The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-17

COMMUNION CUP OF SMITHS HUNDRED.
OLDEST CHURCH PLATE IN AMERICA
authorities of the Church of England There is
evidence that the church, SUCH the beginning Of this
colonization movement authorized foot agencies
looking to the religious welfare OF the coonists to the
evangezaon of the abognes The selection and sending
out Of ministers have been left entirely the Lon
don Company Their appointments Of ministers usually
made after commentator by Of their number
and after the committee" satisfied with the character
and fitness of the minister 1t their custom to have
preached before them trial that there might be
practical demonstration Of minister's ability to preach
In December, 1920 Captain Roger Smith about to
sail with party 1t moved lin behalf OF young scholar
DESTROYS GO with him this present voyage that he might
be admitted to preach to the people sent. The
mttee agreed hereafter give him text to preach from
fortnight hence in the handling whereof if they found him
successful scholar he should be accordingly"
This not to have been unusual for the following year
Mr. Leaf who had been preaching in Newfoundland wanted
to go to the Virginia plantations and commended by
prominent merchant of London. He would put the COM
charge except for such books
would be useful to him, which request the company thought
reasonable and referred him to general committee
to be treated and concluded with touching moderate
allowances to be bestowed him. He Likewise
qired to preach trial from text selected BY tile
company, ninth of Isaiah, second verse"
There interesting Of a Mr.. Bolton recon-
mended by the Earl Of Southampton minister "for his
honesty and sufficicncy in learning fit for place
Virginia Mr. Bolton became the first minister the
Shore of Virginia Concerning him there is record in
the minutes of the Council as follows:
Whereas it is ordered by the Governor and Council that
Mr. Bolton, minister shall receive for his salary this year
throughout OF the plantations Of Shore
pounds OF tobacco and bushe Of for every planter
and tradesman above sixteen years alive the CROP Cap
tain Williams to this variant and see that the
minister's salary was raised
From these quotations there is plainly borne out the
Statement that the first ministers who the Virginia
plantations were sent out under the direction the
don Company Among those who first came as ministers
were several men distinguished or their scholarly culture
and Tor their genuine pcty and thorough unseishncss
There came with the first group OF settlers the Rev. Mr.
fiunt, OF most santcd and blessed memory Mr. Ander-
son. in his Colonial History" speaks Of him on this wise:
And with it sailed the first English, minister who exer-
rscd the cure OF souls those shores The course Of
Robert Hunt was short and the notices of him were few
but they leave an impression that the first English pastor in
America was man OF genuine pcy, simplicity and love-
ny him. alter the reconcing of much dissenton the first
communion was celebrated and under his House
Prayer was one OF the first buildings that marked the site Of
Jamestown When he died. falling at his post in the ter
rpc epidemic that came the settlers during the first
sumner the hardened soldiers said of him Ellis soul
Gucstioncss is with God honest religious and courage
Gus divine during whose life factions qualified
and Our wants and greatest extremes confored that
they seem easy in comparison with what endured after
his memorable DEATH The memory of this pure and ull.
selfish minister of the New Testament will forever aow
and sancy the lonely island where his ashes lie buried
marked, and from which lifted as yet no monument