Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-08-02
Old POhie1x Church in Fairfax Co.. Va.


One OF the most interesting relics OF the past
10 Virginia is Pohick Church, 10 the coun-
ty OF Fairfax, which belongs to the last century
and Is intimately associated with the name of
Washington. The site for the building was Sc
lecred by hun, and the lively concern he took
IN the affairs oil the church was manifested not
only IN an accurate and handsome map of the
PARISH. drawn with his own hand from care.
iul survey, but III his constant attendance upon
Its services, riding thiher in all seasons six or
| seven miles trom Mount Vernon, whenever
| Pohlck Church was opened for the wurk<hip
of Almight God.
| The ancient ediice had fallen iuto diIapida-
ton even before the war, and the late Bishop
Meade, describing a visit he paid to it in 1859
Tor the purpose ofpertormlng service, speaks of
1t as being entered through its wide open doors
| by every beast of the field and fowl of the
air. The roof, too was decaying and let in
the rain, and the old sanctury of the Washing
tons and LewlseS and Fartaxcs presented a for
loru aspect indeed When the war came on
and Fairfax county, for considerable time, was
made the Flanders of the Virginia campaigns,
Puhick Church afforded shelter for the soldiers
Of the Union, and was left by them in very
ruinouS plight. At the time of Bishop
Meade visit the hand of decay had spared
the chancrl, communion table aud tablets of
the law and it is believed that these are now
not beyond the possibility of restoration; but,
unless the work OF repair is begun without de.
lay, the ruin will very soon be complete Such,
in truth, is the deSolatiou that marks many Of
the Architectural remains Of the colonial period
OF Virginia witness the inou!dcring tower at
jamestown that it may be said Of them, etiam
pcrlere rulnte. the very ruins are going to
| pieces and with regard even to structures that
refer like Pohick Church to the period of the
! Revolution, no vcStige rcluaus to tell where
lnany Of them stood
In the lovely county of Devon, in England
not far from the waters Of the Channel. is the
village Of Ottcry St Mary, celebrated in
Thackcray's "Pendcnni,' a. "Chatteris, aud
the most graceful object on which the eye Of
the traveller rests in this village is the parish
church. recently very. beautifully restored
Like Pohick, the church of st. Mary Qttcry 5
linked with the memories Of great men, for
there the poet Coleridge was christened. and
there this Kindred lie buried. Like puhick
also, this church Underwent injury from civil
war, for in the great contest between Charles
| Stuart and the Parliament. the forces Of the
latter under the Ear of Essex stabbed their
| horses beneath list embowed roof. But the
| feeling Of reverence tor the old house of Wor-
ship survived n Sangulnary struggle, IN which
| the luminosity of EngllSl.nien towards EngllSh-
men was emblttcred by religious preju1iccS,
and the building was again used for the service
OF the Church Of England, until in our own
time. through the contribution of private citi-
gems. it has been transformed into one Of the
sweetest and most rcvercnt structures ID which,
through " England, prayer and prui,e are
now I,tieI up on high.
II like manner there * desire on the part
Of. Christian men and Women 10 the United
States 10 restore Pohck Church and rcturui>h
the altar at which Washington kuelt Not a
large sun is need for this piouS work-ouly
three Thousand dollarS-and an active effort is
on foot 10 collect it, Already has one half been
contributed in this city aud its neighborhood
The whole amount when made up will be
placed in the hands Of Bishop Johns, Of Eir
yinia.-N !. Ecentng Past
4 New SCANDAL. The Administration
! Ring al Washington IS getting Il reputation
almost a> unSavory rs that Of the Tweed Ring
| in New York. The latest disclosure OF
villainy COMES from Alabama OF course
Senator Spencer Is concerned in it. His famous
! ''colnpact with President Grant. TO give the
re elccron>tS the control of the State in
exchange Tor the patronage. comes 10 light in
all manner OF unexpected ways. aud seems to
! have Influenced muitiuleS of schemes Of cor
ruptiou and official fraud. whose u,llnbc W. are
only beginning 10 lr;ru. For the details Of the
| beautiful story orr readers are referred to a
| " a>hugton letter. whose Statements are made
| upon authority We cannot question. The post
master at Selma, Ala. one NARROW, being a
| letau!ter 10 the amount of $1,000 tried 10
>traishten his accounts by sending a package
| filled with strips of newspaper in lieu II bank
notes to the designated depository at Atlanta
aud charging the route agents with stealing
the money The fraud was discovered Scna-
tor Spencer was delighted This little affair
would give him hold upon the man. The
criminal could be driven to extraordinary cxer
tlou> 10 behalf OF the compact. and there would
be no danger OF his deserving to Greeley aud
Brown. So he represented that the retention
Of NARROW Was Necessary Ia the success of the
denomination party and Mr.. Cre>well released
him from arrest and sent him back TO Selma,
with Instructions to make up his dcialcatlon by
instruments. and do his best for President
| Grant.
Whether SIarlnw value was less then had
been supposed. or Mr.. Sepucer believed that the
compact could be more eticctually promoted by
a new distribution OF >polI>, we cannot say but
| as soon as the stolen money mad been repaid
the name Of Henry Cochran was S"nt to the Sen.
ate as NARROW successor Mr. { ,chran lnmc.
| diately atterWard received 4 visit from MeSsrS
| Coon and Clarke. delegates from Alabama to
the denomination Convention. and confidential
friends of Senator Spencer. From these gen
tiemen Mr. Cochran learned the conditions upon
which Mr.. Spencer was willing that he should
be confirmed. He must promise IN writing !,
to support Spencer Tor reelection to the SEN
ate S.; ,, to support Coon for Governor 3. 10
give Coon and Spencer all the patronage Of the
Selma postotfice and that there might be no
mistake about it Mr.. Spencer reiterated the
demands of his friends. Mr.. Cochran refused
Mr. Spencer thereupon concluded that it
would be safest to keep NARROW. Cochran 5
nomination was consequently rejected, and Mr.
NARROW is postmaster OF Selma still
1t will not escape the notice of our readers
that for this scan1alous transaction higher