New-York tribune., 1901-08-04

cred with ivy and surrounded by tall old trees
The original building VAS a wooden one. two
miles south Of the present site. aud on the other
side Of PohicN Run. from which the church took
It's name The former edfce fell into decay
about 1863. and the present location was chosen
History relates that when the charge Of site
was made George Mason used his eloouenca in
favor Of the old one. and George Washington
answered htm with carefully drawn map
showing that the new place was the centre
or population. This argument won. and tho
present Location chosen. II il Just here
according 10 tradition that Washingtcr divided
his army on the way to Yorkto,su ~ 1881
Pohtck Church being at the forks OF the road
he took a part OF his army by way Of Col
chester an6 part by Occoquon village. both
lying on Occoquon Run. The building commit
tee, aFroint"d in 1858, Included George Wash
inston. George Mason and George William Fair
fax.
PLANS D2AwN BY WASHINGTON.
Washington drew the ground plan and front
elevation, the plans f,r ihe pews ard the plac-
ing of the pulpit. When the church was finished
in 1T72-'73 The pews wee sold George Mason
buying two ana George Washington buying flrst
one ana afterward another from Lund Wash
inston. The pews were al marked in raised
letters with the names Of the owuere one new
that 10 the north Of the pulpit was giveu bv the
Vestry 20 the parson, Lee Massey, then rector
ana MS successors forever The high pulpit, the
north wall with its sounding board overhead,
poth hrIniy bolted 10 n beam let iuto the wall.
was . HarKed feature OF this church II also
had raredoS hack Of the communion table on
tie east wall on which were inscribed In letters
OF gold the Apostles Greed. the Lords PRAYER
ana the Ten Commandments The font cut
from the granite Of the neiehborhood was large
enough 10 dlscreeuy dip the children. accord
ing to the rubric in the Prayer Book
Washington Was vestryman for ~ entv wears
o. Truro Parish, was active in the huiIdinr ~
Iour churches in Fairfax and Alexandria coun-
ties and also warden fo~ several ,aars
He let nothing keep him from the house of cod
on the Lords Day. Truro Parish had several
ministers Tior to the Revolution of whom the
I md he.
were the most prominent Parson Massey was
rector al the time Pohiclt Church was buiIt and
continued with II up to l1SJ
SERVICES HELD IRREGULARI.Y.
After the Revolution the services at Pobick
Church were held irreguiarly and Washington
became an attendant at Christ Church AIexan-
dria. which church he had also been instru-
mental in building and In which he had bought
a pew as soon as it completed During the
period Parson Weems, that queer genius ,ybo
wrote the first history Of Washington and the
history or Marion. preached occasionally though
ne was never settled as its rector
In 1881 the bishop reported to the Episcopal
GonYehtoh OF Virginia n visitation made
fohlck church. II was in bad plight he said
ils uocrS We're found open. inviting every wild
Deast OF the field To enter His appeal moved
the ReV. Mr.. johnson 10 go out of the State and
raise money sufficient to put the church i'm good
order again, and students from the Episcopal
Ihe9ioglcai Seminary and others ministered
Iht.1e IL prominent picket post. 1t was then
ehuFely dlsmantled and used by the soldiers
lot morse stable. About 1870 Theodore r. Wet
more. or NeW-Hork, with the advice and assist
2Lce Of Bishop Johns. of Virginia and Casslus
r. Lee, raised money enough to make the build
ing comfortable for services. In 1881 the Rev.
;. A. Wallis became rector. and under his min
istry a good congregation and Sunday school
were gathered within its walls. The vestry
beck. communion service (Which is large and
massive. made in 1I1D and The font were all
found and restored to the church Mr.. Wet
more also added to the church property by Sc
curing considerable land and building rec
tory.
THE RESTORATION PROJECT
Mr.. Wallis was succeeded by the Rev. Mr.
Kloman. who rector for two years The
present rector, the Rev. Everard Meade came
to Pohick about four years ago The church
now shelters from Sunday to Sunday good
congregation and Sunday school. The people
are poor. being chiefly engaged in agriculture
II is church in which Ito the poor the Cos
pei is preached The church property is a
valuable one, containing fOrty-t three acres on
which situated the church. a parish hall |
given by Mrs Hearst. of California and large
and comfortable rectory.
Now IL is proposed TO restore Pohick Church |
and to make IL as near the church of Wash
ingtons day is compatible with modern |
ideas of comfort and convenience. The Daugh-
ters Of the American Revolution have taken
the matter In hand. and the treasurer Judge |
j. x. NJ. Norton, of Alexandria. reports q small |
fund on hand and growing slowly. There is |
immediate need of work on the church as IL Is |
in bad condition.
The rector SAYS: May the time soon come |
when this house of God built by the Wash
ingtons, Masons, Lewises, Farfaxes, Hender-
and all those whose names are connected |
with II, shall be restored to it's former beauty
Surely patriotism or reverence for the greatest
of patriots, If not religion, might be spnealed !
to in behalf of this temple of God"