The Portland daily press., 1889-01-11
IN wAsHiNcroN's CHURCH.
A Visit to AIexandria-Some CurIosl-
ties Of the Ancient Records.

A Visit to AIexandria-Some Curiosi-
ties of the Ancient Records.
A writer in the New York Evening Post
gives the following interesting account of a
visit to the Old Parish Church in Alexandria:
On Thanksgiving day we thought it would be
nice to 60 to Alexandria and give thanks in
Christ Church-perhaps sitting in Washing
toms pew. As it was a beautiful Indian
summer day, we took the steam ferry boat,
which leaves. Washinfiton every hour. Alex
andria lies six miles down the Potomac, in
full view, and the approach over the silvery
bosom of the river is all that could be desired
As we landed only few negroes lettering
near disturbed the Sabbath stiffness Of the
streets and as we walked up King street, the
main business thoroughfare we trod on grass
which was springing up between the cobble-
stone pavement. In the side streets 1t vas
quite luxuriant. The names of the streets,
King, Queen, Royal, Pitt, etc., suggest the
old colonial town. A venerable negro. of
whom we asked for Washington's church,
told us to go up King to Washington street
then turn to the right. and we would see the
church on the left. We did SO, and came
soon to an iron fence on an ancient brick
foundation, enclosing grassy yard There
was gate, and paved walk leading through
the quaint tombs to the venerable church
which stood at the other end of the yard,
facing on another street. We pushed in the
heavy oak door and entered. 1t wanted an
hour TO the time of service--11 o'clock-and
no one but the old rector was present. He
seemed proud of his historic church, and very
courteously showed us about. He put our
hands on the chancel rail at which Washing
ton had often knelt. and where Gen. Robert
e Lee was confirmed. We entered the great
Washington pew with its three seats-two
facing each other, the third against the WALL
the latter Washington's favorite seat-and
we went into the vestry room and inspe cted
the ancient leather-bottomed arm chairs that
formed part of the furniture in Washington's
time. The Parish has also the Bible and
prayer book used in that day, and other rel
les of interest. 1t has the records dating
back to 1765, but the earlier parish registers
were taken or destroyed during the civil
war, when the church was for some time in
the hands of the military authorities.
We were seated for the service in Wash
ington's pew. Presently the bell rang and
the worshipers began pouring in until the
church was well filled-much better filled
than many New England churches we have
attended on similar occasions. The audience
was composed mainly of women Of refined
APPEARANCE; we were told that a charming
and cultivated society is still found in the
ancient city.
We noted the professors distracted air
during the solemn service and rallied him
upon it as we came out in the churchyard
II had a vision of old times, from setting so
1T was hundred years back, and the people
were gathering at the church, the gentry in
in carriages, the common people ON foot. All
waited in the churchyard-grave, dignifed
men in powdered wigs, long broadcloth coats,
and velvet small-clothes beautiful danes in
stiff brocades and embroidered short gowns /;
rustics in homespun and usey-woolsey-all
waiting deferentially until the Mount Yer
non carriage behind its strong sedate span of
chestnuts rolled up, and President Washing
gentry formally saluted him and he led the
way into the church. What a number of
wealthy, dignified old families were repre-
scented then-the Atkinsons, Dades, Alex
seys, Denneys, Powells, Biackwaters,
Harrisons, Lyles, Bradburns, Wilson's,
HodgsOns, FitZhughs, Pattons, Herberts
Dangerfields, Douglasses, Mandevilles, and
host of others, Of whom scarcely repre-
sentative remains"
Then we went in search of an old vestry
book, one of the most interesting relics per-
| talniDg to the church. 1t is an old musty
| volume, its first entry bearing date August
26, 1865. When the first entry was written
| Virginia, as the Puritan was in New Eng
land. The bishop of London, from his seat
| in that city, ruled it. The vestry performed
civil as well as churchly functions, and were
required to be comfortable to the doctrine
and discipline of the church of England as
by law established" Tithes were laid upon
every land-holder in the parish, and PRO
cessioners" were appointed to survey and
establish all land boundaries. The church
wardens were required to bind apprentices
in the vestry-book. They also received the
fines incurred by the violation of penal
statutes, and were charged with the relief
| OF the poor, the care Of the sick, the burial
| Of the pauper dead, the maintenance of the
blind, the lame and the manned, of foundlings
and Migrants. The entries in this old book
| give one rare insight into the domestic life of
| colononial Virginia. For instance in 1875
this entry by cash received of Mr.. VIM.
| Adams. for deer killed out of season, de.
livered him by Byron Fairfax. 60 los" And
| in ITS: by Lawrence Monroe for gaming
| e los; by Thomas Lewis for hunting on the
Sabbath. 5s by John lewis, for hunting,
5s." In ITO: ITO Townsend Dade, for sit
ting poor man over the ferry, twenty-four
pounds of tobacco" And this: "Dr. Robt.
Lindsay undertakes for to make cure Of
VIM. Graham at 100 per cent on his medicines
| each portion "a"
Prices were high in the days of the revou-
ton. Thus we find, in 1879, an account rem
dered 'for cloth for the poor at a5 sterling
| per yard, linen for the same purpose, 19 As.
| per yard; pair of shoes &c; broadcoth, 9e
| per yard two bottles of wine and bread for
| the communion 96 1885," In 1880 lone pair
| of stockings for a prisoner cost Els, and six
| yards of linen $685." In 1884 the parish of
Fairfax is 'Dr. to William Shakespeare for
keeping poore child, $500" That the sur
| plice was used in Virginia before the revolu-
ton is.shown by an entry Of 1774: "Ordered
that the church wardens purchase as much
linen as will be necessary to make two sup
plices, and have them made"
The first entry, as remarked, bears date of
August 26, 1865. The parish Fairfax) had
been created in February of that year, having
been carved out of Fruro. In March follow
ing, twelve gentlemen were chosen as vestry-
| men, one of them being Col. George WASH
| ington, then 33 years old. In November, 1766,
| this yestry ordered levy made on the in
habitants of the parish of 81, 1856 pounds of
tobacco, for the purpose Of building two new
churches, one at the Falls and another at
Alexandra. In January, 1867, James Par
sons agreed to build the latter church for
9600. The arches and pediments to be of
the Tuscan order. The altar piece, pulpit
and canopy in the Ionic order; the
mortar for the wall to be one half lime and
one half sand; the shingles of the best juni-
per, three-quarters of an inch thick, eight
| cen inches long and to show six inches. :
Parsons failed to complete the church, and
in 1772 Col John Carlyle agreed to finish ii
| for ego additional. On the 9th day of Feb
| ruary, the editce was delivered to the YES
| try and pronounced by them to be completed
| sin workmanlike manner" On the same
| day the pews were offered for sale, and Col.
/ "A