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

ing with the General Association and the
other half opposing it violently. The OF
the Association and included such men as
Battle. Lewis and Powell. After several
wears there was a compromise and it was
agreed that those who thought that way
nigh. contribute to the General Associa-
ton, and those who did not, might contrl-
butte to Board Of their own. After few
more years spent in hat way it was deter
mined that all should be given to The TO
shen Board. The Board had an extensive
field and the contributions to it ranged
from $4,000 to $4,000 annually and that
amount was dlsbursed. DR.. Rice was APP
pointed by it to the field in the Valley and
he chose Staunton. ut was in 1882
said the speaker ''that Col. w. Allen and
myself came to Stanton and met DR.. pice
and Brother Harris and Brother Wing
field. who were to constitute the Preaby-
terry. We got here on Friday night, af-
ter dark. I never felt so isolated, we
didn't know soul in the town and nobo-
DIV knew us. We found good cheer how
ever, and on Saturday morning started out
to ansack the town for Baptists and get
their names. From that time to this [ had
been under the impression THAT there were
only seven names gotten, and that on the
following Sunday afternoon when we held
meeting III the town hall and organized,
there were only seven present. l learn
now, flom the church history that there
were more names given in at the
meeting. but, any way, [ am certain
the meeting was very small one." The
speaker then commented on the wonderful
progress that the church had made and
said it's success would be a stimulus to
work elsewhere. He urged his hearers
to Christian life as the means of enlarg-
ing the Kingdom of Christ, and closed
with fervent s'God bless you
THE STATEMENT OF THE FIRST PASTOR
Rev. Sam'l Rice said that when he was
sent to the Valley field, Goshen Associa-
ton gave him his choice between Harper's
Ferry, Lexington and Stanton. At Lex
ington the effort had been made by some
of the best preachers, such as brothers j.
N. Brown, Huntington and Tyree. and
had failed. AT Staunton there seemed to
be a portion cfthe population uncommitted
to any particular religious views. Many
of them were from the other side of the
mountain, and, if not in favor Of, at least
were not prtjudiced against the Baptist
church. l selected this point, and i'll the
spring of 1853 came here, bringing my
family the following fall. There were, with
my family, eight white Baptists here, and
there were few scattered around outside.
determined that it was wise to build
church. 1t would, for one thing, convince
the people that we were in earnest, and
meant to stay and run up our standard III
this part of the country. The Pedo Bap-
lists we're very kind, and sometimes
preached in the Presbyterian and Metho-
dist churches, but / felt it would be lest
to have church of our own, and l went
to work to gather the means. | never
presented subscription paper to a single
man in the town; my brethren attended to
that. | don't remember how much they
got, but | remember regarded it as
peculiarly liberal subscription. For my
part took the other side of the mountain.
But one church in our whole Association
gave less than $50, and several went up t"
$100 The one church speak of gave only
ST., and it has since died of paralysis. When
/ saw we would succ ed we bought lot
and put the Luildng to contract. | was
still on the other side OF the mountain. L
visited almost every Baptist church from
the foot of the Blue Ridge to the sea shore,
except in a small slip near the edge OF
n orth Carolina. AT one church in
Fauouer, after | closed my sermon, "A
gentleman rose and said: II never knew
till went to Staunton the extent of my
Indebtedness to our Heavenly Father.
When | went there and saw the insane,
deprived of their reason, and the inmates
of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution.
deprived of their faculties, | felt how
grateful! should be to God. l now as an
evidence give Brother Rice $50 for his
church." Wien l had put the enterprise
on a sure footing | returned to StauntOn,
and then resigned to leave its full accom-
plishment to those of more suitable age. F."
The venerable minister said this celebra
ton had two lessons, one being to show
how much may be accomplished by fee
BILE beginning, and the other that all aid
given to weak churches is repaid by their
becoming strong. He had felt proud four
years ago to see that this church paid
more to the cause of benevolence than any
in the Albemarle Association, to which it
then belonged, not even excepting Char
lottesville. The speaker concluded with
touching allusion to the fact. that in view
of his advanced age, it was probable that
he should see them no more and added,
s'The Lord bless you.'
Rev. DR.. Harris-Brother Rice has done
some injustice to the little church that
died of paralysis which [ must correct.
Many years ago DIR. Broadus came to see
NE and said, "Brother Harris l tremble
for you when think Of what the Bible
SAWS of the man that all men speak well
Of Well, sometime after, he was passing
a church dilapidated and ruined and his
companion explained to him that that was
a PROSPEROUS church until THAT man Har-
ris came and preached it to DEATH" That
brethren was the little church that Broth
er Rice Says died of paralysis and l am
"that man Harris" that preached it to
death.
LETTER FROM A FORMER PASTOR.
A letter was then read FROM the former
pastor, Rev Geo. B. Taylor. now head OF
the mission at Rome. The letter is dated at
Rome. Sept. 18th. He says with Paul in his