Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-09-02

of Truro parish, based on the recovery
of the vestry records a few years ago.
writes:
No parish in the colony had q vestry more dis
tinguished in ITS personnel or more fully quail
flied for their positions than the parish Of Truro.
OF Its earlier members, indeed, little has come
Down to us. but their names are inscribed On
almost every page Of the sesn ,
of the Northern Neck and the establishment Of
religion and civilization in what was then but
wilderness. But later her vestrymen are found
ranking among the first gentlemen Of Virginia in
position and influence. Eleven Of them sat at
various times in the house Of burgesses. Two Of
them. the Fairfaxes. were members of Ibis
majestys council for Virginia" Another OF her
vestrymen was George Mason. one OF the Fret
among the founders Of the state and the great
political thinkers Of his age. while still another
declared to be the greatest man Of any
sgs the imperial George w.; ,f 9n.,- .,,,.
genius, had and needed to have their period OF
training. that their characters might be matured
formed in full view Of the needs and capacities
of their people and their abilities rpened in the
fields of practical experience. They received this
training In part rs parish yestrymen. 1t was no
mean school in which to learn the rudiments OF
popular government. the foundation Of human
rights or the reconcilations Of diverse policies.
* X
After the American revolution Pos
hick Church. like many other Episco-
pal churches in Virginia, came upon
hard times. The parish of Truro had
been divided and in the territory taken
from it new parishes had been created
and new churches built. There had
been some popular opposition to the
Episcopal Church because the senti.
ments of a body Of its clergy had been
pro-English or tory. There was wide
discussion of the statute OF religious
freedom which Jefferson wrote under
the inspiration of George Mason. II
was reported to Congress in 1873. but
did not pass until 17S5. The gist of 1t
was That no man shall be COM
PEELED to frequent or support any
religious worship. place or ministry
whatsoever. but that all men shall DO
free to profess and by argument. to
religion There was great activity
among the Methodists and Baptists and
they made many converts. Pohick
Church became very poor and remained
William P. c. johnson, who had been
married to a daughter of Judge Bush
rod Washington, son of George WASH
ington's brother John. brought it again
into a reasonable state of repair. In
1888 he reported:
1t has been nearly two years since the mis-
lister Of this parish first commenced regular
year, has resounded TO the echoes Of the beasts
Of the field instead Of the prayers ana praises
90 Of tse ehureh his
been hitherto only occasional. An effort IL now
being made restore this church and thu hope
is entertained that ultimate good may resule
from religious services in this hitherto moral
waste of the Lords vineyard.
On the outbreak Of the civil war de~
cline and decay again seized upon Pos
HEX Church. A Union cavalry pickee
post was maintained there for years.
There was no congregation. most OF the
woodwork of the church was used for
firewood and for a long time the horses
of the troopers were stabbed in the
ruinous structure.