The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-08
Nithmono Qispatrb.
THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH $. 1850.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.

~s
THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH S. 1885,
Correspondence Of the Riohmond Dispatch
Nanxtaffvying Esta5lishniesfx-(ax,cAe. and
Unir,rsi,,es-A Gtntrsws and Noble Lady
Tae "ChHrch of the Holy Cross."
TROY. n. V, March 5, 1860.
This city Of hills at the head of steamboat
navigation. on the East bank Of the Hudson,
contains thirty. five thousand inhabit tant Is, and
is n ll-built, prosperous-iooking town, de-
irving its impor lance chiefly from it's manu-
fac,ures. of which it has large number, some
account OF which hope to be able soon to send
you. There are some schools of considerable
renutation here "A Protes and a Catholic
University, and any number of churches OF
an religious creeds. Rev. DIR. Beman, the aged
CONGREGATIONAL divine, who has now reached
five years beyond the allotted three ore-and
ten still breaches in the principal church Of
his persuasion in this city. 1t is a large and
handsome edifice, with one Of the most magni.
ficent organs in the country. The choir, con-
sis,iug in part Of young ladies, stand on a
platform in front Of the organ, and having no
screen or curtain to protect them from the gaze
Of the congregation, (at least half OF whom
turn round and face the music,) must have
a irving time Of it. DIR. Beman is one of the
ables, OF the clergymen of his school, and,
though he appears feeble when on his way to
the pulpit, is said to warm up In his sermons,
and, in his great animation and vigor, lose all
marks Of age except his white locks. There
are some very handsome Episcopal, Baptist,
pres by ,erian and Methodist churches here.
Father Walworth, (son OF Chanceiior Wal
worth of New York, late a member OF the Re-
demptoris, sorder, anel whose pulpit eloquence
has eYcited such sensation wherever he has
nre,ched. has quietly settled down as a parish
ppriast in one OF the Catholic churches of this
city. ,,
Sneaking of churches, l should like very
much to describe TO you church which have
visited here the Church of the Holy Cross"
and which. in its history and architecture, is
an object of such interest as 10 attract the re-
spect and attention of both visitors and resi-
dents A brief sketch will show what noble
hearts there are in the world, and what indi-
viduaI benevolence can accomplish. Mrs.
Mary Warren, of this city, a widow lady OF
considerable wealth, is said TO nave devoted
sometimes one. third and at others one.halt of
her income TO the relief Of the poor, and TO
other works Of charity and piety. In 1894, she
established a Saturday Sewing School for the
children of the poor, and in 1899, converted
this into day school, AT whlch competent
teachers of ali branches were provided, and
the children all clothed at her own expense
For seven teen years she visited this school
daily, and, not content with this, made herself
personally acquain ted with the children. fol
lowing them 10 their homes, making herself
acu uuain ted with their parents, and, when they
had finished their education, exerting berself
to procure them useful positions in life. As
many as seven hundred girls have been con-
nected with this school since it was establish
ed BY Mrs. Warren. On Christmas day it was
her invariable custom to have a grand feast
for the children, on which occasion the
Christmas trees were loaded with objects of
II uSefulness and attraction, and, with their
varied treasures, glitiered more brightly than
the trees out doors, with the ccles sparkling
in the sunshine. And there, amongst the
happy children, she moved like some good
angel happier than them all in the reflection
Of the happiness which, from SO many little
hearts, was thrown back upon her benevolent
and made her white locks u
crown of righteousness and of glory. On ST.
J ohn'S day, they had another festival in her
spacious garden, where ices, Candies cakes,
&C., were spread out under the trees, and the
whole scene. with its gay groups OF little girls,
its fragrant flowers and attractive shrubbery,
the warblings of birds and the happy melodies
Of little human sOngsters, is said 10 have been
4 perfect scene OF Fairy Land. Although
Mrs. Warren is now dead, the school is still
continued. through means BEG ueathed by her
for that purpose. and numbers at this time
eighty scholars
Before her death Mrs. Warren determined
TO establish in connection with the school, and
for the benefit of the poor, church, the cor
ner stone of which was laid in lSio, and to
which the name was given of the "Chnrch
of the Holy Cross Ii was built at the sole
cost of this generous hearted woman, and is
monument of Christian munificence and Of
taste of which any city might
we'll be proud. The church is of stOne in the
EARLY English style, free church, where The
Gospel is preached without money and with
out price. In rear of the chancel is a magnifi-
cent altar piece, represen ting the Evening of
the Crucifixon, by r. w. Weir, Professor OF
Drawing at West Point. In the chancel, the
most prominent object, is an altar with white
marble top, and the organ, which is within
the chancel rails. just outside the chancel
and on seats running lengthwise and facing
each other, sit the scholars who compose the
choir, the smallest on the front seats, the older
in the rear, and all dressed in their scarlet
c loaks making quite picturesque appearance
These children have been thoroughly drilled
in music by one Of the most accomplished mu-
sicians of the country; the Clergyman himself
as perfect proficient in the art, and great
part of the service is chaunted. Mrs. Spencer
wife of the late Lord Bishop OF Jamaica, wrote
to a friend in Troy on her return to England,
that she often thinks OF the chanting of the
= Holy Cross which sounded to her ears more
beautifully than any she had ever heard, save
that of the Sistine Chapel" Certainly, it was
the most exquisite and inspiring religious mu
sic l ever heard. The day on which visited
the church was a dark and gusty one, the wind
sweeping around the solid walls with the blus
tering roar Of March, when he "comps in like
a lion,'' but the sweet sounds within were sug
gestive Of the Christians peace and triumph
amid the rudest tempests OF this lower world.
At one moment, just as the clergy man, choir
and congregation were rising 10 chant the
Gloria Pa.ri, the clouds suddenly dispersed,
and as the first words of the magnificent as
cription swelled upwards 10 the root, per-
feet flood of sunshine poured through the
S stained windows upon the little req cloakS OF
the choristers, the white surplice OF the cler-
gyman, the chaste and appropriate ornaments
Of the chancel, and magnificent sunset picture
of the Crucifixion, producing an effect, in COM
bination with the transporting music, that to
me perfectly electrifying and almost fore
ing from the lips the exclamation, Truly, this
is the house OF God, this is the gate OF Heaven"
Ii is needless to say that the death Of the
admirable lady, whose Chris tian devotion has
produced such fruits as these was deeply de-
plored in Troy, and by hone more than the
poor. whose true, unselfish and sympathiZing
friend she ever was. Perhaps more faithful
and comprehensive tribute to her character
was never paid than that once penned by Rev.
DR. Jarvis, who presented her on Christmas,
ls50, with copy of his "History of the
Church." with this quaint, bat merited in
scripiiOn:
Who emulates himself in universal kindness;
One who shares with him the sympathy OF dong
gOOd
One who exceeds him in real charity for all good
little children;
To Mrs. Nj. Warren, OF Troy,
81. Nicholas Sendeth greeting At this high and JOY
Gus festival
Of angels and men. and bess her acceptance from
him
Of this small tribute of love and Affection" b.