Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-25

time there were many predictions in thu
town that the church would never be com
pleted. But there were members who
loved it as they loved their Life, and among
them was Simpson F. Taylor. The ladie!
also labored diligently. Elder s. B. Rice
who having been sent missionary tt
Staunton, had been elected pastor. ira.
versad the State and secured many con
tributions. He Travelled in his buggy an6
would hold protracted meetings, and at
the close take up a collection for the
Stanton church.
In the summer of 1857, Mr.. Taylor, hav
ing concluded his pastorate of the Frank.
lin Square Baptist Church in Baltimore.
accepted the pastorate in Staunton. The
church was dedicated on the End Sunday
in December. Its membership did not ex.
coed dozen, and the day was stormy, but
there was crowd present. Mr.. Taylor's
text for the dedication sermon was, Lord,
lave loved the haEitation of Thy house,
and the place where Thine honor
dwelleth.' At night he preached his IN
troductory as pastor, from the words, 'sAs
the gospel to you that are at Rome also,'
little dreaming that this was afterwards
to be literally fulfilled.
During that fail there was a protracted
meeting in which he was aided by J. A.
Broadus aud Cornelius Tyree, which
gathered in much good material. princi-
pally from the Sunday school, which was
Conducted with great success by Alex.
Pope Abel a temporary resident. In 1860
the B.. ptist General Association held its
session. the first it ever held this side of
| tie Blue Ridge, III the Stanton church.
| During the campaign Of 1852. Mr.. Taylor
was a chaplain in Stonewall Jackson s
corps, his place being supplied by John
H. Taylor, Il licentiate. After his return
to StauDton he was post chaplain as well
| as pastor. At the close of the war there
was not another Baptist minister in the
| Valley within forty miles, the consequence
| being that the Stanton preacher had to
administer bapt SIN in many Of the streams
in this region. The congregation Was ex
ceedingly harmonious. Speaking of the
| church, before he took charge of it, MI.
Taylor said to DR.. Jeter, that there were
no leading members. ''It don't matter
said DR.. J.. $50 there are ouly good folloeo-
| ma members Prom inent among the
colored members Of the church was Laura
Campbell. who was always forward in
every good work and who was followed to
the grave by a large congregation of white
and colored, the white deacons of the
church acting as pail bearers. The broth
erly feeling between all the pastors Of the
different denominations was perfect. At
that time they were all young men and
were disposed to live together as brethren.
Mr.. Taylor notices thefact that he is
still member of the Staunton church and
asks for their prayers. His letter closes
with the prayer, ''may the God of peace that
brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus
the great shepherd of the sheep, through
the blood of the everlasting covenant, make
you perfect in every good work to do his
will, working in you that which is well
pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ
to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen"
Your Affectionate Brother in Christ.
GEO. B. TAYLOR.
At the conclusion of the reading
Mr.. Taylor's letter Rev. DR.. Curry rose
and said he only expressed the sentiment
1,b; hao RI in, nd
when he asked DR.. Manly to lead us in
prayer for DR.. Taylor and his family. Dr.
Manly then offered up fervent prayer in
behalf of the former pastor and his family.
Rev. DR.. Jeter offered resolution pledg
ing he audience to pray for Mr. Taylor
while he is in Rome and the pledge was
made by the congregation rising from
tneir seats.
THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
AS early as 1854 the attention of the
General Association was calee to Staun-
ton as point to occupy. and two years
la er Elder Zenas Freeman, Il gentleman
Of Northern birth. was sent here as a mis-
sionary, preaching few times in the
Methodist and Presbyterian churches.
His health failed and he left the country.
at that time there was not a white Bap-
fist in Staunton. but there was colored
one, named Anderson, a slave of Simp-
son F. Taylor, who continued to
pray that he might see a Bap-
fist church here. His prayer was an
swered. In 1S49 Elder Thomas w. Rob
its, missionary, established church at
Laurel Hill which had some members re-
siding in Staunton. In 1852 Goshen AS
ISOLATION sent Rev. DR.. S, B. Rice here
and on the 18th Of October in the following
| year a church was organized in the town
hall with 90 white and 40 colored communi-
| cants. The sermon at the constitution
| OF the church was preached by Elder L.
! w. Allen from My kingdom is not of
| this world Elder Samuel Harris de-
| livered the charge to the church. The
minutes of the first meeting say:
''After the organization, the church met
for the purpose of transactihg business,
whereupon Elder S. B. Rice was unani-
mously elected Pastor and Bro. w 81.
Peyton was unanimously elected Clerk.
Brothers Rice, Tayler and Peyton were APP
| pointed to arrange IL list of cnOred mem
bsrs bel 'nging to This church.
Adjournel.
CLERK.
Thee rner stone was laid June 26, 1855, by
Rev. Lansing Burrows, of Richmond, and
in July IA, 1857. DR.. Rice resigned and
was succeeded by Rev. Geo. B. Taylor. The
church was aided up to the war by the
Goshen Association. In February 1868,
J. A. English, G. R. Mason. p B. Hoge
and E. W. II rman were elected deacons.