Newspaper Page Text
Page Four
Continued from Page 1
inveigled the voluble Dr. Johnson into
her home on these occasions or the
witty Lady Mary Montague, Joshua
Reynolds or David Garrick the actor.
But the churches were closed to
her preachers and she began to build
chapels for them. Lady Huntingdon’s
Connection, as it was called, numbered
as many as sixty clergymen with many
lay workers. Some preachers were
settled but the greater number preached
in rotation, the Countess in the
role of bishop appointing them and
transferring them, And admist all the
sneers heaped upon her for unwomanly
presumption and rank fanaticism, no
one accused her of injustice or in¬
capacity.
One of her chapels, Whitefield’s Mis
sion in Tottenham Court Road, that
had become a large institutional church,
was completely destroyed during World
War II by the last rocket but one fired
by the Nazis.
By his will Whitefield left the Be¬
thesda property and its care to Lady
Huntingdon. She accepted the respon
sbility and entertained large hopes
not only for the orphanage but also
for Whitefield’s previously expressed
aim to develop an institution of learn¬
ing such as would fit young men for
the ministry and send out missions to
the Indians. It is very likely that
relations existing between England and
the colonies detered the Countess from
visiting Bethesda and seeing first¬
hand her new responsibility, and she
was unfortunate in some of the people
she sent over as her representatives.
She was not disheartened by a fire in
1772, resulting from lightning, that left
only blackened walls of what had been
Whitefield’s original house of mercy.
She rebuilt the place, not so large as
formerly but adequately. The Revolu¬
tionary War came on and upon the
death of Lady Huntingdon in 1791 the
state took over the property. It was
not until the middle of the nineteenth
century that the Union Society bought
back a part of the original Whitefield
tract that had been sold by the state
and the proceeds devoted to charitable
uses.
There are many instances showing
the force of character of Lady Hunting¬
don. For example, there was the time
that Whitefield was being caricatured
by the Comedian Foote in a play at
the Drury Lane theatre under Garrick’s
management. After appealing in vain
to the Lord Chamberlain to have the
play withdrawn she‘ bearded the lion in
his den by going straight to Garrick
in the green room of the theatre. Gar¬
rick treated her with great courtesy
but the play was not immediately with¬
drawn. It was a sign of the depravity
of the times that such a play could be
good box office.
On account of her rank, ability and
experience the Countess had been ac¬
customed to rule and had naturally
come to look upon herself as a privileged
arbiter and adviser. When she con¬
sidered that the Archbishop of Can¬
terbury was not conducting himself or
his household in keeping with his high
office, accompanied by the Marquis of
BETHESDA NEWS
>
'
I f.
i V
I Vi V
» Jr
*4- I
.
If**.
4
•A
3* M
'
Wmm
Lady Huntington
Townshend she visited the offending
prelate in his home. He received his
visitors with great hauteur and scorn.
Mrs. Cornwallis (the Archbishop was
a brother of Earl Cornwallis) was
frigid and scornful too. His Grace
a would take no lesson on his house¬
keeping from a set of ranters and
canters!” But Lady didn’t stop there;
she betook herself to the king whose
reproof by letter couched in graceful
but certain language accomplished her
purpose.
On another occasion at a session of
the House of Lords, the fair sex by
resolution were excluded from the gal¬
lery (on this occasion reserved for the
House of Commons). These may have
been the original suffragettes, viz., Lady
Huntingdon, Lady Westmoreland, the
Duchess of Queensbury, Lady Cobb anil
others. They took their stand at 9
A.M., outside the doors and keep it
until 5 P.M. with frequent thumping and
kicking of the doors until as a matter
of strategy Lady Huntingdon suggested
a half hour of silence, so that the Lords
thinking them absent would open the
door. They did and in the ladies
rushed and stayed until 11 P.M. The
Earl of Huntingdon was taking part in
the debate. It was about the time of
the marriage of the couple; it could
even be that Ann Shirley was making
up her mind as to whether Theophalus
Hastings, ninth Earl of Huntingdon was
her proper mate.
A line of liveoaks near the water’s
edge at Bethesda has long been known
as Lady Huntingdon’s Walk. The Trus¬
tees Garden Club of Savannah having
undertaken a landscaping project at
the home conceived the idea of making
these fine old trees the backdrop for an
outdoor theatre. They made known
their wishes to Mr. Hugh Tallant, ar¬
chitect, who not only designed the con¬
struction but watched very minutely
every step of its development, so that
it is not only a very attractive part
of the grounds but very useful to the
boys for the entertainment of then
friends. It is a fitting monument to a
good woman.
August, 1917
MARRIAGES
Fountain-Potter—M i s s Joan Eliza
beth Fountain, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Christopher A. Fountain, became
the bride ot Charles Swain Potter at
a ceremony held on the evening of June
28 at the Whiefield Chapel at Bethesda
with the Rev. John S. Wil er officia
ting. Drexil Kicklighter was the groom’s
best man. Ushers were Benjamin A.
Mock, Jr., and Jimmy Johnson.
A reception was held at the home
of the bride’s parents on Fifty-third
St. Swain and Joan left later in the
evening for Miami Beach, Fla., and
have now returned to Savannah making
their home at 14 West 53rd St.
Von-Waldner-Sims Miss Gloria Ann
Von Waldner, daughter of Frank J. Von
Waldner, became the bri .e of Orville
LeRoy Sims at a ceremony held Friday
afternoon, July 25 at the Blessed Sacra¬
ment Church with the Rev. Thomas
Brennan, O. S. B. officiating, Mrs.
Luke Sims was her sisters’ matron of
honor. After the wedding a reception
was held at the home of the bride’s
sister and brother, Mr. and Mrs. Ber
nard Harper, at the Montgomery C loss
Rd. Orville and Gloria Ann are mak
inf their home at 21(5 East Henry
St.
Cameron-Hagan T h e wedding of
Miss Regis Cameron daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. George M. Regan to Adolphus
Hagan was solemnized on Sunday after¬
noon, June 22 at the home of the bride.
The ceremony was performed by the
Rev. John S. Wilder, pastor of Calvary
Baptist Temple. The bride-elect, was
given in marriage by her father, her
sister, Miss Laverne Cameron , was maid
of honor and only attendant, Best man
for the groom was his brother, John
Wesley Hagan. Adolphus and Regis are
making their home at 221 West 35th
Street.
Cooler-Finney—Miss Catherine Cooler
was married to Ivan Finney at Pem
broke, Ga., on June 23. Catherine is a
Pembroke girl. They are living on
Franklin St. in Staley Heights.
Fo 1 ey - M c K ay—Elizabeth Foley and
Fred McKay were married April 22 and
are making their home on East Jones
Street.
Tillman-Coules—Gladys Tillman and
Mike Coules were married on July 20
at Springfield, Ga. At present they
are living at Port Wentworth but will
take an apartment later at 301 West
35th St.
Youmans-Blaek—Miss Mary Lee Toll¬
mans were married to William S. Black
in July. Mary Lee is a sister of Jackie
You mans.
Thorpe-Seyle—Miss Kathleen Thorpe
to Frank Wade Seyle, wedding taking
place in August.
Larsen-Tinker—Virginia Louise Lar¬
sen, daughter of John Lawrence Lar¬
sen of Jacksonville, Fla., to Harry Ken¬
dall Tinker, son of Mrs. Francis Edward
Tinker, Sr., of Macon, Ga. They were
married in June.
Elliott-Zeigler—Miss Margaret Marie
Elliott to Frank Brooks Zeigler. Wed¬
ding will take place August 31. Margaret
is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank
L. Elliott.