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

| energetic IN canyassing and raising funds tC
start the school. The amount of stock first ia
ken was So, 500 bu, it was afterwards increased
to SIG, 800 and the Diocese of Virginia became
the principal owner and the school has ever
been under Its supervision and mostly main
tanned by it. The first building would accom-
modate only 90 pupils but in. 1856 Mr. Phil
lips built large addition, and in 1870 the large
Music Hall. For some years Judge Shefey
was prlnclpal and very successful, but his du-
ties called him to his profession, and Mr.. Phil
lips has been principal ever since It now has
music rooms, dining rooms, parlors, baggage
rooms, bath rooms, and all the modern conye-
pienccs and appliances for health and comfort
| also beautiful walks and grounds and is worth
500, 900 The number Of scholars is over 100.
The buildings were greatly injured during the
var, and the school closed, and used by the
| State for the d., d. & B, for which it lately
recovered 81 500 Mozart Hall is near to it and
| when finished. will be a worthy and fitting mon
ument to Its President and the Principal of the
Y. E. 1.-The Rev r H. Phillips who has
devoted his life s work to the moral and men
tai Improvement aud adornmens of the love-
liest OF Gods creatures
The Board of Trustees are: RI. Rev. Bish-
op johns, President; Wn H Tams, Secreta-
ry; Dr. +. I. Stribling, Thomas J. Niche,
Benz. Crawford, Maj. Fl. NJ Bell. Niche K
Trout, Thos. q. Elder, and Gen. T. Il. Smith
The Presbyterian Church.
The first regular settlement by Europeans In
the Valley of Virginia, was made 10 Frederick
county, near Winchester, in the year 1882 !;
and immediately hereafter tide Of immlgra-
ton flowed III from Pennsylvania Numerous
settlements were made In Augusta before the
year 1873. The early settlers Of Augusta were
of the race called 'Scotch Irish," and many
of them were natives of the North of Ireland.
They came 10 this new country to engage in ag-
riculthre, and neither they nor their descend
ants for many generations, manifested dspo-
sition to congregate in towns or villages Asa
class they we're earnest Presbyterians, and one
OF their chief cares was to establish the public
worship Of God Hence We find within fifteen
years after The h!st settlement in Frederick,
Presbyterian congregations Ia Augusta and 9TH
er parts OF the Valley.
Stanton, although laid off in l749, was for
more than half ceotury but small village
Many OF the people living here and 10 the Vi
cinity, belonged 70 Tlnkling Spring congrega-
ton. There worshipped John Lewis, the
founder Of Stanntop, and John Preston, both
from Ireland The latter lived about half a
mile Northwest OF the town, aud the former
some two miles East of the town, On the creek
which bears his name, Oh Belle Fonte farm.
The first sermon ever preached In Augusta
county. was at the house Of john Lewis in the
year 1913, by the Rev. James Anderson, who
had been sent sty the Synod Of Philadelphia to
Governor Gouch, soliciting protection for the
Presbyterian settlers in Virginia.
Until q comparatively recent date, the Pres
byteriars Of Siauuton provided no house of
worship in the village; and it, prior to the rev.
olUtionary war, ministers from the country ever
preached ia town, the meetings were held in
the Courthouse or Ia private houses The
Church of England vas established by Law 10
the Colony, and z parish church was erected in
Staunton in 1910 With brick made in England
and brought ovor he Blue kidge.on horseback
After the Revolution the Presbyterians and
Epiacopalians occupied this building on alter
nate Sabbatbs.
The Rev James Waddell. D. D., settled in
Augusta, as the Pastor OF Tinkling Spring, in
1776, and in 1888 formal call was made for
his services by linking Spring and Staunton,
and the salary offered was $3.50.
What Presbyterian minister oEficiated in the
church here from 1884 till 1871, We cannot as
certain. In the year last named, the Rev. j Ohm
McCue became Pastor of linking Spring and
Staunton. From 1899 till 1904 the Rev. Joho
Glendg preached occasionally in Staunton.
During all this time, there appears to have
been no regular organization of the Staunton
church by presbytery. On the 9th of May,
1904, Presbytery appointed Rev. John Mont
gomery OF Rocky Spring, and the Rev. Benja
min Erwin, OF Messy Creek, to perform that
service The church consisted originally OF on
ly fifteen or twenty members. The first ruling
Elders elected and ordained, were !: Joseph
Bell, Joseph Cowan, Andrew Barry and Sam
uel Clarke.
In 1905, the Rev. Wm. Calhoun removed to
Staunton, and in August, 1906, at Brown g
Meeting House (now Hebrou) he was installed
Pastor OF the united congregations OF Brown s
Meeting House aud Stanton. During Mr..
Calhoon' pastorate, in 1918, the church build
ing until recently oc .upled by the congregation
was erected. alr. Calhoon devoted his whole
time to Hebron, after April 9th, 1926. but be-
fore be left StauntoU the church had greatly
increased
The next Pastor was the Rev. Joseph Smith
who was Installed April 29th, 1926. The Rev.
Francis Mcfarland preached the sermon usual
on such occasions.
One who was child ia 1880 furnishes some
facts illustrative OF church manners and GUS
toms at that time. The galleries of the church
were occupied almost exclusively by colored
people, Many Of the coiored then attended
preaching regularly. The bell was suspended
In the gallery opposite the pulpit. ltwas rung
only once, about an hour before the service be-
gan, and during the ringing the window next
the bell was holsted TO allow the sound to es-
CAPE The singing Was led by clerk, as he
was called who stood alone IL front OF the con-
gregation aud raised the tune. Before Mr.. 5.
lelt Staunton, choir was organized. During
PRAYER the congregation stood with their backs
to the pulpit. Taow candles were used to
light the church, and the sexton went round
once in every twenty or thirty minutes to snuff
them. On communion Sundays, a long table
was snread in front OF the pulpit, at which all
the church members sat; and as there were
several successive tables, the services were
generally protracted.
A Sunday school was then (lS26). started
and has been main aimed ever since.
DR. Netteton spent the Winter OF 1889 il
Stanton. and his labors here did much good
| Mr. smith resided ia S.aunton more thar six
wears and then resigned his charge. For near
| iv two wears thereafter, the church remained
vacant. The Rev John s. Watt ot6ciated for
six months during the interval. The Rev.
John Steele was elected Pastor iG 1884. He
remained here more than three years, and was
succeeded by Rev. Paul Il. Stevenson, OF New
York. He was installed June Sth, 1888.
The Augusta Female Seminary was founded
about l840 by key. RUFUS W. Bailey. Trus-
tees we're selected, an act OF incorporation was
obtained FROM the Legislature, aud the centre
buiIding erected. The Ruling Elders at this
neriod we're Samuel Clarke, j Ohm q. Sewers,
Jacob Lease, DIR. A Waddell, William Ii. Al
len. T.yttleton Waddeil, aud William A. Bell.
| M q 4oronOon RESIGNED in 1914 and was suc-