9

and leanings.

A rather amusing story is told to illustrade his father's
suppressed aversion to Polk's determination to enter the
ministry. Col. Polk was in Washington visiting Andrew Jackson
shortly before his inauguration when after the usual pleasantries
General Jackson said: "By the way, Colonel, where is your son
Leonidas stationed?" "Stationed", said the Colonel, "By Thund{x-ed out: e}er
he's stationed nowhere. He's down at that Seminary in Va. where
they are ruining a good soldier to make a poor Parson."

He was ordained Deacon in April 1830 after almost two years
study at the Seminary which he devoted as much as possible to
perfecting himself in Greek, Latin and classical learning the
lack of which he felt so keenly in his education at West Point.
A {changed "L" to "l"}ittle less than a month later he was married to Miss Frances
Devereux of Raleigh who had been his sweetheart since childhood.
His first cure was as assistant to Bishop Moore in the Monumental
Church at Richmond, Va. He served for some months {struckthrough: and} {added: with,} {x-ed out: ne} as
he wrote{added: ,} "a large and fashionable con{x-ed out: c}gregation consisting of
about 129 souls {crossed out: (}few males{added: ,} and those {x-ed out: old} mostly old men{added: ,} and {struckthrough: the}
{struckthrough: commented further that he did not find even those males} {added: not} decidedly
and actively pious. Shortly therafter Bishop Moore paid a visit
to the North and left him in charge of the Parish. So consientious
ly did he fulfill his increased responsibili{changed "y" to "ies"} that{added: ,} early in 1931
he suffered a break down {added: in health} and was forced to resign his charge and
return to his home to recuperate. A few weeks later he returned
to Virginia to attend the Diocesan Convention at Norfolk{added: ,} where
he was ordained Priest in May 1831. His health {struckthrough: having not
improved{{added: ,}} now} seemed to be getting worse and his physician in
Philadelphia told him that a Europeon tour was necessary if he