The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-24
DOMESTIC MISCELLANY.

Alexandria, May ia fire broke out here this
morning at IL rs o'clock in a frame grocery, kept
by Thomas Huntledon. The fire companies we're
soon on hand, but from some cause worked badly.
The fire extended to the market-house, across an
alley, over which were the auditor Office, police,
lawyers, and clerks offices, museum. town hall,
and two Masonic lodges, one the Washington
Lodge, founded by George Washington The whole
building was consumed, but all the records Of the
court and corporation, together with all the relics
in the two Lodges including full length protrait
| of the Father of his Country" were saved. The
contents of the Museum, which was one of the
oldest in the United States, were saved, but some
what damaged. The weather was calm, or the
whole square would have burned Two steam fire
companies from Washington came down on the
steam ferry boat, in response to telegram to the
fire department and did good service The market
house was built in 1917, and the beautiful spire
thereon, with the old town clock, will long be
missed by our citizens. Many sigh was given
and tears shed as that noble old spire wasted away
under the devourjng element, standing erect to the
last, and not falling until entirely consumed.
The loss. except the frame grocery and tin shop
of Mr. Brill, falls entirely on the corporation, and
is estimated at $780, 00 The fire is believed to be
the work OF an ncendlary.
University of Virginia. Address before the Young
Mems Christian Association, by Judge Robert
Ould, of Richmond. A correspondent of the Dis
patch says:
"0n Friday we had the pleasure of hearing this
address. There was quite large audience of the
students and citizens, with the professors of the
University and their families. The subject of the
address was The government of diverse popula-
TONS This we would suppose to be subject
rather inappropriate to the occasion, and, in fact
your correspondent felt as much when he heard it
announced but he like many others, was very
agreeably disappointed.
will not attempt an analysis. of the very able
address, which was credit both to the intellect
and heart of the speaker, and highly instructive
and gratifying to his auditors.
Many fine points were made in the speech, none
Of which were more forcible than that Liberty
is not incompatible with restraints, which was
deliberately illustrated by classical references and
also by the history Of our own government. The
address was replete with splendid illustrations
drawn from that great storehouse of imagery, the
Word Of God. After showing that as population
increased, the machinery of government became far
more complex and the problem more intricate it
was shown that the danger of ruin while not con-
fined to republics was far more to be dreaded
in them than in monarchies the danger of ruin
being confined to no government The speaker
significantly asked, Is there no way of averting
this ruin?" As there are prospects of this danger
In our own land from such facts as the rapid growth
of secret political organizations and class combna-
lions, it becomes us to answer this question with
view to the responsibility Of trying to avert
it if possible.
The only hope of an exemption from ruin is in
the law Of the Lord as it came to us on Sinai, and
was repeated to us on the mount" BY the Divine
Expositor and that too, not in the law abstractly
considered, but in its becoming the rule of heart
and life of individual citizens.
The address was closed by pressing home to the
heart of his hearers, the individual responsibility
Of each to do all in his power to make the lave
the Lord honored in the land
Gen. Mat W. Ransom is to deliver the address be-
fore the Literary Society, and Rev. I'll. G. Hill, Of
Fayetteville, the annual sermon before the Will
liams Society of Inquiry at the approaching Com.
mencement at Davidson College, n 9.