The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-02-15
THE DAY BOOK.
ST. Paul's Church.
fCoNTINUED.l

minister of Elizabeth river parish, Norfolk
and again in 1905. During the interval no
delegation appears. Soon after this it is be-
lieved Mr.. Whitehead accepted a charge in
Baltimore. From all the accounts | have
received, Mr.. Whitehead was worthy min
lister OF the gospel. He was also a good
scholar, and presided over the academy in
nodore Skinner and other children, who in.
hei it the fathers attachmen. to the Episc0-
pal Church
II was during the ministry o! Mr.. White
bead that most unhappy and bitter con
troVersy occurred in the congregation, con-
corning himself sud the Rev. William
Il land, who IVES tls, favoiite OF IL portion Oh
the congregation and was claimed, by some,
10 be the minister, although he never had a
seat III the Conventions. Mr. Bland was
ordained by The Bishop OF london in 1867,
aud he been floating about various parishes,
until he came tn Norfolk. His only virtue
WAS, an attachment 10 tie Revolutionary
cause, while he was minister at Jamestown,
and which brought him into some notice by
our patriots is Williamsburg. He was a
man OF Incorporate habits, at any rate
while lin Norfolk, but still had something
about him which created party in his fla
vor. The controversy was carried on 10 the
newspapers in Norfolk during the week, and
also in the pulpit on the Sabbath, the same
pulpit serving both ministers, the one in the
morning, the other il the afternoon. The
following extract Of "A etter frsm my freud,
Ms. John Soathgate, Of Norfolk, contains
the most accurate account oi the transaC-
tons which is to be had
~ think it WIS in the yeas 1880 or 1871,
that arrived IN Norfolk, At " hich time or
very soon thereafter, the controversy that
you speak of commenced between the parti-
Fans of Bland and Whitehead, who were
both selected .y their seperate yestries (for
both parties had their seperate vestries anu
wardens) to the reelorship Of old st. Pauls.
OF course good deal OF ill blood was en-
gendered between the Reverend Gentlemen.
This S tate OF things lasted for some years,
until Mr.. Whitehead and his friends, who
amounted to large majority, perhaps nine
tenths OF the Church, and who were most
moderate in their pretensiens, for the sake
OF peace gave way, and occupied the Court
House as a ploce OF worship, and where the
ordinances Of the Church we're for some
time administered. In the year 1900, April
10th, the friends of Mr.. Whitehead met for
the purpose sf making arrangements Tor
building a place of worship, which they
called Christ Church, at which time SIG, 900
were promptly subscribed, and on the Gath
of June of the same year, the corner stone
was laid, and for the purpose of avoiding
difficulties heretofore existing, it was deter
mined that the appointment of the rector
should be made by the pew holders, and that
annually. Mr. Whitehead continued 10 be
the pastor Of the same until the early part of
the year 1906, when he received a call to
church in Baltimore, and what may surprise
US at this day, his only compensation during
sixteen years, for his services, was e100 or
$685. per annum. Mr. Whitehead was sue
ceeded by the Rev. Thomas Davis, from
Alexandria, (the same who had formerly
been minister in Noriolk,) who continued
with US until October, 1906, having received
call from Hungars parish, on the Eastern
Shore. Mr. Davis was succeeded by the Rev
Mr.. Syme, who continued until February,
1916, when he was no. reelected. He how
ever occasionally did the duties of the clerk
and pulpit in connection with the Rev. Mr..
Brown, until July 1876. At this time Mr..
Brown, either died or removed, and Mr.
Syme was called to Hungars parish.
In August 1916, the Rev. Samuel Low be-
came Rector OF the parish and continued
until his death in 1920. MIR. Low, was the
son OF the unhappy man who was minister
in Lancaster and Fredericksburg. and gave
much trouble to the church, and OF whom
we shall baye SO nething to say hereafter. -
hi; son was as brand plucked from the
burning in more ways than one, Being Of a
literary and poetic turn and having some tai
cut Tor the stage, and passionately fond OF it,
he tor tim Q addicted himself to its perform
Anees; but the spirit of God followed MIN
even into that synagogue OF satan, and
brought him forth, and placed him on an
higher and boiler stage in the church Of
Christ. What little preparation he was able
to make for the pulpit was chiefly made
under my roof. His fathers sin and disgrace
produced an abiding impression Of pensive-
ness, If not Of melancholy on naturally
sensitive mind, and this was deepened still
more by the early d cath OF lovely young
woman Miss Csmmack OF Nortolk) whom
lie married soon after taking charge OF
Chtist's Church. His pious conversation
and evangelical preaching began that work
which 10 this day has gone on. His success