The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-12


AN inestimabie privilege it is to live in a
land of liberty regulated by law,
HISTORIC JAMESTOWN
jamestown should be held i'm everlast-
ing remembrance and should be preserved
with pious care. If for no other reason.
because it was there that the first rep
resentative legislative assembly was ever
held in America. 1t was there that the
House OF Burgesses met on the Goth Of
July. 1919. more than "A year before the
Mayfower with the pilgrims left the har-
Dor of Southampton. This house OF Bur
gesses was composed of members elected
by the people. thus promulgating that i'm
mortal principle of free government, that
all lawful authority emanates from the
people. and that all governments derive
their Just powers from the consent Of
the governed.
From the Colonial records of Virginia.
we learn that the proceedings OF this
first legislative assembly were opened
with prayer. and that i'm its deliberations
the Church OF England was recognized as
the Church of Virginia. 1t was there
that the Church spire was first raised to-
wards the heavens, and the sound Of the
church going bell was first heard TO
awake the echoes of the primeval forests.
From that day to this, for nearly three
hundred years. the Church. like pillar
of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by
night, has led the people through the
wilderness of sin. and laid broad and
deep the foundation Of Christianity ciyili-
cation ana liberty.
BY her second charter. the territory of
Virginia extended from Old Point Com
fort 2oo miles north ana POO miles south.
along the coast and west ana northwest
throughout the continent TO the Pacific.
Her limits were afterwards reduced by
fixing the Mississippi river as her west
crn boundary. taking from her Maryland.
North and South Carolina and parts of
Pennsylvania. In January. l71S Colonel
George Rogers Clark led an expedition
which acquired for Virginia that vast
northwestern Territory between the Ohio
river and the Lakes afterwards generous
~ coded by her TO the United States, and
out of which five great States have since
been formed. This princely gift was made
by her 10 sustain the waning credit OF the
government. 10 allay the jealousies of her
sister States and to cement the bonds Of
that Union, which was in great part the
creation Of her hands.
WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE.
In the early days OF the colony. the ad-
vantages Of education were. Of course.
very limited. the children being taught
by their parents at home and I'm the odd
field schools. as they were called. But
in 1852 the English sovercigns William and
Mary endowed the college. which has ever
since borne their names. and the pream-
BILE of whose charter states that. TO the
end that the Church in Virginia may be
furnished with seminary for ministers
of the gospel. and that the youth may
L.. 4
good manners. and that the Christian
faith may be propagated among the
western Indians. To the glory OF Almighty
God. &c. The history Of the College OF
William and Mary is the history of the
Commonwealth Of Virginia. and 10 some
extent. at least. the history Of our COM
mon country. What grand and glorious
and precious memories cluster about this
venerable institution Endowed. al | have
said. in 1862. she points to-day with ma
ternal pride and tenderness 10 a long line
OF illusrrious alumni. who for more than
two centuries have illustrated the glory
Of American institutions. and shed endur-
ing lustre upon the American name.
The people OF Virginia have not only
been distinguished from the earliest days
OF the colony AZ jamestown. for their
strong love of liberty and independence
but for their Astounding hospitality. The
historian. Beverly. writing of the colony
in 1905. says. The Inhabitants are very
courteous TO travellers, who need no other
recommendation than their being human
creatures. the stranger has no more 10
do than 10 inquire upon the road where
any good gentleman or house keeper lives
and there he may depend upon being re-
ceivcd with hospitality. This good ma
ture is so general among these people
that the gentry when they 20 abroad.
order their principal servant to entertain
all visitors with everything the planta-
ton affords
Another distinguished characteristic of
the NirRinians has ever been their knight
~ courtesy ana chivarous regard for
women: and here permit me 10 say that
the history Of the world has never furn-
ishcd a higher type Of womanhood than
has been found in Virginia. Her young
maidens have been distinguished for
beauty OF person and OF character. and
the name OF Virginia matron" has ever
been held as the synonym OF all that Is
dignined, refined and graceful In the
darkest hours OF the Revolution. the
hopeful spirit and undying fortitudc OF
the noble Virginia women re-kindled the
courage ana rerVed the arm OF the
struggling patriots. our great-grand-
mothers refused. rs a patriotic duty. TO
drink tea. although they knew il was es-
scntial 10 brilliancy OF fancy and iucncy
OF expression on all social occasions, The
young maidcns OF that day, believing