. The ground, however, was now taken that the rubric was entirely opposed to this and that the whole meaning and design of the sacred rite forbade it and that it could not be continued. There were demurrings and refusals for a time, but a little decision with kind persuasion completely triumphed, as they did afterward at a later period both in Norfolk and Peters- burg, where private baptisms were made to give place to public ones, when I had the temporary charge of these two congregations, peculiar circumstances inducing me to un-

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dertake it. 2dly. The Gospel, it is to be feared, had not been clearly preached in times past. It was now attempted; and, though most imperfectly done as to style and manner, God's blessing was granted. The services were well attend- ed. Many were added to the Church of such as gave good proof afterward that they would be of those who should be saved. A goodly number of the members of Congress often came down on Sunday morning to attend the church, among whom were Mr. John Randolph and Dr. Milnor, with both of whom I became then and thus acquainted. In the mind of the latter there was at that time going on the great change whose abundant fruits have so blessed mankind. 3d. It was during my stay in Alexandria that I procured from the library of Mr. Custis, of Arlington, the folio edition of Bishop Wilson's works, which had been presented to General Washington by the son of Bishop Wilson, and which works had been recommended to me by Bishop Madison. By the help of Mr. Edward McGuire, who, for more than forty-two years, has been the faithful and successful minister of the Church in Fredericksburg, and who was then preparing for the ministry with me, I selected from the various parts of that large book, a small volume of private and family prayers, which have gone through three editions, and which, being freely circulated among the families of Virginia, contributed greatly to introduce what was indeed a novelty in that day -the practice of family worship .* It was during my short stay in Alexandria that the Rev. William Wilmer assumed

* Many of the sentences or petitions, making up these family devotions, are taken from short prayers found either before or after the printed sermons of Bishop Wil- son, and no doubt were used by him in the pulpit. They were evidently adapted to sermons. Such we know to have been the case with many if not all of the English clergy. for a long time. Specimens of the same may be seen in connection with a few of the homilies. Such is the practice of some of the English clergy to this day, as I know from having heard them while on a visit to England a few years since. It is well known that Bishop White did at one time, after the exam- ple of English Bishops and clergy. prepare and use such prayers after his sermons. Some of the Virginia clergy have done the same occasionally, and for it they have been denounced as transgressors of the law. and no Churchmen. I sincerely wish that so good a practice were generally adopted and that ministers would care- ully prepare, either in writing or otherwise, a prayer suitable to the sermon. The collects might sometimes be found admirably adapted, but not always.

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the charge of St. Paul's congregation, and at the close of my ministry there that the Rev. Oliver Norris took charge of Christ Church. These beloved brothers, coming from Maryland with those views of the Gospel and the Church which the evangelical clergy and laity of England were then so zealously and successfully propagating there, contributed most effectually to the promotion of the same in Virginia, and to them is justly due much of the subsequent character and success of the Church in Virginia, as is well known to all of their day. I cannot take leave of Alexandria without referring to my admission to priests' orders, which took place there a year or two after this, and which were conferred on me by Bishop Clagget, of Maryland, our faithful brother the Rev. Simon Wilmer preaching on the occasion. Bishop Clag- get, so far as I know and believe, entertained sound views of the Gospel and was a truly pious man. There was much of the Englishman about him, I presume, from his wearing the mitre, and his mode of examining me, that conforming so much to the character of the English University exam- inations .* Beside a number of hard questions in the meta- physics of divinity, which I was by no means well prepared to answer, but which he kindly answered for me, he re- quested that I would, in compliance with an old English canon, which had been, I think, incorporated somewhere into our requisitions, give him an account of my faith in the Latin tongue. Although I was pretty well versed in the Latin language, yet, being unused to speak it, I begged him to ex- cuse me. He then said I could take pen and paper and write it down in his presence; but he was kind enough to ex.

* A singular circumstance occurred about this time in connection with Bishop Claggett's consecration of old St. Paul's Church, Alexandria. Putting on his robes and his mitre at some distance from the Church, he had to go along the street to reach it. This attracted the attention of a number of boys and others, who ran after and alongside of him, admiring his peculiar dress and gigantic stature. His voice was as extraordinary for strength and ungovernableness as was his stature for size, and as he entered the door of the church where the people were in silence awaiting, and the first words of the service burst forth from his lips in his most peculiar manner, a young lady, turning around suddenly and seeing his huge form and uncommon appearance, was so convulsed that she was obliged to be taken out of the house.

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cuse from that also, and determined to ordain me with all my deficiencies, very much as some other bishops do in this day.

