Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14

~ pride upon her early beginnings.
When viewed In the light Of later
days, these happenings of Americas
childhood take on o new significance. No
thrill OF excitement ran through the world
when George Washington was made q member
Of the Virginia House Of BurgeSSeS, but now,
when we look back In the view Of later events,
we can see how important this early incident
Of his political life really was. The current
observanceS Of home weeks, centennialS and
bicentennials are just another proof that Amer
lea is coming to realize that she possesses
glorious past.
OF all the Colonial buildings which remain to
us today the churches are perhaps the most
interesting because they were the centers OF
colonial life. They were also the first public
buildings to be built. One of these Is ST.
Barnabas' at Iceland, Md, known in Colonial
times as Queen Anne Church, where an annual
homecoming is to be observed on st. BarnabaS'
day. June IA, by the descendants of the families
who worshiped there. For 227 years the grove
of stately oak trees in which the present church
stands has been church property; it was do
mated in 1704 by John Duval and his wife Mary
ito be her majeStieS Queen Anne, her heirs
and successors for the use OF the parish Tor
church and churchyard forever"
Even before this, the congregation was in
existence A frame building was erected some
where near the site of the present building
"fve miles north of Marlborough as a Chapel
Of Ease Of ST. Pauls Parish" This wooden
abandoned and the first brick church was built.
This first brick building had notable q
history as that Of the later structure which the
motorist sees today About both buildings has
chung the memory of their aristocratic connec-
tons Here it was that Col. Henry Ridgeley
and His Excellency John Seymour, Esq, Gov
ernour of the Province worshiped in the
early days. They wrote their names. together
with those Of other wealthy subscribers, Tor
voluntary contribution Of both money and to-
hacN hat being
that time), to aid the newly established church
The cash contributions amounted to 81 pounds
sterling and the legal tender to 10000 pounds.
IN TIT the Rev. Jacob Henderson became rec
tor of the church, having been sent by order
Of the Bishop of London to investigate the
state Of the Anglican Church in the colonies.
An energetic worker, such as the church had
never seen, from the day he arrived he began
making plans Not only did he seek to raise
the spiritual level Of the congregation and to
add new members. but he also directed his
efforts along more practical lines; even today
in the present church we see tangible evidence
of his accomplishments. In the year IT'S the
vestry placed so pounds in his hands. request
ing him to send home for certain articles
(for such was the feeling Of the colonists fer
England that even though many Of them we're
now native born and had never seen the Old
World they Stin regarded themselves IS exiles
from the motherland). The order was for: "a
Velvet Cloth fringed with Gold, q Cushion Of
Velvet with Gold TaSselS, o Velvet Cloth for
the Altar, Q Marble Font Linen Surplice and
Communion Linen" The slow sailing vessels
of the times carried the order to England and
more than year elapsed before the consign-
ment arrived. In the course of time the velvet
and the linen have disappeared. The marble
font Is the only article which came across the
ocean in 1719 in existence today.
Not content with this accomplishment, the
Rev. Henderson raised another fund Of Al
pounds for the purchase Of silver communion
service, which is To-Day the property OF the
church It was made in London Of what Is
technically called beaten silver. and carries the
Tower hallmark: there are four pieces, the
chalice the paten, the f1agon and q larger plate,
on each Of which Is engraved: est. Barnabas'
Church Of Merreland 171s"
In 1920 the far-seeing rector selected Gusta-
vus Hesselius to decorate the implanted wood
work of the church. This artist was one OF
the earliest portrait painters to arrive IN this
country. He landed In It'll from Sweden,
with his two brothers, who had been sent as
missionaries to the Swedes IN Delaware. Most
of his time was spent in canvassing the set
Elements along Chesapeake Bay and the man
sions on the Virginia and Maryland sides Of the
Potomac in search Of commissions The work
OF decorating the church proceeded slowly;
five years elapsed before it was finished. But
IN the meantime the vestry was so pleased with
the effect that they commissioned the artist to
do picture Of the Last Supper to hang over
the altar
This, the first painting not portrait for
public building in America, was placed In
the church when completed, and the Rev.
henderson paid for an ornate gold-leaf frame