The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-11

There are living in Richmond certain
elderly persons. presumed to be OF FIR.
intelligence, who have never read a page
In Samuel Mordecal's s"Bygone Days
md others, too, who confess they have
never even heard OF II. The 1.-TWO Par
sons" which came to light In 1885, from
the pen of the late Col. George Wythe
Munford, has also been sadly 2negected By
those for whosc delectation 1t was de-
slgncdly written. The author dedicated
this volume respectfully 30 the Sons and
Daughters of Old Virginia whose hearts
are ever loyal to her"
yirginians to the manner born who
love the old state. the old city the old
worthless, and every venerable relic which
calls to their remembrance the society
OF their fathers and mothers, will heark-
en-. trust. 10 the voice of the patriot
and statesman. and give to his work
their protection and favor. Another
generation will come TO regard 1t as a
Virginia classic. John Buncle never told
with finer humor the story OF his sew
eral courtships and marriages--never
touched the extreme OF pathos with 50
mastery n hand as AIunford has done
In his PEN pictures OF the Two Parzons.'
The work is really supplemental to Nor
decais little book, and whilst more ex-
pansivc OF subjects. is very close akin
TO those SO delightfully."- treated by the
Il alTAl .NiSlDTiuU DI ltIcHIHOUu.
In order to give to ali who have not,
hitherto, looked into the two above men
toned works a .foretaste Of the good
things in them. I'shall quote very liber-.
ally those passages that bear directly
UP on the Two Parsons"
Mordecai's Account.
Mordecai hns this 10 say of 1.-TWO Par
CONS and Ne'er n Church:
r'Behold how good and pleasant 1t Is
for brethren 10 dwell together in unity
ut Is Il remarkable fact. that Rich
niond WAS without n church OF any de-
aomination in the early part OF the mime
.eentil century, and previously, except
the venerable old parish church OF st.
Johns, on Chdrci, Hill, where religious
serv!ce was performed before the Revo-
luton. This use of the old church by
The apostles OF liberty was not consid-
cred !, dissertation, except by those who
advocated q union OF Church and State.
and adored monarchy in the infallible
George III. The only other building
erected for religious worship. at the time
Sadverted to, was the Quaker Meeting
House yet standing on Carey and Nine--
t.enth Streets tis55l, but In rather p
ailapidated condition; the members OF
that Society. once large. boingAmuch az
clnished. other religious denominations
had ncca FDnal places of worship only
for occasional preachers-mere barnE.
where no regular weekly service was per
formed But this lack of churches gave
rise to n beautiful illustration of Chris
tlan love and union.
",rhe population OF Church Hill was
then very sparse. consisting of only few
families. and the distance TO the church.
from that part OF tho city where 1t was
comparatively dense. was too great FOR
worshippers to attend. especially In the
then condition of the unpayed streess e.
The hall OF the House OF Delegates WIS
the only apartment In the city sufficiently
spacious for a place OF worship. and to
this purpose 1t was devoted on tho Sab
bath.
but there were two ministers OF dft
fercnt denominations. with each con-
gregation. and only one hall for worship.
Parson Buchanan WAS an Eptscopailan-
Parson Blair a Presbyterian. Which one
should claim the pulpit? He who, had ttfe
largest congregation, or he who had mos.
Influence with the Executive and Legiss
lature? The two parsons did not test tfF
question. The fraterna appellation which
each gave for the other was based on
brotherly love.
"On each alternate Sunday the ono
and the other occupied the movable pull
pit which disappeared on week days. and
such was the spirit of tolerance and lib
crafty which the example Of the pas
tors had inspired into their congregations
that the same individuals formed a large
portion of the worshippers on every Sab
bath.
.These two clergymen were beloved
throughout the community for their many
virtues They were not a scetics, hut liked