ter.

In August of that year, Rev. A. M. RANDOLPH was chosen its minisOn the 4th September, 1867, he resigned, to enter upon a new and enlarged sphere of usefulnesss. If I say nothing more of the ministry and character of these two brethren, it is not because thre is not much that might be said.

On the 24th of November, 1867, the present Rector assumed charge of the congregation.

And now, dear brethren, having taxed your patience so long, I must bring this sketch to a close. I do so with an unaffected sense of its imperfection, and with a conviction stronger than ever how vain it is to attempt in one fleeting hour to tell the story of a Century. Much has, of necessity, been left untold. I should like to have dwelt upon the virtues of the patriots of the first Revolution, chiefly of him whose name outshines them all on the roll of fame. I should like to have held up for the emulation of the young men of our time his filial piety, his detestation of profanity and vice of every kind, his reverence for the Sabbath, his unquestioning faith in the Christian religion, and his active efforts for its promotion.

Fain too would I have traced the connection of another great name with this Church-a name which the future historian will write side by side with that of Washington, as you have placed their monumental marbles here-the name of a man, who for purity of purpose, nobility of soul and sublimity of Christian resignation, stands almost without a peer in our history. Yes, I should like to have spoken of the days when ROBERT LEE was one of the boys who helped to bring the evergreens to beautify this sanctuary at the Christmas season, when he was wont to sit beside his wife and mother in this sacred place, a reverent listener to the preaching of that man of God, Oliver Norris.

Fain too would I have depicted the impressive scene which these, ancient walls beheld, when in the summer of 1853, Col. Robert Lee dedicated to God a life already glorious, and in the rite of Confirmation renewed his baptismal covenant to be Christ's faithful soldier and servant to his life's end.

And other scene I should have taken delight in depicting :--the sacred seasons of ordination which on every alternate year from the foundation of the Seminary till the year 1855 took place, here when these walls resounded with the voices of those apostotic men Griswold and Moore, and Meade and Bedell ;--when young men strong and brave and full of hope here received authority to go forth as heralds of the Cross wherever the Lord their God should call them.

Ah! brethren what holy vows have been here breathed to Heaven by this long line of consecrated men, crying "Here am I, send me !" What fervent prayers for divine direction have ascended from those pews which you now occupy! what tears of conscious weakness have bedewed this chancel rail, as the great commission has been given to those who knelt to receive it!

From this spot if we mistake not Dudley A. Tyng and Charles Howard went forth to "stand up for Jesus" till they were cut down in the forefront of the fight! Here James Chrisholm, meek and unassuming, almost insignificant in appearance, gave his life to the Gospel ministry, and went forth to stand unappalled amid the horrors of the pestilence, and to die at last a hero and a martyr at his post!

From hence too went forth that noble band of Missionaries whose names are consecrated in the loving memory of the Church. Here Savage and Minor, and Payne, and Henning, and Colden Hoffman, took up the banner of the Cross, that they might carry it across the seas and plant it in faith and hope upon the pestilential shores of Africa! At this chancel knelt Cleveland Keith, and received the great commission to preach the Gospel to every creature; and from it he rose and went far over the seas to the distant shores of China, that he might join the little band of heroes battling there in the sublime resolve to win that ancient land with all its unnumbered myriads to the service of Immanuel their King! Nor can we keep back the thought that here, in this sacred spot, where the saintly father had so often stood, clothed with unction from above, in the exercise of his high office, his son may have received a double portion of the spirit of Christian self-sacrifice. Present and prominent it was throughall his life, but its most glorious manifestation was seen on the burning decks of the "Golden Rule," when the young missionary gave up his place in the life boat to another, and spent his latest breath amid the horrors of that appalling scene, in exhorting his fellow-passengers to seek safety in the Rock of Ages.

A Church which can claim such memories as these is thrice consecrated. And a people which calls that Church their own is laid under a grave responsibility to preserve inviolate the principles which that noble army of saints and martyrs have professed.

God grant that this Church, and congregation may continue steadfast in those views of saving truth and those principles of holy living which have here so often been faithrully expounded and nobly exemplified!

Identified through Dr. Griffith and Bishop Meade with the resurrection of the Church in Virginia, from the deadness of the past century and the early part of this, may the time never come when worldliness and spiritual torpor shall settle themselves within these sacred walls!

Identified with the establishment of yonder School of the Prophets, through the labors of Dr. Keith and Mr. Norris, two of its first professors, may the time never come when other than Protestant and Evangelical principles shall underlie the teaching which is heard in this pulpit, or be reflected in the worship which these walls shall witness!

Then indeed brethren, shall "peace be within her walls!" Then shall "she still bring forth fruit in her old age," and your children's children as they look back on the second century of this ancient pile and "Remember all the way which the Lord their God hath led them, shall inscribe on these walls the second time Hitherto hath he Lord helped us!"

BY REV. CORNELIUS WALKER, D. D.

