The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-11

birthday. You remember the name of the
man | mentioned who superintendent the
building Of these walls in 1741. You remem
Der again the same family name OF the lay
man who represented you I'm the important
councils of the Church after the Revolu-
ton. These were great graudsons OF one
OF the earliest members OF your
parish-a simple. strong. true man he must
have been. Out Of his loins sprang three great
men. He was the ancestor Of Chief Justice
Marshall, the greatest jurist of America. lie
was the ancestor Of Thomas Jefferson, the
greatest political thinker Of America. He was
the ancestor of Robert Il. Lee, the greatest
soldier OF America. He was also the ances-
tor or that other statesman who was your
junior warden after the Revolution, and who
represented you IN the diocesan council OF
your Church. and whom. though much mis-
UNDERSTOOD. I regard as one OF the greatest
ana purest on American politicians.
Strange that they should all have come OF
the offspring Of this simple, strong man who
lived at Turkey Island. Just below our city.
PLAIN LIyINo AND HIGH THINNING.
st. Johns through its association with these
elders OF our and reminds its country to-day
OF plain living and high thinking" and
speaks words of warning To these days when
greed OF gain threatens 10 paralyge the intel
lect and corrupt the heart and undermine the
foundation of the nation.
IL says: l have had my dark days and have
seen the light break through the clouds.
Trust in God, trust in the people led by the
spirit Of God. trust your godly mothers TO
teach the children the Ten Commandments,
trust your cody fathers 20 teach your boys TO
keep their bodies in temperance, soberness
and chastity. Trust your churches and stand
by them as they raise their standards against
the enemies that cOmein Ikea food. Remem-
Der ~theSabbath day to keep it holy. Love your
neighbOr as yourself. and reform and redeem
your country by first getting the spirit Of
Christ TO reform and redeem you. That is
st. Johns message Of hope 10 America.
1t speaks 10 US to-day of the permanency Of
the Christian Church and gospel. Other insti-
tutlOns may grow old. like machines and old
vehicles that are superseded by the forces Of
nature that we harness 10 do mans work and
to turn the wheels Of his material progress,
but steam and electricity, natural selec-
ton and evolution, science and wealth
cannot cure the soul. Each new soul
that is born begins from the beginning:
each new generation has the same temptation
TO fight: makes the same mistakes wanders
into the same errors. makes the same ship
wreck. Sin and sorrow and death are always
the same and always new, and the Church OF
the Living God that brings to the nations the
healing leaves of the tree OF life must stand
to tell man Of the fountain for sin and of the
hope of redemption and of the gift of the
spirit.
God bless you. dear old church, minister
and people, and give you in the coming years
when Richmond may widen out into a great
city a still wider field for your activities and
blessings more abundant to crown your work,
and keep close 10 the promise 10, ! am with
you always, even unto the end OF the world.
Evening Service.
Shortly before 8 { o'clock in the evening the
bell tOlled the hour Of the concluding eXer-
cisac The church was brilliantly llphtcd.
and through the handsome stained-glass win
dOWs long shadows fell across the yard, n
great %concourse Of people gathered, and soon
all standing room was taken and the
doors and windows we're hesleged with
men and women, all anxious TO hear the beau
tifui services and listen 10 the eloquent adj
dress Of the evening. The service were begun
by the singing of the familiar hymn begin
ming:
o God. our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
This was followed by the psalter, special
PRAYER and collects. after which the 0~tiertory
for the mission work Of the Weddell-MemO-
rial chapel. Another hymn followed, be-
ginning
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God:
He, whose word cannot be broken,
FOrm'd thee for his own abode;
On the Rock of Ages founded,
Whist can shake thy sure repOse2
With salyatiOnS walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
Mr.. William Writ Henry was then intro
duced and delivered "A magnificent address.
Throughout the entire speech the utmost
silence reigned and the audience was IN rapt
attention to the golden words that fell from
the lips of the gifted orator. Mr.. Henry's re-
marks are partially given as follows
Mr.. HESBY's ADDRESS.
Few buildings in our land have withstood
the varied casualties of time for 100 years;
very few have remained for 100 years. We
would fain believe that "A special providence
has watched over and preserved this trail
wooden structure since 174l, when 1t was
erected, and kept 1t as a sacred shrine where
pietv and patriotism have mingled their de-
v%OtiOns. 1t IS most appropriate that this gen.
Grafton should be reminded of its history by
these exercises, and their veneratlon be quick
ened in recalling the important events IN
Church and State of which il stands as a wit
ness. In attempting 10 perform the part al
lOtted TO me on this interesting occasion !
shall be forced 10 take but a hurried view of
the civil events and of the distinguished &C
tors in them which have made this the most
memorable building which remains in our
State. ANY attempt to do full justice 80 the
subject would lar transcend the limits OF an
address and would reach the proportions of a
volume.
A RETROSPECT.
Let us turn the clock of ting back one
hundred and fifty years and contemplate Tor a
few moments our surroundings.
Frederick the Second, afterwards known as
Frederick the Great, had just mounted the
throne Of Prussia ana without proyocatlon
had made an attack upon Austria, which
proved to be the signal fora general European
war, lasting seven years and known Q as the n
yolyed the right Of Maria Theresa TO the
throne of Austria. The weak Louis XIV. was
king Of France, and the corruptions Of the
nobility and priests, together with their OPP
pressions of the peasantry. were fast klndling
the s|ulphurous flames which burst forth in
the terrible revolution of the last Of the CEN
fury. His nephew, Philip OF Anjou, was
king Of Spain, and thus the two kingdoms
were linked together by Bourbon rulers-a
fact destined to be of great Importance in tho