Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-30
In Mr.. DAVIS'S HONOR
Impressive Memorial Service Reld at
ST. PaurS Church Sunday Night.
NOTED cosFEDERATEs PRESENT.
Many of the Leading Generals In
the Great AudIence-An Eloquent
Sermon by Bishop Petcrkin-Thc
Church's Associations.

Packed TO its utmost capacity" ex-
presses the condition of St Paurs church
at the Davis memorial service on Sunday
evening. Long before the appointed time
the people began to gather. and after
Lee and Pickett's camps, the Daughters
OF the Confederacy, and the Sons OF Con-
federate Veterans marched In and occu-
pied the places reserved for them, every
seat was taken, and hundreds were
turned away, unable TO find even standing
room.
ASSOCIATIONS Or THD PLACE.
st. Paurs Is in itself memorial,
silent Confederate sermon. There in the
dark days Of the war some Of the most
distinguished Of the civil and military
officers OF the Confederacy were accus-
toned TO worship, and the then honored
rector, Rev. DR.. Charles Minnigerode,
was universally respected and beloved.
1t was here that President Davis, soon
after coming 10 Richmond, took his first
step towards making public profession
OF his faith in Christ, and uniting with
the Church. and here he was confirmed
His pew, where he and his family were
accustomed to worship, was on the right
hand side of the centre aisle, as you enter
the church. and about half way down the
aisle 1t had been intended that Mrs.
Davis and her daughters should occupy
this pew Sunday night but as they could
not be present the pew was beautifully
draped in Confederate colors, and left
vacant
Not infrequently as President Davis sat
In this pew he had brought him impor-
tant dispatches, which required his i'm
mediate attention, and sometimes he
would have to leave the house for the
purpose. On the memorable Sunday, the
"a Of April, 1866. he was in his accustomed
place OF worship, when there was handed
him the famous dispatch from General
Lee announcing tho breaking Of his lines
at Petersburg, and his purpose OF
evacuating Richmond that night. II Is
not known who delivered him that dis
patch. but there are living witnesses 10
the statement that instead of turning
pale. and becoming so agitated as 10
betray its contents (aS has been often
published. and as even the children OF
Richmond have been forced 20 learn, he
received it with his accustomed calm dig
nifty, and left the church in a manner
that betrayed no emotion, and from which
no one could infer that he had not just
heard OF a great Confederate victory
GENERAL LEES PEW.
Just opposite Mr. Davis's pew, on the
east side or the church, was General
Lees pew which the ladies OF his family
were accustomed to occupy. and in which
the great chieftain himsels was accus-
, toned TO sit whenever his duties In the
field would allow. The beautiful Leo
memorial window is opposite this pew.
With these ballowed associations. then,
clustering around this historic ard beaut-
full church, and with the peculiar interest,"
incident to the occasion, nearly all OF the
leading Confederates in tho city--General
s. ID. Lee, General Buckner General
George II. Steuart, General Bulger. Gov
ernor OFerrall and staff General French,
and many others and "the elect women"
Of the Memorial and other Confederate
societies, assembled TO participate in the
services.
OPENED WITH A FAVORITE HYMN.
The service was very fittingly opened
with the grand old hymn. How firm a
foundation, ye saints OF the Lord" which
was q great faYcrite with Stonewall jack
son, General h. f. Lee. and President
Davis, and which was sung at the funeral
of each one Of them.
The service of the Episcopal Church
was read by DR.. Carmichael, the rector.
assisted by Bishop (GeneraD Elias Ca
pers, OF South Carolina. who was q gall
liant Confederate general, who did able
service in the Western Army Of the Con-
federacy.
The preacher for the occasion had been
fifty chosen in Rev. DR.. George w. Pc
terkin, Episcopal Bishop Of West Virginia,
and an "old Richmond boy" son OF the
salnted and beloved DR.. Joshua Peterkin,
of blessed memory. DR.. Peterkin was
himself a gallant Confederate soldier.
having enlisted when a boy as private In
one OF the Richmond companies, and be-
coming afterwards the trusted and &C
compllshed stan officer OF General W. N.
Pendleton. chief of artillery. Army or
Northern Virginia.
BISHOP PETERKIN'S SERMON.
Dr. Peterkin announced as his text l.
Samuel viii, 12-"Then Samuel took
stone, and set It between Alizpeh ana
Shen, and called the name Of 1t Ebenezer,
saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped
US"
After bringing out beautifully the cir
cumstances Of the text. and speaking or
the memorials erected by both Joshua and
Jacob, Bishop Pcterkin spoke Of the spirit
ual memorials OF the Scriptures and their
significance, and of the propriety OF me-
morializing the great events OF the past.
lie beautifully alluded 10 the great gather
ing here this week as intended 10 per-
petuate the principles Of gallant people
whose devotion 10 duty. spirit of patriot
ism, and heroic deeds made them worthy
sons of sires OF &c.
But that memorial service was In
tended to perpetuate the great idea that
God is in the world, and TO recall the high
purpose and pure intent OF the noble
leaders and true men OF the South-to
thank God for the recuperation and pres
ent outlook Of our Southland. and esps-
cally 10 raise our Ebenezer at the re-
membrance that our President and our
chief leaders were noble. Christian men.
lie paid a beautiful tribute TO President
Davis "who wore the white feather of
stainless life." and was soldier. states
man. orator. and patriot. but above all,
an humble Christian. and concluded with
an eloquent allusion to the memories
which cluster around historic Richmond,
and make 1t. indeed. "hallowed ground"
The sermon. Of which the above Is the
barest outline, was chaste. appropriate,
and In excellent taste, and seemed 10
give great satisfaction to the vast crowd
who heard 1t.
CAN THE SOUTH AFFORD TIT