The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-04-13

THE CHURCHES on SUNDAy.-Dr. Martin,
OF the Methodist Church, occupied his pulpit
morning and night, with his usual ability.
At the First Presbyterian, the pastor, Rev.
W. E. Baker, preached at IL a. m. and y
p. m.
At the Baptist, DR.. Manly filled his own
pulpit. -
The pulpit of the Lutheran, was filed by
the pastor Rev. MIR. Minnck.
The Palm Sunday services was held in the
Catholic Church, by Rev. Father Fitzsimmons.
At the Episcopal Church, the Rector, Rev.
w. Q, Hullihen, officiated morning and even
ing. After the evening service closed, the en-
tire congregation remaining, the Rector de-
lvered an affecting address on tile death OF
the great and good Bishop Johns, upon the
conclusion of which, Judge Shelley offered the
following which was unanimously adopted:
ssThe Rector, Vestry and congregation OF
Trinity Church, Stauuton, desire to give ex-
preston to their emotions in connection with
the recent affection which has beflllen them,
the diocese of Virginia, and the church at
large.
1t is peculiarly appropriate that they should
uO So, UCCdttsc icIc. III tAdy, 1919, iC WtioSC
death we mourn was called by the Diocesan
Convention to the holy Office Of Bishop.
| Our Right Reverend Father in God, John
Johns, Bishop of Virginia, has ceased from
earth and has gone to be forever with the
Lord And the Diocese he loved and labored
for so long sits i'll sorrow as one bcreaved.
| Honored servant of the living God We
grieye that we shall see HIS face no more That
the chief messenger of righteousness and mer-
cy and peace shall no more come among us to
cheer, encourage and instruct US. We shall
hear his wondrous cloquencc 10 more. The
tongue which for nearly sixty years proclaim
ed as its most precious theme, .'Jesus Christ
and him crucitied,'' is s.illed in death. The
hand which so long held the Bishops staff,
never as an emblem Of mere power, hut to di-
rect and guide his flock, to keep them in safe
ty, and to warn them away from the Wilder
ness of Sin and the precipices OF error, lies
motion!ess now
No more shall his heroic bolflness in defend
| ING the truth, his far-seeing wisdom, his saga
cious prudence, and his heaven-gyen tact in
guiding the church safely through perils which
threatened it, fill lis with grateful admiration
and with feeling of security and peace !! No
more shall our hearts throb with Christian
sympathy under the inspiring influence of his
words of good cheer to the church, his tender
appeals to wanderers to return to their Fathers
house and love; his reioicings in the liberty
wherewith Christ doth make us free; his
apostolical exhortations to the pastors under
him, rs good shepherds, to feed the f1ocks en-
trlstedsto their care, to keep them in the old,
safe folds, and to carry the lambs in their bo-
SONS with tender love! Never again, as to
him, shall the Diocese Of Virginia have occa
SION to break forth with united praise and
thanksgiving TO God for the gift OF such Bisll-
OBJ, as she did OH the memorable occasion OF
| opening services of the General Convention,
| koI1o i nf
| time of doubt and perpleXity and peril to the
church the thick clouds of portentuous
storm hanging heavily over it, when our Bisll-
op stood up before that grand church assem-
blage and SO preached the simple Cross OF
| Christ, so filled his hearers with love for Je-us,
with faith in God, and hope for the church,
that discord gave way to peace, and the fioiy
Ghost seemed verify to breathe upon that
council of the church. The influence of that
sermon, like silver thread running through
ell tile after-thoughts and sentiments OF the
Convention, and the memory # its sweet,
soothing, and holy poweris still lingering, like
echoes of sacred music, in the minds and hearts
of those who heard it.
No more shall he be to lis, as he was, the ia
ther OF our household, the supreme object OF
cur confidence, reverence: honor and love;
whosceYe watched for our sood, whose wisdom
planned for our peace and safety, and whose
| very presence was to lis a tower OF strength
and shelter for rcpose!
And now that he has laid aside the :caIe Of
| all the Churches and has gone to his rest, we
rejoice to know how lie prayed for the peace
of our beloved Zion to the last; how, In the
great sweet calm in which he lay for days Eefore
lie died, as little child in the arms OF his Fa-
thcr, without Il fear for himself, and without a
cloud over the peace Of his own soul, he prayed
with strong yearnings for his people, and for
the church of Virginia-the church Of his love.
| end ora thot thn haa rt af that church
be touche by divine power in answer to those
prayers, and that it may renew its VOWS, and
follow him as he followed Christ
1t is not our purpose to speak OF the rare
personal, intellectual, and spiritual attrb utcs
OF our beloved Bishop; suffice it to say, that
ever since he was set over us by God he has
seemed to us to be the Model of a Spiritual
Overseer, and Chief Pastor; and as years rolled
on, and AS his hand began to tremble, aud his
voice to show in its tone that age was coming
on, although full strength for his duties was
vouclisafed him; and our constant prayers to
the Great Shep herd and Bishop, of the Church
were: Spare him Q Lord, Spare him yes
| longer
| And those prayers were. for long n time, an
swered-hc kept his arfaor on, still doing hist
Masters work--hc passed beyond the :nark of
fourscore years, and then, at sne bidding of his
Father, laid his ..s,nor down, and like the Pa
| trar3,I Of old, blessed and prayed for the OBJ
| jects OF his love; and then went to his rest re-
jocing; nay, rather to his higher acork in
| Heaven
| And we who are left mourning, still thank
| God for having such a Bishopl Precious in
the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints
And as we turn our fearful eye from him who
is gone, to the church he has left, we pray that
4 our Heavenly Father may enrich with all spir-
| itual benedicton and Grace and love and may
preserve to be a continued blessing to that
| Church, him, who is now the Bishop of Vir-
| ginia, and who is in our hearts as Elisha in the
affections Of the faithful of old after the mantle
of Elijah had fallen upon him.
Aud, therefore, it is resolved, that the fore
going Memorial Minute be entered on the re-
cords Of the parish and that the Register OF
the Vestry be requested to transmit to the fam
ly Of Bishop Johns, one copy thereof, and an
other to the Southern Churchnsan for publ
| cation.
/ PALM SUNDAY.--The services at the Catho-
lie Church in coImemo: alton of Palm Sunday
were very interesting. This festival is one OF
the Oldest in the Christian Church, and was
| instituted to commemorate the triumphal en-
| try of Jesus Christ into the city OF Jerusalem
| five days before His cruciiixion, when, as re-
tI,o In hot If