The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-23

THE OLD BLANDFORD CHURCH.
Brick Church." is general throughout
the South. particularly IN Virginia: In
the North you occasionally ind in some
library stray picture OF this famous
edlice. Yearly thousands OF people
trudge along the picturesque road that
winds its way from this city to the old
town, and upon arriving at the historic
church, stand for hours reading the In
scrlptiOns upon the weather-beaten, time
stained, and fast-crumbling tombstones,
or else stroll about the quaint, oid-fash-
Toned graveyard, where lie buried so
many men and women who helped make
Nirginian history.
In a dark, ivy-colored corner OF the
church-yard. with no tablet TO mark the
resting place OF the tenant OF the mar
row house." lies what remains OF Gen.
William Phillips, who died in Petersburg
during the occupation. and who was
called by Thomas jefferson THE proud
est man OF the proudest nation OF the
world"
The Old Blandford Church was built.
or rather finished. in 1877. Nothing re-
mains OF the structure to-day but the
four walls, aud the roof, which has been
mOdernized. the object being TO keep the
sacred place intact as long as possible.
Around the walls, and over part OF the
roof, cling huge masses or dark-Breen
English ivy. Bats make the dismantiei
place their resort at night, hOOt-Owls ny
through the paneiess windows when
darkness has settled upon the earth. and
a general air Of melancholy and desola-
ton fingers about the place Visitors
10 the church point 10 the east wall. and
read thereon, inscribed upon tablet,
the lines which have become famous Tor
their beauty and simplicity.
The authorship OF these lines has al
ways been matter Of doubt Many peo-
pile claim TO have written them. Ihele y
good reason, however for believing that
they were written by Tyrone Power,
celebrated Irish comedian, who VISITED
the church about half century ago,
and who was lost al sea I'm a vessel that
sailed from New York, and was never
afterwards heard Of. The story toid mere
abouts ~ to the effect that while here on
a visit. Power walked over TO the church
ono day. and becoming profoundly I'M
pressed with the slowly fading beauty OF
the historic pile. took pench from MS
rocket ana wrote these lines
Thou art crumbling 10 the dust, old Pile,
Thou art Fastening TO thy ram
And round thee in thy loneliness.
Clings the Ivy 10 thy wall
The worshippers are scattered now
Who knelt before thy shrine,
A,d silence relgns where anthems rose
I'm days Of Aud Lang Syne-
And sadly signs the wandering wind,
Where Oft in years gone by ,,
PRAYERS rose from many hearts 10 him.
The Highest OF the hlgn.
The tread OF many noiseless foot
That sought thy alsles, - Ger.
And many weary heart around
Is still forever more.
How doth ambitions hope take "ihs'
How droops the spirits now
We hear the distant citys hlh'
The dead are mute below.
Tho SIM that shone upon their paths
Now gilds their lonely graves,
Tire zephyrs which once Tanned their
brows
The grass above them waves.
Oh. could we call the many back
Who've gathered here In vain
Who've careless rOved where we DO now
Who'll never meet again;
How would our very hearts be stirred
To meet the earnest gaze
OF the lovely and the beautiful
The lights OF other days
When the old church was built, Bland
ford was a growing, prosperous town.
According 10 the old vestry books. some
OF the pews were rented. Others were
reserved for Students, ana the poor.
What was once floor OF beautiful Bris-
toll marble, brought from England about
1870 Is now nothing but NeiioW cdT'h,
made hard and smooth by the pressure OF
countless feet An incident OF much Inn
portance I'm the history OF the church
was the advent of the celebrated pastor.
Whitfield. who preached there IN 100.
Whitfield was q man Of many PECULIAR.
ties A Young man who heard MIN. ana
who WA probably not warm admirer.
left . graphic. but ironical letter 70