Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-29
T HISTORICAL PAGEANT
is THEME, OF SERMON
Rev. ]. b. Hunlcy, in Hanover Avenue Christian
Church breaches Significance of Specacle's
Reli gous Features.

Rev. J. b. Hunlcy. pastor Of Han
over Avenue Christian Church
preached yesterday morning on The
| Pageant Slgnifcanc. 81 It's Religious
| Features" IL" spoke in part. as fol-
| lows:
In these days an eHtraordinay op-
rortunity has been afforded to re-
vicw the glorious history OF Virginia
and In lare- degree. the history Of
| Tie American republic. 80 large Il
| part has Virginia had in IN" whole
| iii" Of the nation. NUt only Nir-
! SinianS. but true Americans every
! where, owe "a debt Of gratitude TO the
! promoters and leaders Of the mag
| niticent pageant 40 recently given in
our midst. II was most worthy
ana timely production. at time
when the glorious ideals OF the re-
public are assaulted from so many
quarters; when Misunderstanding forces
are at work In the body polite. and
pagan Influences from the goddess
ations of the world are shifting the
nation In whose midst even heather
| affairs are being erected IL means
| much 20 focus the attention OF the
people, especially the young upon the
representations Of Virginia history,
SO graphic and so realistic. 1t seems
| that no one could be in such a he
role and romantic atmosphere. real
izing that 1t is ali true and pertain
ing TO ones own State. without being
made better.
! Religious Feature. of Pageant.
But. however tempting il may
be TO dwell upon the heroic and ro-
mantle features depicted ny the pag-
cant, have chosen to speak partic-
| ularly OF the religious features and
their significance. And since religion
played such prominent part in the
| discovery. the occupation anA the
suhjugation Of all parts Of the coun-
! try. any study OF this phase must
nec1ssarily embrace the heroic and
| romantic.
The inevitable impression that
came TO me az sat down to reflect
/ the morning after witnessing the
pageant was tina, tho religious spirit
not only had a distinct place, but
that II also parvadcd most OF the
pageant This is significant. The
history OF Virginia and the part she
| played in the affairs Of the nation
finds it's true Interpretation only as
viewed in the light Of the faith that
. characterized her leaders from the
beginning. The religious spirit is
country. The golden thread of faith
in God runs back to the very begin
ming OF our history.
I'm that most vivid scene, the
landing at jamestown. what is |,
that creates the deepest impression?
II Is the religious spirit. MIR. Hunt.
the chaplain. appears by the side of
Captain Newport. hearing cross.
Placing the cross. the chaplain
knecls, and with him the whole com
pany. Tho chaplain leads in pra yer:
Most gracious Lord. whose mercy is
over all Thy works. we praise Thy
holy name that Thou hast been
pleased 20 conduct Fl safety. through
the perils Of the great deep. these.
Thy servants May they he
duly sensible OF Thy merciful provi-
dence towards them. and ever express
their thankfulness by a holy trust in
Thee and obedience in Thy laws,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.
Whole Company Responds.
The whole company responds with
deep Amen and joins in the chant:
- come. let us give thanks unto the
Lord. for He is gracious. and His
mercy endureth forever. Great is the
Lord and greatly to he praised: let
The redeemed OF the Lord say so.
whom lie hath delivered from the
mercilcss rage of the sea- The vast
audience thronging the amphithca,er
* lifted to great height as the
large chorus. led by the band. sings:
Praise God From whom All Bless
inEs Flow No one seems startled
or surprised by tho singing Of tho
chorus. though it is not expected.
But there is never service in the
sanctuary where the doxoloEy Is
more hitting
Now. the attitude that character
lied the landing at jamestown was
the spirit that was manifested ny
Columbus. by the Pilgrims at Ply
mouth Rock and by practically all
the great discoverers and explorers
Of the continent. Those old pioneers
were certainly very human. Their
ideals OF Christianity were strange
and often very crude. Some one has
ventured that while their first act
was TO fall upon their knees. their
next procedure was to fall upon the
aborisines. But their heroic souls
reaching out after the unknown
found their refuge in the living God
Their faith in Him was implicit.
History records that the first
communion service was conducted by
Mr.. Hunt, and a sail was stretched
between trees to afford a canopy
What an out-of-dOor service that
was. there In the primeval forest
with the savaGes looking on, the yell
low waters of the James nowinE by
Aye. and the unseen Presence. whose
blessing they had invoked, surround.
Ing them as. amid such strange sur
roundinGs. they partoOk OF the en-
hlems of the body and the blood oi
Christ. They little realized how 4
great nation In after centuries would
revere that scene. how much tn,
strength and stability OF that natior
would depend upon such simple faith
as theirs, hut they laid we'll The
foundation. Witness, ye skies above
We waters rolling by and ye dusky
people OF the forest!
First Communion Anniversary.
ut was my privilege in 1919, while
with the army at Newport News. t.
visit Rruton Parish Church. and Il
be present at the 3l2th anniversary
OF this first communion service. The
silver service. I was told. was the
same used by the church at James
town. II Is the custom OF the churcl