The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02
regular county and public levies, or.
the people. MT large Special pifts for

regular county and public levies. on
the people Mt large Special gifts for
,h1 erection OF churches were also
lie by benevolent and plous citizens
the colony. Before public levy
laid for the construction OF the
1 .ch at Middle Plantation, In 1878,
l.oluntary donations were solicited OF
the parishioners, and IN response to
this appeal John Page and Thomas
Ludwell each subscribed f20. and Philip
l4udwell and Colonel Thorp each Flo.
whilst numerous citizens contributed.
4 respectively, IS.
A contract between the church war
dens Of Hunger's Parish, In Accomac,
and Simon Thomas, carpenter, pre-.
served among the records OF that
county, gives. no doubt a fairly accu-
! rate Idea as to tho method followed
In building parish churches towards
/ the close OF tho seventeenth century.
\ Under the terms OF this agreement the
lprojected edifice was to extend forty
feet in length and twenty 1.-Two in width.
Its framework, which was to be con-
i structed OF wood. was to be supported
by blocks cut from the trunks OF the
i locust, or n tree especially remark
able fop~the durability of Its hbre, even
4 when exposed to the most trying va
riations OF weather. This skeleton
I, frame was to be covered with planks
II studs and raftcrs were to consist OF
seasoned oak.
| The great majority OF the churches
built In Virginia during the seven
!. teenth century were built like the one
in Accomac just referred to, Of wood.
J There were few. however, made of
Brick. Such was the character of the
material entering into the construction
OF the edifces at Middle Plantation
} and Jamestown. The church near
!. lssS-.- Astt
original beauty and solidity, was also
built of brick. and forms perhaps tho
!. most admirable specimen of ecclestasti-
!, cal architecture in Colonial Virginia
! surviving to the present day.
J. The plate and ornaments belonging
s to many Of the churches were both
handsome and costly. Most OF these
! were obtained by special gifts or be-
j. quests OF wealthy planters, and cons
t sisted OF communion cups. chalices,
). fagons and plates. and baptismal
e basins or bowls. On at least one oc-
d made a present OF sacred volumes to
d the yirginian churches. This occurred
! in 1883, when there were delivered. in
: the royal name. through the Bishop of
d London. forty-two sets. each OF which
d consisted OF folio Bible and Common
8 Prayer Book in calf; the homilies, the
' canons. the Thirty-nine Articles, and
/ the table of marriages.
IA Among the clergy
n Nv. The Clergy men during this cen-
IS men. tury, not one, SO far
) as is now known, was
g q native of the colony. Some had been
It born and educated in Scotland. but u
h very much larger number had emil
sc Igrated from England, where they had
= first seen the light, and where they had
p also received their first lessons in let
20 ters and theology. In a general way 1t
\ ho ca{N hat rf
80 ences leading the great majority to
ID settle In Virginia-first, in order to
IS acquire a benefice In England. the
IL Clergyman must obtain the favor OF
v some person or institution having the
IN right Of preferment. and It was no
st easy task for young divine, lacking
In In powerful connections, to commend
s. himself TO the good will Of the indi-
n vidual or corporation ~entitledsto name
as the next incumbent OF a vacant rector
s. ship; secondly. the condition Of the
or clergy residing In the rural districts
s. OF England during the seventeenth cen.
to fury was not distinguished for such
comfort, prosperity and honor as tc
US make removal TO the colony always ap-
r. pear q step distinctly disadvantageous
at 1t reveals the extraordinary pain:
an the colony's authorities were at to Sc
er cure competent divines to Ali the diff
he ferent vacancies among the partshe.
OF that, in 1850. the General Assembly
rs. declared that should. a. shipmaster o.
ed merchant import a clergyman withou
I'M any agreement with him touching tn,
is, payment Of his expenses then sucl
he |shipmaster or merchant should receiv
Ivo by the public levy. to reimburse hin
lst for the outlay, f2o, either in the form
sldfof q bin Of exchange or OF 1000
om pounds Of tobacco 1t was with viev
a Of securing q more certain means o
'as supplying all vacant pulpits In tn
lst colony that, in l86O-l, the project o
ct establishing a college In Virginia wa
OF considered by the General Assembly
The Sometimes a clergyman, like Re,
Ia Philip Mallory. In 1861. was dispatche
The to England to arrange for the sendtn
he to Virginia OF greater number q
OF ministers In 1880 the Council re
aal quested the Governor. as the only hop
md OF filing all the pulpits of the colon,
Cd. to beg the Bishop Of London to furnis
ted the vacant parishes with able. godl
OF later William Fitzhugh declared tina
lbt there still existed in the colony
de- pressing need .for able sober an
of faithful". ministers. The very commo
AXE way Of supplying the want OF a clergy
et- man in vacant parish was to appoir
the q deacon.
est The vestry. as we havo seen, was IL
ere controlling power tnsfilling the vaca,
ton pulpits. In q new country like Vii
the ginia 1t was imposs;bN for such sy,
the tenn AZ that governing the, appoin
call ments TO livings in England to spriu
Jew Tup, There was no influence accom-
panying the division and settlement
lbl- the virgin soil to.4c"eate a circle
to patrons such as had existed almo
rect immemorially in the mother countr
Sc lin whose DISPOSAL every beneflcel In til
rich colony would rest. Had thera 90,
this
the Continued on Eleventh Page.l i
II il II Il lii Ia