The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02

from social point of view. AS the
first gentlemen In the county, apart
from the prestige they derived from
being the principal guardians of public
morals they were looked UP to as the {
models of all that was most polished
and cultivated in their respective par
ishes. 1t was one OF the happiest fea-
community possessed In Its vestry a
| body of men prompted as we'll by
every instinct OF birth. education and |
fortune, as by every dictate OF their |
! official duty, to set the people at large
a good example in their personal de-
pertinent and In their general conduct.
To their influence Is directly traceable
4 a vary large proportion of what was
most elevated and attractive In the
social life Of the seventeenth century,
and to that influence we arc, In no
small degree, Indebted for tho charac-
liter of the distinguished men of Vir-
ginia who cast such renoWn over the
1 great era of the Revolution.
Z. Who appointed the members of the
vestry? Just after the meeting OF the
i first General Assembly, In 1919. the
4 choice seems to have been made by the
county court, but by 1641 the parish
Z ioners themselves appear to have ac-
quired the power. At the end Of the
Il century the selection was exercised
4 Exclusively by sthe freeholders and
Ihouseholders. The number of persons
! lcomrosing single vestry was lirnited
to twelve, who were required to hold
at least two meetings in the course of
q year. The first important duty OF the
vestry was to appoint the clergyman
Of their parish. Their second appears
to have partaken somewhat Of judi
cial character. as 1t involved an inves-
y tigatior into those cases of moral OF
"A lenses which they We're authorized to
q present. II well grounded. through the
churcllgaw ardens TO the county court
y for final prosecution. Their third great
s. function was to lay the parish levy.
They usually met in October to lay
this levy, as by the time that month
had rolled around the tobacco crop.
having been housed and cured, was
in a condition to be exported.
a large part Of the work performed
by the vestries was performed by them.
: not as a body, but through their direct
I AS early as 1882 these officers were
chosen at q public meeting OF the par
/ tishioners. Two were annually selected
1 I'm each parish. The oath prescribed
for church wardens shows the general
1 character OF their duties: 1t was incum-
i bent upon them to present to the grand
! jury all persons leading u profane and
Il ungodly life, such, for instance as
common swearers, blasphemers. viola
tors Of the Sabbath, drunkards. adul-
A II terers. slanderers and backbiters; ali
> disturbers OF the congregation In
1t tchurch, and all masters and mistresses
" falling to catechize the young and ig.
n norant dependent on them" They were
IS. required to return a correct acco AM
to OF all collections made In accord witt
le the vestry's assessments; to disburss
Is the amount OF these collections in ODE.
"a dience to the vestry's orders; to keeI
err the church editice In good repair; II
sh purchase the books needed for ths
registry OF births and deaths; and also
OF the communion cloth and napkins. ant
& the cushions for the pulpit. 1t wa!
In the church wardens' duty also to cal
st erty. The aged pauper was as mucl
ed an object OF their care as the mos
w youthful orphan entirely lacking II
IL means. The church wardens were as
an sisted In the performance Of their gen
re eral duties by two officers known a
of pecially interested In looking out 70
ry persons whose conduct made 1t neces
IT. sary that they should be subjected t
he civil or ecclesiastical discipline.
" The hrst religion
as III. The Church services held in vir
ny Ediaces. ginia were held q
,c- Jamestown, underVA
lty old sail cloth. only a short time afte
he the voyagers Of 1907 had landed, TIL
EN- sail cloth was tied to the trunks Q
err three or four large oaks or cedar
m. The walls OF this improvised sacre
be editice were made of rails mauled frol
The Timber procured on the spot: the seat
lad OF tho round and unhewn logs and til
es, pulpit, OF a bar OF wood nailed to tw
OF trees. When the sky became oyerca.
,g- in a large tent brought over fro
bly, England It was not long before
the much less primitive church editice WE
Mt erected. The interior. at least, mus
his have presented a very pleasing aspec
The whole schancel was constructed
,lic same beautiful and sweet-smelling m,
ous !terial was also made the pulpit, II
on, pews, and the window frames. I'll
lor, communion table consisted entirely
ned black walnut, whilst the baptism
lilly fount had been skilfully hewed al
ule, The interior walls were kept decorate
in. with the many flowers found growi,
uct In such profusion in the thickets
ish the neighborng woods, and no dou
'ect when the frosts OF November had d
,er- stroyed all these blooms. branches
less cedar, pine and holly were used to ia,
on the place OF the dogwood, the swee
be- bud, the daisy the, clematis and t
He'd arbutus. A steeple rose from the we
ity end OF the church, and within II we
lest suspended two bells, which the sext
OF regularly rang at 10 o'clock In t
ion. moving and at 4 In the afternoon--t
nce. earliest Sunday church bells to Ct
ruly Englishmen 10 worship IN the M
ith- World.
dic-I BY a law passed IN 1891 the inhal
nple tants of every parish were required
,ncc contribute an amount sufficient to Ell,
4 of church on a site Which had been q
III lected by stile Clergyman and chur
,Hu- lwardens. The taN imposed for II
Used purpose fell. like !hc items Of