The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-03

that he took his abode in Washington City
in the fall of 1919, after passing year of
great usefulness among an intelligent peo-
pie, that duly appreciated the man and the
minister. His own opinion was that COM
pact charge such as was offered in Washing
ton suited his physical and mental powers
better than the one he had tried in Abe
marie. In this he was probably correct, and
having finished the work assigned of God,
Mr.. Post was removed to a sphere to which
he was better fitted; and in his place came
man with peculiar traits to occupy the po-
sition which the head of the church designed
to bless.
Mr.. William j. Armstrong, native of
New Jersey, and student of Princeton.
was induced by DIR. Alexander to take a
mission in Virginia, under the church in
Fredericksburg. He commenced his mission
in early spring in the counties between the
Potomac and Rappahannock rivers, lying be-
low Fredericksburg. AS the hot weather
came on he pervaded the counties at the foot
of the Blue Ridge; Fauquier, Orange, Mad
ison, and Culpeper. A man of vigorous
body, and vigorous, active mind, and earnest
in his religion. When excited, as he COM
monty was when he preached, he often be-
came vehement in his delivery. His great
effort in preaching was to press upon the
heart and conscience the great truths of God.
He spent no time in beautiful speeches, or in
great logical arguments; but like Paul, accu-
mulated fact upon fact and truth upon truth,
till the conclusion became inevitable and
overwhelming.
When Mr.. Post determined to leave Abe
marie, all eyes were turned to Mr.. Arm
strong to take his place. The application
was contrary to his wishes and expectations,
as much as his first coming to Virginia. In
the fall Of 1919 he commenced his labors in
Albemarle. His places for Sabbath morn
ings were South Plains or Walkers church,
Charlottesville, and North Plains the D. S.
between the village and North Plains was
abandoned. Preparations were made in 1919
for the organization of a Presbyterian church
for South Plains and Charlottesville; and in
due time it was accomplished 1t consisted
of about twenty members. Two of them
were appointed elders, John Rogers of South
Plains, and John Kelly of Charlottesville.
Mr.. Armstrong occupied the position about
two years. His labors were incessant. He
could endure great amount of riding, and
bear the exhaustion of frequent preaching.
The desire to hear him increased. The i'm
pressions made by his teachings were not
transitory. The church increased in num-
bers and in Christian graces.
Charlottesville was now increasing in pop
ulation. Ministers of different denomina-
tions preached regularly in the Court House.
AS families moved into the village, they
chose the religious instruction that suited
them best. The existence and perpetuity of
the Church of God was acknowledged. Its
increase in numbers was visible to all.
The time came for James Robinson to die.
He was prematurely old and in6rm, in his
57th year. Of strong mind and stronger
feelings and passions, with powers of body
to express properly the deepest emotions of
mind or heart, he had been burning torch
on the watch-tower of the Lord, always shin
ing-sometimes calmly, sometimes brightly,
and sometimes 6ercely. Like Mr.. Kelly,
she stood six feet two inches, without his
shoes, erect, digni6ed, with unusually small
feet and hands, and full face; of consti-
tuition that seemed to defy labor; and with
a disposition to use his strength to the ut
most in riding and preaching. He found,
as others have done, that all human strength
has its boundary. He had his choice to run
rapidly, or run long, and he chose to run
rapidly, for his spirit was hot and impatient
of delay. He often, like the prophet, felt as
one standing on his watch-tower whole days
and nights, and was "as a sparrow alone upon
the housetop." He had seen Waddell waste
away, and Lumkin and Wilson and Hendren
and Post come to his aid; and while yet re-
joicing at the sight, had seen them all de
part He rejoiced in the midst Of his in
creasing infrmities to hear Armstrong preach
at the Cove, and to know that at last
Church of God was fourishingin in the South
Plains and in Charlottesville. His last years
were years of pain and suffering, from an
affection of the spine, and just when he be-
gan to despond for the Church of God, ex-
cept as God manifested his special grace;
just then, when he was too helpless to move
from place to place except as he was care
fully helped upon his horse and moved gent
ly short distance at time, God granted
him the desire of his heart that had been
beating there for years-a Christian Church
in Charlottesville. Could he then have lain
down in his bed and quietly departed to the
world of light, he would have greatly re-
ioiced. But broken and infrm as he was,
the strength of life was strong in him to suf-
fer and endure.
His last visit, any distance from home,
was in October, to Nelson G. H., which may