Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-01-14

| progress. The number OF churcn memoerS ma
greatly increased; the Seminary, under Mlsse
Baldwin & McClung, has grown to its presen
dimensions, accommodating within It's wal
over one hundred and twenty FIVE pupils, be-
| sides officers and employees; and, the size o.
the congregation demanding it, the work Of
| erecting larger and more commodious church
edifce was commenced in the Summer of 1870
| The congregation worshipped In the old church
| for the last time, June 25th, 1871, and the
| next day it was occupied by workmen, to be
| fitted up for purposes connected with the Sem
mary. The new church is now completed and
is one of the handsomest and most comfortable
in the State, accommodating 1000 persons COM
fortably. It is lighted with gas and has all the
modern improvements. The excavation for
this building was commenced July 10th, 1870,
upon site nearly opposite to that Of the old
church on Frederick street, and it was finished
in June, 1872, and consecrated Sunday, june
9th-the Rev. Moses d. Hogc, of Richmond,
preached the sermon and an immense concourse
were present There are now 280 members,
aad IA joined in 1872. Number OF Sunday
school scholars on the roll, 800: average atten-
dance. 260; number of teachers, 42; average
attendance, 38. Contributed by Sunday school
in 1872, $500. The value of church property
is $4S, 900; of school property, 1000, upon
which Misses Baldwin & McClung have paid
up lease for Is years yet Salary of preacher,
$500 and house furnished. Sexton, $l20.-
Weekly contribution for 1872 $l576. Debt of
church, $4,000
The Augusta Female Seminary. under the
accomplished management of Miss Mary Julia
Baldwin, has met with a success rarely chroni-
cled, even in this age of wonders. The school
was langulshing whensbe took it, and it now
turns OFT many each year, in spite OF it's large
additions, and last session had 1873 pupils. -
Other additions are to be made and nothing
left undone to keep it fully abreast of the en-
lightened demands Of the age and the church
which SO aobly supports it. Its Trustees are i:
John Wayt, President; VIM. Frazier, VIM.
M. Tate, Davis A. Kayser, Joseph Addison
Waddel Rev. VIM e. Baker, Rev. Patterson
Fletcher, Col Bolivar Christian. VIM j. Mel
son, John K. Woods. Gen. John Echols, Rev.
D. B. Ewing, Rev. FL. Murray, Rev. G. B.
Stricken.
The Methodist Episcopal Church
South.
The history of the first Methodist pioneers in
the Valley is meagre and what we can gather
from aged persons, nov living, not as satisfactory
as We could wish, until March 1st, 1903. when
Jacob Swoope and Mary, his wife. for the
sum of fifty pounds specie, decided acre, Of
lot %, to Wright Burgess, Samuel Merritt,
VIM. King, Jno. d. Gseaver, Smith Tomp-
kins and Vim. Dickey, and their successors
forever for church purposes
Before this time, even among the first hardy
settlers in 1888, there came the devoted iol-
lowers OF Wesley, many falling martyrs to their
faith among the savage Indians, but ever
holding true the word aud goiag about. among
49,
good to all, and sowing the seeds that have
since brought forth fruits Of sweet SAVIOR and
righteousness in our midst. Before the church
was established, We hear OF the omnipresent
circuit rider, that pioneer of Gods word
In all lands, with tireiess energy and devotion,
making his weary rounds among the scattered
settlers and Indians. Daunted by no obstacles,
working ior nothing, and paying his own
board" 10 use the forcible expression of the
Oldest settler, often treated with scorn and
contempt by the better classes, still he fought
on, sure OF that reward promised Dy Christ to
those who love the Lord and mantuy serve
him here on earth. To this then poor and
despised class this country owes much aud We
hope yet TO see ADLER pens pay lifting tribute
10 their character, courage, faith and long sui
terlug, and, even IN this hasty sketch, where
We oan only glance at the few prominent facts
as we hurry on, we cannot forOear adding our
testimony to the chapiot OF glory which CRATE
full church and people will, one day, feel honor
ed in paving 70 the unrecorded but none the less
heroic and Christian lives OF the early pioneers
OF Methodsm in the Great West Augusta.
1.-The first church, on the ground now occupied
by the present one, was built Of brick In 1907, by
George MITCHELL and the membership was NOT
over rs whites, and about as many colored.- =
Wm. King, (who is described in Trinity church
history, as ''devotedly piOus Methodist,
though an uniearned man, aud who was after
wards taken by Trinity as Deacon) was the first
preacher on the circuit. Then followed In sue
oesslon Wright Burgess, Gerard Morgan,
Christopher Fry, VIM. Craven, an able but ex-
centric man, who said ''the Eplscopailans could
not take him as they had King, and proclaim
ed himself, "God Amigbiys bull dog to bark
the devil cut OF StauDton. Lewis fectake came
next and then followed MIR. Sewei!, Tobias
Rieey, lin 1823) Samuel Clarke (l824,} Wm.
Monroe, JAS Berkeley, (lS25, and BASH Barry,
George Hit, one OF the ablest diVlnes that
ever preached in the city, was the first station
ed preacher for 1882 to 1886. Then John
Herring, Kobt. Lipscomb, who married Ellz-
abeth, eldest daughter OF Philip Hopkins, Benz.
A. Brown, Jno. S. Martin, George Morgan,
and Mr.. Annus came back in 1929. After him
Rev. Norve Wilson was Z. e., for years, and
Lpscomb and Martin preachers In 1886, the
last year Mr.. Martin.preached, the second brick
church was built. Then came John y. Lyons,
George Cheneworth, Mr. Wheeler, Samuel
Brown, z. E., and then James Brown, and
John Bowen, and Rev. Robt. Eidrick Veitch,
In 1914. john Cravens, "a saint among the
people," ("Aunt Sally Fuller, member of
the church tor SO years, called him, and here
let Us thank CUR friend from boyhood tor most
Of our facts.) who died 10 lS46. Then Thomas
Reese, Thos. Lemon, and Geo. CheDeworth
came back again. Then Jno. Thrush, Thomas
Mitchell, John Reid, John Green, Geo. g.
Brooke, Jos. H. w heeler, in 1S60-'6l, when the
present church was built at a COST Of So, ,O00.-
Then Rev. Joha Dice, George Kramer, and
last the present able Incumbent. Rev. Ii. Il.
Kennedy.
Relying upon the memory Of others for these
| facts we have no doubt omitted some names IN
the houored roll OF those who filled the pulpit
here. we may say, &imost literally without
money and without price for all the long years
gone. There has been two Conferences held
| here. the first in l849, and the second IN March
| 1861, which was very exciting and Interesting
and that dissolved its connection with the church
| North on the General Conference making op-
| position to slavery test OF membership. Judge
| Bond, who is now the Radical Jefreys of the
| U. S. Courts South, was the leader OF the
Southern party in this Conference. At the
close of the war, the church lost large color
| ed membership, which has since formed two
| Colored Methodist Churches here, bus it has
more than replaced it with whites Its progress
has been healthy and steady and reviVals have
been frequent and always successful. Our full
weekly reports of Mr.. Kossers wonderful and