Ancient Coins Represent a Maundy Thursday Tradition

Home , Crown (British coin)

SSentinel.com Serving Middlesex County and adjacent areas of the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck since 1896 Vol. 123, No. 02 Urbanna, Virginia 23175 • April 13, 2017 Two Sections • 75¢ Volunteers sharing love cited as Rotary presents Pride of Middlesex award by Tom Chillemi and inspires us to share.” For 31 years folks in this commu- It was Christmas in April when nity have been donating, shopping, the Rotary Club of Middlesex pre- wrapping and delivering gifts to the sented Fred and Bettie Lee Gaskins needy through Christmas Friends, its Pride of Middlesex award on April said Mr. Gaskins, and there are count- 8. The annual award recognized the less times when friends, neighbors Gaskinses’ positive influences on the and other organizations help each county since 1966 when they bought other. “When it comes to sharing ‘The the Southside Sentinel, said Rotary Love,’ Middlesex County folks do it emcee John Koontz. On center stage right!” he said. was the Christmas Friends program, Award for the people which the Gaskinses co-founded The Pride of Middlesex award in 1986, with the assistance of the celebrates the people of Christmas Middlesex Department of Social Ser- Friends, said Mr. Gaskins. “Last year vices. there were over 375 people, donors Rotary International’s motto is and volunteers, who made the pro- Hundreds of runners leave the starting line at Hewick Plantation during the fourth annual RE Strong Run on “Service Above Self,” a slogan that gram possible, and I’ll bet 95% of Saturday. (Photo by Linda Tjossem) reflects the dedication of hundreds of them have been helping Christmas Christmas Friends volunteers that for Friends for years.” 31years have made Christmas better With donations of time or money, for the less fortunate in Middlesex. each person “shares that love and per- RE Strong has record turnout In accepting the award Fred Gaskins haps makes some dreams come true referred to a well known poem, “Love for a needy child or an elderly adult More than 700 participants ran or sons,” said Orton. “The course flows Troy Lewis sang the National Came Down at Christmas,” which who would face a bleak Christmas walked in the fourth annual RE Strong past historical landmarks and breathtak- Anthem prior to the runners step- became a hymn. “It goes a long way without them. Thank you for join- Run on Saturday, April 8. ing views of the Rappahannock River. ping off the line. in explaining why Christmas Friends ing us to be Christmas Friends to so The event, headquartered at Hewick But what really makes the event one of After the race the audience heard exists in our community,” he said. many,” he said. Plantation just west of Urbanna, drew a kind is the tremendous support from inspiring words from Congressman “The love that came down at Christ- Partnership 705 participants who ran or walked in committee members, volunteers, run- Rob Wittman of Virginia’s First mas spread around the world, and I’m Christmas Friends wouldn’t exist the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield ners, walkers, donors and sponsors who Congressional District and Dr. Mary thinking a giant portion of that love 5K, 10K and 1 mile Revere Gas Fun won’t give up the fight to cure cancer.” H. Hackney, MD, of VCU Massey settled right here in Middlesex County See Pride, page A8 Run. Committee member Linda Tjossem Cancer Center in Richmond. The Participation in the fourth annual RE said the day started out “cold!” and the RE Strong Runs have raised more Strong event increased 6% over last golf carts used by race officials even than $150,000 for the center, which year, said race director Ryan Orton. had ice on them at 6 a.m. By race time, specializes in cancer research. “This race is bound to keep on grow- a beautiful, sunny day had begun to More photos and race results are ing and is a special event for many rea- unfold. on the sports page, B1. Feral cat concerns get airing here by Tom Chillemi of the public turned out for the hast- be any policy changes regarding the ily called meeting and many of them feeding and care of feral cats. He Urbanna’s feral cat colonies were voiced support for the “Urbanna Cat asked that the cat issue be placed on the subject of a “special called meet- Project.” It was apparent from the the agenda for the regular council ing” of the Urbanna Town Council support of these cat lovers that the meeting on April 24 at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 6. Urbanna Cat Project will be getting More