The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-23
THE NEW EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN HAno-

THE New EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN HANo
vER-FEsTIvAL AT WASHINGTON HENRY
AcADEMY-BouNTIFUL TABLES AND Goo1
CHEER-GENERAL W1sE's SPEECH-FEsv1
VAL CoNTINUEp-A few minutes past {
o'clock yesterday morning the specia
train left the Central depot, laden witt
a happy party anticipating with delight
temporary escape from the city to the
"classic shades of old Washington
Henry Academy. After pleasant ride
to Atlee's, the excursionists found con.
veyances, in which they soon reached
the place Of destination. There, amongst
other preparations for the occasion, was
long table. loaded with viands provided
by the generous ladies of the neighborhood
and large pile Of the best of Hanover
watermelons.
The academy is pleasantly located in q
beautiful grove, about three-quarters of q
mile from Atlee's. The ground on which
it was built was given by Patrick Henry to
trustees, by whose successors it is still
held. 1t was endowed by him and also by
Washington, and from those two llustri.
Gus patriots it derives its name. It's now
in fourishing condition. ~s-s
1t is not yet determined which Of the
several sites that have been offered will
be selected for the location of the Episco-
pal church, for the building of which this
feast is held. Service is at present held
in large school-house at Mechanicsv1lle
At o'clock dinner was announced,
and persons (after paying fifty cents) were
admitted to we'll filled tabls, sheltered
by an arbor. After dinner General Wise
addressed the assembly. ~.
The General commenced by saying that
he had been called on to say few
words at this academy that was endowed
by Washington and Henry in behalf
Of church to be built near it. He
urged both institutions upon the considera-
tion and support of the audience ard the
country. We needed church-a house
of refuge in these times. Private and
public morals require to be purified and
exalted. 1t is an error to say that this
is a result of the war. Decentralization
caused the war, and was developed through
it. Fanaticism did not exist exclusively
in the North, but was in both sections.
The worship was of money-sordid ava
rice in the public mind. The remedy was
to 90 to God. We must build church,
which may possibly be the means of build
ing temples in our own hearts. This will
bring us the power of wisdom and honesty.
The idea that money is all we want must
fall with our fortunes.
Next to our duty to God is our alle-
glance to our country and to the Constitu-
ton of the United States. The oath taken
to support the Constitution is often an
oath to violate it. The excuse is with
many that it is dead letter. 1t has a
Lazarus life in it, and should be sustained
with unwavering constancy and devotion.
Next, the General said, our duty is to
ourselves. We must defend ourselves as
white men. There is an attempt to sub
iect the. white men to the domination of
the blacks. The white race is, therefore,
now called upon everywhere to defend it
self. We must rely on Truth, the Consti-
tuition, and the masses of whites north
and south. Shall Virginia be made ia
maica7 Must her lands, and temples,
and groves be dedicated to the Congo
racer We must appeal to the whites at
home and the immigrants from abroad in
this controversy.
General Wise then referred to the con-
tinued good conduct of the negro in slavery
and in freedom, and his just claim upon US.
Yet the negroes are in that condition
which is better defined by license than
freedom. They are licensed to work or to
be idle. They are licensed to vote, and that
license would cause them to melt away
like the Indian. Freedom, instead of CIV
ing one master, gave myriads in the shape
of vices that were fatal.
General Wise urged change Of the sys-
tenn of agriculture to one better suited to
the change in our political and social con-
dition. Mechanical arts, too, must take
the place in occupation of lounging around
barrooms. Labor now we must. lie
concluded with this point, which he elabo-
rately and eloquently enforced.
A balloon ascension at 8 o'clock added
to the many attractions which repaid the
visitors to Washington Henry Academy.
The feast will continue to-day and to-
morrow. 1t is hoped that Notwithstanding
the rain, which prevented great many
who were expected from the city, that
5000 or $3.50 will be realized from the
sales of yesterday. The concert will take
place to-day.