Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-17

centuated. If that is good word to
use In association with silence, by
the sound of a solitary woodpecker
drilling in an oak tree and a jay
perched in tall cedar in one corner
then uttered it's strident cry.
Miss Margaret Mercer, who. accord
ing to her epitaph. built the chapel
by her own self-denying labours."
dedicated it to religion with the pro-
lions might preach and that congre-
cations Of all Christian creeds might
worship there. with the exception Of
q certain branch Of the Baptists. AS
the Rambler's memory serves him, It
was that sect called tho Old School
Raptists to which she objected. At
least that Is the story of Miss Mercer
and the chapel which is told by the
Oldest people in the county. This was
because OF some antipathy which Miss
Mercer felt toward a particular Old
Schoo! Baptist minister active in the
neighborhood at the time Of the
founding Of the chapel.
Miss Mercer was an Episcopaliau
and because the devout Of that denom-
nation have perhaps made greater
use Of the chapel than the Methodists
or the Presbyterians. it seems to be
regarded by many persons in the
neighborhoo1 as an Episcopal chapel
In which other denominations may
hold service when their hours Of wor-
ship do not conflict with the hours set
apart for service by the Episcopa-
lians, No services have been held in
the little chapel for some time. The
nrst minister there. SO far as the
memory of the oldest ihhabitant goes,
was a Rev. Mr.. Adie Of the Episcopal
church, who ministered to the spir-
i.uai needs .ss OF the people Of the Goose
MISS MsSesr. otSer Epis eas '' mini 81
tsres recalled by people who live
thereabout are Rev. Mr.. Durkee ana
Rev Burkart. The last minister to
hold service there was Rev. Mr.. Rid
out OF the Episcopal Church.
Among the Methodist ministers who
have preached in the little chapel
were -Aev. MIR. Kinks, Rev. George
Carter Rev. Mr.. Simpson. Rev. VIII
liam Berry. Rev. John Maxwell, Rev.
BENJAMIN Shreves and Messrs Bell,
Methodist Church.
The nearest habitatian to the chapel
Is one that stands at some distance
back from the rough and little trav-
eled lane into which the Rambler
~ sS~AA e~AA 3SA@A 0lCI 0O1O-
mon. A trace Of road leads from
the chapel grounds to a house where
two women dwell alone and in har.
mony. They are Miss Julia A. Benja.
min and Miss Sadie Virginia Benia-
min, daughters of John BENJAMIN,
who married Harriet Ann Hardy OF
Loudoun. The memories Of these Wom-
en- 20 back to the time when the acad.
envy which Miss Mercer conducted
passed to the keeping of Miss Eugenia
Kephart That academy was main-
tanned In Belmont house.
Standing on the edge of the grove
OF trees which hold the old chapel in
their embrace, and looking to the
west. the eye will follow a way across
the fields that Is marked by two lines
OF cedar trees. That lane leads up q
hill, and there among scattered clus-
ter Of trees. aged cedars, sprn..., and
box. the walls. roof and chimneys Of
a mansion OF brick rise above the
tree-tops. That Is Belmont house, and
the Rambler next Sunday will tell Of
his visit there and perhaps may reach
that part of his narrative which Will
tell Of the Goose Creek Navigation
Company organized in 1882, sad
which was one of the early and ambi.
tious efforts toward the improvement
OF inland navigation in the Potomae
valley.