Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-08-28
Convention or the Evangelical Luther
an Synod OF Virginia.

Forty.eighth Convention or the Evangelical Luther
an Synod OF Virginia.
This Synod convened in the Salem Lutheran
Church. near Mt Sidney, in this county, on the
morning of the 2srd inst, with large atter-
dance of ministers and lay delegates.
The Synod was organized by the election Of
the following officers:
President-Rev. r. G. Holland, of Shepherds
town;
Secretary-Rev. j. H. Barb, Harrisonburg;
Ireds,wer-Rev. P. Miller of Woodstock.
During the year the Synod has lost two men,
bers by death: Revs. 1. Baker and A. Buhr-
man.
Rev. T. W. Dosh, D. D., President Of Roanoke
College, presented his letter OF dismission from
| the Synod of North Carolina to the Synod OF
| Virginia, and was received as member OF the
latter body.
| The reports on the state OF the Church showed
| O steady growth in numbers and Christian lib
| erality. During the past year the membership
| of the Church has increased l91. Most of the
congregations are in q growing condition, and
the outlook of the Church in the Valley is gem
orally of an encouraging character.
| Rev. w. c. Schaeffer. pastor Of the English
| Lutheran congregation in Richmond, reported
that during the past year q neat Chapel has
been erected on the lot purchased in that city,
and asked tho liberal support of the Synod in
the erection of fine church building. Mr..
Schaef1er's earnestness and enthusiasm in the
work, together with his great success, have won
for him the confidence of his denominations
The Synod heartily endorsed his efforts and
pledged its continued support and assistance.
The President Of Roanoke College and the
Principal ofStaunton Female Seminary, being
members of the Synod, made reports of the con-
dition of those institutions.
Rev. DR.. Dosh reported that although Roa-
noke College had met with an irreparable loss
in the death of the late DR.. Bitte, President for
% years. yet the success of the institution since
his death, and its bright prospects are tokens
of the continued favor Of God and signs of en-
| enlargement to all friends of the College.
Prof. Miller stated that the staunton Female
Seminary in q fiourishing condition the last
session, having been more prosperous than any
previous year, and the next session promises to
far exceed the last.
The following delegates were elected to the
next meeting of the General Synod (South) to
be held in Newberry, N. c., next May:
| C2ericol-Revs. T. w. Dosh, D. D.. D. M. Gill
bert, J. I. Miller, and w. c. schaefrer.
Lay-W. E. Craig, Esq. of Staunton; DIR. J..
Fl. Neff. of Harrisonburg; Mr.. VIM. Heiser. of
| Salem Church. and Prof. s. 8. Smeltzer.
| On Saturday morning an address was deliv-
cred the life work of the late President Bit
tle of Roanake College, Prof. ]. D. Dreher, after
| which Rev. DR.. Yonce, Of the Faculty, gave
| some personal "Reminiscences in the life of DIR.
Blttle.
| On Sunday morning the Rev. W. G. Schaeffer
and Mr.. VIM. J. Smith addressed the Sunday
School.
| AT II o'clock, Rev. D.. NJ. Gilbert preached in
| the Church, which was crowded mostly with
ladies, and Rev. Mr.. Schaeffor delivered an
earnest sermon in the grove adjoining the
Church.
| After these exercises very large number
| partook of the Holy Communion
| Sunday afternoon addresses on Mission were
made by Revs. Holland and Schaefer, and
Prof. Dreher.
AT night the Rev. DR.. Dosh preached the Or
| dination sermon and the Revs. W. G. Campbell
and James Willis were ordained to the holy
ministry, the order laid down in the Book of
Worship being followed in this ceremony.
The Church in Staunton represented by
lay delegate DR.. s. 81. Henkle.
This Synod, while it is called the Synod of
Virginia, embraces only a portion of the State.
-->-~<
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC AND ExCUR-
SION, of the Staunton Methodist Schools, at FIT.
Defiance on last Wednesday, was an occasion
of very great pleasure and was enjoyed by
about one thousand people. The train from
this place was crowded with upwards of six
hundred passengers, and the up-train from
Harrisonburg contributed quite large number
of representatives from the Sunday School OF
| that place-principally young ladies and gen.
| tlemen. In addition to the various schools
represented the grounds there was large
number of persons present from the neighbO :
hood of Fort Defiance and surrounding coun-
try.
The amusements consisted of swinging. play
ing croquet, &C., together with many OF the
games chat used to be played far back in "ye
| olden times" all OF which were entered into
and enjoyed with great zcst by both young and
old people.
| The dinner which was the grand feature OF
| the OCCASION was had about the middle of the
day, and we think we can truthfully say that
ALL enjoyed this part of the programme. We
saw one man who said that he had eaten
| eighteen dinners and had twenty EIGHT invita-
| tions on his memorandum card in response to
which he was unable to come to time, as 1t was
not a very good day for eating Being unable
| to fill all his engagements to take dinner, he
| topped off by playing stealing partners"
"here we go round the rosy-bush," &C.. in
which he kissed the girls with gusto and rel
ish equal to that of a young man of sixteen
summers. It may be well to state that he was
| q man of about forty-five or fifty years, and
| that his wife was not present.
| A general feeling ofjoyousness seemed to per-
| wade the entire assemblage, and all who did
not enter into some one or the other of the diff
| ferent modes of expressing their happiness, If
there were any such, must have been destitute
of merry emotions or been suffering from a
chronic case of the gruffs.
| Financially the excursion was a success. The
managers sold enough tickets at forty cents for
adults and twenty-five cents for children. to
pay all expenses CT the train, &c, besides fur
nishing transportation to the schools free, with
| Sl7 net profit.
| We are glad to see that the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad are fitting up the beautiful grove at
| Fort Defiance with a special reference to the
accommodation of picnic and pleasure parties.
They have already erected large platform
with music stand, and several large swings,
and other necessary fixtures. We have no
| doubt this place will very soon become place
| of general resort by pleasure parties along the
line of the Valley Railroad, as its location and
| the beauty Of the grove must necessarily make
| it an attractive place.
THE "QUIDDITY.''-"Well, really, would
like to know what a 'quiddity' ISL" said an old
lady the other night Fort Defiance. why it is
a-'whatis it?' - replieda f1ippant young gentle
man from the city, hastily retreating behind
the latest style collar. Whilst this same ques-
ton was on the lips Of ALL yet they seemed per-
fectly satisfied that the entertainment given by
the ladies of the "Old Stone" Church on last