Evening star., 1942-01-18

and distances ON well-drawn map, and,
when the day of decision arrived, met
all the arguments of his opponent by
presenting this paper, and thus carried
his point. In place OF any description
of this house in its past or present con-
dition, offer the following report Of q
visit made to it in 1897:
my next visit was to Pohick Church.
in the vicinity of Mount Vernon, the
seat Of Gen. Washington. designed to
perform service there on Saturday a.
well as Sunday, but through some mis-
take no notice was given for the former
day. The weather. indeed, was such as to
prevent the assembling Of any but those
who prize such occasions 80 much as to
be deferred only by very strong consid-
erattons.
ION the doors Of the pews in gilt let
tiers are still to be seen the names Of the
principal families which once occupied
them. How could I, while for at least
an hour traversing those long aisles, en-
tering the sacred chancel, ascending the
lofty pulpit, forbear to ask, And is this
the house of God which was built by the
Washingtons. the Masons, the McCartys,
the Grahams, the Lewises the Fairfexes
the house in which they used to wor-
ship the God Of our fathers according
to the venerable forms of the Episcopal
Church-and some Of whose names are
yet to be seen on the doors Of those now
deserted pews? Is this also destined to
molder piecemeal away, or, when some
signal Is given, to become the prey of
spoilers, and to be carried hither and
thither and applied to every purpose un-
der heaven?"
"'Surely patriotism, or reverence for
the greatest Of patriots, II not religion.
might be effectually appealed to In be.
half Of this one temple of God. The par
ticular location of it is to be ascribed to
Washington, who, being an active men,
Der Of the vestry when it was under con-
sideration and in dispute where it should
be placed, carefully surveyed the whole
parish, and, drawing an accurate and
handsome map Of it with his own hand.
showed clearly where the claims OF JUS
tice and the interests Of religion required
its erection.
1T was to this church that WASH
ington for some years regularly repaired.
at q distance of 6 or miles, never per-
mitting sny company to prevent the
regular observance of the Lords day.
And shall 1t now be permitted to sink
fer ~ of fax h,,n A41.
lars to arrest the decay already begun?'"
It is too bad that this good old bishop
could not have lived long enough to see
this sacred house of God put In good
repair as it is at present, through the
excellent work being carried on through.
out the country by the Daughters Of the
American Revolution.
The cemetery which surrounds this
church contains some very early graves,
and is especially attractive to those in
terested in colonial burial grounds. OF
one large stone close to the church Is at
tached q queer story, to the effect that
either from jealousy or other cause, she
warned her husband, before he passed
away, that II he ever remarked or did
anything else to displease her when she
was gone she would surely come back
and haunt him. She was buried some.
where in Alexandria, and her earthly
consort did everything he was warned
not to do, and the departed Is said to
have returned Is promised. In great
distress he removed her remains to Po.
hick Church, and whether the spirit ever
made any further earthly pilgrimages no
one seems to know.
Falls Church.
The town Of Falls Church lies at the
extreme west corner Of the District OF
Columbia, Of which 1t was once q part.
The nrst Episcopal Church here, on the
present two-acre site was erected In 1874,
two years after the birth Of the first
President. It was then known as the
Upper Church. the Lower Church being
the predecessor Of the present Christ
Church Of Alexandria.
The second church, Of which WASH
ington was . vestryman. was built In
1767-9, the contract being awarded to
James Wren who agreed to erect the
structure Of brick for 500 pounds IS shil-
lings, and during the American Revolu.
ton It was used as . recruiting station.
Apparently by 1880, it had deteriorated,
for in this year 1t was restored, and SUBJ
sequently for . time, during the Civil
War, became . Union hospital, after
which 1t was used as cavalry stable.
While thus occupied It was damaged to