Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-03-09
Anniversary Will be Cele-
DRAFTED With Historic
Address by Rector
FEB 27.wAs DATE
Only Living Former Rec
tor Will Occupy Chan
eel in Historic Connec-
tions-Interesting.

When the historic chimes of
Old Christ Church call together
the worshippers Sunday morning
it will be to commemorate the
I50fh aflnigersary of the deliver
ans 81 the building finished in
a workmanlike manner" to the
vestry Of the Church. TIE ac-
tual Anniversary was February
81, but Sunday has been chosen
as 1.-THE time for the celebration.
The sermon Will be preached by
the rector. Rev. D4. VIM. jackson
Morton and will take the
form of an historical address.
distinguished guests are ex-
pe&ed and will hear the sermon
from the news which have such
an ,enviable history Two of the
nations greatest sons have been
members fthiS church-George
Washington and Robert f. Lee.
Occupying the chancel at which
tho two greatest figures In Amer
leah history have bowed in rever-
enSe before God in PRAYER will
be 1.-THE only living former rector
of 1.-THE Historic parish, the Rev.
DIR, Barrymore Green. dean of the
Virginia Episcopal Theological
Seminary, the Rev. DR.. Samuel A.
Wallis. former rector of Pohick
Church also famed in history and
the ReY. Allen CaStlemen, rector
of the RsNs cCuhrch Episcopal
Church with tie present rector
of Christ Church. af
No church in the world has the
distinctive history of Old Christ
Church whose bells have ON Sun
days for the past century and a
half sent their clear call echo
ing over the hills and wales Of
historic Virginia and far out
across the majestic Potomac River
cauing--to her~--Nalls many now
passed beyond who had so much
to do with the moulding of the
Arnericam se9sfpp'eHt now looked
upon as a model by all govern
ments.
1t was beneath the shade Of
those walls that on one bright
Sunday morning early in the sum
msr of 1874 when colonies were
being ty1ancally ruled by the
despot hand Of Mother England,
George { Washington gathered
around him his congregation of
friends and announced his great
deeision in which nc advised the
renunciation of allegiance to King
George Ill. and declared that it
was his intention to fight for the
independence of the colonies. Thus
the great revolution had its sub
Stantial beginning.
1t was also in this Church lust
81 years after Washington had
made his great and bold declara-
ton, Robert F.. Lee, on July Il,
1S55-waS confirmed Il member
of that's aggregation by Bishop
Johns who sad of him, If he
makes as good a Christian rs
he has a soldier the church would
be, proud of him" In 1861. it
reclaimed for the church walls
to! witness the first iutimation
along with Lee, that he would he
called upon to lead the troops OF
the Southland in the conflict that
was at-that time impending.
Thus it is that Alexandria ana
Christ Church are intimately con.
neeted with two of the greatest
episodes in American history
Thousands Of other incidents tha'
are Of national interest have bee,
connected with the OH church.
A long list of eminent men have
served the church in the capacity
of rector. The complete list a;
complied by the Rev, Or. Samue
A. Wallis follows:
The first rector was the Rev
Townsend Dade from 1865 L
HIS, succeeded by the Rev. Mr.
West. then the Rev. David Griffith
rector from 1880 until his death
in 1889. He was with Washing
ton at Valley Forge. became hi,
intimate friend and was elcctec
the first Episcopal Bishop of Nir,
GINA, but was unable on &C.
count of his own lack of friends
and the poverty of the diocese
TO cross the Atlantic to England
for conservation to the Bishopric
He was a man of evangelical pi-
ETY. and spiritual power. For a
short tim the Rev. Bryan, LORD
Fairfax succeeded Mr.. Griffith as
rector. On account Of inhrn
health he was allowed an aSSiS-
tant, and chose for this position
the Rev. Bernard Page instead
of the Rev. Mason Locke Weems
The Rev. Thomas Davis came next
in order and was rector ire