The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-31

70 cover the retreat,
Those who have taken the trouble to In
Vcstigate The records OF the early days find
great deal OF material dealings with
the jamestown colony and the religious
feature of its establishment. There is even
a description OF the church. of which this
tower now alone remains intact.
IT is in length three-score foote" says
the old chronicle in breadth twenty
four, and shall have a chsncel IN II OF
cedar, and communion table of Blake
Walnut; and all the pews in 1t of cedar.
a pulpit of the same, with a font hewn
hollow like a Canoe, with two Bells at
the West End.
The Captaine General doth cause IL to
be kept passing sweete and trlmed up
with divers flowers. with a SEXTON be-
longing to 1t. And In IL every Sunday we
have sermons twice a day and every
Thursday sermon and every morning at
the ringing of a bel about ten OF the
clock every man addresseth himself to
prayer and so at foure o'clock before sup
per.
Every Sunday. when the Lord Cover
nor and the Captaine General goeth to
church, he is accompanied with all the
counsellors; and all the gentlemen, with
guard of Halberdiers In his Lordship
livery faire red clol1es to the number OF
nifty both on each side and behind him;
and being IN the church his Lordship
hath his seat In the Quier, In q green vel
vet chaire, with a cloath with a velvet
cushion spread on the table before him on
which he kneeleth end on each side set
his COUNSEL, Captains and officers, each
in their place"
1t is related also that the jealous rulers
of the colony caused the Indians they had
made captive to attend the services w
church, "whereat the sauvages marvelled
greatly" This recitation of the moral
conduct of the colonists is greatly priced
hNr fniu inc "a lsrf hos, ar 90.
contradiction Of the popular Idea that the
early settlers were a registering and God
less set
Later in 1914, when Sir Thomas Dale
became Governor, the religious ceremonies
were, If anything, more strict than before
Ee carried the sword and the Scripture
together into the new world. and insisted
upon adherence to the one as vigorously as
he welded the other. The services under
him are thus described by Alexander
Whitaker
Every Sabbath day we preach in the
forenoon and catechse In the afternoon.
Every Saturday night ! exercise in Sir
Thomas Dale house our church affairs,
being consulted as by the Minister and
four Of the most religious men. Once ev-
cry month we have n communion and once
every year a solemn fast"
Interesting. also, is the account of the
daily routine of the colonists about this
religious devotion with the ordinary du-
ties Of life. The records say:
"rhey worked from o clock In the
morning until 10, and from in the after
noon until four; at both which times they
are provided of spiritual and corporal
reiefe. First they enter the church and
make their praires unto God; next, they
return to their homes and receive their
proportion of food"
The church referred to wac not the brick
structure whose tower now stands, but a
more primitive house OF worship, which is
described by John Smith as "a homely
thing like a barn, set upon crotehets, COW
cred with RATS, sedge and earth, and so
built as could neither wen defend from
wind nor raine." Upon viewing this II
was that Lord Delaware ordered an OPP
propriate church 10 be built.
The first Protestant divine to preach on
American soil was the Rev. Robert Hunt.
He accompanied Capt Newport on the
voyage of the colonists In the three ships,
the Susan Constant, the Godspeed and the
Discovery. They landed at jamestown
about the middle of May, 1907. and their
first act upon going ashore was to hold
religious services. They hung an old sail
from the branches and with pulpit
formed Of a bar Of wood nailed to two
trees the services proceeded DR.. Hunt
was described by John Smith as a wise
man in council of great courage and high
character, ana Etntin gave MIN Citllt loI
many benefits of harmony enjoyed by the
colonists during his life.
In the church erected upon the island
Pocahontas, the Indian maiden who saved
John Smiths life, was baptized and there
she was married to Rolfe, the English
man. Their descendants are found in Vir-
ginia 10 this day. The first legislative
body Of Engishmen which ever met IN
America assembled IN the church to legis-
late for the little colony. ana this was a
year and "a half before the Pilgrims land
cd at Plymouth.
Associated with this first Protestant
church now a crumbling remnant of a
ruin. ls the "Old Brick Church." at Isle
Of Wight, a post hamlet in the county
of the Same name, founded by the Virgin
ia colony. This old church was built In
1922 and Is accepted BY antquarians as
tbe Oldest Protestant Episcopal church
now standing on the continent ana used
as house Of worship. IL not the Oldest
of my denomination
After the revolution the church was
called Saint Luke 8" and though greatly
injured and threatened with destruction
tv storm and the fire of war. il is now in
nerfect repair, a sturdy sanctuary, with
massive tower and solid walls.
For over Fifty Years