The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-09-15

place on the 7th of February 1914.
The state of the Episcopal Church In
Virginia at that time was such as to give
great concern to several pious clergy men
and laymen, who now began to exert
themselves for the restoration of the life
and power of godliness among their own
people. That the influence of Bishop
Madison, who died in 1912, had not been
such as to promote this desirable object
is well known. From a statement fur
nished to Mr.. Maxwell, the biographer
of DR.. Rice, by Rev. William F. Lee,
some time rector of Christ church, Rich
mond, and afterwards editor of the
Southern Churchman, it appears that
the Episcopal Church deprived by the
acts of the Assembly passed during the
Revolution, and subsequently, of the pat
ronage of the State, and destitute, in too
many instances, of that personal piety,
or at least of that lively zeal, which
might have given them favor in the eyes
of the people, had been decreasing in the
number of its clergy, till, on the death of
Bishop Madison, there were hardly more
than forty in all the State" Rev. VIM
Meade, afterwards Bishop of the diocese,
Alexandria, with Judge Bushrod Wash
ington, and Mr.. Edmund I. Lee and
some others "were now determined to
obtain the election of a new Bishop,
whose talents and piety, by the blessing
of God, might awaken and animate the
whole Church" The choice fell upon
Rev. DR.. Richard Claiming Moore, who
was then laboring with great success as
rector of st. Stephens in New York City,
and who was distinguished by his emf
nent zeal as a Christian and gifts as a
minister. AS the diocese afforded no
means OF paying the salary of bishop,
it was proposed that DIR. Moore should
be rector of the Monumental church, as
well as Bishop of Virginia. The invita-
ton was accepted DIR. Moore was con-
secrated in Philadelphia on the 18th OF
May; and soon afterwards, came to
Richmond, and entered upon the duties
to which he had been elected.
Situation of Mr. Rice.
Of his relations with DIR. Moore Mr..
Rice wrote as follows: Bishop Moore
appears to be Jealous and pious man,
and hope will do much good among the
me, and I am resolved that it shall not
be my fault if he does no. continue So"
But by the coming of this excellent
man to Richmond, Mr.. Rice lost some OF
his Episcopal hearers and supporters,
who naturally now went to the Monu-
mental church; and there was yet a
severer and more unjustifable trial for
some Scotch Presbyterians, doubtful OF
his success, also left him. He now reed.
ed all the friends he could obtain, for
the trouble about the unfinished build
ing near Rockets was, at this time, at
its height, and the desperate effort to dis
pose of it and build in better place,
was still resting as heavy burden upon
him and his friends especially upon Mr..
Parkhill.
In the present imperfect state of the
Church the rivalry OF denominations is
inseparable from their good works, and
the history of the times of which we are
writing does not afford an instance OF en-
tire exemption from this infrmity.
Passing over illusions to such Difficult
ties and embarrassments, copy the fol-
lowing letter from Mr.. Rice, as affording
pleasant evidence that the spirit of broth.
erly love and Christian cooperation still
prevailed, and was not materially dis
turbed by the natural zeal for denomina-
tional pre-eminence. 1t bears date Sep
TENDER 10th, 1914, and was addressed to
Mrs. Randolph: My case is this. Bish-
OPP Moore is gone to New York, and does
not expect to return until the last day of
October. Mr.. Buchanan is in i'll health
and does not preach. Mr.. Blair and Mr..
Bryce have accepted chaplainoy in the
army. So Richmond is almost deprived
of preachers. This is season Of sick
ness, alarm, and general distress. The
eyes of multitudes are turned towards
me; they say, you must not leave US.
And indeed there seems to be greater
opportunity of doing good than has ever
been presented to me before; especially
az, at the present time many are almost
compelled from the circumstances in
which they are, to look for comfort in re-
ligion. That l may have an opportunity
OF being useful, tie vestry have opened
the Monumental church for my use until
the return OF Bishop Moore"
P. B. PRICE.