Evening star., 1935-06-16
THE writer would not have the reader

II nE WIIbtI NUuIu LlUb uhVC diC tCoeNA
l. believe from anything that he has
said, that there is q lack Of interest
in Grace Church Parish, for such Is
surely not the case among the older
members. some of whom, though even
now residing elsewhere, still maintain
their interest in the church on the
island. and along this line the writer
has as evidence letter he received
last December. which illustrates how
the mind so frequently wsnders back
to home, sweet home. The letter fol-
lows:
Dear Mr.. Proctor:
'T am mailing with this . copy Of
the Alexandria Gazette of October 81,
on page 4 Of which Is q paragraph
referring TO old Grace Church in
washington, which was commenced
in 1851.
Your very interesting article In
Sundays Star, dealing with the his
tory of the Jewish Synagogue, made
me wonder If this old Episcopal
Church. corner of Ninth and D streets
southwest, might not likewise make
very readable story with your ready
pen.
MY father. Terence Riley. was one
Of the first vestrymen, as was also
Crosby 8. Noyes, one-time editor OF
The Star and father Of the present
editor.
''Dr. Alfred Holmesd was the beloved
rector for many years. He left the
field of medicine for the church and
was the brother Of Mr.. Anthony
Holmead, dealer in chinaware and 10
Gated on Seventh street.
Your stories are most interesting
to those familiar with the washington
of more than half century ago.
VERY sincerely,
LYDIA r. sPOFFoRD.
George Mason Hotel,
alexandria. Va.
December Is, 1884"
Though Mrs Spofford was too mod
est to say so, yet within the church.
which was added to and remodeled
in 1894, there is q marble font which
Is inscribed at the base, ITO the Glory
Of God and in Loving Memory Of
Mary Z. Riley" and in the rear of
the church there is beautiful rose
window given by Miss Susie and Miss
Jane Riley In memory of their father,
Thomas r. Riley. A sanctuary win
dow, subscribed for by members Of
the church, is to the memory of the
first rector, Mr.. Holmead.
And, of course, Mrs. Spofford was
right In saying that Crosby s. Ncyes
was q member Of the vestry of the
church, and she might also have said,
and been correct in doing so, that it
was the church attended by the entire
Moves family, and here was baptized
and confirmed Theodore W. Noyes,
editor of The Star, and probably other
members Of the family. Indeed, the
editor Of The Star recalls with much
pleasure his early days as a native
and resident of South washington,
the old church, and his school days ut
the Jefferson Building.
One of the pioneer members OF the
church, Miss Mary r. DuvaI, Is still
active in the work Of the parish, and
personally recalls every rector Of the
church, as well as many Of the early
South washington families.
THE rector, Rev. Mr.. MacBryde, has
l. done good work since he was
placed In charge Of the parish, and
within . short space Of time after he
became rector succeeded In wiping out
q debt that had been dragging along
for 20 years. However, If it Is true. as
some one has said, that q man to sue
ceed should have st least Is per cent
Of personality in hts makeup and IS
per cent Of knowledge, then one can
easily zee why he has accomplished 20