Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-11
BISHOP BURTON SPEAKS
AT CHURCH Anniversary
clergy and Men of Secular Affairs
Celebrate st. Johns 175 Years
OF Existence.
EXERCISES ARE IMPRESSIVE
CORNER Rector Reviews Part Historic
Edifce Has Played In Political and
Ecclesiastical Life Of State and
Country.

distinguished clergymcn OF the city
ma parish and prominent men I'm the
ocular affairs of the community as
embed yesterday afternoon with the
ommunlcants of st. Johns Episcopal
,hurch for the special services COM
hemoratire OF the one hundred and
eVenty-hfth anniversary of it's build
ns, ht. Rev. Lewis w. Burton, ID. D.,
sishop or the Diocese OF Lexington,
~, and former rector OF tho church.
\ ielvered the address OF the occasion.
me exercises were simple, but inn
reSslfe An augmented choir rendered
music approximate to the occasion OF
raise and Thanksgiving. Clergymen
u tho city and parish, many OF whom
epresented churches which had their
"Slnning under the fostering care of
ia 81. Johns. sat in the chancel and
took part In the beautiful service OF
NE Episcopal Church. The congrega-
ioh' which still carries on the work
iegun by colonists many years before
american independence. attended al
most as a unit
Rev. Hugh w. Sublett. present rector
" the church. struck the keynote OF
ne occasion when he told his people, i'm
brief Introductory speech, that they
net. not so much to commemorate the
york accomplished within the church
or earthly liberty on this continent, as
nc still greater achievement of i'm
'uing men and women through nearly
wo centuries with the religion that
makes them free indeed
= BISHOP BURTON REVIEWS
HISTORY OF CHURCH
Bishop Burton reviewed at length
he wonderful part st. Johns has
nayed In the political and ecclesias-
zeal life OF the State and country, and
i~elt with feeling on the period OF
lleven years he spent as spiritual head
VI 10
hurch building AZ monumental liv-
ny voice speaking through the years
" successive generations of the good
Tess OF God
The location of st. Johns on the
ROW of Church Hill. overlooking. as
does, the city and a wide exDansc
surrounding country. is symbolical
iatd Bishop Burton. of the position of
ne church In the spiritual life OF Vir-
nnia Though younger than the church
I" Ola jamestown. and an offspring, SO
speak. OF the religious organization
u Curles Neck. Il Is. nevertheless. as
I'D In point OF continuous worship as
my church on the Western Hemisphere.
md gathers into Itself monumental
"stimony OF three generations of
iarochial history.
bishop Burton found especial c,use
or qualification in the missionary
ir'r!t that has characterized St Johns
trough all the years of its existence
omins into life itself through the
"'N"r Tor religious conquest that
10" s'ued at Curlc's Neck. the church's
"icntton has never been diverted. he
'aid. from the purpose Of extending it's
"tiEitios wherever the religious CON
"'chcc OF man needed awakening BY
;iV'nG It's sanction TO the erection and
; organization OF new places of worshin,
htd often sacrificed its numbers, bur
vas q willing sacrifice for the cause
~ Christianity.
In"NDANT REASON
FOR THANKSGIVING
II was the true spirit Of the mission
Ny. he said. that maved Alexander
Whitaker to leave his aomfortable nest
England and Journey to the wilds
II Virginia. then shorn of much Of It's
'o'1a nee. there to devote his life Ia
he conversion Of unfriendly Indians.
rhai sp1t evidenced in the establish
"a church OF England and transmitted
o rs offspring in the New World. has.
'aid Bishop Burton. been characteris-
ic %! ST. Johns. which is n part OF
he parish in which labored Whitaker.
Gle Apostle Of Virginia"
ST Johns. said the speaker. IS iy-
>rG testimony OF the promise OF God
hat tho gates OF hell should not pre-
'a' against His church and In this
act the congregation, he said. should
Ind abundant reason for praise and
| HiNRSGlN!NB. lNOuSn TWO wars or al
most unequaled fury have ragged around
ne building. the mercy of God. said
Sishop Burton. has spared II even
the twentieth century. and, though
mere has been internal dissention and
zines when actual religious worship
Utmost ceased and the congregation
lwindled away almost to nothing, its
influence Is now strong and progress
i've.
"In che history Of this church." he
declared, 1--WE find abundant ground for
he belief that this is indeed a Chris