Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-29
sTAUNToN, VA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29 1878.
joyed, under God at the hands of the
Baptist church and pastor. -L

] lIuIlullIzlEuu
ljoyed, under God at the hands of th
Baptist church and pastor.
For various reasons, have limited m
"reminiscences mainly to the earlier veal
of the church's history. But I wish t
make one exception. I wish to pay
tribute to the pastOrate of my suecesso
when I left for the University. Return
ing two years after, found. in variou
departments, evidence ofthe excellen
pastoral labor of brother Williams, VIII,
will doubtless be with you at your An
niversary. rejoicing with you and wi
brother Manly over the blessings whicl
God has vOuchsafed. Since I cam
abroad, 1 have heard with Joy ant
gratitude of the increased and in
creasing prosperity of the church un
der the wise and Jealous leadership O
their present nohle pastor, Dr. Charles
Manly. May his services long be en-
|joyed by you. We ministers are gladly
"your servants for Jesus sake." "Fol
aDe are lobourers together with God: az
are Gods husbandry (or cultivated
farm, ye are Gods building. *.*
Therefore let no man glory in men, Fol
Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life
or death, OF things present. or things tc
come; all are yours; and We are Christ's
and Christ is Gods"
Concluding my "reminiscences, take
pleasure In testifying to the kindly re-
latiOns which always subsisted between
us and the other churches and ministers
of the town. In the period before the
existence of our church, Staunton had
not been remarkable for friendliness be-
tween the different denominations
Fortunately, the Presbyterian and Epis-
copalian pastors and I all commenced
in Staunton about the same time, and
we were all young men, and all disposed
to live together as brethren, and labor
for the salvation of souls. The success
sive pastors of the other congregations
united with us in the same spirit, and
We all We're accustomed to meet with
more or less regularity for social con-
verse, and for conference and PRAYER in
reference to the spiritual state of the
community. Without pretending to
special intimacy, we sympathized with
and helped one another, add each felt
that he was safe in the hands of the
rest. I believe the example Of the min
listers was not without its effect upon
the churches and the people generally.
At any rate, the fact was as 1 have sta
ted, and peace and good feeling pre-
vailed among the different congrega-
tions. All my experience convinoes me
that there Is perfect compatibility be-
tween firmly holding and frankly an
nouncing what we believe to be the
truth, and an exquisite courtesy towards
those who differ from us and large
heartedness which embraces all who
bear the image or Christ.
AS have been writing, have been
impressed anew with the Importance
and sublimity of the institution of the
local church, and the greatness of the
privilege of church membership; and
this last, surely ia proportion as the
church is conformed in organization
and spirit to the Word of God. Ger
tainly we come first to Christ, and after
wards to the church; but, introduced
into living New Testament church,
what blessed home far our own train
ing, and what field for the exercise of
influenced! We, as individuals, pass
away, but the local church to which we
have belonged. ..liues, and continues to feel
the power of our character and lahors.-
The Baptist chgrch in ataunton dates
back but twenty-five years but who
shall say one hundred years henee-nay
till the end Of time-it may not have an
existence, increasing in numbers, in
piety and activity, and always feeling
the influence of each one of us? Let
each one of you, then, dear brethren
and sisters, seek to live holy life and
to "please his neighbor unto edifica-
tion," encouraged by the reflection that
his pious efforts will bear fruit, not on
ly in those around him, but in the gen.
erations of the future
Pardon one more word personal to
myself. I believe am still member
with you. have therefore special claim
upon yogF prayers, as I have speeial
need of them special need Just now
l have indeed secured an eligible site in
this city, and have just won, after a
hard fought battle, the victory over
those who sought to hinder us in the
enjoyment of our just rights. But our
tolls are only just begun, and humanity
speaking, the gathering of congrega-
tion and the building up of New Tes-
lament church in this city of supersti-
ton and infidelity is forlorn hope,
compared with which the work in
staunton was an easy task. But the re-
memofance or the past greatly encOur-
ages me. And, after, all, the work is
Gods, with whom nothing is hard
Therefore my trust is in Him, Eye also
helping together by prayer for u.s."
l close as | began. / am with you in
spirit, and will be when you hear these
lines. Some day, trust, if it he Gods
will, to greet you also in person. But
do not know how that will he. Nor is
it very important. "Only let your con-
versation be as it becometh the GOSPEL
of Christ: that whether I come and see
you, or else be absent, ! may hear Of
your affairs, that ye stand fast in one
spirit, with one mind striving together
for the faith Of the Gospel" And 'may
the God of peace, that brought agair
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great
shepherd of the sheep, through tht
blood of the everlasting covenant, make
you perfect in every good work to dc
his will, working in you that which j.
well pleasing in his sight, through Je-
sus Christ: to whom be glory ferevel
and ever. Amen"
Your Affect'e Brother in Christ,
GEORGE r TAVJOR