Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-23
"REMINISCENCES AND KAMBLES
ABOUT ALEXANDRIA.


miles from Mount Vernon, was rebuilt the
same year iu which the Church at Alexandria
was finished. Washington was very proml.
nent as vestrymau in the erection, aud it Was
there that, at this period and during the war,
Washington, and his family, was an luvariable
worshipper when he was not abroad 10 the
public service. Rev. Lee Massey, who was
rector of Pohick Church at this period, in a
letter on record, says: Il never knew So con-
stant an attendant at church as Washington;
no company ever kept him from church At
the close of the Revolution POhick Church fell
iuto desolate condition, and was finally for
some years not occupied for worship; and heuce
the attendance OF
WASHINGTON IN FAIRFAX PARISH.
The pew Which Washington purchased in
the Alexandria Church in l773 became the
place 10 which he and his family were constant
worshippers from the time that Pohick Church
fell into dsuse, down to the last days Of the
life of the Father of his Country and it was
always occupied by the Washington family and
iuheritors of the pame down TO the time the
rebellion came with It's woes. The old fashion
ed square pews gave place, some years ago, TO
those of modern style. That which was occu
pied by Washington was not changed, only lu
its height, which was cut down to harmo-
u,ze with the others. The siver plate, with
Geo. Washington" upon it, is still to
he seen on the pew, as it was in the
lifetime of the illustrious patriot. The
uately, has sioce been recovered. The ancient
Bible belonging to the pulpit. and which was
presented by Washington, was removed and
has no, been found. We did not 6od 10 our
glance through the vestry-book the name of
Washington as vestryman OF Christ Church till
1855 The following record Bishop Mead fur
ulshes for that year, which, he says, he copies
from paper in Washington's handwriting:
"Vcstry chosen for Fairfax parish, 2Sth March,
1855, with the lumber Of votes for each Juo.
West, 34O Charles Alexander, 309; William
Palue, 3O4; Joho Dalton, 29l George Wash
iugton, PA; Charles Broadwater, 26O; George
Jyhuston, 254; Townsend Dade, 252; Richard
Sanford, 247 William Adams, 244; John Po-
sey, 222; Daniel French, 22l." In Truro
(PUhlck) parish Washington was chosen vestry
man the same year, receiving 259 votes; Geo.
Mason, 2S2, and Edward Paine, 277, standing
above him ln the list 10 point of votes.
THE CHURCH FIGHTS AND WINS.
1t is we'll known that the Legislature of Vir-
gina passed law in 1902, by virtue Of which
the globes of that State were ordered to be sold
for the public benefit. This statute was based
upon the idea, that inasmuch as abe Episcopal
Church was, by the Revolution, deprived
of all authority as an exclusive religious
establishment of all prerogatives over other
religious sects, it Was competent tor the
Legislature to declare, also, that at the
Revolution all property acquired by that
religious establishment became the property OF
the State The constitutiooality OF this statue,
carried to the State courts in 1904, and con-
Grmed by the lower courts, was transferred by
appeal to the Court Of Appeals, which, after
lingering deliberallon, was found evenly d.
vided, and the decision OF the court below Was
that this decision of the State court was taken
to the United States Supreme Court, which
reversed the opinion so far as the Fairfax gebe
was concerned The opiuion was drawn up by
Judge Story.
THE GALLERIES AND TIE ''DuTcHMAN' CAP
The vestry voted 9th November, 1883, that
galleries should be built, lhough they were not
flushed that year. Ii .Tas stipulated that the
pcws, iu the galleries sbauld bc rated IN three
classes light at FIVE p,nrds per annum; eight
at four pounds per anlI.a; aud the others, OF
full size, at three pounds rrr annum; aud those
of smaller size at forty shhllngs There was
no beltry on the church originally, and the pc
culiar form of the root where ghe beltry Was IN
tended to be placed and where 1t was Ultimate
" placed, was, trom its singular appearance,
long known 10 the town as the "Dutchman )
Cap.' The belfray was erected, 1t Is believed,
in 1917, when the market house and mauy
other improvements 10 the city arose. 1he IN
scription upon the bell, which is 40 exceeding
ly 6ne-toued instrument, is: IT. Mears, OF
London, fecit, 1917" which indicates that it
was purchased about that year.
SUCCESSION OF RECTORS.
The first rector was Rev. Townsend Dade,
whose father, Townsend Dade, was planter
near Alexandria. He was ordained by the
Bishop OF London in l765, and the Vestry
Book Informs us that in this same year he
presented his credentials as minister OF the
Church of England, offered his services as an
incumbent OF this parish. aud as such is accept
ed" He was not model clergyman. In l7GS
the vestry discussed the matter of his conduct,
and fiually let the subject drop, FIVE MEMBERS
however recording their dissent from such a dis
position of the question. lu l7I7a committee
ui the veStry appointed tor that purpose waited
upon him to know why he neglects his congo
cation, and some months later the committee
enlarged is ordered to more stringent action.
Mr.. Dade at this iuuoture resigned, and thus
ends his case. During the ministry OF Mr..
his father under which they We're to have a
deed of his farm, of some more than four hun
dred acres, for glebe. They were to erect
suitable buildings, which they did, on the prem
ises, and by paying the owner eight hundred
pou1ds, he was to give them deed at the end
OF five years. The deed fthe Rectory and Par
sonage to the vestry was made by Rev. Town
send Dadc, 9th, Jue, ITS" says the record
Rev. Spencer Grayson was candidate for the
parish, butthey fixed upon Rev. MIR, West, from
Maryland, who served about TWO years. resign
Ing ln l779
REV. DAVID GRIFFITH, D. D.
Rev. David Griffith was the next in the sue
cesson. He was born in the city Of New I ork
IN 74l and educated tc the medical profession,
Receiving his degree 10 London, and returning
home, settled in bis profession in the interior
OF his native province, 10 1868. 10 obedience
20 the Incentives of duty, however, he relin-
had 81, IL ~