The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-02

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the least OF it, ungenfeel not tolhppear a
public Worship. whether the attendant
were listening to Parsou Blair or Parso'
Buchanan In the Capitol. or at latel
date to Bishop Moore in the Monumen
tai Church. or the Rev. Mr.. Carr OF thu
Baptist Church. The negroes had tbei
meeting houses and went in crowds a
they do now. to indulge their native
fondness for emotional preaching. Aftel
the Monumental Church was finished
seventy-fiye years ago, ii became The
resort on Sunday OF the best and Oldest
families in the city, aud occasionally
the rural aristocrais took the trouble tc
! come to the city to attend services
under Bishop Moore. IL was not long.
however. before the PresbyterIans had
noted and distinguished diyines who
divided the attention of the educated
classes. Notwithstanding this the large
majority attended services at the
Monumental. They were attracted TO
that locality by the historic significance
it had attained few years before.
where many OF their relatives and
friends had persisted Or suffered in the
destruction Of The theatre which had
stood upon its very site. They would
have considered it doing violence TO
their tenderest feelings 10 have
neglected a spot 80 hallOwed by
adversely. SO cOnsecraied by SUI
| fering. The whole community had
been so impressed by the terrible event
that it seemed necessary some eXtraOr-
binary expression of their feelings
u. IL -. a. -
people had been stricken. but
fortunately not hardened. They
had been touched aud softeued
by calamity. and they felt desire to
offer up some explatory tribute TO the
memory of their lost ones. Ii was this
state OF feeling which brought about
the erection of the venerable building
which now covers the remains of the
victims of the fire of 1911. IL was
quite natural. therefore. that this sa-
cred spot should have become the shrine
to winch the people of Richmond re.
sorted. at which they might rekindle
from time to time the waning fervOr Of
their devotions. and So perpeiuale the
holy purposes to which it had been con
secrated.
And so they did Here Assem- bled
every Sunday morning the Amblefs.
tine Harves. NichOlases. BrOckenbroghs
Fishers. and Wickhams. the Candies.
Marshalls. SOuthgates. and a host Of
others. Many Of their descendants and
a new generation succeeded 10 TN
seats left vacant By death; and SO it has
continued to tins day. May we not
hope that the same inspiration shall
continue TO brood over the hallowed
spot. and that the ancient church may
never cease to gather in her fold null
titudes OF those worthy to worship
within her venerable walls.
But We do not propose TO give q his
tory of the Monumental Church. This
has already been done By worhier
hands. People at that time went 20
church but once a day on Sunday |
They lived far apart. and the town was |
spread over a considerable space of /
ground. Few of the ladies. except |
some of the youngest. went on foot 10 /
attend services, and then they were al |
ways accompanied by gentleman es |
cort. the father or brother, or what /
was more probable young gentleman /
of the town. Ia the latter c1se engage /
ments were generally made during the
Tast week with ladies for the pleasure of
escorting them chui CHI. The gentleman
IN time at the residence of the
lady. escorted her To the church and
occupied "A seat in the family pew. OF
course he returned with her and was
generally invited TO remain TO dinner.
The older people always drove to
church IN their carriages. They came
from "B -lville and the Hermitage. 81
from "Chelsean aud Mount Erin. 90
outside the town. II was quite a drive
from Colonel Bullock's aud Mr.. Ar
chic Tayl0r's. high up on what
is now Franklin street. aud from
Captain CANDLES ON Candles Hill.
even within the city limits to the only
Episcopal church. then in the town.
In re old carriages had TO be mad
comfortable. The duties of "A f0Oman |
" ere required. lie stood up behind
he vehicle. subject TO the orders of the
lriyer. Inside were cushions for the
eet. and heaters IN cJid weather. tue
atter being som etlmes carried into the
lew with the mistress. There were
no furnaces or other than the most
stoves by which 70 beat pub
ic buildings in those days. The pro-
,rieties of church attendance were
trlctly observed. The utmost decOrum
Prevailed. People of all classes. the
'Oung as well as tine old. entered the
hurch building quietly aud softly.
1 would have been considered vulgar
n the extreme TO have acted otherwise.
II.t - . la. 81
NJ and well regulated manners If the
Ietter classes, whose example IN
his and other respects Ead ito
fleet upon Others. The same dCcOrum .
revealed during the services. ana
fter these had ended the cOugrega- .
ion LETT the church ia the same
say. No gentleman was seen 10 lOiter .
n the outside. either TO Ogle the young
Idies as they passed. or gaze stupldly L
{ the well-attred and wellbehavsd
Ompany. Instead OF this. il was then
pfcial privilege 20 escort the elderly a
idies and malrons from the porch of .
he church. and land them politely to Ii
heir carriages. 10 was pleas B..
right Sunday morning. The differ ,
nj .cOlOlcu carriages, win their b
lately. and well traiued sely4nt- /.
ere aud there decorated with "A modest A.
very. the well-knOwn family horses s..
! their tidy harness. aud last. and par Y
cularly the bright throag Of respecta- u
lie people in their best attire. occupy
X the vehicles and thronging the o
dewalks, formed picture not 10 be I'D
aalized unless II had been seen. The {.
antilles of the better classes at that g.
me were all acquainted with each 70
Their. a sort Of Masonic recognition r
n instructive sense of mutual c
sspect peryaded the community.
God breeding. refined tastes and
iucation engendered a self-esttem un-
liked with pretension. a confidence !"
evoid of vulgarity. Simplicity Of
IaDner was characteristic of the highest
lsitions in society. and real merit 70
alng ''Of natures own creating was az
ever without proper recognition. 1t ie'
As the society in which the educated br
'reigDer found complnionship and the SIS