Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-19
,tices must bo pai6 for


The { ld VeSry D00k Cl OhrlSt CnuTcn
runs back to a. d. 1865. Some years
ago it was rebound through the kind
Offices cf Mr.. l.. NJ. Bl4ckford, one of
the ves,ry, and is 50 well re bound that
il will, barring accidents, run Oh in age,
if not IN use, II centuries Yet to come.
1t is very curious collection of facts
and igures-remarkably well written
and bearing about it, SO far as words
and figures can effect it. the odor OF to
bacco. One Of the present rectors pred
eceSsors on one occasion was paid 1900
lbs OF the weed.
There were sharp eyes and loyal
hearts in those days, judging by entries
like the following:
BY Lawrence Monroe for gaming
To Thomas Lewis for hunting on the
Sabbath . whether pounds shillings or
pence can't stay}
a very graceful tribute is given to
Rev. Bryan Fairfax Ga picture of whom
hangs in the vestry ROOM, who for
some cause had offered his resignation
to the vestry. Among its words are
these: ''And they moreover request
him to conclude he has the full appro-
baton Of that body for his eXmplary con-
duct and laudable exertions in dissent
mating the religion we profess and he
finds himself disposed to inculcate.
And further for his uncommon disin
terested conduct in assigning the moneys
due to him for pew rents to the vestry,
TO be by them disposed of for the pur-
poses of the churches he lately had un-
der his care
1t may strike some as not very
Episcopal custom. but the record says
that the church wardens, after the
resignation of Rev. Thomas Davis, who
seems to have been much beloved,
were to correspond with such persons
as shall be named TO thcm-and invite
them to preach in order that the vestry
may be enabled to Judge of their fitness
to TO be inducted.
And good honest gentlemen the YES
try were, for they paid the several
candidates for the rectorship the
amount of expenses incurred in visiting
the parish
In 1907, before the coming of Rev.
Mr.. Gibson, the church wardens were
empowered To engage Rev. Mr.. Nc
Grath to perform divine service, his
pay rot to exceed ten dollars for each
sermon.
Bishop Meade says that Mr.. McGrath
was a Scotch Presbyterian minister and
principal of the Washington Academy
of Alexandra.
The members OF chat .estry, it seems,
remembered the custom, once prevail
ing in the mother church of England, of
employing men not episcopally or
dained. Law as we'll as custom forbids
this now. With unity in the air, how
ever, we may Join hands yet with our
brethren Of other names-but how aud
when no man knows. But we shall
see what we shall see.
The old vestrymen have no successors
so far as names go, with one exception,
that of Washington, but the defendants
Of some Of the departed are still linked
to the old church for which the
WORTHLESS of the olden times took coun-
sci.
1t is Il thing to be noted that ose Of
the old vestrymen was also the organ
ist whether or not he held the Office Of
vestryman and of organist at the same
time does not appear, but be seems to
have given satisfaction in the manage
ment of his instrument, judging by the
records.
The predecessors of the present vestry
seem TO have had an eye to coed
music, as they, at one time, authorized
the employment of some one to instruct
the choir in It's appointed or chosen
work-NoHthiy Reminder.