The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-19
VISITORS MAY YET SEE 1T IN THE
ANCIENT CHURCH AT ALEX
ANDRIA.
MORE THAN A CENTURY OLD.
THE SANCTUARY IS RICH IN REL
les OF THE COLONIAL
TIMES.
ODD ENTRIES IN THE RECORDS
Showing the High Prices Which
Prevailed in Revolutionary
War Times.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1S.-In the
mellow light which filtered through the
deep old-fashioned windows of the
sanctuary of the last century, George
Washington worshipped and uttered
his solemn amen" in unison with 9TH
er devout ones at the close of each
prayer. Today visitors may sit in the
same pew, in the same old church and
look at the same old-fashioned panel
which contains the Lords Prayer on
one side of the chancel and the Ten
commandments on the other. More
over you may hold in your hand the
same Bible and the same prayer book
which he used on many Sundays stand
ing in the high backed pew with his
wife, and worshiping with her, after
they had driven together over the I'M
even road from their beautiful country
home at Mount Vernon. Tradition has
it that during the few years of his life
when there were no wars, nor rumors
of wars, George Washington and his
I beloved consort were devoted Christian
workers
On the 1st day of February, 1865, by
virtue of an act passed the previous
year (being the 4th, George III.), the
parish of Fairfax, was created out of
the parish of Truro, and on March %,
vestry was chosen, consisting of
twelve gentlemen, Of whom one was
Col. George Washington, then just tfir-
ty-three years of age. His name stands
fifth on the list, he having received 274
votes, while John West received $40.
Charles Alexander 300, William Payne
3O4, and John Dalton PSI. 1t appears
from the record that George Washing
ton was mot first in the hearts of his
countrymen' in the parish of Fairfax:
but he stood fifth in a religious con-
test, when only thirty-three years old,
and that may be considered as evidence
of exceptionally high standing in the
parish. The old church at the Falls
known as Falls Church, still stands
But 1t is not today as prosperous as
FAIRFAX The relative dignity of the
Two churches at that time may be infer
req from the fact that Gerard Tram
mil, the sexton at Falls church, receiy-
ed 560 pounds Of tobacco per annum.
while the salary of John Rhodes sex
ton at Alexandria, was only 500 pounds
OF tobacco The church in which the
people first worshiped was not Suitable
so-.in 1776 the vestry ordered a lew 70
be made. upon the inhabitants of the
parish of 81, 1856 pounds of tobacco for
the purpose OF building I'D two new
churches, one at the Falls and one at
Alexandra. In January. 1857 Jan,ae
PARSONS agreed to build Christ church
Alexandria \
is one of the quaint and UNIQUE curi-
ols1ties of those times. a.5- s..sfsf.
h. Inc shingles were to be~of the hest
Juniper, three-quarter-inch thick aiob'
teen inches long and to show six riches.
tHe mortar for the outside wall was to
pe tWo-thlrdS lime and one-third sand.
Tor the inside one-half lime and ona-
Ilali' SAND The arches and pediment
TO De In the Tuscan order. The archi-
.eci was James Wren, gentlemen. The
pUlldlng was not completed until. 1773
and, on the 9th of FEBRUARY of that
year, 1T was delivered over to the yes
try In workmanlike manner" IN
the same day, ten of the peWs being
oHeied Tor sale, Col. George Washing
ton became the purchaser of new No <
lot the sum Of 1856 and ten shillings-
the highest price paid. 1t is now 1919
years since the foundations were laid
| y
opened for worship.
whoever visits Washington CITY must
take not only a pilgrimage down the
river to Mount Vernon, but also To
ola Christ church, Alexandria. When
TINS venerable building was erected the
episcopal church was the establishes
c!!uicn OF the commonwealth of Vir-
s!Lia' SUBJECT to the jurisdiction of the
plshop OF London, England. and in con
sequence of the relation then exfstino
between church and state, the yestrv.
men were functionaries Of a civil 90
well as religious dominion. Here are
samples OF some of the taxes collected
by them as entered upon the record.
by cash received of William Adams
loI the several fines for deer killing
out OF season, and delivered bv him
to Mr.. Bryan Fairfax. two pound and
ten shillings," also as follows:
By Lawrence Monroe, for gaming. 2 10
by InoInas Lewis, for hunting on
BY John Lewis for hunting on Sab
Ddtu -........... Observation-Disclosures. n
The account of the vestry for 1779
illustrates the high prices which IRE.
vailed during the revolutionary war
Thus, an account is rendered for
"eloth for the poor at five pound sta Ii
ling per yard, for one pair of shoes
SIX pounds, for two bottles of wine
and bread for communion, six pounds
and eighteen shillings' In 1880 there
is an entry showing that still higher
prices prevailed, namely: Zone pair of
stockings for pensioner, twelve
pounds; six yards of linen, sixty-three
pounds" Another curious entry is to
the effect that the parish of Fairfax
is Debtor to William Shakespeare for
keeping poore child, eight hundred
pounds" 1t must have been very kind
of William Shakespeare to have kept
so expensive "a poore child but Will
liam was thrifty enough to bring the
parish to account for it.
The visitor today usually approaches
the old church from the rear, as it
does not face the river. and travellers
usually go down the Potomac on the
ferry, distance of five miles. to reach
Alexandria. The first sight that greets
our eyes inside the high iron railing
is mound and monument erected to
"twenty-seven Confederate soldiers
who died in federal hospitals in Alex
andria during the war" That is rath-
er modern; all else inside the railing
being exceedingly ancient. The tomb
stones are of all descriptions and of all
varieties of stone, the oldest being two
slate headpieces, which have stood the
rayages of time exceedingly well. The
visitor is particularly struck with the
Inscription on one stone, which reads:
"FANNY M'CUE-1792
Weep not for me, my
Parents dear, l am not
Dead but sleeping here
AS am you all must be.
Prepare yourselves
To follow me.
handsome slab covers a large, marble
sarcophagus portion Of the inscription be-
ing nearly obliterated. 1t says that BE
meath this stone lie the remains of Mrs. Anne