Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-16
COMMUNICATED.
A Visit 40 ChrIsI Church,

A visit TO Christ Church.
As "link after link" binding Us to the
infant days of tie Republic, are being bro.
ken, and the vivid remembrance Of the pigus
and patriotic virtues of our fOre!at5crs is
fast fading AWAIT is well to cherish with
tenacious fOndness, every relic sacred %
the memory Of the honOred dead whose
lives and fortunes were so freely sacr.f.d
in the defence Of their country and the e.,
tablishmcnt of those civil and religious triy
ilege5 bequeathed to US, in the glorious char
ter of our liberties. Under the influence Of
this sentiment, and following the call Of
Chris. Church bell--whose solemn and I'M
pressiye sounds vibrGte with peculiar force
upon the pious eur, | entered the gate lead.
Ing to this ancient temple, where Washing.
ton worshipped 1t was the morning Of the
Christian Sabbath. The sun shoue out with
unusual rightuess-batbIng the rich foliage
Of the trees which surround il, in rich cFul
gence, and casting lines Of light and beauty
on the tall spire, which lifts its majestic
form from the midst Of this sacred and con.
secrdtei spot. a feeling Of devotion was IL
spired by the scene around me, and could
not but exclalm:
with silent awe hail the sacred morn.
Which slowly wakes while all the fields ara
still;
A soothing calm on every breeze Is horne.
a graver murmur guIgies from the r!I..
And echo answers softer from the hill,
And softer sings the hnnet from the thorn.
The SKY lark MARBLES III a tone lee, sar.!l.
Hail light serene; Hail! sacred Sabbath
morn
On either side Of this venerable cGifcc.
rest, peacefully and securely, the remains If
many whose voices no doubt were united
with his, in chanting the praises Of God,
and who bowed meokly at the same altar.
receiving the sacred embems OF the broken
body and shed blood OF o crucltiei Redeem
err But, now they rest peacefully from their
labors-some under shafts and spires Of
marble, and others without the rudestmerao.
rial to the activities they once bOre--iho
great, the proud, the rich, the poor-wlth
one God for their common tather-One earth
for their sepulchre-one turf TO hide their
dust WHAT hlstOry--what rJmancc-Shat
tragedy-what secrets and mysteries are
locked up with them in the grave. Sacred
and green and evermOre fagrant with tue
breath of flowers, and musical with the
sound Of gentle footballs, and the songs Of
birds, be this sacred homeo OF the dead. They
were all beloved in their daY-all Fathers,
or Mothers, or Brothers, or Sisters. or Friends;
or if any were foes--theIr enmity lives not m
the tomb. Here they rest Quiety--irecl
from the storms and ylcissitudes vi this NOR
tai life; saying to the living, that they too
must soon follow and rest with them, until
the great day, when the trumpet shall sound
bidding the nations OF the dead 70 arise
Conspicuous in this City of the Dead" is
the 'mOnsmept' "erected by order Of the
Common COuncil, to the memory Of Charles
Bennett, in commemoration OF the private
character, and public liberaIity of their os-
teemed fellow-cltizen, A. d., ISL" The
public and private benelac,iOns Ot this est
mabIe gentlemen, are too well remembered
to require even q passing notice. The city
authorities have thus shown their aPpfecla-
ton of his worth as a citizen, and We doubt
not, many are now living, 10 testify to bis gen
erOus benetacuOns.
Christ Church was erected in lIUG -
General Washington, though having first
been engaged N the erection of Nj Vernon
Church, which was flushed the same year,
and having pew thereiE-gave the highest
price for one 10 this Church, which was OC
cupicd by him and his family, during bis
life, and has been by some Of his name and
family ever since. Sparks, in bis life, states
that after the French war, and while 10 retire
ment al Mount Vernon, he took lively in
terest in Church affairs, regularly attending
public worship, aud being at different times
a Ne-tryman IN two PaTlshrs-yuC Of which
was Fairfax, aud the other TrGrG--;he place
Of worship Of the former byI"g Alexandria,
aud of the latter PUhck. OF uIs religions
character. we have the most abundant cvi-
dence. In one OF the sermons delivered alter
his death, it was said:
$40 crown all these moral yirtues--he hai
the deepest sense of religion impressed On
his heart--the trce foundation stone % all
the moral virtues. He constantly attended
the public worship Of God on the L9rd's day
was a commitment At his table, and Dy
his devOut and solemn department, inspired
every bebolder with some portion OF that awe
and reverence for the supreme beng, Of which
he felt SO large \ portion"
We find, then, in the life and example Of
this great man, the founder Of this mighty
Republic whose name and fame are rtth
the world--all the elements, in active cxcr-
else, OF the humble aud consistent christian,
aod il was here, 10 this venerated building,
within these sacred walls, that bis voice Was
50 frequently heard in praise to GJd, AID
humble prayer for the salvation of his sJuI,
and the success Of the cause in which be had
embarked.
Let US, then, never cease to reverence tins
venerable temple, hallowed by 60 many sa-
cred associations whose courts have been trod
by the feet of him, who has said that
"Of all the dispositions and habits which
lead to political prosperity, religion ana mo
rality are Indispensable supports" Ayoiumo
could not trace all their connections with
private and public felicity. IL.
ICogMUSICATED.
Bible Panorama.
This fine painting is still on exhibition,