Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-16
Letters from Richmond.
| Correspondence Of the Alexandra Gazette.
RICHMOND. February Is, 1878.

LeGtcTS lSAChhAOhNs
CORRESPONDENCE Of the Alexandria Gazette.
RICHMOND. February Is, 1878.
The community was shocked Thursday by
the death of Rev. Dr.. George Woodbridge |
lie was very greatly beloved by people OF all
denominations. He had complained OF feeling
badly that morning. After prayer, he was
suddenly taken with bodily pains. but had gotten
better and sat down to read the papers. Mrs.
Woodbridge was sitting near him, and began
| to read She looked up in about five minutes
after, and noticed that he Was leaning back 10
the chair. and bis eyes were closed. She said,
"He's asleep" She then went TO bis side and
attempted to rouse him, and. finding that she
could not, called her two daughters, aud, to.
gether, they moved him to the lounge. After
he had been placed on tho sofa he gasped once
and Immediately died. DR.. Hunter Mcclure
was called 10, but too late to do any good. DR..
| Woodbridge was born 10 Worthington, Mass,
June IS, 1904. lie was a son OF Jonathan
Woodbridge, o prominent lawyer OF Worthlng'
ton. His grandfather was Jonathan Edwards,
the theologian Of New Eogland. A gentleman.
who took fancy to him, secured him an ap
pointment at West Point. He entered the
academy in 1922. when he was is years OF age.
He graduated on the 4th Of July, 1926. tie
Old Point. After this he was sent 10 Fort ln
dependence, near Boston, Not long after this
Lieutenant Woodbridge resigned his position
10 the army and won't to reside in Frederick,
town, Maryland, and began editing political
paper While at Fredericktown be lived with
the Rev. DR.. Stone, of tho Episcopal Church.
Rere he Joined the Church. Soon after he
went to the Theological Seminary, near Alexan.
dria, and studied for the ministry. tie was
ordained by Bishop Moore in the Monumental
Church, and was at once appointed an assls-
tant to the Rev. VIM. +. Lee, rector Of Christ
Church. in the lower part of the city. He sue
ceeded MIR. Lee as rector OF Christ Church and
preached there until the Monumental congre-
CATION built ST. Paul's Church and removed
into it. Then the congregation Of Christ
Church moved into the Monumental Church,
where DR.. Woodbridge preached to the time OF
his DEATH He was minister in Richmond
for more than As years. and for many years he
was President of the Virginia Bible Society.
DR.. Woodbridge was at West Poiotin the class
with Generals VIM. N. Pendleton and Leon.
dos Polk. both Of whom we're, subsequently.
Episcopal ministers. DR.. Woodbridge married
Miss Rebecca Nicolson, o Richmond lady. 1t
is related that when Dr. Woodbridge was at
West Point, while be was walking by the bar
racks, ia company with Cadet Polk, (after
wards Bishop and General, } he and his friend
came upon tract which had been thrown over
the barrack wall. They stopped and picked 1t
ID aud both read it and were 10 much struck
with the earnest appeal that it contained that
they determined to become members OF the
church. 1t Is little remarkable, loo, that
both afterwards were ministers 10 the Epsco-
pal Church. The Vestry of the Monumental
Church met last night and took suitable action.
The church is draped in mourning.
RICHMOND, Feb. 15.-Among tho number
of members of tho Legislature met here was
R. r. Farr, Of the House of Delegates, repre-
!. sentative of cid Fairfax, with whom | had
many pleasant and profitable chats. la
oonversiug with him upon the various sub
jects OF State interest, and especially that
now 40 strongly agitstiog the public mind
that Hehemoth, the State debt, | was aston.
J ishcd at his familiarity with those questions,
and the mastery and logical manner 10 which
he presented each to my enquiring mind, gave
me reason to believe that he would aid very
materially 10 the solution Of this veXed ques
ton to the satisfaction Of his constituents.
congratulate the citizens OF Fairfax 10 having
made SO wise choice. lo is au interchangeable
worker, and seems determined to do his whole
duty, at any sacrifice. lie has never deserted
his post Of duty, and has the courage and abill.
~ to become o powerful opponent Of repudla.
ton, lukewarm supporters OF education, and to
all who would attempt to divert tho sacred
school fund from its proper channel.
| paid my respects to the Governor, who met
mo with that genuine courtesy and trankDess
which characterizss the gentleman-ln the
Executive Mansion or in tho humble cottage;
and, to my mind be is tho proper person IN
his proper place, just at the proper time.
Learning, as | did in conversation, his views
upon the question OF the State debt, the nec,s
sity of its settlement, and how it should be
settled, brought very torcby TO my mind the
strong and specific language used 10 his inaugu'
raj address upon this point. Indeed no ono
can read that able production without lnibibiDg
sentiments of patriotism. Christian statesman
ship, and strong unwaverlng faith 10 the Just
and perfect solution of this complex and diff.
cult question. While in his society, was
happy to discover much more of the Christian
statesman than the politician, and should his
life be spared he will carry our good old State
safely through the breakers of reputation. and
restore to her that ancient honor and fame
which characterize our ancestors.
Legislative.
10 The State Senate yesterday, bills were
4 ~ NkonIn