On leaving Alexandria I returned to my little farm in Frederick and to the tending, in conjunction with Mr. Bal- maine, of the two small flocks at the chapel and in Winches- ter. During all the time of that joint rectorship I bestowed a considerable portion of my labours on five or six counties around, which were either destitute of ministers or very partially served. The continual presence of Mr. Balmaine in Winchester, and the lay-reading of my excellent father- in-law, Mr. Philip Nelson, at the chapel, enabled me to do this. In my absence from the chapel, the excellent sermons of Gisborne and Bradley and Jarrett were delivered by one of the best of readers, from its pulpit. I was happy to be able, during my visit to England some years since, to com- municate to the two former the fact that they had thus, with- out knowing it, preached so often and so acceptably in my pulpit in America. Such was the scarcity of ministers and churches around, that my chapel services were attended by families living at the distance of twelve and fifteen miles. There are now seven churches, with regular services by six ministers, within that district to which I was a debtor for all pulpit and parochial ministration. My connection with Mr. Balmaine was most pleasant and harmonious. He was one of the most simple and single-hearted of men. Himself and his excellent partner were the friends of the poor, and indeed of all, and were beloved by all who knew them. They had no children, and having some property, as well as a few hundred dollars rent for the glebe, might have lived in a little style and self-indulgence, but they were economical and self-denying in all things, that they might have something for the poor and for the promotion of pious objects. They did not even keep fire in their chamber during the coldest weather of winter. They had one family of servants, who were to them as children. As children they inherited, and some still live in, the old mansion.

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Some of the most eloquent extempore effusions I ever heard were from his lips, while standing in the chancel on sacramental occasions, when he referred with tears to past errors and sought to make amends, by thus testifying to evangelical doctrine and holy living. In the spring of 1812, Bishop Madison died. And as Dr. Buchannon, of Richmond, was the Secretary to the last Convention, which was held seven years before, Dr. Wilmer and myself united in a request that he would call a special one in May. At that Convention fourteen clergymen and fourteen laymen assembled. It re- sulted in the election of Dr. Bracken as successor to Bishop Madison; not, however, withont opposition by some among us. Another Convention was held in the following spring, at which only seven clergymen attended. To that Conven- tion Dr. Bracken sent in his resignation. Our deliberations were conducted in one of the committee-rooms of the Capi- tol, sitting around a table. There was nothing to encourage us to meet again, and but for that which I shall soon mention, I believe such profitless and discouraging efforts would soon have ceased. I well remember, that having just read Scott's "Lay of the Last Minstrel," as I took my solitary way home- ward on horseback, I found myself continually saying, in re- lation to the Church of Virginia, in the words of the elvish page, "Lost-lost-lost;" and never expected to cross the mountains again on such an errand. But in the course of that year, or in the early part of the following, it was sug- gested to Messrs. Wilmer and Norris, that the Rev. Dr. Moore, of New York, was the man to raise up the Church in Virginia. Mr. D. had become acquainted with Dr. Moore at a recent General Convention, heard him eloquently advo- rate the introduction of more hymns into the Prayer Book, and preach the Gospel with zeal and power in several large churches. Dr. Wilmer and myself entered into a correspond- ence with Dr. Moore, which lead to his election at the next Convention. Some objections, however, were privately made. to Dr. Moore. It was said that Bishop Hobart had com- plaints against him for some irregularities in carrying on

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the work of the ministry, and that he was somewhat Meth- odistical. It so happened, however, that Bishop Hobart had written a most favourable letter concerning Dr. Moore to some one present, which being shown, all opposition was silenced and he was unanimously elected as Bishop of the Diocese, and immediately after, or perhaps before, as Rector of the Monumental Churchi, which had been reared on the ruins of the Richmond Theatre. Bishop Moore was conse- crated in May of 1814, and entered on his duties in the sum- mer of that year. Our organization was now complete, but on a diminutive scale. Besides the few older clergy, who had almost given up in despair, there were only the Rev. Messrs. Wilmer and Norris, in Alexandria, the Rev. Mr. Lem- mon, who had just come to Fauquier, Mr. Edward MeGuire, acting as lay-reader in Fredericksburg, (preferred by the peo- ple in that capacity to another importation from abroad,) and the one who makes this record. But from this time forth a favorable change commenced. Hope sprung up in the bo- soms of many hitherto desponding. Bishop Moore had some fine qualifications for the work of revival. His venerable form, his melodious voice, his popular preaching, his evan- gelical doctrine, his amiable disposition, his fund of anec- dote in private, and his love for the Church, all contributed to make him popular and successful, so far as he was able to visit and put forth effort. His parochial engagements and bodily infirmities prevented his visiting many parts of the Diocese. He never crossed the Allegheny Mountains, although he sometimes visited North Carolina, which then had no Bishop. In the spring of 1815, the first Convention under his Episcopate assembled in Richmond. It must be evident to all, from the account given of the past history of the Church in Virginia, that much prejudice must have exist- ed against it, and that the reputation of both clergy and peo- pie for true piety must have been low, and that it was most proper to take some early occasion of setting forth the prin- ciples on which it was proposed to attempt its resuscitation. The last Convention, which was held under Bishop Madison,

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and which was followed by an intermission of seven years, had prepared the way for this, by declaring the necessity of a reform in the manners of both clergy and laity and by establishing rules for the trial of both. Wherefore, among the first things which engaged the consideration of the Con- vention of 1815, was the establishing a code of discipline. The Diocese of Maryland, from which two of our brethren, the Rev. Messrs. Wilmer and Norris, came, had already been engaged in the same work, and we did little else than copy the regulations there adopted.

