Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-06-07
To THE CITIZENS OF STANTON AND AUGUSTA

10 THE CITIZENS OF STAUNToN AND AUGUSTA
County:
The undersigned, the Committee on
Building for the Presbyterian Congregation
OF Staunton, beg leave respectfully to state
That more than two years ago. the Con-
gregation finding their existing Church edi-
fee inadequate to the accommodation Of their
actual numbers, much less for growth, and
the hospitality due to strangers, and The
building itself in serious dilapidatiun. re-
solved, with great unanimiay, to erect new
and larger one. The enterprise was at once
entered upon, and has been prosecnted with
vigor until it is now SO nearly complete as
to warrant the appointment OF neat Sunday
(9tA) as the day for its public and solemn
dedication to the service of Almighty Cad
In consequence Of two, or perhaps three
flaws in parts of the work ia its progress. it
is thought there may exist in the minds Of
some an honest doubt and apprehens> as
to the perfect security aud stability Of the
work Two OF these were carefully exam
ined and pronounced upon BIZ Col. William
son, the accomplished Professor of Architect
ure and Engineering in thu Va Military
Institute He did not believe any serious
damage had occurred, bus out Of abun liant
caution prescribed correctives. upon tie az
plication of which, he declared over his sig
nature the entire safety, stability and excel
lence of the work. These were promptly
thority Of many practical and experienced
mechanics, builders and others that IL Q
walls and roof of this building are probably
not surpassed any where for strength and
thorough workmanship. So that we are
now able to declare our own conscientious
convictions not merely, but the opinions of
very competent and disinterested judges,
that the new church edGce is in all poin
of strength and stability thoroughly reliable.
In point of architectural beauty Of design
and finish, it has received already the hearty
encomiums Of large number of visitors,
both at home and from abroad
Upon its construction has already been
expended more than twenty-six thot 8 md
($26, 000) dollars, Of this large sum OF
money less than one hundred and fifty dol
lars have been contributed outside Of our
congregation. We think we may challenge
t,e whole history of church building in Viz.
Sllld lOl W lulS Stat0fltGM w G.
have not as yet solicited aid from beyond
our own bounds. But we mean now to do
it. We think there are good and sui1icien
reasons even of business character, and
without appealing to those higher motives
of christian brotherhood and beneicence to
| which we might with propriety and witt
confidence make our appeal, why, the cit
zens Of Stanton in particular, and meas
urably the people of Augusta county. SHOULD
to this enterprise
Nearly the whole of twenty-six thousanl
dollars have been expended amongst you
the contributions of a single one Ct you
town congregations, and a considerabl
further sum has yet to be expended IN lk
manner, in the finishing off and furnishin,
this new church. This money, OF course
has entered and will enter and permeate al
the channels Of trade and reach the source
of production. The result Of all will be tn
addition to your city of house of worshi
creditable to the congregation, creditable t
the city itself and furnishing another attrac
ton to strangers visiting our beautiful Val
ley Of Virginia.
But somewhat heavy debt rests On US
and yet if our people shall have only eaugh
little of that public spirit and ardent Yea
which SO strikingly marked and character
lied the christian association recently met il
Staunton, we feel confident that this Who'll
debt can and easily may be wiped ous b
the contributions of those who have rot 70
been applied to.
At the dedication services, both mornin
and afternoon of next Sabbath, oppoTtunit,
will be offered by printed subscription lse
handed round by the deacons, of receivin;
subscriptions. All proposed contrbo ton
of any magnitude can be set down on these
papers. Small sums Gas of FIVE dollars an,
under) may as we'll be put into TIE boxes a
the time.
We presume that every one OF our Owl
people, even those who have hitherto taxe
themselves the most heavily, young aud old
rich and poor, will feel like bringing in tbei
hands some thauk-offeripg, be it great O
small, to testify their gratitude to cur Heay
emily Father, for having suffered aud enable
us to bring our work so near to completion
Ali which is respectfully submitted
VIM. FRAZIER,
E DAVIS A. KAYSER,
JNO. W. ABBY,