The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-12
PRESENTATION OF
RESTORED CHURCH
Notable Scene at James.
town During Exercises
There Yesterday.
CELEBRATION ON
ISLANDT ORROVV
Ambassador Bryce, Governor
Swanson and Others to Speak.
Address Delivered Yester-
day by DR.. Thomas
Nelson Page--Visit
to MISSIONER.

Nothing dauntcd by a somewhat for-
bidding morning In its early Begin
ming. more than four hundred Colonial
Danes of America, including the Viz
ginia members Of the society and
boarded the Pocahontas yesterday,
bound for Jamestown Island to attend
the celebration attendant upon tho
presentation OF the restored churcl,
by the national body through It's presi-
dent, Mrs. William Ruffin Cox.
Everyth thing from the start was pros
gpitious except the weather, and even
that became tired Of sulking after a
while and began to smile stead. SO
that before Jamestown Island was
reached brilliant sunshine and a lively
breeze gave tho one touch needed to
render the day quite perfect.
Notable Scene.
The company on the Pocahontas be-
gan their trip with the idea that
nothing could interfere with their
pleasure The salon OF the boat was
ono ripple of fun and laughter
throughout; everybody chatted with
everybody else; Where strangers met
they exchanged addresses and became IL
friends, cordially and a universal de-@
termination to render the day g thor-
ough success being the ruling motive
of the hour.
Every one gathered atthe windows
and on deck when Shirley, Westover.
Brandon and other points Of interest 8
were passed on the trip to the ISIS
and. N s
When the wharf was reached q pros
cession was formed. two companies
Of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues
leading. their white plumes tossing 81
in the breeze and the sun glinting on
,jcl,o inc of "a
|lkets.3 ! IS s .'''l
$ After them came a surpliced choir.
made up Of members from HI ~ Trinity
and other; Richmond churches, direct
ed by Mr.. Ar thur Scrivenor.s At the
ZEN trance gates, the Blues5s formed u In +
line on either side 10 { the walkway,A
ESand the choir, singing the process ional,s
Followed by the 70 an1es, passed on to Z
the speakers stand amt sea tss " here
/ the Rev. Dr. Rand o lph5 AIcr1in1. Of.
washing TOM y: 9 CT. In the, absence OF
the Ri. Rev Alfred NJ SRandolp PHI ID.
bishop of Southern Virginia. made the
opening prayer. Il Il. 35, 4 II
Mrs. Cox Speaks.
a5 The singing OF the hymn, % God.
our help In ges past" was followed
by an admirable presentation address,.
made by Mrs. William Ruffln Cox, IN u
which she ,sad: RI,
3 1T is with9a feeling akin to awe
tina t I stand here ito, day. Suggestions
and memories sweep over me like a &
great wind from far distant country
This hallowed spot. seems to cry:s n Ith-s33.
erswent forth the word OF God into the 81
wilderness! Hther the majesty of &
the white mans law brought llghtsi
darkness!' ia az 555Siz n.
I've are carried backward to those
dis tant times when the colony OF vir-
gina was but nine years old. Hope
vas green. safety seemed near. and
the .eolontsts consecrate ed I themselves
afreshsto God; by building tiny church,
This church of 1916. upon whose age
worn foundations we. reverently gaze
ITO day was the expressionfof budding
sperty. the witness Of ecclesiastical n
power. and was to be the scene Of the
first legislative assembly in the now
world. n D a; e. 81
The Governor. OF Virginia was d
great and stately parsonage in 1916.
In fancy wc can picture him, with
captains. councillors. o Their officers and
all the gentlemen. with the ,halherdiers
IN His Lordship's livery, walk males
tically into the church and seat him
self upon his great green velvet chair,
with green velvet cushion before
him Into this little church. OF which
there now remains only the faded line
l.
proudly stepped on n bright July day
IN 'l6la-he and his Council OF Estate.
And for as much ne mems affairs doe
little prosper where God Is neglected,
all tho Burgesses took their. places in
the choir till a prayer was said by Mr..
BUCK And so our first House Of Bur.
gesses was convened.
Restoration Complete.
The years roll on and the church
| OF 1916, teeming with dramatic signi-t
ticance. passes. and larger church ap.
pears. Englishmen are Iaildlng an
English church beside the King S great
river. Some one tondly recalls Tia
church in his own home across the sea.
with buttresses. lancet windows. groin-
ed roof. a staunch square tower with
| Ivy covered walls Nesting among the
tress; and tho church in the New World
Is patterned after that in tho old Eng
lish home. The colony grows and the
church flourlshes apace. but as people
grow opinions grow. too. and clash.
| In 1915 Engllshment rise against each
| Their and in the midst OF strife and
| contention the church OF the colony
perishes by fire. Has religion lost its
| fervor? Has law grown weak? No;
first. the blade. then the ear. then
tho full corn in the ear. The gray
foundation the blade the larger
foundations tina ear--our memorial
perhaps--the fun corn In the ear.
North, South. East and West have
built 1T upon Virginia soil--have reared
| At with grateful and unseltish hearts.
| with fort!tude and faith. It Is the tie
that binds. tho voice OF Thanksgiving. I
tho expression of brotherly love, From
near and far we gather to-day about
this quaint cradle OF wonderful ma
ton to present this cherished memo-
rial whose historic value IL beyond
ruAies, whose ethical value cannot be
| expressed se
Love hath constrained us! Tho
| task Is done. tho restoration Is CONE,
plete. IN the name. and on behalf