Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-24
REMINISCEN NCES AND KAMBLES
ABOUT ALEXANDRIA

REMINISCE SCES AND KAMBLES
ABOUT ALEXANDRIA.
In 1880, DR.. Griffith resigned his chaplaincy
to take charge Of Fairfax parish, to which he
had been elected, aud this was the theatre OF
his labors from then till his death, in 1889.
During the latter half dozen years of that Pc
riod Washington was his parishioner, and his
intimacy at Mount Vernon was very cordial.
Dr. Griffith. for 10 1856 Pennsylvania Uuiver
sty conferred on him the degree of doctor OF
divinity, was the leading spirit 10 the reorgani-
z4ton of the Episcopal Church in Virginia, at
ter the Revolution, aud 10 the reformation of
the demoralized clergy of that denomination iu
that State. In 1884, when voluntary meet
ing of the clergy TO consult on the sad condition
OF the Church and clergy assembled in New
York. he was present, self-prompted, from
Virginia. lu 1885, he Was present at the hlst
Convection in Richmond. under the act OF that
wear Incorporating the Episcopal Church, and
was elected delegate to the General Conveu-
tiun in Philadelphia, that autumn. At the
second Convention held in Richmond in 1855,
Dr. Griffith was chosen bishop, receiving thr
ty-twu votes, Dr. Bracken receiving ten, and
Rev. Samuel Shedd seven. An assessment Was
made upon the parishes for funds TO pay his
expenses to London to be coDsecraed. DR..
Griffith was poor and after waiting three years,
aud fndog the parishes 10 their depressed state,
unable to raise the money, he resigned his claim
10 the office in 1889 He died in Philadelphia,
at the house of Bishop White, his bosom
friend while attending as delegate the Geuera
rricnnia Convention, on the first day OF which
Convention he had formally resigned his eec
ton as bishop His death produced deep
sensation in the Convention, and among the
friends OF the church throughout the couDtry.
DR.. Griffith accordingly to all history aud ira
dltlou, was one of the very best aud most ln-
hue0tlal American cergymeu OF his time.
When he came to Shelburne parish, III cousid-
er.tou of having no gebe, they added five
thousand pounds of tobacco to his salary, but
purchased a grbe the next year. He Was
no enterprise for the elevation and enlargement
of the church during his ministry in which he
was not au originating and inspiring spirit. lD
the Fairfax parish he not ouly watched with
fidelity over the Alexandria and Little Fails
Churches, aud embarked with activity in every
scheme for the interest of the church at large
but worked laborlou$ly upon his glebe with his
own hands, compelled to do so by the wauts OF
very large family. When he died, they had
eight children, the oldest being but sixteen
Years of aye. His wife, Hannah Colville, of
New York city, whom he married IN i766,
died at Alexandria 10 1911. There was one
daughter surviving few years ago IN that
city 1t is striking Indication of the low con-
diton of the Virginia Episcopal Church OF
that era that they could not raise the money to
Seud so high aud shining character to Lou
don for conservation, Rev. James Madison,
D. d., president OF William aud Mary Col
lcge, elected in his place, was consecrated
Bishop iu London, 10 the chapel OF the Palace
of Lambeth, by the Archbishops of London
aud Rochester, 10 1889. He went at his own
expense Though the Episcopal Church had
existed iu Virginia for hundred years. it had
been nominaly part of the diocese OF tho
Madison being its first resident Bishop.
DR.. Griffith was we'll remembered by MIR.
Gusts, of Arlington, who described him as
tall, large compact, and muscular, in person;
gentle ond courteous, but frn in manners and
spirit, a tavorte in th he most polished society,
and All especial favorlte 10 military circles.
REV. BRYAN FAIRFAX
vas the successor of Dr.. Griffith, in 1890. He
Was then sixty three years old, and it Is be-
lirycd was ordained by Bishop White, as
Bishop Madison was not ccasecrated till some
months later. Mr.. Fairfax had been for some
years leading vcstryman of the parish, and
was prominent delegate in the successive Viz
gluia Conventions. Shortly alter becoming a
minister, in 1871, in the death of Lord Robert
Fairfax, he succeeded to the title, and was
the eighth baron of that name. lD this last
uamed year the vestry passed an order. allow
iug him to call as an assistant Rev. Mason
Lckc Weems or any whom he desired as au
assistant. He selected Rev. Barnard Page,
an excellent choice, and quite different per
son from the eccentric and curious character
uamed by the ves,ry. Bishop Meade, in his
"Old Churches and Families of Virginia"
says of MIR. Page. that "he was very decid-
edly of the then rising evangelical school iu
tho Church of England, aud very jealous
preacher of its doctriues." OF Rev. Lord Fair
fax, who he believes to have been iu sympathy
with Mr.. Page, Bishop Meade says: "ln a
sermon by Mr. Fairfax, which | have publish
ed, he sets forth the doctriue of salvation by
grace through faith in Christ, 10 such a way as
was not commou at that day." He resigned
his charge in 1892, and the records Of the yes
try show the sense of reverence his character
had Inspired, and the regrets awakened
at his retirement. He died in 1902, at his
place, called Mount Eagle, not far from the
lluutiug Creek Bridge. He left TWO sons Fer
uando aud Thomas by his first marriage, the
latter of whom succeeded to the empty title
Mrs Charles Catlet was his daughter by SEQ
uud marriage.
REV THOMAS DAVIS
was chosen as successor of Lord fairfax, and
was their minister from 1892 till 1906. Bishop
Meade says him, that though man of tenn
peratc habits and correct lite, by comparlson
with too many Of our clergy" of that day, he
was not calculated, by his preaching or
conversation, to promote the spiritual wei.
fare Of any people. He died on the
Eastern Shore; Maryland. While the church
Was vacant, 1906 after MIR. Davis left,
the IN vessry invited Rev. MIR. McGra #, a Scotch
Presbyterian minister, then principal of Wash
ins'ou Academy in Alexandria; to ofhciate for
i,em n!m Ol his habits and character at that time,
bishop Meade remarks, that they were lu
anothlng better than those of many Of the old