But the opposition indeed was such at this and the ensuing Convention, that we had to content ourselves with renewing the general resolutions of the Convention of 1805, under Bishop Madison. In two years after this, however, in the Convention held in Winchester, when the number of the clergy and the piety of the laymen had increased, the subject was again brought up, and the condemnation of those things which brought reproach on the Church was extended to the- atres, horse-racing and public balls, by an overwhelming ma- jority. The same has been renewed and enforced at a more recent one. The Church now began to move on with more rapid strides. In looking over the list of the clergy who were added to our ranks in the few following years we see the names of such men as Hawley, Horrell, the two Allens, the Lowes, Ravenscroft, Smith, now Bishop of Kentucky, Wing- field, the elder Armstrong, of Wheeling; Charles Page, Keith, Lippett Alexander Jones, Cobbs, George Smith, William Lee, John Grammar, J. P. McGuire, Brooke, the Jacksons and others. The itinerant labours of some of them deserve spec- ial notice. Benjamin Allen's labours in the Valley of Vir- ginia ; Charles Page's in the counties of Amherst, Nelson, &c .; Mr. Cobb's in Bedford and the counties round about; William Lee's in Amelia, Goochland, Powhatan and others; Mr. Gram- mer's in Dinwiddie, Brunswick, Greenville, Surry and Prince George, and J. P. McGuire's between the Rappahannock and James Rivers, were such as few professedly itinerant preach- ers ever surpass. Without such self-denying labours, the

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Church could never have been revived in these places. The faithful and zealous men, whom I have enumerated above, were accompanied and have been followed by other faithful ones, too numerous to mention.

Theological Seminary.

It is time that I should now advert to the origin and prog- ress of one great instrument of the Church's prosperity in Virginia-the Theological Seminary at Alexandria. As Bishop Moore was about leaving New York for Virginia, in the summer of 1814, Dr. Augustine Smith, a native of Vir- ginia, who had been for some years Professor in a Medical School in New York and who was then about to take charge of William and Mary College, met him in the street and pro- posed that the Church in Virginia should establish a Theo- logical Professorship in Williamsburg, and thus make the College, what its royal patrons designed, a School of the Prophets. Bishop Moore encouraged the proposal, and a deputation of one of the Professors was sent to the Conven- tion of 1815 for the purpose of promoting the plan. The Con- vention approved it, and the Rev. Dr. Keith became the min- ister of the Episcopal congregation in Williamsburg, and was prepared to instruct any candidates for the ministry who might be sent there. During a stay of two years only one presented himself. On various accounts Williamsburg was found to be an unsuitable place. The Convention of Virginia had appointed Colonel Edward Colston and myself a com- mittee to correspond with the Bishop of Maryland and some leading laymen in North Carolina, proposing a union with Virginia in the establishment and management of the Semi- nary at Williamsburg. From North Carolina we received no answer. From the Bishop of Maryland* we receiv- ed a prompt and decided refusal, accompanied with such severe strictures on the religion and morals of Virginia that we did not present it to the Convention, but only report- ed our failure. Williamsburg especially was objected to on

*Bishop Kemp.

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account of its infidelity as altogether unfit to be the seat of such an institution. Those of us who were engaged in the re- suscitation of the Church were also said to be extravagant in some of our notions, as is apt to be the case with those who in flying from one extreme rush into the other. There was much in the letter but too true of the laity and clergy, both of Maryland and Virginia, in that and past days. Having failed in our experiment at Williamsburg, we determined to make trial of it in Alexandria, by the help of our Education Society-Dr. Keith, Dr. Wilmer and Mr. Norris being the Professors. The General Theological Seminary was now get- ting under way, and its friends were afraid of some interfer- ence with its prosperity. The ground was taken that this was the institution of the Church, and its claims paramount to all others. Most threatening letters were addressed to Bishop Moore, calling upon him as a Bishop of the General Church, bound to guard its unity, to interpose and prevent the establishment of the Seminary at Alexandria. Happily for us, Mr. Kohn had bequeathed a large fund for the General Seminary in New York, where it was located when the will was written; but, meantime, it had been removed to New Haven, and it was contended that it could not inherit a legacy which was given to an institution in New York. Bishop Ho- bart now took the field in favour of Diocesan Seminaries and wrote a pamphlet on the subject, claiming the legacy for one to be established in New York, under Diocesan rule. A Gen- eral Convention was called to settle the question, and it was compromised by restoring the General Seminary to New York, on certain terms, which, as it was foreseen and predict- ed, made it and has continued it, virtually, a New York Semi- mary. But we heard no more after that of the schismatical character of the Virginia Seminary, nor have we since that time heard any other objections of the kind to those estab- lished in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Connecticut. Our Sem- inary continued for several years in the town of Alexandria, until we raised sufficient funds to purchase its present site

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY-FRONT VIEW.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (FROM CAMPUS).

