Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-07
LOCAL ITEMS.


m,,,I ,rp p sroR or ST.. MARY's CHURCH.
o,r r.,ders Of all denominations, WILL we
arc snre, regret to learn that the 'rlenos % 'Hc
Rev. Peter kroes have been uisappohLn ,ta, ~
their expectation oil ms ieln S.,'rl.v Ha ,v;
.mi that he left our city On SATURDAY. ile WILL
NY ,hnu,.bt reside, hereafter, at Georgetown
II, = E,tbcr krocs came here IL 1896 as
.';' ',.,, - the Rev. John f. Blox, then rec
,sr Wv s. Mary's Church, aad on the appoint
~ nr tha, gentleman to the pastoratc charge
~" n.y. 81 Johns Church, Philadelphia, he sue
c..d,d him. His situation was trying one.
CIR his predecessor had been almost ldlllzCd BY
his people, and it was exceedingly dithcut to
..,isiy a congregation which could see no good
r~aSon for the change Besides the work on
The church was unfinished and funds were TO
J.. raised to complete 1t. Father hroes pro-
,.,.c,i,,d duc,y, and soon had the remaining work
I,,e, attaching his fock to him by his zeal and
manifest devotion 10 their Interests, temporal
- well as spiritual Room being wanted Tor
the Sunday School, St. Mary's Hail rose, Ia
1858 under the auspices oi The Dung Gath
olcs' Friend Society.
Then the war como on. Though be never
,,,ok part in politics. he was known, by ms init
i..alc friends, to dcprGcatc secession, ard 10 dc
,!f: arCcntiy the preservation OF the Unlon,
vet no sooner was he convinced, Dy an cxaln!-
nation OF the question. that Virginia hac re
served to herself the right OF withdrawing from
the federal compact, then, though he consider
ed himself but temporary RESIDENT bound,
personally, by his oath to support the ConStltu-
lion of the Uuted States, taken when he Was
I,n.tlraliz&d, ne became Il warm synpathzer
with her people, aud, under the most difficult
circumstances, he resoiuiely refused either 10
take the prescribed oath to support the re-
scored government Of Virginia, or to rcc!te
prayers or keep thanksgiving or tasts at the
,iication of the civil or military authorities.
Such, however, was his attention to the sick
:ne; wounded soldiers in the hospitals here,
that ne was soon loved and trusted by both
officers and men, who througcd his church, and,
when going to the front, left IN his care tier
most valuable effects. Que memorable day,
when all our other church bells were being runS
Ia summon people to Il war meeting III u church
which had been dySccrated to the vilest uses, he
refused TO allow his to join III the call to armS,
aud no sooner did knoTiedge OF the threats
against him reach Il eighborng camp, than
the services of a Thousand men were offered
for his protection BY his prudence aud lnt1u-
,.uce with men in authority, he saved, not only
his own, bur another of our city churches from
seizure for hospital purposes, and, for time,
he was the only resident clergyman who held
regular services without moicstatlon. People 81
all denominations ircqucntcd them, ana 80 lfcc
were his iisc0urscs from controversial SUBJECTS,
that a gentleman prominent in another com
munion remarked, not long since, that during
the many months he had listened to him, ne
had never heard one sentiment to which nc
could not give Il cordial assent. Indeed, 1t was
always remarked of him, that he Strovc rather
IL incitc his own people to the practice ot the
Yr!i.ion they profcSScd, than to assall the prlc
iicS of Others.
Towards the end Of the war, he made large
addition to St. Mary's Cemetery, almost quad
rlpIiny its area, and enclosed it with suDstan.
lial fence, besides, otherwise improving and
rnbclisllng it. lie also put up the splendid
orient, which adrrns the high altar OF his
church. and, soon after the war, erected 81.
Joscph's Chapel for the week day services. In
l>GS he purchased the Alexandria Female
Seminary and in the following year established
The Sisters ofthe Holy Cross there and opened,
ut ST. Mary's Hall parish schools for the boys
and girls OF his congregation.
Some ten years ago. u violent ncuralgic al
lection with which he had been afflicted nearly
forty wears, gave place to what the most emf
ucuI physicians pronounced disease OF the
valves of the heart, Which they assured him
mus, end his life within three years. In tins,
il seems, they were mistaken, but lattcrly he
has become unable to walk any distance or
even to stand long without great pain, aud his
retirement from the active duties OF the min.
iSlrv, therefore. became necessary
Devoted to his own church and congregation,
Father krocs has ever been most courteous to
those who differed with him in faith. lie
had Il kind word for all, and few were the chill
,lrcn who did not know and love him. w hen
wc express the wish that his retirement may
ne pleasant one, and that he may live long IN
;hc remembrance of the services he has render
ed to his fellow men, We feel that We but re-
echo the sentiments of our entire community.
RELIEF Hook AND LADDER CoMpANY.-A
called meeting of the Relief Hook and Ladder
Company was held last evening at their Truck
House, e. f. Entwisle, in the chair and y \.
Warticd, secretary. \ committee was APP
l,ontca to confer with similar committees from
all the other fire companies i'll the city Tor the
purpose of organizing Il Fircmcns Relief AS
ISOLATION, and the following gentlemen were al,-
pointed said committee: vi. II. Nash, j. W.
White and A. \. Wariold. The committee
were instructed to procure a room for the pur-
pose Of holding their meetings. MIR. y. VI.
Hail offered the room over his photograph
gallery Tor the use of the company, land his offer
was accepted and vote ofthanks was rendered
him and others for Donations The foregoing
business being transacted, Mr.. \. \. Warfeld
rose and presenting Mr.. r. NJ. Latham, the
Foreman of the company, with 4 rubber outfit,
said:
"alR FOREMAN: On behalf Of the members
ii tie Relief Hook and Ladder Company, i: Is
nay pleasant duty to pre- ent you with slight
testimonial both of their sincere and personal
regard and their high appreciation of the faith
ili' ard gallant manner in which you have ever
discharged the arduous duties Of your RESPONSE
bic position in this company. The position of y
fireman, sir, is noble one, often involving
grave responsibility, and constantly requiring
sclt-SAcrtcmg labor and disntcrc,ted exposure
to peril and danger. From such duties you
have never shrunk, sir. Always in the van III
times Of peril, you have fearlessy led US on,
and by your example and your untlrng efforts,
have very materially aided in gaining for the
Relief Hook and L4ldcr Company tho envlab,e
r..,.:.tu.;.,n IN 1hn Of this cnmmunisy which