Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-01-24
From Charlottesville

In renewing my subscription 10 your
paper, permit me 20 state that value il
as faithful chrouiclei OF the most in
ieresting happenings in my native Coun-
y. As 1 am not in position 10 state
what Is going on in Clarke, I will con-
fine what have 20 say 10 Charlottes-
vile.
Several years ago, as YOU. perhaps will
remember, Hon. John E. Massey died.
Recently there has been placed in the
First Baptist Church Of this city a memo
rial window in his honor. Il is set
forth, in the window. that he. Mr.. Mas
sey, was - years old. There Is a further
statement that he was Preacher. a
Patriot and a Statesman. Certainly there
never Las been. in the history Of Vir-
ginia, a more astute politician than the
subject OF the memorial referred TO-
From having been the most roundly
abused man in the Commonwealth.
when he divided honors with Ma
hone as the leader Of the Readiuster
Party, he rose 10 commanding
position in the Democratic Party by
his adroit management, snd vet, until I
saw the memorial referred 10, il had
never been suggested, by either friends
or foes Of Mr Massey. that be was en-
titled 10 wear a statesman crown.
That be was possessed, in high degree,
OF political acumen, none can deny, but
when Albemarle calls up the spirits OF
her patriotic dead, the forms Of Thoma.
Jefferson and William c. Rivers are fal
more apt 10 appear than any that figured
even though as leaders, in the stormy
/ days Of Funder versus Readjuster. Mr.
/ Massey, as We sll know, was a power il
/ political discussion. Whether We WELD
ed the popderous sword Of Richard o
the skillful scimetar OF Saladdin. hi
competitor had occasion 20 learn that b
had "foemsn worthy Of his steel.
Notwithstanding that, il is a matter c
great doubt whether Mr.. Massey himse
ever dreamed that lie, even by eulogit
so characteristic as memorial window
could be elevated TO the empyrean
craftsmanship.
No man could discern with clear,
vision the outcome Of disturbed polite
conditions than Mr. Massey, and he W.
certainly past master in taking adyal
/ tage of them. The province of Il
. statesman is that of the pioneer WI
blazeS the track To be followed bv Il
people. Such men were Washingto
: Jefferson, Madison, Marshall and Hem
: in the early history of Nirginia. TT
mere politician has, perhaps, a mo
, potential method of moulding circur
stances brought about BY conditions.
original propositions, beyond his co
trON, so ss 10 inure TO his ambitious q
| signs. Such man was John f. Mass,
universally acknowledged 10 be. Th
, he reached the acme in that line will
] accorded by the political history OF h
time. Beyond that his claim cannot y
Ii "grieyes the judicious" that mem
| rial windows are in some sections appa
emily in the line Of promotion ov
Churchyard emotions so beautiful
swelling from the breast Of the immOrt
Gray.
1t may be different in Clarke now. bt
when I lived there, less than twent
years ago, there wss, as l now remembe
= only one memorial window in all Il
churches Of that County-thst at Il
Old Chapel in memory of Bishop Mead
The boast of heraldry, the pomp
power,
And all that beauty, sll that wealr
e'ergave,
Await alike the inevitable hour;
The paths Of glory lead but to Il
grave.
But while memorial tablets were a
most unknown in Clarke, there is not
County in the State where more beaut
full monuments were erected TO the men
I ory of the herodc dead than at the Ol
Chapel. am, perhaps, not up to da
! on the subject of memorial window
:. but for inspiring emotions, aroused /
monuments in memory Of the patriot
dead, take me the Westminster Abbt
of Clarke-the Old Chapel-where, fro
the days of Washington, in the persC