The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-24

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"Bishop Meade tells Of preacher" said
the speaker. who preached, COR went
into an old country church processing TO
do I'D four times year against the four
sins Of Atheism. gambling horse-racing.
and swearing receiving hundred dol
lars. a legacy of some pious person To- the
minister Of the parish. for so doing, while
ne practiccd AN the vices himself
When he died in the midst of mis- r5v-
ings he was heard halOong the hounds
in the chase
Another minister quarreled ana fought
with certain members of the Vcstry and
justified himself in his act the following
Sunday In a sermon.
NOT ONLY THE CLERGY.
The speaker continuing said nat Ire
fault OF this wretched condition OF re-
ligion cannot be wholly laid upon the
clcrey The laity o. the best class Of
them share the blame.
II was q part of the struggle which
ended ~ American inde9s ldeGce In
chur a and State. The result Of this I'M
dependent spirit was that the planters
managed TO get tho ccclesi tsfical dis
ciDl me- more and more into the hands q
their own wardens and TO nave pre-; @nt-
utes. Another move was TO secure to the
yostuos a strong hold on the ministers,
Nh Bryan explained that tic people
preferred 10 have ministry no to-
closely identified with them. Sometime
they preferred to dispense with a minis
ter altogether and TO save uthos and
other levies. For substitute the clark
would serve In this long continued
struggle between the parsons and the
ruling class among the people I'm Nir-
ginia no one suspected on either side
that the point OF the wedge was being
inserted into a line Of cleavage which
was radical and that along this line the
rupture would begin which would logical
~ work itself out i'm the independence
OF Virginia and OF all the other colo
MES" What seemed TO he gross ire
ligion was also incipient revolution. The
ancient Virginian was Independent at
the expense of religion.
Mr.. Bryan continuing. said that under
the free and easy exterior true Goodness
sometimes existed i'm priest and people.
but the system and circumstances stead
ily tended otherwise lie gave q sketch
after the revolution by Mr.. Davis. of
a scene at old Pohick IN Fairfax coun-
ty 10 Illustrate the genuine piety that
sometimes existed.
HAD no BISHOPS.
During all this period. said the speak
or, no Bishop came to Virginia. England
could not conceive that such dignitary
as a Bishop could be called upon TO re-
side there.
There were repeated efforts to secure
a Colonial Bishop for America, but an
failed. This suited the Virginians, and
when n proposition was made at VII
liamsburg looking TO the movement Tor
a Bishop, it met with disbursement
from the Burgesses. This was the END
Of all talk of a Colonial Bishop
Mr. Bryan explained how several
other denominations got foot hold dur
ing such a manned and poorly sustain
ed church system. These were chiefly
Presbyterians at first, and later the Bap-
lists. The fact Of their perseverance in
the face Of such adverse circumstances
proved their sincerity, and the measure
I'm which they succeeded in the face OF
the established church showed the sad
need of evangelical work being done boy
somebody.
Continuing tho lecturer showed how
these discussions weakened and discreo-
tied the church, and paved the way for
the coming revolution, and driving 30
the wedge between the church and tho
people. The struggle took on more and
more a political aspect. Liberty was
being considered beyond all other qucs-
tons Nobody was concerned much
about the parson. This became more
evident when the Burgesses cut down the
parsons salaries against law and equity
and appeals wero made TO the Crown
Patrick Henry, Sr., was among the appel
lants Patrick Henry Jr.. undertook the
legally hopeless case Of the Burg sses. He
appealed without hesitation from the
q %. MI
hearts he very we'll knew and he was
sustained. Henceforth the parsons had
little standing in the country or in the
courts. 1t became plain that the church
I'm Virginia could only live when in some
way it should be severed from It's con-
nection with the State.
SPRANG FROM RELIGION.
Tn conclusion the lecturer referred 10
Henry's defence Of the dissenting Bap-
fists who were arrested and tried tor
preaching without license which appeal
com fho part of the eloquent advocate re-
suited In the dissenters gaining their case
while the parsons lost theirs. 1T IS
curious said he " that i'm the colony
which has least reputation for being
relieiouslv inclined. the determining
questions Of our revolution sprang first
out Of religion. 10 is none the less curl
GUS that when the revolution came. ana
the church was overthrown the people
were led in their battle for civil and re-
religious liberty by the best churchmon
in the land-thc very men who when the
war was over stood hy tho views OF the
ancient faith. and famed the ombers on
the affairs into flame ag0in.
"And now as her children look upon
the broad and catholic spirit Of that ola
church. and see her increasing and gen
erous influence and the revcrent ana
kindly esteem IN which her people and
her ministers are held they lift .heir
faces with chas.ened thankfulness. and
say.
Not unto ms O Lord not unto us.
But unto Thy name be the praise
no longer do the people say.
Where is now thy God 30
When Mr. Bryan had ended his adj
dress. the audience showed their onTre-
citation by a round Of well-deserved APP
rlause. and. on motion Of Mr.. Henry. a
vote Of thanks was passed for the we'll
prepared and exceedingly entertaining adj
dress.
Hr Starke Resigns
Lieutenant John W. starke. who was
elected treasurer Of the Cuban League
"I