Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-04-10
Alexandria Gazette
THURSDAY EVENING. APRIL 10.
church Decorations.

The following communication Oh VIE Az
thony Mclean, of this city, is published IN
this weeks issue of the Southern Churchnan:
ALEXANDRIA, March is, 1872.
In nv unavoidable absence from recent
yestry meeting of st. Paups church, the
Bishops letter, addressed to the clergy ana
yestries Of the churches in this diocese upon
tbs subject of church decorations Choral, &c.l,
was. after some little discussion, adopted.
Now l wish, as one Of the wardenS OF TINS
church, to protest against the action OF inc
vestry, unless the Bishop intends to carry out,
literally, his views, as expressed therein, namc'
". "neither to take from or add one iota to the
rubries.
The first page of our Book OF Common
PRAYER calls for daily morning prayer, in the
church and on the part Of the congregation.
Not many pages further on is the order Tor
daily evening prayer; ard the services Sc.
apart for saints days, to be as strictly observed
rs those for Sunday.
The crcdence table is thing, comparatively
Speaking, unknown in Virginia, the use OF
which is especially provided for in tho CON-
munion service, by inference at least. :.
The use of flowers in St. Pauls church
dos not date back, perhaps, as far as that OF
tho surplicc, but the custom has obtained ut
and since the election and occupancy OF the
first Episcopal Church in the State OF llr-
ginia and in this country. (sec Bishop
Msades "Old Churches add Old Famlies OF
Virginia." vol. l, PIP. sc, Gs and 7O)
The following is sketch of the first church
in this State:
......"lt is in length three score loot, IN
breadth twenty.four and shall have chance IN
il of cedar, communion table Of black walnut
and all the pews of cedar, with lair broad
windows to shut and. open Gas the weather
shall cccasion) of the same wood-a pulpit OF
the same, with font hewn below, like
canoe-.Wo bells OF the west end. 1t Is so
cast as to be very light within, and the Lord
Governor and Captain General doth cause It
to DO kept passing sweet and trimmed "p with
dirers nowers. Every Sunday we have
Sermons twice day and every Thursday,
sermon, having true preachers, which take
their weekly turns; and every morning, at the
ringing of the bell at ten O'Clock, each man
addresseth himself to prayers, and so, at four
O'Clock" .....
Now, as the ladies and children OF our
congregation have ell looked forward to this
beautiful memorial on Easter Sunday, am O
little Jealous, | must confess, as to what these
lsdea consider their rights, and to even con-
oilialc them would, perhaps, not be unwiso,
for they are our main dependence, as to inge.
nuity and perseverance,, when We are in need
Of means to carry out many . little necessary
or even desirable church improvement. II
This one, so. called, innovation is to be put
DOWN, then should VIC at once come up fully
to what is required in our rubrcs, as before
mentioned. Other omissions might be named
(Sec Rubric on Baptismal Service.) If We
we're SO unfortunate as to lose our present
Bishop, another might be elected, ltltuals'
perhaps, Of very excessive ideas and notions
who would have just as much authority (ol
there is no law or canon to justify an order
on the subject) to require the display cl
flowers, ante pendiums q believe thoy arc
called), altar cloths, &C.; SO the trouble Will
not have been obviated. If, however, VIC let
these things take their coursc-when excuses
do come, our very sensible and cody rector
will always DO found equal to the emergency
A. MCLEAN.