Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-05-25
MEMORIAL TO
DR.. WADDELL.
Captain Squires. Of 0cran, nOnors
Blind Virginia Preacher.

Captain Squires, Of 0cran, hOn0rs
Blind Virginia Preacher.
A memorial, in the shape of hand
some mural tablet, made of fine Italian
marble, to Rev. DR.. James Waddell, a
Revolutionary character of Virginia,
completed by the Gaddess Bros. Com
pany, of Baltimore, was unveiled with
interesting ceremonies Monday at Lam
caster c. H. The inscription, which
gives a summary sketch of the noted
patriots life, is in black and gold let
tiers, and four brass screws, which fas-
ten it in the wall, project from it. An
open Bible is carved above the inscrip-
ton. The inscription is as follows:
In Memoriam.
| REV. JAMES WADDELL, d. D.,
The Blind Preacher, Teacher, Orator.
Son of Thomas and Janet Waddell, of
County Down, Ireland.
/ Born on the Atlantic Ocean in 1879,
when his parents emigrated to America.
Died in Louisa Co., Va, September
18th, 1906.
Licensed as Probationer April End,
1761, by the old Presbytery of Hanover.
Resided on Corrotoman River, Lam
caster Co., Va, in 1852, and had three
preaching places, viz: Lancaster c. H.,
the Forest Meeting House and the Nor
cumberland Meeting House.
| In 176S married Mary Gordon, daugh-
ter of Col. James Gordon, of Lancaster
| Co., an Elder in the Church and Mem
Der of the Court and the maternal
grandfather of Gen. William F. Gordon,
of Albemarle.
Taught Meriwether Lewis and Cover
| nor James Barbour.
| Was at one time Minister of the Tink-
ling Spring Church, Augusta Co., Va,
and as a Patriot In the Revolution adj
dressed Tate's Company at Midway,
Rockbridge Co., Va.
ImmortaGzed In Wirt's British Spy,
when, in a sermon of thrilling oratory
and magic eloquence on the Passion of
Our Saviour, he electrified his hearers
by the beautiful and sublime quotation
from Rousseau: Socrates died like a
philosopher, but Jesus Christ like a
God"
This tablet was presented to Lancas-
ter county, through the Circuit Court,
by Capt. George P. Squires, Ocran,
Lancaster county, Va, and was un.
yelled by his daughter, Miss Mamie Mae.
After some remarks, Judge Wright
introduced Capt. Squires, who in chaste
language presented the tablet.
ADDRESS OF CAPT. GEO. p. sQUIREs.
Mr. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
have been commissioned by the
Honorable Judge of this Court to pre-
sent the Tablet, just unveiled, in com.
memoration of the Reverend James
Waddell, the blind teacher, preacher
patriot and orator.
/ have faced in my life as seaman
the angry onslaught of the surging
waves, and / have as a soldier con-
fronted the whitening fire of the gallant
Confederate infantry, and / feel just
now that / had rather face the raging
pillows, and shot and shell, than at
tempt to do justice to the duty imposed
upon me by the Judge of this Honorable
Court, and should have most certainly
declined but for the fact that feel il
my duty now, and always, to bow as
gracefully as possible to the orders of
this Court.
AS an adopted citizen of Lancaster, ]
take an unbounded pleasure in honor
ing all the men who have made an
impress on her history, and in further
ing the noble and praiseworthy efforts
OF our Honorable Judge to rescue from
oblivion our foremost citizens of the
past, IN order that our citizens of the
present may have the benefit of their
example and model their lives along the
same lines Of the eminent men who
have gone before.
am no preacher, but i have a pro-
found reverence and respect for the
man of God who renounces the world,
the flesh, and the devil, and puts on
the armour of the Lord to fight vail
antly for his Masters Kingdom, and
care not under what banner of relig-
ious creed he may fight, so he is honest
and true in his convictions. We, who
live IN this fast and strenuous age,
wrapped in the garb of ourself conceit,
can hardly believe that any others ever
lived more worthy than we. You have
but to turn back the pages of history,
and you will find that there are others
whose devotion to their God, their
country, and their fellow-men, eclipse
| our poor feeble efforts as does the sun
the glimmering light of the stars, and
among that galaxy of noble men none
are more deserving of remembrance
and renown than the blind Presbyter-
ian preacher, teacher, patriot and ora
TOR, James Waddeli.
His parents fleeing from Ireland, he
was born on the Atlantic ocean in July,
1879, one hundred and sixty-seven years
ago, and like myself child of the sea.
AS he grew to manhood, Gods spirit
entered and took possession of his being.
and at Y years of age he was licensed
as Probationer. by the old Presbytery
of. Hanover.
He came to Lancaster county in 1852,
and resided on the picturesque shores
or the CorrotOman river, and had three
preaching places:-Lancaster C. H,
the Forest Meeting House, and the
northumberland Meeting House. Here
atLancaster CHI. ,one hundred and forty
years ago, this gallant soldier of Christ
stood upon the same ground whereon
stand today, and held aloft the banner
of salvation to your noble ancestors.
Anil what a noble Christian he must
have been. Deprived by God from
seeing as we see, he made no complaint;
he did not sulk in his. tent, and curse
the hand that had stricken him. No,
with head bowed down in meekness and
humility he said this unto his Maker
Those crosses, which thou doth please
to send me, most freely accept.
bless them and unite them with those
which thou hast endured for my sake
The worshippers are scattered now,
Who knelt before thy shrine;
And silence reigns where anthems rose,
In days of "Auld Lang Syne."
The speech of acceptance was made
by T. j. Downing. DIR. w. F. Duna-
way and Warner Ball also spoke of the
man and the occasion.
The courthouse was packed, a num-
ha,- nf La lso. IL