Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-22


TORY OF THE srAUNToN CHURCH-AN INTER-
EsTING LETTER FROM REV. GEO. b. TAYLOR
NOW IN RoME-ADDRESSES. &c.
Last Saturday and Sunday were days OF great
interest to the members of the Staunton bap-
fist church, as well as to members of other de-
nominations, it being the 25thEanniversary OF
the organization Of the church in this place
The attendance on the ceremonies OF this quar-
to-centennial celebration, from Saturday morn
ing until Sunday night, were very large, Inc
church being crowded on every occasion.
A number OF persons were here from dis
tance among them the following Minister'S
DIR. ]. l.. M. Curry and DR.. j. B. Jeter, OF Rich
mond; Rev. VIM. H. Williams, former Pas
tor Charlottesville; Rev. 8. P. HUH, Batesvlllei
Rev. Geo. B. Eager, Lexington; Rev. VIM. A
Whitescarver, Waynesboro; Rev. Mr.. Kemper
Harrisonburg; and DR.. S. B. Rice and Rev
Sam'l Harris, who were closely identified with
the early history of the church.
On Saturday morning religious services were
conducted and an interesting sermon preached
by Rev. VIM. H. Williams from Isaiah, 18th
chapter, verses. 10. and IL :-"For as the rain
cometh down, and the snow from heaven
and returneth not thither, but watereth the
earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, thai
it may give seed to the sower and bread to the
eater: SO shall my word be that goeth out o.
my mouth; it shall not return unto me void
but it shall accomplish that which please, and
it shall prosper in the thing whereto sent it. ,
On Saturday night it was expected that Rev
S. P. Huff would deliver the sermon, but he ar
rived too late to keep his appointment, and his
place was filed by Rev. DR.. Curry. who preach
ed to a crowded house from the Sth chapter o.
John, 18th rse:-"I am one that beareth wit
ness of myself, and the Father that sent me
beareth witness of me.''
Sunday was beautiful, bright day, and the
attendance to hear DIR. letter was unusually
large. He preached an earnest, touching ser
mon from the words :-"And the Lord added tt
the church daily such as should be saved" Hi
| manner was remarkably energetic and active
when we remember that he Is now in his 80tf
year. His words were listened to with a pecu
liarly reverential feeling as coming from 6
Father in the church and Patriarch in The
House of the Lord
After the sermon a thank-offerlng for the
blessings bestowed upon the church was made
by the congregation, which amounted to the
| handsome sum of $3.50.
In the afternoon the church was again crowd
| ed to hear the History of the Church, pre-
| pared by the Pastor. Rev. DIR. Manly, and a let
d.
| of the church, and now located in Rome, Italy
Addresses were also made by Rev. Sam'l Har
| ris and DR.. s. b. Rice, a tall. fine-looking mar
| of over eighty years, relating his efforts anG
| first experiences here missionary and frs
| Pastor of the church. were peculiarly interest
| ing and affecting. The chief points of these adj
dresses will be found in the following:-
BRIEF HISTORY OF sTAUNToN BAPTIST
CHURCH.
The importanc eff Baptist church in Staun.
ton was recognized by the denomination
| throughout the state long before one was actu
| ally organized. In 1884, the attention OF the
| General Association was directed to this place
| as point to be occupied, and Elder James B
| Taylor was appointed chairman of a commit
| tee to secure a suitable man to occupy the field
Two years later, Elder Lenas Freeman, a North
| ern man. was sent as missionary to Stauntor
and its vicinity. He labored especially il
| Waynesboro', where he lost his vile. He die
| good work and left a fragrant memory; but af
| Ter preaching few times in the Methodist anC
Presbyterian churches in Staunton, he report
| ed that no progress could be made without 8
house of worship: In consequence of failing
health he soon left the country.
| At that time and for years after, there was
probably not white Baptist in or near Staun-
ton. There was, however, colored man named
tedly pious and an ardent Baptist, who contin-
ually prayed that he might live to see Baptist
swered and his master, as well as himself, was
one of the constituent members.
