The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-24
An niversary Of BAPTIST Church.

ganization of the Baptist church OF this city
was celebrated last Saturday and Sunday
and proved enc Of the most interesting oc
casions known in the history of Stanton
There were present a number OF prominen
persons from abroad, and the attendance ootl
on Saturday and Sunday was very large.
Saturday morning Rev. ". Il. Williams
delivered an interesting sermon, ana al
night DR.. Jeter preached to very large au
dience,
Sunday morning the venerable Dr. Jeter,
again preached to q crowded house. deliver
ing sermon Of great power and impress
iveness. after whicl, thank offering Of 325t
was taken up.
Sunday afternoon the services consisted o.
recital OF the history of the Church OF thi.
place, from its foundation 10 the presen
time. Rev. Dr. Rice, the first pastor, ant
one of the founders who labored unceasing ly
to establish the Church, gave a brief but
highly interesting review Of the trials ant
troubles Of the young organization, after
which DR.. Manly, read the the following pa
per prepared by himself:
BRIEF HISTORY OF srAUNToN BAPTIST
CHURCH.
The importanc eff Baptist church in Staun-
ton was recognized by the denomination
throughout the state long before one actu-
ally organized. In 1884, the attention of the
General Association was directed to this place
as a point to be occupied, and Elder James B.
Tay Tor was appointed chairman of commit
tee to secure suitable man to occupy the field.
Two years later, Elder Lenas Freeman, a North
ern man, was sent as q missionary to Stanton
and its vicinity, He labored especially in
Waynesboro, where he lost his wife. He did
good work and left fragrant memory; but af-
ter preaching q few times in the Methodist and
Presbyterian churches in Staunton, he report
ed that no progress could be made without
house of worship. In consequence of failing
health. he soon left the country.
Al that time and for years after, there was
probably not white Baptist in OF near Staun-
ton. There was, however, a colored man named
tedly pious and an ardent Baptist, who contin-
ually prayed that he might live to see a Baptist
church in the klaee His prayer was an
one Of the constituent members.
In 1S49 Elder Thomas W. Roberts was sent as
missionary to Nelson and Augusta counties;
and soon after, Laurel Hill church was organ
lied. Meanwhile a number of colored and
few white persons either removed TO Staunton,
already Baptists, or became such in connection
with the services at Laurel Hill. In 1852, Co
shen Association, then conducting its mission
airy operations independently, sent DR.. S. B.
Rice as missionary to the field; and on the
10Th day of October. of the next year, the church
Elders {. W. Allen, Samuel Harris, and Charles
Wingfield. AS to the number of constituent
members, there seems to be some uncertainty.
According to the recollection of some, there
were seven; of others, nine; while the exist
ing Register of names gives twenty-nine as
the week following the organization, states
that ''twenty-nine white and about forty col
ored communicates were received A sermon
in connection with the constitution was
preached by Elder L. w. Allen, from JOHN
xviii: 36,-"fy kingdom is not Of this gortd,''-
the church.
The minutes of the first meeting. Oct. 10th,
are as follows:-
after the organization, the church met for
the purpose of transacting business. Where
upon Elder S. B. Rice was unanimously elect
ed Pastor of the church, and Brother w. H.
Peyton was unanimously elected Clerk Breth-
rem Rice, Taylor and Peyton were appointed
committee to arrange list of colored mem
bers belonging to this church. Adjourned.
The next business meeting, of which any rec
ord is made. Dec 9TH, lS56,-more than
three years after. Whether there acas no bust
ness meeting or the minutes We're lost does
not appear. The Pastor was much of his time
absent engaged in the important work of Sc
curing funds for building house of worship.
of the Blue Ridge. At the laying of the corner
stone Of the present building. June 26th, 1855.
DR.. ]. L. Burrows delivered an address in the
Episcopal church. By the time the basement
ready to be occupied, A. P. Abel, ESQ.,, an
enthusiastic Sunday School man, removed to
day School. This materially stimulated Sun
day School work throughout the whole town.
On the 18th of January, 1857. S. F; Taylor, D.