In the chapter following that which was read at the second lesson of yesterday evening, and which, as you remember, contained an enumeration of the great heroes of the faith under the Old Testament Dispensation, the apostle speaks of these as a great cloud of witnesses compassing about or surrounding the Hebrew Christians, to whom he was writing. The figure is that of a struggle or contest, a race for excellence and a high reward. Those engaged in it are reminded of the noble example of their predecessors in the same struggle: by the success of these predecessors are exhorted and encouraged to persevere, compassed about by this great cloud of witnesses who had themselves struggled and come out successfully, who were looking with the deepest interest upon that struggle as renewed in the experience of the early Christians, these latter are reminded of their duty and encouraged to its performance. Now it seems to me that there is a very peculiar propriety in the application of this language of the apostle to our present circumstances, to this occasion which has called us together. We have been reminded, those especially connected with this congregation of the "clond of witnesses by which we are compassed about," in the peculiar sphere of exertion and duty to which we have been called. The history of this congregation in this century of its existence to which we have listened, the record of earnest Christian effort for the glory of God and the benefit of man, the conspicuous examples among its ministers of devoted piety and active effort, among its laity of civil and military eminence as of high moral and religious excellence-this record of these, our predecessors in this congregation, comes to us with suggestions of the deepest practical interest and importance, as we are thus reminded that they had a work to do and how they did it, so are we further reminded that their work here and now, has devolved upon us, that here and now and with the means which God has given us, that work ought to receive its faithful performance. These examples should incite us to more diligence, sho ild quicken us to greater earnestness and activity, should encourage us to larger measures of usefulness and hopes of success, "compassed about" with such "witnesses" preceded by cuch Christian ancestry, we are under special obligations to faithfulness in our Christian calling. And in recognizing these obligations to Christian duty, as heightened by the record of example and excellence to which we have listened, let us distinctly recognize the peculiar aspect of such example and excellence which in this place claims our consideration. "The cloud of witnesses" mentioned by the apostle as surrounding those to whom he was writing, were witnesses of one great truth, the existence and the power of faith. It was as witnesses of this power of faith in their own personal experience and with reference to the practical inference

therewith connected, it was solely as heroes and witnessesof faith that they are thus brought forward. And so in regard to those of whom we have been reminded. There are other spheres of excellence in which some of them were pre-eminent, in which they claimed to receive our regard and admiration. But here and for the object which has brought us together, we are to think of them and imitate them and are to be encouraged by their example as witnesses of the faith-as men of faith in their efforts and example as members of this congregation, for its advancement and the cause of Christ with which it is identified. This constitutes the peculiar tie which unites them with us, which makes them one with us in our present circumstances. It is this which gives a peculiar propriety to the service in which we shall soon take part; that outward communion which reminds us of the blessed communion and fellowship of all of Christ's real people, on earth and in Heaven of those who have labored here in time past and of those who here and among us have entered upon their duties and labors; as men of faith we are to do and work for the Master, build up his kingdom in this our sphere of influence and example, and to lead our fellow men to know of and to rejoice in his salvation, "Seeing that we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with patience the race which is set before us, looking unto Jesus." As by faith we thus look to Him, we become strong for every duty, capable of its performance.

But I am reminded. in closing, that the lesson of this occasion, the practical inferences of which it is properly suggestive, while thus, as we have seen so full of significance to Christian believers, to those who have identified themselves with Christ's work and cause, at the same time extend to other classes. There are those here present who hold aloof from that work, who have not ratified their baptismal vows by voluntarily giving themselves to the service of God. They are here doubtless in sympathy with all the natural associations of the occasion. They have listened with pleasure and gratification to hose portions of the service which have appealed only to their natural feeling of interest as part of this congregation and those who have here lived and labored. But with that which constitutes the highest interest of this commemoration they have no sympathy; in that feast of a dying Saviour's love, which indicates such interest they will take no part. To these I would say there are appeals here presented to you which ought not to he unheeded. There are sons of sainsed Christian mothers, husbands of Christian wives, brothers, sisters and fathers, descendants of those who have died in the faith, associated with those who are living in the faith, to whom the appeal of this occasion comes with peculiar power and tendernest-the appeal to give up the service of this world and enter upon that of a Heavenly Saviour and Benefactor. Shall this appeal pass unheeded, disregarded? Is not this a time for new resolutions, for more strenuous effort to enter upon and continue in the life of duty and endless safety. What a blessed result from these services if such should be their effect upon some of those who are here present and partakers! What a source will they thus prove of rejoicing not only for this present world, but for that world of blessedness which has no ending!

ERRATA:70a page 7, for fondlings" read "foundlings." On page 8, for "1873 ""17 73." On page 10, 9th line, omit and zealous." On page 12, for "G. W. P. Curtis, Esq.," read "E. W. P. Custis." On page 17, for "sarphim" read "seraphim," On page 18, 5th line, for "Right" read" Bright," and line 13, for "Idoatry" read "Idolatry." On page 19, 29th line, for "remembered" read "remember." On page 22, for "James Chrisholm " read "James Chisholm."