In IS49 Elder Thomas w. Roberts was sent as
missionary to Nelson and Augusta counties;
and, soon after, Laurel Hill church was organ
lied Meanwhile, number of colored and a
few white persons either removed to Staunton,
already BaptiSts, or became such in connection
with the services at Laul ell Hill. In 1857 Go
shen Association, then conducting its mission
airy operations independently, sent DIR. s. B.
Rice as missionary to the field; and, on the
10Th day OF October. of the next year, the church
was organized by a Presbytery consisting OF
Elders L. w. Allen, Samuel Harris and Charles
y,rGn oil Ia tn nj nCfi fnnr
members, there seems to be some uncertainty.
According to the recollection of some, there
were seven; OF others, nine; while The exist
Original members;" and the SPECTATOR, OF
the week following the organization. states
ored communicates were received" A sermon
in connection with the constitution was
preached by Elder 1. ". Allen from JOHN
and Elder Samuel Harris delivered charge to
The minutes of the first aaseting. Oct 10th
AFTER the or aniZation the church met fol-
the purpose of transacting business. Where
upon Elder S. B. Rice unanimously elect
ed Pastor of the church, and Brother w. H
| Peyton was unanimously elected Clerk. Breth-
rem Rice, Taylcr end Peyton were appointed a
committee to arrange q list of cOlOred men,
| bers belonging to this church. Adjourned.
The next business meeting, OF which any rec
ord is made Dec. 9TH, iS56,-more than
three years after Whether there acas no busi-
ness meeting or the minutes were 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
Most of the funds contributed were from East
of the Blue Ridge. At the laying of the corner.
| stone of the present building, June 18th, 1855
| DIR. ]. l.. Burrows delivered an address in the
| Episcopal church. By the time the basement
was ready to be occupied, A. P. Abel, ESQ.,, an
enthusiastic Sunday School man, removed to
Staunton and soon COLLECTED a flourishing Sun
| day School. This materially stipulated Sun
On the 10Th of January, 1857. s. F. Taylor. D.
P. Powers, and J. A. Yancey, were elected Dea-
| cons. DR.. Rice resigned his charge of the
church July l4th following. and was succeeded
| by Elder Geo. B. Taylor, who preached the Ded.
| ication sermon of the House of Worship on the
second Lords Day in December, 1857 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
| ership of DIR. Taylor the remnant of the church
! debt was paid in a few years, and several revi.
walls steadily increased the church and congre
Nov. 9Th, 1853, "wm. H. Peyton, R. Summer.
son, and VIM. Fl. Patterson. were elected Dea-
movaI Of Brethren Powers and Yancey." And
June 18th. 1859, VIM. b. Gambler was elected
Deacon in place of Brother Patterson, removed
and Jno H. 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
1850, DIR. Taylor spent several months in an
agency for Allegheny College. Up to tho war
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. At the close of the war, in 1865, 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 18th, 1868. three additional Heacons
were elected, WIZ. A. English, p. B, Hoge
and E. W. Hartman. On the LIST Of July of the
same year, DR.. Taylor was allowed leave of alb
sence for four or five weeks to act as agent OF
Hollins Institute. On the 5th of July, in ac-
cordaIce with their own request, letters of dis
mission were ordered to be granted to such OF
| the colored members as desired them to organ
| ize a colored Baptist church, which has since
prospered In our midst. Their present number
| of members is -. At the same meeting DIR,
| B, Sears was received into the church.
| February 49, 1869. DR.. Taylor resigned his
charge of the church, to take effect July lst
having accepted the position of Chaplain of the
University of Virginia The church then num-
bered about 200 members. He was succeeded
in September Of the same year, by Elder VIM
Harrison Williams, who continued to be Pastor
till JAM 10Th, 1871. On the 2Gth OF September
Bro. c. r. Fry was ordained to the ministry -
During the passionate of Elder Williams, the
Sunday school grew considerably, number Of
valuable m embers came to StauntOn. Prof John
Harris school was removed from Charlolottes-