P. Powers, and J. A. Yancey, were elected Dea-
church July 18th following, and was Succeeded
ication sermon of the House of Worship on the
second Lords Day in December, 1S57,-the main
audience room being that day for the first time
opened for worship: The membership then
was about twenty (see minutes of February
18th, 1868, and congregation had yet to be
gathered. Under the wise and energetic lead
ership of DR.. Taylor, the remnant of the church
debt was paid in a few years, and several rev-
walls steadily increased the church and congre-
Nov. 9th, 1858, "Wm. H. Peyton, R. Summer
son. and VIM E. Patterson. were elected Dea-
cons, to fill the vacancies occasioned by the re-
moval of Brethren Powers and Yancey." And
June 9TH. 1853, VIM. D. Gambler was elected
Deacon in place of Brother Patterson, removed,
and Jno. FL. Taylor was licensed to preach.
The General Association met with this church,
in its first session West of the Blue Ridge, on
the 3lst of May, 1860. From this meeting. the
church derived much benefit. During the year
1860, DIR: Taylor, spent several months in
in 1861, the church was aided by Goshen Asso-
citation. During the war, in addition to his
pastoral duties, the Pastor sometimes taught
school and sometimes acted as Chaplain-thus
adding something to the salary provided by the
church felt itself constrained to appeal to the
Domestic Mission Board of the Southern Bap-
fist Convention for aid in sustaining the Pastor.
February lSth 1865 three additional Deacons
were elected, WIZ. A. English, P. 3. Hoge,
and E. w. Hartman. On the LIST of July of the
sence for four or five weeks to act as agent of
Hollins Institute. On the 9Th of July, in ac-
mission were ordered to be granted to such of
the colored members desired thena to organ
ize a colored Baptist church, which has since
prospered in our midst. Their present number
of members is -. At the same meeting DR.,
B. Sears was received into the church.
February %, 1869, DR.. Taylor resigned his
charge of the church, to take effect July ist,
having accepted the position of Chaplain of the
University Of Virginia The church then num-
a me hnr In
in September of the same year, by Elder VIM.
Harrison Williams, who continued to be Pastor
Bro G. F. Fry ordained to the ministry
During the pastorate of Elder Williams, the
valuable members came to Staunton. Prof. John
Harris school was removed from Charlottes d.
Vile to Staunton. and a meeting ofgreat interest
and value was held in connection with the la
bOrS of Elder A. B. Earle
On the resignation of Elder Williams, Dr.
Geo. B. Taylor was recalled, and returned to
the charge of the church the following August.
In the mean time, the pulpit was supplied by
Elder John E; Massey and Prof John Hart.
On the LIST of September, 1871. Bros. John Hart
and w. M. Turner were elected Deacons.
In 1872 the General Association again met in
undertake to raise a Memorial Endowment for
Richmond College of 100000, and from the be-
Pastoral duties to engage in the Memorial work.
He continued in this till April 9th, when he
resigned, to accept the appointment of Mission
airy to Rome, Italy, where he has since faithfully
1abored. This church contributed to the Me-
mortal Fund So 000 When DIR. Taylor undertook
the Memorial work, Elder J. f. Deans was en-
gagged to supply the pulpit, and he labored with
great acceptance till July, when he removed
from StaGnton. While Bro. Deans was supply
ing the church, Bro. w. e. Pearson was Or
dained, March 10th, to the work of the ministry
The present Pastor began his labors on the
numbered 29S MEMBERSHIP having been re-
ceived into fellowship altogether up to that
time. During the following winter, the Pastor
made some visits to Waynesboro and succeeded
in gathering few Baptists for worship, to
whom, in a short time, Elder S. ?. Huff con-
sented to minister once month. The divine
blessing attended the labors put forth there: q
number were added to the little band, until on
the 10th of September, 1876 forty-one members
were dismissed by letter to form a separate
church in Waynesboro, which now numbers
seventy-siX members aud is enjoying the pas
toral services of Elder VIM. A. Whitescarver
merson, w. H. Peyton, b. Sears, w. D. Gambler
and j. 3. Hoge were appointed committee to
make arrangements as soon as possible to pro-
cure dwelling to be owned by the church for
the PASTORS Home. On the 10th of the follow
ing October, the committee were authorized to
purchase for $1,000 the dwelling in which the
Pastor now resides. The ladies of the church
have already paid $1,000 on the amount due:
and it is hoped that the other payments will
be met promptly as they fall due The church
is otherwise out of debt.
On the 30th June, 1875, Bro. w. o. Thomas
and John Il. Hoge were elected Deacons.
The present Church Manuel was adopted May
Sth, 1873, setting forth the articles of Faith ana
On the 9Th Of October following, Bro. j. S,
Gillian and i. s. uitl tho