EPISCOPAL HIGH SCHOOL. NEAR ALEXANDRIA, VA.

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and erect some of its buildings. We are indebted to the zeal of Mr. John Nelson, of Mecklenburg, for the first moneys col- lected for that purpose. He visited a considerable part of the State, and raised a handsome contribution to it. In the year 1828 I took my turn, and visited a still larger portion of the State, realizing a greater amount. Other calls have at suc- cessive periods been made, and always with success. An at- tempt to raise an Episcopal fund for a time interfered with and postponed this, but it was soon evident that this was the favourite with the people, and the other was relinquished.

Clerical Associations.

Next in the order of time, and agreeably to a recommenda- tion in one of the Conventions in Bishop Madison's time, comes the establishment of Clerical Associations. The first of these was in the Valley of Virginia, consisting of the min- isters of Berkeley, Jefferson and Frederick-Dr. Balmaine, Rev. Benjamin Allen, Enoch Lowe, Mr. Brian and myself- Benjamin Smith, now Bishop Smith, coming among us soon after. We assembled quarterly in each other's parishes; preaching for several days and nights; having meetings among ourselves, and at private houses, for special prayer; taking up collections for missionaries to the western part of Virginia. The two first who went to Virginia beyond the Alleghanies-the Rev. Charles Page and William Lee-were sent out by our Society. These Associations were attended by much good and no evil, so far as I know and believe. I have ever encouraged them since entering the Episcopate, and Bishop Moore did the same before and after that time, as be- ing most important auxiliaries to the Bishops, especially in large dioceses. I regard it as an evil omen, when ministers, favourably situated, are averse to such means of their own and their people's improvement, though I do not mean to say that there are not some good and pious men who regard them in a different light.

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Our Conventions Come Next.

For the first few years after our reorganization our Con- ventions were not only small as to numbers, but sad and gloomy in character, attracting no attention. A succession of the rainy seasons in May attended them for so many years that the two were closely associated in the public mind. For some years they were held in Richmond; but the proverbial and profuse hospitality of that place was not then generally afforded them. For the most part, both clerical and lay dele- gates were to be seen only at the taverns, and but few religi- ous services were held. The Convention at Fredericksburg -- the first after the system of rotation commenced-was kindly and hospitably entertained, and from that time onward they became not only delightful to the clergy and laity composing them, but attractive to others. To understand aright the history of such large assemblies as our Conventions attract, and the reasons which justify our encouragement of them by making religious exercises so large a part of their doings, it must be stated that not only are the Virginians a people given to visiting, but that the Episcopalians are peculiarly so by reason of the fact that, for the most part, they have sprung from a comparatively few families, who, by marriages and intermarriages, though scattered all over the State, make up one great family of tenderly-attached relatives, who are always pleased at a good excuse, if the ability allows, to as- semble together. The bond of Christian fellowship and of Church feeling also is very strong, even where the other is not, as well as where it is. Hospitality also is a strong prin- ciple with them, and it is easier here than in most places to throw open the doors and welcome all who will come in on such occasions. A more innocent mode-nay, a more religi- ous mode-of gratifying the social feeling cannot be than that of meeting together at our Conventions; and an impera- tive duty rests on the ministers to afford the people the most frequent and edifying services in their power, so that they may take up the song of God's ancient people, when going by

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Divine command to the great feasts of His own appointment:

"Oh! 'twas a joyful sound to hear The tribes devoutly say , Up, Israel! to the temple haste, And keep the festal day."

Sometimes they have been most edifying, as well as joyful occasions. The presence of God has been felt. The word preached has been attended with great power. Many have remembered them as the means of their awakening, and many as the channels of more grace to their already converted souls. Long may they continue to be thus used. Even if some dioceses are so small, or the conveyances so convenient and . rapid, that a few hours or at most a day can bring them all to the place of meeting, and a very short time may suffice for legislation and business, let it be remembered how very large are the dimensions of the Diocese of Virginia, how difficult and tedious the journey of many of its members to the Con- vention, and it will be felt and acknowledged that to meet on mere business for a few hours or a day would not be suffi- cient to induce and remunerate the attendance of either clergy or laity.

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A history and record of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of West Virginia, Part 35

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