Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-25
"REMINISCENCES AND kAM BLES
ABOUT ALEX ANDKIA.
A VIOLIN SLEEPS CLOTHING.

WOLF IN sHEEP'S CLOTHING.
Iu 1910 Rev Mr. Barclay, who came to Mary
land from the West Iudies, and had been min
istering in that State six years, became the
minister of Christ Church, Bishop Claggett, Of
Maryland certifying to his character. 10 the
spring of 1911 his wife, whom he had deserted
in the West Indies appeared in Alexandria,
where he had married again. He resigned
and precipitately fed to parts uDknown. ln
the fall Of this year William Meade, then tweu-
ty-une years old, afterwards so long and honor
ably known iu the church aud elsewhere as
BISHOP MEADE,
succeeded as rector He had graduated two
wears before (lS09) at Princeton, and had been
ordained in the spring of that year, 1911, at
Williamsburg, whittier from his home 10 Fred
crck county Maryland. he had travelled on
horseback 2O0 miles for that purpose. When
called To Alexandria he was working On a sma
farm, and asSisting Rev, Mr.. Balmaine 10 that
parish. When Mr.. Meade came to Alexandria
the church was 10 low state. During the
time Of Mr.. Davis who was fond Of good COM
pauy and the pleasures of the table, custom
had been established for "the vestrymeu,
twelve in numb Der, aud for the most part good
IverS," to hold social dinucr mouthiy at each
others houses in turn, and this testal
meeting was still In vogue. MIR. Meade
was present at the first which occurred
after he clme TO this church, and met Mr..
Davis there, who was visiting the parish.
They were soon rclnquished During Mr..
M.ade's ministry, less than two years, the
church was aroused greatly enlarged, and the
congregation multiplied. Many congressman
went down on Sunday mornings to attend the
services, attracted by the fame OF the youthful
aud devout pastor John Randol phr aud James
Minor beug of the number. Mr.. Milnor, sub
s,ouently abandoning law aud politics, became,
as au Episcopal clergyman, the celebrated DIR.
Minor, OF 81. Georges Church, New York
city. Mr. Meade, afterwards DR.. Meade, and
torso mauy years the pluus and eminent bishop
called to larger duties, Was succeeded 10 1915
ty Rev Oliver Norris who for some twelve
Years, to the day of his death, was most
faithful pastor, aud carried forth the good Work
Of his predecessor. He died IN 1925. Bishop
Meade preached bis funeral sermon, which was
published aud in it VT find most exalted aud
delightful picture of his character. lie was OF
a Quaker family, being convert to the Church
which he adorned and blessed with his minis
try. At this time Rev William H. Wilmer
of Maryand, came to Alexandria as rector OF
ST. Pauls Church. These two ministers, both
trom Maryland, were kindred 10 spirit with
Bishop Meade, contributing very largely to the
r,cu<citatoD of the spiritual life In the Eplsco-
pal Church Of Virg ina. Such is the testimony
of those who knew their lives and work. Mr.
Wilmer left St. Paul's Church the same year
ip which Mr.. Norris died to assume the presl-
dcncy of William and Mary College.
Mr. Wilmer was elected the rector OF ST.
Johns Church, in Washington, when that
church was built, in 1916, but did DOT accept
He received the degree Of D. D. from Brown
University 10 1920, and died 10 1927. His miu-
istry at Alexandria was so emluently successful
that a new church was erected 10 1878, at
cost of S26, ,OOO The first house, small, va
cant Presbyterian church. was bought on cred
it, lor So. 500; and in 1913, three years after
the purchase, Mr. Daniel Mclean, liberal
vcstryman, paid the entire amount, aud the
property was decided to the vestry. Rev. VIM.
Jackson succeeded DIR. Wilmer, but went to
New York city as rector OF st; Stephen s. IN
1893, and his successor, Rev. James j. John,
son. continued down to the time of the. rebel
lion.
In 1915 Mr. Meade Was admitted to priests
orders at Christ Church, Bishop Claggett,
president of William and Mary College, oti
clatiug on the OCCASION. 1t was about this pc
riod that Bishop Claggett consecraed the old
ST. Paurs Church. and 10 this connection Blsh.
op Meade has recorded
AN ANEcDoTE.
Bishop Caggett, "putting on his robes and
his mitre some distance from the church, he
had TO 90 aloug the street to reach It,. This
attracted the attention sf number OF boys
and others, who ran after aud alongside OF
him, admiring his peculiar dress and elgan-
tic stature. His voice was as extraordinary
for strength and ungovernableuess as was
his stature for size, aud as he entered the
door of the church, where the people
we're 10 silence waiting, and the first words
Of the service burst forthStrom his lips iu his
most peculiar manner, q young lady, turning
around suddenly aud seeing his large form and
most uncommon appearance, was so conVulsed
that she was obliged ta be taken out OF the
house.
Bishop Meade has upon record, that when
he took charge of Christ Church. 10 1911, be
found that the lturgical services had been but
little regarded, the responsive parts having
been "almost wholly couhned to the clerk who
iu a lond voice, sung or drawled them out;
that ",he Hundredth Psalm, to the tuue OF
Old Hundred, was the usual signal tor service
10 begin and that SO settled was this law that
the case was Known in which, when minister
gave out different psalm, the clerk paid no
attention to his innovation, bu, opened With bis
old tune and psalm Bishop Meade trained the
children, iu a private class, to respond, aud
when they were we'll drilled he directed them,
on a certain Sabbeth, to come out with their
response in the church. This was success.
The pareuts and older ones soon joined with
the children.
GOOD yESTRYMEN.
He makes special meDtion of two of the yes
trymen of ISL, George Taylor aud E !muud l.
Lee. They so continued many years, till one was
removed by death, aud the other went to anoth-
er parish. He knew them as sincere Chris
tlaus and puuctual business men," MIR. Taylor
lived till nearly one hundred years old, walk
Ing between Washington aud Alexandria with
elastic step and torm erect down to his latest
days, lifting up distinct voice In the utter
ence Of those prayers 10 which he delighted,
and dying as he had lived, in the faith OF the
Gospel" Mr. Lee was mau of decisive char
acler, making no compromise with what he