The times., 1901-03-10

of the History OF the Latter-The
Yestry in IEG}-The Plans Drawn
BY the ..Father of His Country
The church In which the first President
Of this nation ordinarily worshiped before
the Revolutionary War is known. per
haps TO but few persons. For several
years prior to the close of the last CEN
tury there We're two churches by the
name Of "Pohick," in the parish of
Truro. Fairfax county. Va. Each was
named from Pohick Run. a small stream
which rises a short distance back in the
country and empties into the Potomac
River. One Of these churches was stu
ated on the so IN side OF the run, near
Gunston Hall. the seat Of the mansion
Of the Mason family, and the other on the
north side. They were some two miles
apart. and the run was about equally dis
taut from each. They were known. re-
spectiyely, al the Old Pohick Church and
The New Pohick Church. although the lat
ter was sometimes called the Mount Yer
non Church
OF the Old church little or nothing is
known prior to about I772 It was a wood
en building, and on account OF its dilapi-
dated condition il was aE.ndOned as a
toned Washington had beer an attend
ant Of this church for a long time. and a
Vsstryman Of the parish since l768 Look
ing through the old church records the
following names are also found in con-
junction with that Of the Father Of his
Country: George Mason. Daniel NcCarty.
Alexander Henderson, Thomas EiIzey
Thomas Withers Golfer. Peter Waggener
Thomas Tone Martin Cockburn, William
Triplett William Payne. jr., John Barry,
John Gunnell, and Thomas Triplett The
form Of worship observed in the church
was In conformity with the doctrines and
discipline Of the Church Of England
The rector of the church was Rev. Lee
Massey, who took charge OF the congre-
CATION In 1865 He was the friend and
companion Of Washington from early
youth. BY the persuasion Of the latter.
Mason, Fairfax. and others, he studied di-
vinity, was ordained in London, and be
came the rector Of the church
About the year 1863 a meeting OF the
parishioners was held. 1t which ii was
decided 10 erect new church ediiice.
rs zen the question Of locality came 10 be
considered an enimated discussion arose.
Mr.. Mason and several others advocated
the Old site They said il was the place
where their fathers had worshiped. and
that the graves Of many Of their friends
and kindred were around H. Washing
ton and those who agreed with him advo-
Gated a more central and convenient To-
cation The question was left unsettled
and another meeting was called for its
decision. MeanW Eile Washington sur
Veyed the neighborhood and marked the
houses and distances on a welI-drawn
map and when the day Of meeting ar
rived he upset all the arguments Of his
opponents 10y presenting this map, and
thus carried his point, with scarcely any
opposition The site chosen for the new
church was IN a handsome grove OF stur-
dy oaks. iuterspersed with q few pines.
The grove was In an open common, sit
uated on the road leading from AccOtink
TO Fairfax Court House and in close
proximity 70 the postroad leading from
Alexandria TO Fredericksburg. On this
site what is now known as '-Old Pohick
was erected in I772. and is therefore 129
years old. II is seven miles from the
Mount Vernon mansion. four miles from
AccOtink. and three miles from the POto-
mac River
Washington with his own hand. drew
the ground plans and front elevation Of
the new edihCe. the plans Of the aisIes,
the disposition Of the pews. the altar and
chancel, and the location Of the pulpit.
From these plans the architect super
yised the erection and completion Of the
building which is 65 by f5Jk feet The
,difice is a handsome specimen Of the
church architecture Of that period u is
England. has windows above and below,
giving 81 the appearance OF i twO-story
building ne upper tier Of windows were
intended TO light the gallery should one
ever be added 20 the seating capacity OF
PIE eoifice. The roof is gaInbrel or curb