The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-26


of infinite value to lovers of history.
and in quaint old Alexandria one OF
the places that claim the greatest in
terest is Christ church, being spoken
Of far and near as the church of
Washington. His was the first Of q
long line of names of whom the coun-
try is SO justly proud, to be found In
connection with this church; his name
and but one other are inscribed upon
It. Two mural tablets, one on either
side OF the chancei. are placed in
m mory of the two sons of this
church, whom Virginia most loves and
honors--George Washington and Rob
ert Edward Lee. and two pews which
they occupied are marked by silver
plates engraved with their respective
names, a fac-simile Of their own
handwriting. Both lived on the Po-
tomac. one a few miles north, the
other few miles south, OF Alexan-
dria. and although their lives were
separated by many years, Yet TINS
church was a mother to them both.
In 1855 prosperous Alexandria de-
termined to erect for herself hand
some church in place OF the little
chapel that by this time had been
outgrown. On February l of that
year the parish of Fairfax WAS
created out OF lTuTb. anu 4ddICil %
Colonel George Washington. then
tt,irty-three years old. was elected
one of the twelve Nestrymen. In
Colonial days the government of Viz
ginia was largely controlled by the
Vestry OF the parish. holding as II
did, In a generous measure, the pow
of ciyil authority. This close con-
nection between church and State ex-
tended the power OF the Nestr$ TO
variety OF duties, and made the posi-
ton no sineeure; for. besides at
tending 10 the temporal wants OF the
ehurcn and overseeing the needs Of
the poor, giving the deserving ones
food and clothing as We'll Is medical
( attention, II had the right 10 i'm
pose fines for the non-observance Of
secular laws. and with ii rested the
responsibility OF administerin ajus~
| tice.
In 1887 the contract was given to
James Parsons for $500 sterling. a
large sum OF money at that time
but IL was to be handsome building.
( though simple in treatment, as We're
all Colonial churches. Built Of brick
and rooted with shingles Of juniper.
since replaced by slate. the church
now stands in the heart eff the city,
I
overshadowing trees. and TO this day
is a delight 10 all visitors who. on
their pilgrimage to Mount Vernon.
take a little time 10 see this sacred
| building. the pride OF Alexandria.
The severity of the interior is ex-
IRENE. the arches and pediments are
Of the Tuscan order, the altar piece.
/ pulpit and canopy of Ionic style;
| there are three windows In the chan
! eel. and on either side of them are
| two panels, one containing the Lord $
. Prayer With the Greed. the other has
F, tho Ten Commandments. both done In
black lettering on gilt background
! The sounding board or canopy anc
/ high pulpit. with its winding stairway
! is in the center OF the chauCel. Di-
rectiy>against the window. below that
/ is the altar piec," all of Ionic style
and Immediately in front by tbs
chancel rail, is the tiny font.
The architect selected Was Jane:
Wren, q descendant. SO the story goes
Of the great Sir Christopher Wren
! who. as architect OF the wonderful
Cathedral Of ST. Paurs, IN London
! has shed glory not only on him
! self. but on his posterity.
The choice oronoko tobacco played
a prominent part as commercial fac
was built with it, the clergyman
salary was paid In the same way. ant
/ the first rector. Rev. Townsend Dade
ordained by the Bishop of London
received his salary in the shape o
! 1880 pounds Of tobacco. and 10
want of n glebe. 2,50o pounds ~er'
added TO this sum In l1T0 the ehuFcf
was able 10 purchase I'VE hundref
| acres Of land. and three years later
was wealthy enough TO erect on IL
giehe house, or parsonage. with Galss
meat house, barn, stable and corr
house. at a cost of $3.50. The mex
year, TO complete the convenience Of
the rector r. family "a hen house wa
added Thus steadily the financial con
dition OF the church increased
That women stood high in the esti
nation Of the vestry IS proved by tbs
fact that in the selection OF sextoI
the choice was given to Susannaf
Edwards. who preceded the mem Der!
of the congregation up the aisle, To-
eating each family in their respective
pews according to dignity. She evil
: IDENTIFY filed the office well, for sh'
was succeeded by another dame. Mis-
tress Cook, who was most peculiar
in, dress and. phXssognomy; had a
stately manner OF ushering persons
into their pews and locking the dooI
upon them. and with an almost mill
tarv air she patrolled the aisles, aler
10 protect and prompt to suppress an,
violation Of order
To the churchgoers the great fam
lily coach of the Washingtons was {
familiar sight Made in England. 1
was both suhstantia and elegant. 1
somewhat heavy. Four horses wer,
necessary TO draw 1t, but when tn,
Virginia roads were very bad six Were
used. and To each span OF horses
there we're the liNeried position rid
ers After service, one Sunday morn
ing in the summer of l7T4. surround
ed by the congregation, every one o
whom he we'll knew. Washington ad
ivocated Withdrawing allegiance from
King George, and stated that he woult
fight TO uphold the independence o
the Colonies. No more solemn tim,
or occasion could have been chosen
With calmness. in spirit of prayer
full elaboration. he announced hi
momentous decision under the Yer,
shadow of the chureh. Niae Years af
ter. when that independence had beel
successfully established and the lon,
resigned his commission at Annapolis
he was free to turn his face toward
home. His arrival at Mount Vernon
was orr Christmas Eve. The next da,
found him once rhore In his accus
toned seat In the church at Alexan
dria to hear the tender message o
peace and goodwill that was pro
iclaimed like liberty throughout tn
land, and no one bowed in deepe
gratitude than the great general, VIII
came as humbly as little child 4