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

the views and confused the times was impossible
to arrive at any pronounced OF opinion petit
ton. So the whole matter held in abeyance until after
the War of the Revolution.
Up to the close Of the seventeenth century the Church Of
England presented the only and organized express
sion Of the religious thought and life OF the colony. With
the close of the seventeenth century aud the beginning of the
eighteenth century influences that had long been
less vaguely felt began to be crysazed definite forms Of
church life and from that time on until the close Of the Revo-
luonary War; the Church of England was in decline in the
colony of Virginia.
1t will be interesting to trace the influences which were
work in the colonial life and which brought such disas
trous results to the established church The growth Of
democratic ideas had little to do with the discouragement
Of such forms frelgious life presented by the Church.
OF England and with the encouragement OF reer and
independent forms expressed the faith and the purposes
of numerous dissenting bodies The spirit of the day
the spirit Of democracy seeking everywhere emancipation
from old forms and organizations and Interpretation in SIM
pier forms and freer life With little trouble might be
proven that political tendencies find expression only i'll
civic institutions but also in ecclesiastical organisms And
it the spirit that fought against the idea OF the
divine right Of Kings that camorcd also for eer demo-
cracy in church life and forms The contention Of the nom
conformss and dssenters appealed therefore, strongly to
the spirit Of the times and found congena atmosphere for
the propagation of its faith and life.
To the influence Of the Puritan also be traced the
beginnings of the decadence of the Church OF England
religious form and power in the life Of the colony The In
fcncc of the Puritan subtle and pervasve The pres.
Puritan idea be discovered much earlier
date than commonly supposed Attention has already been
called the that the London Company arrogatng
to itself large liberty the sending of clergymen to the colo
MES The Rev. Mr. Whitaker of whom we have already
spoken was the son Of distinguished Puritan lecturer at
Cambridge and there evidence that he inherited OF
the spirit Of his nonconformt father In the prayer above
quoted and which is attributed to his authorship there
indication that he unwilling. when elgences re-
CURED depart from the usual forms OF the church Sir
Edwin Sandys who became the ruling spirit Of the London
Company upon its reorganization in 1919 the Of the
archbishop who unwilling say Of the rites and
ceremonies OF the Church Of England II have ever been
and am presently persuaded that Of them be not
cxpcdent in this Church but that, the Church reformed
and in all this time Of the Gospel (werein the seed OF the
Scripture hath long been ow) they may be better dis
used by little and little than more and urged Mr.
Neil in his English Colonization Of America, quoting the
above statement, adds the olowing "Thc OF such
father the press Tor literal conformity ID
ecclesiastical canons and ready encourage any sins
minister OF Christ take ZIP mis- abode in Virginia
The of this Puritan influence is further illustrated
in the work and life of the BENEFITS, Of whom there were
several In the year 1921 Mr. Edwin Bennett, inu-
entail of London (Who had been made motion OF
Sir Edwin Sandys free member of the Virginia Company,
account services he had rendered promoting the in
terests Of colony and especially account of the
which he had submitted to the House Of Commons urging
the prohibition Of Spanish tobacco rade settlement near
the Isle OF Wight This settlement made on the Nam
semond River The minister accompanying that colony was
the Rev. William Bennett. He remained for years only.
He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Jacob who had been in
his youth preccpto Christ Church College, Oxford
had spent time visiting Lcyden and had really been
converted the faith OF the Puntans, and who, his
nd