The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-01

ceeded DR.. Hunt, had built new church 10
take the place of that destroyed by hre wheh
the town was burned. and when his predeces-
sor had lost his library and everything else lie
possessed.
THE STRUCTURE.
What kind Of a structure this was Will APP
pear hereafter; bGt it is enough TO say mere
that the worthy Mr. Bucke must have At
tempted something more in the way OF archi-
lecture than a mere log-hnt. II must have
been a more pretentious building than any oil
its predecessors, because we find II was sup,
piled with bell, and although neglected ana
diiapidated was in sufficient condition TO be
occupied by Lord Delaware and his newly
arrived followers in 1910. when he came IN
time 20 save the disconsolate Gates and ms
companions We are told that Immediately
upon setting foot upon land on this auspiciOus
occasion. the pious Lord threw himself upon
the ground in alteration Of the Providence
that had enabled him thus to save
processiont To- the church. where divine ser
vice was held, and q sermon preached by the
same devoted Bucke Gates himself had OBJ:
served the same duty when, IN the month Of
May l<for-. he had arrived from the Bef-
mulas to rescue his countrymen from the
effects Of the dreadful starving time" Weare
told that tine first place he too, visited was the
ruined and unfrequenied church" THIS was
the first ecclesiastical building erected IN the
Colony worthy of attention. II was slAty feet
long and twenty-fOur WIDE, and WAS bhilt OF
the best prepared native woods Up 10 L~rd
Delaware's last coming It had not only never
been finished. but bad been left 10 fall To nun
and at one time was nigh being destroyed 10y
fire. One of the new Governors first acts WINS
% order the repairing and complete finishing
OF building which WAS now 10 become more
than ever historic When Gates had left Il u
was without chancel rail, communion table,
pulpit or even pews.
Under the good taste Of the Csptain-Gen
eral as Delaware was NOW called these were
constructed of the best materials for this pnr-
pose the most durable woods of the virginia
forests were selected: among which WAS The
aromatic and beautiful red cedar. The cilan-
eel pulpit and pews and even the W!nd""
blinds were Of this wool Tine communion
table was made of black walnut aud a font
was hewn out OF the same substantial mate
rial. in the meantime Is sexton was sppDni-
Ell TO take charge Of the church aud preSrie
over the two bells that hung al Its W%tern
end in accordance with the public denldu0-.
As soon rs it was ready FOR uso on every sun
day two sermons were preached. ami one On
Thursday. by two officiating ministers VINO
took :heir weekly turns. At aDont 10
O'Clock III the morning aud at
O'Clock before supper Of each day. upon
the ringing of the bell the people We're ~
pected to assemble at the church for prayer.
1t may we'll he imagined the effect Of tins caliy
observance; how on the still mornings IN the
wilderness, the mellow sounds OF church bells
broke upon the ear of the savages. who listen
ed with mystic awe tOtOngues whose talk they
understood not flat felt: and how one would
have supposed even the accustomed ear of the
settlers would be dul, impressed N such
place and at such time. But doubtless a. 1t
became "a thing of custom" both savage aud
civilized heard with equal unconcern the
solemn summons.
10 CHURCH IN STATE.
Although Jamestown. al this early date
could not by any means have presented an
attractive appearance, yet It's punctiliOus ruler
felt constrained 20 preserve the forms and
dignity of ms position. This was specially
the case on Sundays. AT the hour of going 20
church it was his custom tO go in procession.
accompanied by his councillors captains and
other offers and gentlemen. with "a guard OF
halberdiers. .arrayed in red cloaks. his Lord
ships livery, TO the number of fifty Hay
ing arrived in the building, his l.ordshlp
occupied green velyet-lined chair
in the Qmer,' with cloth
and a velvet cushion before him on which he
kneeled while on each side sat the members
of the Council. captains and high officers.
each in his own place. After services and
sermon were over he returned 10 his home in
the same state. The observance of such IN
necessary pOmp on the simple occasion Of at
tending divine worship in a wilderness by
man like Lord Delaware can only he attlibu-
ted 20 his desire 60 impress the people with
the importance Of keeping up the dignity and
importance of the church As part OF the
government and being himself devOut man.
was ANXIOUS in all he did to cherish among
the people the same spirit He evidently took
pleasure in caring for appearances about his
new place OF worship. Even before 1t had
been restored. and ever afterwards IL was his
custom to have II kept particularly clean and
adorned with such variety of flowers as could
be procured.
FLORAL OFFERINGS.
This exhibition of his lordship's taste has
been singularly perverted by some into aE-
thority for the use Of floral offerings IN
churches. forgetting that in the latter case
their offerings are only upon one occasion
during the entire ecclesiastical year and then a.
sylnbolical Of a single event Lord Delaware
day to make the place attractive and pleasing
TO people whose environments demanded
every accessory that could add 70 their con-
tentment The advocates Of symbolism gen
orally insist upon dressing the chancel. the
communion table or the fOunt. but what are
they 10 say when they learn that or tasteful
Colonial churchman found the church I'M
finished and neglected, but had it cleaned up
aud meals served with fair flowers even be-
within it, sacred precincts either pulpit, chan
eel, fount or even pews. I.
lTo BIZ CONCLUDED
| e
A Story of sherman's March.
f,.i1 4 IL.