Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-06-13

her executors and beneficiary under
her will His first and only charge for
thirty-five years was the Mackenzie
Churches at Rehoboth. Snow Hill and
Pitts Creek, with his residence near the
Pitts Creek Church in Maryland, just
over the Maryland and Virginia line,
and which church was the one mostly
attended by Madam Holden. He. like
Mackenzie, had also married an Acco-
mac lady, Miss Gilet, and have no
doubt that until his death in 1871, near
~ one hundred years ago, he saw that
this Mackenzie family burial ground was
kept in good condition. | well remem-
ber that when my father and DIR. Bow
en-, as detailed in ''rhe Days of Make
mie. - visited this spot about thirty
years ago. that my fathers indignation
at the desecration of Makemie's grave
hardly knew any bounds. He onged to
at once send~out a general alarm and
acquaint our whole great church of this
desccration and have them at once re
deem the place and ii necessary take it
by storm SO TO speak. From these
therefore of my own household has this
love for Mackenzie and our church been
bred in my very bones. and few know how
glad have been to aid DR.. McCook and
others in bringing about what We to-
day celebrate. 70 successfully accom-
plish this has required one Of The Fa-
nous Fighting McCooks. veteran of
two wars. aided by President Roosevelt,
his comrade in the Cuban war
know however that despite the
desecration of this grave for these many
years past, that the great body Of the
people in this section have always loved
and esteemed Mackenzie and delighted
TO honor his memory. This is evidenced
in many ways and not the least by the
at Snow Hill and Accomac Court House
and Onancock, the last name being cal
led Naomi in honor of Mrs. Mackenzie,
and the constant association Of him,
with dear old Rehoboth, the land for
which he gave, and which seems to have
been his most beloved church, and
which he served until his death, and
for which a Mackenzie Memorial Endow-
ment is now being raised, and of which
our Rev. Dr. Bowen is now the Pastor
II gives me pleasure to also say just
L 81. IL. d..
few years ago built at Wachaprague ii-
in this county was built by descendant
present with us to-day Of the famous
Rev. Walter ker. who is buried in the
graveyard of the historic Old Tenant
Church in New Jersey and who was the
father of Rev. Jacob Ker, who served
the Princess Anne Church so long dur
ing the Revolutionary War period, and
| who like so many who first settled in
Makemieland were refugees from
Europe for conscience's sake.
The monument we dedicate today up
on the 200th anniversary of his death
marks the site of the last home. and.
indeed the only home of his married
life, and the last resting place of Fran
els Mackenzie. And what a fortunately
old Virginia, the home of his wife, and
in close sight of dear old Maryland. the
home of most of his first churches. In
his day too it was quite important that
it was also in sight of, but free from
harm, from hostile vessels, and of CON
venient access by land and water, and
near what he thought might be the
greatest population on the Atlantic
Coast, and suggested no anxiety as to
food being of fertile soil, easily culti-
waited, and waters teeming with fish and
and wild fowl, and a healthful air cooled
in summer by the refreshing breezes
of the nearby waters, and warmed and
cheered in winter by the evergreen
woods.
/ Words fail US in our attempt to thank
Dr. McCoOk and the Presbyterian His
torical Society. of which he is the Presi-
dent for this noble monument, and this
unusually successful dedication of it.
/ and its three acre park so tastefully en-
closed. | speak for all here assembled
and for our church at large. when
say that this is not monument merely
to Preshyterianism however dear that
is to many of us. but is a monument TO
all our Christian churches of every de-
nomination. 1t is not for Makemeland
alone but for every land whose God
is our God. All the good people in this
J section welcome and are thankful for
this monument and park and will use
their best endeavors to have them kept
always in excellent condition.
1t will be a mecca to which very many
will come in the future Many coming
in the flesh and most others in the
spirit. for through pictures and de-
scriptions it will be known of through
out the Christian world.
Like the several beautiful and touch
ing crosses erectedby the English King.
to mark the several spots where the
body of his dead Queen rested on its
long, primitive march to the grave,
this monument is to us also a "Charing
Cross" which marks the last resting
place of one very dear to us all.
We see before us today the completed
monument and park The work has
been we'll done. and can only suggest,
Ia