The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-10-26
On motion the Council adjourned.

As was announced in orr last issue, the cere.
mony Of dedicating the handsome and spa
cious brick church, erected on Augusta
street, by the colored Methodists Of the Con-
gregation worshipping there, took place on
last Sabbath at IL O'Clock, a. m. 1t was ex-
pected that Bishop Aimes would be present
to officiatc on the solemn occasion, but not
Jno. S. Martin, d. D., OF the Methodist
Church, South, in Staunton,. was requested
to preach the dedicatory sermon and per-
form the ceremonies OF dedication. There
was an immense concourse ofpeople present,
filling the main floor, and the galleries,
composed Of whites and colored, numbering
at least twelve hundred. 1t being apparent
that all who desired to be seated could not
be accommodated, preaching was announced
for the Lecture room below, and that was
soon filled also.
The exercises were opened by DR.. Martin
reading the hymn commencing
30 thou, whom all thy saints ADORE
We now with all thy saints agree,
And bow our inmost souls before
Thy glorious, awful majesty"
which was sang by the choir, with organ &C :
compartment. An appropriate and effective
prayer was then offered by Rev. W. W.
Foreman, Presiding Elder OF the district, of
which the colored Methodists OF Stanton
constitute part. Another hymn was read
by DR.. Martin, opening,
81 love thy Kingdom, Lord, #f
The house Of thine abode sH
The Church our blest Redeemer bought
With his own precious BLOOD
and sang by the choir and congregation.
Rev. w. W. Foreman, announced that
Bishop Aimes had not arrived, and that DR..
Martin had kindly consented to fill the pull
pit on the occasion. His text was taken
from the Goth chap. and I'll, verse of Isaiah.
Sand will glorify the house of thy glory"
We will not, indeed we cannot, in the
brief space allowed us to-day, attempt to
give synopsis or analysis of the remarkable
sermon delivered on the occasion. As q
mental effort we have never heard. it sur
passed; as presentation of the triumph and
glory of the church OF Christ it was thrilling
in its eloquence. impressive in its earnest
religious fervor. and oycrpowering in the
volume of its scriptural illustrations. There
is always religious force about the sermons
Of DR.. Martin that attracts and rivets the at
tention Of his hearers, but on this occasion
he even surpassed himself, and seemed to
feel in an unusual degree the JUNCTION of the
Holy Ghost. There was scarcely dry eye in
the vast assemblagc, and all felt as the
preacher finished his remarks, that great
work had been done on that beautiful, holy
Sabbath.
At the conclus OF the sermon, the pre-.
siding Elder, Rev. Mr.. Foreman, and the
preacher in charge, Rev. Rob't Steele, an
nounced that there was debt remaining on
the church Of $4,000 and that a collection
would be taken up to assist in its liquida-
ton. The amount in cash and subscriptions
realized was $775.
The solemn ceremony of dedication was
then proceeded with, the Trustees Of the
Church standin e around the altar, and the
officiating and visiting ministers inside. DR..
Martin offered mp the dedicatory prayer, and
Frank I. Ware, on the part Of the Trustees,
presented the church for the purpose. r
The following are the names of the Trus-
tees: Frank I. Ware, Washington Robert,
Il. McDanald, Leo. Scott, C. II. Brock,
Thos. Smith, Frank Ovelton, and David
Davenport.
The following visiting and home preach
ers were present: Revs. w. Fl. Cook, Abra-
ham Title. 70. Davis, II. N. Jeter, Isaac
Brown, Geo. Williams, w. Simpson,, Robert
Steele.
And thus have been consulnmated the
prayers and endeavors of the colored Metho-
dists in Staunton in securing for worship an
imposing and capacious edifce, alike credit
able to their own religious zeal and to the
city in which it is located.