Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-06
old pIandford Church Again.

To the Editor OF the DLspatch:
The last article that appeared in your
paper In regard TO the authorship Of the
lines on Blandford church is, 10 my
certain knowledge. entirely untrue. The
statement that L. V. S. made is perfectly
correct. l speak from no assumption;
what 1 state l am prepared TO prove is
she whole truth. and nothing but the
ruth. and / intend TO prove it 70 the
satisfaction OF the world some day.
i knew Miss Z. L. Hening personally.
and well. and have several Of her letters
still in my possession. In some Of them
are beautiful poems OF her own. Her ode
to General Lafayette on his visit TO Rich
mond (Which was sung at a grand Ma
sonic supper given in honor Of HIM
has always been considered very beautiful
and touching. BY his request IL was
sung and played on the piano for him by
the beautiful and accomplished daugh-
tiers Of William Waller Hening, at whose
house he was often welcome guest.
a part Of the song Is very pathetic,
during the singing OF which the brave
hero wept as a little child. / have the
song. and will send II 10 you for your
paper II you desire IL. please. do So
Editor) When General Lafayette ar
rived in Richmond he was told by
gentleman that q Miss Hening had writ
ten song on him and would perhaps
call on him IN few days. He then said,
"Oh. no, l will call upon her, for the gen.
tleman should always call on the LADY,
and not the lady on the gentleman"
He paid her and her sisters a great
ceal OF attention, and often took them out
driving in his elegant carriage. She
commenced her book Of poetry at II years
Of age. and wrote time after time until
the close OF her life. Her song on True
Love" is very beautiful AS 10 her lines
on Bradford church, many OF her near
est and dearest friends and relatives
were standing by her side when she
wrote them. Often have / heard her
sweet and truthful sister say that she
was standing by her side and read
the lines as she wrote them
on the wall. Her relations and
friends Of the highest stamp in the
State Of Virginia have often stated all
the facts in regard 10 the lines; some OF
them eye witnesses, and yet notwith-
standing ali this. some people are ever
ready to give the credit OF them 10 any
Tom. Dick. or Harry, rather than 10 the
true author o, that they would listen 10
the words Of Jesus, Render to Caesar
the things that are Caesars" Honor to
whom honor Is due.
Miss Hening inherited her talent for
writing poems from Edmund Waller.
the great Irish poet q have been
told. She had a brother by the name
OF Edmund Waller Hening who was
missionary 10 Africa for twenty years,
when he contracted the coast-feyer and
lost his sight entirely. He was an Epis-
copal minister Of much note. After losing
his sight he returned TO Philadelphia,
and was Bishop until the close Of his
life He was beautiful poet, but seldom
INDUCED in writing. But am not writing
his history, as II has been written by
others more competent than myself.
l only wish to speak Of the real author
Of the poem on the wall, which l think,
from all the dates l have examined
lately, was about the year 1870. A party
Of young people from Richmond went
sion. among them the children Of William
Waller Hening. who was standing by
her when she wrote the poem. AS II was
her first visit TO the city, she simply
signed herself Stranger" Soon after
this she married George G. Spotswood, OF
Culpeper. and after his death she married
Mr.. Schermerhorn, OF New York city mot
Washington. She lived there for some
time. and then moved to Indiana, where
she spent the remainder Of her life, and
died in 1871, in the house of her son (still
living. Edmund T. SpotswoOd. NJ. D.,
Terre Haute, Ind. Mr.. Schermerhorn was
a Presbyterian preacher.
OLD vIRGINIAN.
Trenholm, Va