than a month ago, Mayor Only three members of coun- some help. Hollberg stated at a meeting that cil showed up—Larry Chowning, Although it was a “special called U.S. Department of Agriculture George DeVries and Diane Gra- meeting” not enough council mem- (USDA) officials had indicated to vatt—who set up the meeting. bers attended to have a quorum. him that cat feeding stations could Mayor Steve Hollberg, a CPA, said Since a minimum of four of the attract black vultures, which had via email that he was very busy seven members are needed to con- flocked to Urbanna. The USDA because this is tax season and would duct business, the gathering pro- agents were in Urbanna on March not attend. It was reported that two ceeded as an informal discussion. 22-23 and used pyrotechnics and councilSouthside members were Sentinel out of -town 04/13/2017 Full council to decideCopy Reducedother tomeans 72% tofrom scare original off over to 100fit letter page Page : A01 and another had a prior commit- Council member Chowning told vultures. ment. the audience that the full council Bettie Lee and Fred Gaskins receive the 2017 Pride of Middlesex award However more than 15 members would have to decide if there should See Cats, page A2 from Middlesex Rotary Club emcee John Koontz. Ancient coins represent a Maundy Thursday tradition by Larry Chowning the coins include, in Latin, Carolva II for the name Charles II and Dei Today, April 13, Maundy Thurs- Gratia, meaning “By the Grace of day, is a day that commemorates God.” the Last Supper of Jesus Christ The coins were given to Christ with his apostles, as described in Church Parish last July by Nigel the holy gospels. Several Maundy Mac-Fall of Middlesex, Eng- Thursday traditions have developed land, whose ancestor, Duell Pead, over the years and one related to a was the rector of the church from unique set of coins has been rekin- 1683 to 1690, when it was an dled at Christ Church Parish Epis- Anglican Church. Mac-Fall is the copal in Middlesex County. great-grandson, five generations Christ Church Parish pastor removed, of Pead, who was the in charge Stuart C. Wood said church’s third minister. maundy is derived from the word Mac-Fall came to Middlesex mandate. Religious beliefs are that last July and presented the coins, the tradition of Maundy Thursday A 1673 four-penny coin. (Courtesy a copy of a childhood portrait of came from Jesus’s last mandate, of Christ Church Parish) Pead, and an inscribed silver plate or commandment, to his disciples. to the Christ Church congregation, After he washed the disciples’ feet which was celebrating its 350th at the Last Supper, he said in John anniversary. 13:34: “A new commandment I Christ Church Parish has a set of Christ Church was formed in 1666 give unto you, That you love one the coins. when Middlesex County was a part another. As I have loved you, so The coins include a one cent of Lancaster County. Middlesex you also must love one another.” piece that is very small, a larger citizens broke away from Lancaster A later Holy Week tradition that one worth two pennies, a little in 1668 to create their own county, grew from the Last Supper was larger one worth three pennies, and named after Middlesex in England. that kings and high clergy washed the largest coin worth four pen- When Mac-Fall was researching the feet of the less fortunate on nies. The coins were distributed to his relative, he came across a ref- Maundy Thursday. the poor in small bags, often when erence stating that Pead was rector Charles II, king of England from large crowds had gathered, said at Christ Church in Middlesex. He 1660 until his death in 1685, was Wood. assumed it was Middlesex, Eng- Pastor in Charge at Christ Church Parish Episcopal, Rev. Stuart C. Wood, not so inclined. He created another There is a profile of King Charles land, but upon further research holds the set of ‘Maundy Money’ given to the church by Nigel Mac-Fall tradition of having coins minted II on the front of each coin and the found that his ancestor had min- of Middlesex, England, whose ancestor was a rector of Christ Church from the royal mint and distributed back bears the date 1673, a crown istered to the people in Middlesex Parish from 1683 to 1690. (Photo by Larry Chowning) to the poor on Maundy Thursday. and C’s for Charles II. The front of County, Virginia. 6 Arts & Leisure ...... A6 Classifieds ...... B4 Egg Race Easter Business Directory .B4 School ...... B3 Calendar ...... A4 Social...... A5 Hunt Results Services 56525 10561 Church ...... B8 Sports ...... B1 PAGEE A6 PAGEE B1 PAGEE B8 6 Inside