Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 15.djvu/508

 VIRGINIA

454

VIRGINIA

Houdon's Statde of Washington

Erected 1788 in the State Capitol

at Richmond

medical colleges: the Medical College of Virginia, the University College of Medicine, both of Richmond, and the Medical College attached to the University of Virginia.

B. Calholic. — Each parish in the larger, as in some of the smaller, cities, has its own parochial school or schools. There are three colleges: namely, Old Point Comfort, under the Xaverian Brothers, the Richmond Benedictine Military, and Van De Vyver (coloured), Richmond. St. Emma's Industrial and Agricultural School for Col- oured Boys and St. Francis' Insti- tute for Coloured Girls, Rock Castle, were founded and are supported, the one by General and Mrs. Edward Mor- rell, the other by Mother Mary Katherine Drexel, ooth of Pennsyl- vania. The Bene- dictine Fathers have charge of St. Joseph's Institute, and the Benedic- tine Sisters of St. Edith's Academy, Bristow. The Xaverian Brothers teach in acade- mies at Rich- mond, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News, whilst the Clu'istian Brothers labour at Rock Castle. The teaching Sisters are Sisters of Charity; of Charity of Nazareth; Visitation; Benedictine; of the Holy Cross; of St. Francis; of the Blessed Sacra- ment; and of Perpetual Adoration.

Charities and Corrections. — A. General- There are city and county almshouses, private chari- table organizations, many the result of denomina- tional efforts, with various orphanages and homes for the aged. These, with the associated charities, nurses' settlements, free dispensaries, and charity hospitals, are doing a most commendable work. The white and the coloured are provided each with a school for the deaf, dumb, and blind, and one each for delinquent youths. A sanatorium for tuberculosis patients is maintained by the State at Catawba. There are four state asylums for the insane: namely, the Eastern, Williamsburg; the Western, Staunton; the South-western, Marion: and the Central (col- oured), Petersburg. A late institution is the Epilep- tic Colony, Amherst County, near Lynchburg. The state convicts not working on the public roads are located either in the penitentiary, Richmond, or at the James River State Farm. There were (1 Jan., 1912) 2135 state convicts, of whom 84 per cent were coloured. Of the 89 women prisoners, only 3 were white, the remainder being negroes.

B. Catholic. — The Catholics have 4 orphanages (inmates, 215), 1 coloured infant asylum (inmates, 65), 4 industrial schools, 2 each for boys and girls, half for coloured (pupils, 395), and 1 home for the aged, conducted by the Little Sisters of the Poor, form of religion being no bar to entrance (inmates, 200). For the relief of the poor are found in various parishes conferences of St. Vincent de Paul, and women's aid and benevolent societies.

GovERNMKNT. — The governor :in<l lieufenanl -gov- ernor are elected by the people for four years, and Iho secretary of State, treasurer, and auilitor, by the Gen- eral Assembly for two years. The legislature embraces 40 senators, popularly chosen for four years, and 100

representatives for two years. Biennial sessions of sixty days, unless extended by vote to ninety days, beginthe second Wednesday in January. Five j udges, chosen by the legislature for twelve years, form the Supreme Court of Appeals. There are also circuit and county courts, and various state departments. The right to vote is given to male citizens of the United States, twenty-one years of age, who have resided in the state one year and in the city or county in which they offer to vote three months preceding an election. A capitation tax is also levied.

National Institutions. — Fort Monroe, with its extensive fortifications and garrison, together with a National Soldiers' Home near Hampton, Fort Meyer near Washington, and the Norfolk (Portsmouth) Navy Yard, are government institutions of renown. The principal national cemeteries are at Alexandria, Arlington, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Petersburg, Seven Pines, and Richmond.

Legislation Affecting Religion. — The follow- ing data concerning legislation has been carefully compiled by Attorney Maurice A. Powers, Secre- tary Treasurer of the Richmond Bar Association: Violation of the Sabbath by labouring at any trade or calling, except household or other work of necessity or charity, hunting on Sunday, carrying dangerous weapons on Sunday, or to a place of religious worship, and disturbance of religious worship, are misdemean- ours, and punishable either by fine or imprisonment, or both. Profane cursing and swearing, pubhcation of obscene books and pictures, and, generally, all- offences against morality and decency are hkewise misdemeanours. Officers of the State must take and subscribe an oath to support the State and P'ederal Constitutions, to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of their respective offices, and against duel- ling. Jurors are required to take an oath to try the case according to the law and the evidence. Wit- nesses in the several courts are sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Any per- son required to take an oath, if he has rehgioua scruples against doing so, may make a solemn affirma- tion. No form is prescribed for the administration of oaths; but they are usually administered by using the Bible to swear upon, or by uplifted hand. New Year's, Christmas, and Thanksgiving Days are legal holidays, but no holy days, as such, are recognized by law. Daily, while in session, the General Assembly is opened with prayer, but its use is not sanctioned by legislative provision.

Church Incorporations. — The incorporation of a Church or a religious denomination is prohibited by Section 59 of Article IV of the Constitution of Vir- ginia, but, to a limited extent, conveyances, devises, and dedications of lands to a Church, or unincorpo- rated religious society, as a place of pubhc worship, or asaburialplace, or a residence for a minister, are valid.

Tax, Jury, and Military focHip^tons.— Churches, church lots, church rectories, and public burying- grounds, not held for speculat ive purposes, are exempt from taxation, as is also the proi)erty of literary, edu- cational, and charitable institutions, actually occu- pied and used solely for the specific purposes indi- cated. Legacies and devises to such institutions are not subject to the collateral inheritance tax. Min- isters of the Gospel are exempted from jury duty. Exemptions from military service are the same as provided by the statutes of the United States.

Matrimony and Divorce. — A minister of any re- hgious denomination, with authority from any county or corporation court, may witness the rites of mar- riage, or the court may ai)point one or more per.sons to celebrate svicli rites. Marriages must be under a license an(l solciimized as provided by the statutes of the State. Parental con.sent, or con.sent of guardian, is neces.sary when the contracting parties, or either of them, arc iinder the age of twenty-one years. In ad-