The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-17

Bacon's Rebellion drew attention to
Virginia. Individualism was discov-
cred in the colony, whence twas arr
sued that there was q future for vir-
ginia. Also, towards the end of the
seventeenth century dissent began to
be observed in the Old Dominion, NTH
part OF the British empire, Including
France, as by divine right. English
prelates memoriallzed the crown to the
end that Colonial bishops might bu
lived a year longer doubtless Colonial
bishops would have been sent out. The
House of Hanover, by omission and
commission, furthered the Independence
OF America. Bishop Berkeley was dis
couraged in his efforts to establish a
college In New England, and IL the
Lord Bishop of London's first commits
sary in Virginia had not been hard
headed and fighter, William and
Mary, established with difficulty. might
have shortly languished. Government
was not altogether at fault. Sir Will
liam Berkeley was In many ways typi-
cal OF the gentry Of those time In Wiz
ginia. Education and religion were
with them matters of course, as were
also Ignorance and godlessness.
1t was not until 1859, a year after
the .SlOTlOuSs teVOiuNiOH,1 lIlhS ~ was
deemed advisable even to appoint a
representative In Virginia Of the Bishop
OF London. Prior to 1889 the Rev. Mr..
Temple had acted as a sort of head
OF the church in the colony. James
Blair. the first commissary had come
out to Virginia in 1855 as q mission
airy. He had become so Interested In
the affairs of the Colonial church and
was SO active that four years later he
49,. ott,ky ~ cppnn1fS.
aary or commissioner. DIR. Blair was
n Scotchman. and O. man to abate no
whit OF his rights and dignities. HIS
prlmncy among the clergymen OF Vlr-
ginia was not undisputed. He waged
war with governors and councillors. and
generally gained his point. The Bishops
OF London regarded DIR. Blair rightly
as man to whom the ear should De
lent Sir Francis Nicholson. Sir Ed
mund Andres and Sir Alexander Spots
wood found that the commissary was
a power in the state. AS affairs were.
DR.. Blair's best hope of advancing his
church lay IN becoming powerful In the
state Self-assertion was not only his
policy, but his character.
The First Commissary.
How much weight is to be accorded
to the spirituality of Commlssary Blair
has not been determined He was GER
He kept his diocesan we'll informed as
| to the progress OF events In Virginia.
and this correspondence furnishes a
great part of the history of the church
In Virginia during the last years of the
seventeenth century and the first quar-
ter OF the eighteenth. The papers have
been preserved in Bishop Perry's COL
lections. From them we learn that the
first convention on record of the Vir-
~ 1t,oo ha11 I'm the wear lIUO.
at Williamsburg. The business of the
convention bore largely upon the Gre
dentials of DIR. Blair as commissary.
Dr. Blair opened the convention with
sermon upon the text, Take my yoke
upon you and learn of me-. letter
was read from the Lord Bishop OF
London in regard to the contentious be-
tween the clergy and the late Governor
Nicholson. Plain words We're there
written: IT cannot but be ashamed for
you that the gospel should have infused
no better principles into your hearts.
If you imagine your late Governor
Nicholson has been injurious to you,
forgive as you would be forgiven. and
express no resentment; but part with
him fairly and friendly, without sign
Ing papers or playing the fool, as you
have done formerly Let your Cover
nor be witness of your good behavior,
your comnissary Of the faithful dis
charge OF your duty. and God Almighty
of your sincerity. For my part. will
not hear nor remember what has be-
fdllen before this time. shall be
perfectly deaf to all that is passed.
Your most assured friend, diocesan
and brother. H., l1ohoon.
Mr.. Dlalr's Reply.
The cornmissury made speech
"signlfying his resolution for his part
49, 9toHn an a
nition.' He added with point: If any
man has q mind to accuse me OF any
crime or n.isdemeanor whatsoever. IL
instead OF doing it by the way OF
backblting In holes and corners, he
will do It In any way. either of public
Justice or private arbitration, he shall
find me ready to give him sattsfac-
ton. we have heard a great deal to-
day. For peace and quietness, pray
remember that our divisions Will be
nuts to the adversaries of the church,
and Of the profession of the ministry
the atheists, the papists, the Quakers.
the loose and ungodly livers and sew
eral others who have no great respect
FOR our function. It requires our joint
labors to withstand all these, but how
glad will they be to see that zeal
which used to be spent against them
now employed In worrying ana de-
youring one another
This convention, which seemed for
a time to be endangering Dr. Blair IN
his office. left him quite secure, not
withstanding ballad In fifteen
stanzas ..to defend Governor Nichol-
son and form an accusation against
Commissary Blair" beginning:
BLESS us. what dismal times are
these.
what stars are in conjunction"
Fl. The Second Convention.
The second recorded convention OF
the Virginia clergy took place In
April, l719. During the fourteen years
since 1865 the clergy of the colony
had become more reconcied to their
commissary, but there We're still par
sons here and there who found 1t diff
ficult to stomach DR.. Blatr's birth and
ordination north Of the Tweed. Cover
nor spotswood (appointed In 1900 had
good reasons to be vexed in spirit
with the commissary. Accordingly. on
the day of the convention Of l71s. the
commissary and clergy having waited
on tho Governor at his house, and the
commlssary asking If he had any
commands for the convention lie said