The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-13
Thousands Gather Near
Ruins of Ancient Build
ing at jamestown.
MOST IMPRESSIVE
SCENE, ON ISLAND
-Four Steamers Garry Noted Vis-
itors, Friends and Public Down
River-Day One OF Most
Pleasant in History
of Convention OF &
1907.

tspeciai From stat corsspondsnt.J
s.,.s.1.sI IOs,S lsL-sA.yD. OCTOBER IL
Tho most notapie pilgrimage that
has ever taken place to Jamestown
Island, the birthplace Of the American
people, occurred to-day when the
entire House OF Bishops and the House
OF Deputies of the Episcopal General
Conventions. accompanied by the No.
mans Auxiliary and the Virginia .iis-
torlcai Society. left Eichmond by water
and voyaged to the historic island. Ar
u historical feature alone. the visit;was
OH account of the great
number OF distinguished peopls who
made. the pilgrimage. but aside from,
tlIs 1t was a visit, of the American
church TO Its birthplace. Il return of
the churcii.s children from, all over the
church.
More than a hundred bishops graced
tie occasion by their presence, while,
clersYmen and laynlen
not only from every state in he
Union. but from the various missions
all the world over paid their tribute
10 tlrs shrils OF the Protestant tai tatth
IN Anicrlea.
Notable sccpc.
At Jamestown the scene was one
whirh Will never be forgotten. All au-
dience composed entirely of church
men, earnest, enthusiastic and loyal
took part in n service on the very
spo, where the Rev. Robert Hunt aud
his small flock first said prayers and
sung hymns on Amerlcan soil more
than 500 years ago. Like that band
of first Americans, the pilgrim of
to-day worshiped In Open air, with
a sail cloth stretched from trees to
trees, holding that he whole of Code
land is Christian temple Con1municn
service wis not said, for the church
a suie stoEsr, Ia s.sts built ~ s,ii tiis
foundation of the nrstsS Church. OF
which tho tower alone stands was all
too small TO hold sons one-hundrudt!i
Client Jamestown communion service
was upon tho communion table. There
on the green swartt the bishops and
priests of the church, overlooking the
water where the Discovery. the God
Speed and the susan Constant dropped
anchor ON that May morning In 1901
spoke the same words. said the same
prayers, and admonished people to
the same faith as did the Rev. Robert
Hunt three centuries ago. No pomp
or display marked the occasion. but
was said. with eloquent addresses by
the Bishop OF Massachusetts. the
Bishop of Georgia, and the Rev. DR..
Harrison NIcIiim. of Wash y
ington, the president of the House.
of Deputies.
The presiding bishop. the Bishop OF
the Bishop of Virginia, the
Bishop of Southern Virginia, and ths
coadjutor Bishop of Southern Virginia
f-yNa
did choir from Norfolk led In singing
the solemn music of the church.
Significant Occasion.
Never perhaps in this whole country
tus there been held q. service as sig
as the one of to-day. for
there was not man or woman present
but entered into the spirit OF the occa-
sion with all their hearts and souls.
md, indeed, the recital Of the creed at
such time and at such a place rolled
out like splendid declaration OF 10y
atty Hymns were sung with impress
sive force and harmony; prayers wera
said with the feeling aud solemnity
that belonged to the great occasion.
and the words of the speakers were
listened toNwith a. decorous silence and
Interest which proved that the spirit
of the place tlwelt in the hearts or the
learers.
There was none OF the ponlp and cir-
cnmstance which marked tho opening
day OF the General Convention. when.
In procession, the dignitaries, in vest
ments and college honors, marched into
Holy Trinity Church, and where tho
beautiful and solemn service of tho
church was said with all the adornment
Of vested choir and appropriate music.
nor was there the ceremony which sur
the service "a old Bruton
Church. In williamsburg. seven days
before. when King and a President
sent gifts by the hands of higher dig
nitaries to grace the occasion.
The Jamestown service was marked
by none OF these things. for an ivy
lectern, a simple Bible took the place
at His Maiesty's gift the bishops and
priests wore no yestments. and tho
ceremony of the processional5 was dis
carded. 1t seemed to be Bishop Ran
lolph's idea to carry outsas nearly as
might be possible in every detail the I
service which the Rev, Robert Hunt
had celebrated, and SO there was lack
Ing display save that which nature Spro-
vided in sunlight and q perfect aus
tumn day,
s Original Service Used.
The bishops of the church and tho
clarSy and deputies To the $eIeneFhl
We're given seats on green
benches, While the people sat an the u
grass or stood on the Old fortificatiohs
which formed a splendid amphitheatre,
On a. table covered with plain whits
cloth was placed the original James,
town communion service, whieh added
to the interest Of the occasion,
AS the steamers touched at tho
Island wharf the people n
landed hastily and wended their Way to II
tile place OF service. The Great lima
Of humanity streamad slowly past tho 4
old church tower and graveyard, " hset,t
are the earliest sign OF the church In 4;
America. and climbing a grass-coyerad
bank. found Itself in o teuspls formed 4
Dy natNre. Almost at once the servica
was begun by the Rev. Mr.. Good dw IN, n!
rector OF Bruton Church, who ar,.-
hymn. Hasten the Ttas n