Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-03
POLE GREEN CHURCH.
INTERESTING RECOLLECTION OF
ITS FORMER PASTORS.
Distinxuished Iianoverfans Who
Were Educated Mt Hampdes-sid-
ncy-How to Make an Electrical
Machine-Boyx Who Had Fun.



ministerial days in Hanover. this Ola
church Is an object Of venerable ana
pre-eminent importance. Where the name
Pole Green came from or what II means
no man knoweth to the present day. A.
was located near the TOtpotamoy CREEP
and this name seems to be an Indian
version OF the Greek. when ! first knew
1t the pulpit looked like an inverted
wine-glass. with winding stairs and two
closed doors. Near the pulpit was Pre-
centor's stand, where the Clarke stood
with his tuning-fork In hand and raised
the tunes. There were also square peWs
for the families Of the elders. which were
closed. and thus furnished an admirable
place for us small children to sleep. under
the profound and prolonged services OF
the day. over the pulpit was a sounding
board. and back Of 1t a panel. on which
some profane finger. dipped in ink, had
traced S. d.. 1853. This meant Samue
Davies. the first pastor OF the church.
and the founder Of Presbyterian
Ism in Virginia. The church was
modernized In my boyhood, received
army. and was burned In the Grant cam
palgn OF 1864.
MY PREDECESSORS.
Josh Billings says. when | hear a man
Dragging about hts ancestors l always
feel sorry-for his ancestors" This curt
sarcasm Is as applicable to preachers as
TO other people, but when the best part
OF our ancestors are under the ground we
ought not to forget them.
Parson Blair, one Of The Two OLD
Parsons" a book that ought 10 be read
by every one who has read "the Innocents
Abroad" was pastor OF Pole Green, alter
mating with his church In Richmond. And
without any dlsrespect 10 your city people
he showed his practical good sense by
choosing for his wife a Hanover gin!
Miss Winston. daughter Of Major Win
s,on, In whose lane / have gathered
chinquapins when ! was boy.
] need not say that this was before my
day. The first pastor of whom ! have q
distinct recollection was Parson Henry
Smith, who graduated al Hampden-Sd-
ney and Union Seminary. He was very tel.
very thin, very solemn, and never knew
how 10 preach to children or negroes.
He rode around In "sulky." and when
that was at the gate We boys avoided
the parlor until We were summoned 60
family prayers. But he was good man.
and In after years / found him most
genial and agreeable. and when was far
from home he treated me as son. My
Uncle John Haw, who had more dry
humor than any man ] ever saw, used To
say that Parson Smith ought 20 sing
well. because he had feet Ike a mock
ing-bird-the leg striking the foot about
half way. leaving the heel about as long
as the rest OF the foot.
mr. q "a
was the late Dr. Henry $. Osborn. He
was in Palestine while | was 30 near
death with typhoidfever, and his aged
father flied his place during his absence.
The old gentleman died at the residence
Of the elder General st. George Cooke.
near Brcmo Bluff. and j. buried there.
Mr.. Osborn was the exact opposite OF
Parson Smith, and his coming was hailed
By everybody. young and Old. with the
greatest delight. lie preached in
sprightly. lively way, and sometimes not
more than fifteen minutes. He rode
around from house to house. hearing ~
recite the Shorter Catechism"-the hard
est book to memorl2e and the hardest Q
forget ever studied. lie always carried
with him chemicals and little instruU- ~
for experiments. and thus awaken 70
us 4 tiss. f1r knowieiEs .ilc. 3.
c0l,@ education In after days.
COLLEGE STUDENTS.
In compiling the alumni catalogue OF
Hampden-S Sidney l was surprised at the
number OF students who had gone Their
from old Hanover. Among the first were
Dr. William S. White and his cousin, Mr..
William Y. Sydnor. Then came Nj
ROane, two Sheltons. who moved I"
Mississipp: and one of these sent SON
who is now an eminent lawyer in Nicks-
q IL kolt he la.
John l.. Shepperson, and his brother. Dr.
c. NJ Shepperson, now Of Hampton
Sidney, were born in Hanover. near the
New Kent line; Dr. Leo William Pollard,
still living. in extreme old age, and his
son. the gallant Bernard Pollard, sup
posed to have been killed In n cavalry
charge at Spotsylvanla Courthouse; Dr
Thomas Pollard; Messrs. James Is. and
Reuben T. Gardner: Or. Alex. Tinsiey.
and his brothers, Seaton G.. and James
q. Tlnsley of Richmond; Professor
Alonzo ID. Chesterman, and the two sons
OF Captain Meredith, OF Hanover. All or
these were educated at ord Hampden-Sid-
ney. and we younger men owe our aspi-
ratons for a college education largely to
the inspiration of our pastor DR.. H. ;.
Osborn. as some of the older men owed
theirs to Or. John II. Rice.
PRACTICAL EXPERIMENT.
Mr.. Osborn taught me how to make an
electrical machine. My mother gave me Il
glass preserve-jar. holding a gallon. He
taught me how to mix Spanish-brown and
beeswaN, TO cement wood and glass. and
TO uss amalgam from broken mirrors and
lard for a rubber \ kind china merchant
on Main street looked amused and then
interested when ] asked for some pieces
Of broken looking glasses. But when
told him my object he went right 10
work and loaded me down. as good men
always will do with anybody who means
business. Ny father had n turning lathe
near the mill. run by water from the ice
pond. and there | spent good deal o.
my spare TIM. Rather than let me break
his turning-chsels Mr.. Joe Grubbs turned
the uprights ana sp.nd!es. &c, for me.
and | Put 1t together. AS the boys say
now. "3he was a daisy" | could shock
circle OF fifteen or twenty and send
them screaming away.
That same Uncle John Haw was at our
house. and. being an inventive genius, he
saw my machine. and | knew j had him.
What's that, Tom?" | explained 1t and
told him how could shock him. He said
he didn't believe "A word OF II. l loaded
her for bear He put his hand on the
Leyden jar and slowly held his knuckle
TO the bail. l don't think he cursed. but
he used a word that Is often combined
l. - - .,.l ErA Lad ttak