Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-06-11
DEDICATION THANKSGIVING AND SABBATH
SCHOOL, ANNTVERSARv


that large and splendid church; in the after
noon, the thanksgiving services in connection
Herewith ; and in the evening, the anniversary
celebration of the Sabbath School of that con-
gregation.
Before the hour--11 O'clock A. M.-arrived
for the beginning of the services attending the
dedication, that very large church was filled to
it's capacity both on the floor and in the gallery.
The exercises were commenced by the rendition
in admirable style by the choir of an anthem
composed some twenty years since by Mr.. j. w.
Abby of this place. Rev. DR.. Moses D. Hoge,
of Richmond, then offered brief prayer, after
which the 18th Psalm, End part, was sung. At
ter an earnest prayer by the Pastor-Rev. VIM
E. Baker-he stated that the Building Commit
tee would report, .whereupon the chairman of
that Committee William Frazier, Esq,
the following:
| architectural description of the neo Church., by
MAJ Thos III. Williamson, PROF. OF Archetec-
tare and Civil Engineering IN the Va. MatatGTy
Institute, Lexington.
The new Presbyterian Church in Staunton is
of the same style as that selected by Gen'l H. h.
Lee, for the Chapel of Washington and Lee
University. The style OF both is the modernlzeo
Norman.
The Norman, the Saxon and the Lombard, are
all of the same family, and had their origin
among the early christians The first CHRISTIAN
churches of Great Britain were Saxon, and the
sturdy English and Scotch-Irish races first wor-
SHIPPED the only God in these massive thick-wall-
ed temples with short, thick, round columns, the
round headed windows and deeply recessed and
circular-headed doors. The Norman differs
from the Saxon in the application OF all Its
parts. The Normans were fond of statellness
and magnifcence, and though they retained the
other characteristics of the Saxon style yet by
the amplifcation of dimensions and the elabora-
| ton of Details they made such striking change
and improvement as to enttle it to be character
| lied as new order of Architecture.
No people ever exhibited an example of so
rapid transition from the excess of pagan bar
barism and of the worship of Odin, their idol
god, to the christian civilization, industry ana
refinement as did the Normans on the cess1on OF
Normandy to them by Charles the Simple, A.
d. 912 and on the alliance of his daughter with
their valorous leader Roller when they quickly
became earnest converts to the christian faith
The Normans were unquestlonably the hnest
race Of men that every poured fourth from the
regions of the North. Amidst the barbarlsm,
the obscurity and the ignorance OF the middle
ages, they seemed to rise up like superior gem
Grafton of beings TO advance the cause OF CIVIL
cation and religion. By dint of their bravery
they established themselves in France, founded
dynasty in Italy, wrested Sicily from the Sara
Gems and finally became the conquerors OF Eng
land. They were warm-hearted ana sincere TO
their friends generous and humane to their van
auished enemies, and indeed to them may be
attributed many of the best and highest qualities
which at present constitute the boast OF the Eng
lish and Virginian character.
1t is pleasant then to see our churches built IN
a style which originated and prevailed with our
noble and christian forefathers, and that we are
taught by the same Bible to worship the same
God.
The Staunton Church, tho in the modernized
Norman style,i in consequence of the many mod.
ern improvements, yet retains the round-headed
windows and doors, the stately and magnificent
tower and instead of the open timber roof and
e mid 10 introduced
modern arehed ceiling sunk in deep calsons or
panels by moulded and otherwise ornamented
ribs The crown or keystone rib has the mod
ern movable ventilator inserted, quite unknowh
to our Norman ancestry. The styles and mould
ings of the panel work arc rendered IN walnut
and the sunken panel OF yellow poplar, olied
and vanished on the natural grain. Inc gal
lery front and the ceiling under the ganery are
made to correspond in style and finish, and the
whole effect is most pleasing and presents very
rich appearance. The cornlce, also, winch sur
rounds this audience room is beautiful and IN
accord with the general style Inc pI,p P pnrv
richly treated and yet in perfect good taste Inc
walls are in course of being plastered IN sana
finish with beautiful neutral tint OF french
gray. The stained glass windows have all been
Subscribed for, Understand by individuals.even
to the smallest ones in the two towers The splre
is now rapidly going up which is another OF I'm the
more modern inventions grated on Inc oia NOT
man, but has been accepted by all christians as
the finger of christianity, ever pointing 10 the
dwelling place of the only true God, and direct
ing sill mankind to His throne. L. ID. w.
After reading the above Mr.. Frazier deliver
ed the keys of the building to the Pastor who,
on behalf of the congregation, expressed thanks
to the Committee for the efficient manner IN
,yhich they had discharged the arduous and per-
n1exing duties devolved upon them.
The seth hymn was then sung, after which
Row DR.. Hoge delivered the dedicatory sermon.
Ha took as his text the 22nd verse of the 45th
chapter of Isaiah -
"Iook unto me- and be ye saued, all the ends OF
the earth; for am God and there IS none else"
He prefaced his remarks by stating that he
wouId not preach q sermon like those usually
preached on similar .occasons-that they were
quite proper, but that. on this OCCASION he would
discuss a sub ect of more Importance than those
osuaIly treated of on such occasions. The theme
of his discourse was Salvation" which, in
sermon of an hours length, he discussed in an
able and eloquent manner, and presented forc-
blv th. different important ideas embraced in
the text. which he analysed clearly and illus
trated graphically. AT the conclusion OF MS
discourse, in solemn and impressive manner,
he dedicated the new Church to the worship OF
God, and the preaching of the blessed Gospel OF
Jesus Christ.
at the conclusion of the dedicatory services,
subscriptions for the benefit of the church were
made which amounted to the sum OF SIX hundred
dollars, after which the congre CATION was DIS
missed with the benediction
THANKSGIVING SERVICES.
The thanksgiving meeting in connection with
tho dedication of the church held at o clock
in the afternoon. In addition to the Faster of
that Church the services were participated IN by
Rev Geo. B. Taylor, Pastor of the Baptist
| Church of Staunton !; Rev. Jas. Murray, Pastor
| of Bethel Church in this county; DR.. Moses u.
1 Hoge of Richmond Rev. Dan'l B. Ewing, Pas
. tor of Hebron Church in this county; Rev.
| D. M. Gilbert Pastor of the Lutheran Church
| of Staunton; Rev. j. 1. Miller, Principal of the
Staunton Female Seminary, and Rev. Il. 5.
| Walker. Pastor of Union Church in this coun-
1 ty.
| The services were opened by voluntary,
| Lord of Hosts" by the choir which was rem
dered in admirable style.
| Then an appropriate prayer was offered by
| Rev. Mr. Ewing, after which Rev. Mr.. Gilbert
| read 84th Psalm, 3rd part, which was sung by
| the choir
Rev Mr.. Baker then delivered brief address
| of welcome to the ministers and members of 9TH
| er denominations who were present.
| Rev. Geo. B. Taylor responded on behalf OF
he ministers of Staunton in a sensible and suit
i >manner, after which appropriate addresses