Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-03-09
Church Notes,


till dewy eve."
In the Baptist church the newly installed
minister Rev. j. NJ Frost, jr., preached able
sermons, morning and evening, making quite
favorable impression upon all who heard
him.
His sermon in the morning was taken from
James 4: s: Draw nigh to God and He will
draw nigh to you" The sermon was earnest
and instructive. Dwelling first upon the gen.
eral application of the words of the text-gen-
eral need of drawing nigh to GOd-the tenden-
cy of men to get away from God, if possible,
and the grip with which God has to hold His
people, so prone are they to wander. He spoke OF
the particular appropriateness of these words to
this occasion. and earnestly expressed the wish
that both pastor and people would draw nigh
to God, even up to and under the cross. Never
was there christian near God as he wanted
to be. If he could lay his head upon the Sa-
viors bosom, his song would still be, "Nearer.
my God to Thee" The words imply that
there is a distance between God and His people
The distance is not local. He is still omni-
present. The distance is moral. spiritual The
distance between and the worm we crush
under our feet, is great but it can be measuredE
The distance between us and God is immeas-
urabe. James says draw nigh to God and He
1t is always true. Israel found it true. We
have found it true. The experience of Gods
people to day, as of the past, proves it, The
Holy Spirit testifies to it. The words are God's
words. and are corroborated by hundreds of
words in the other Scriptures. We may ven
ture nigh without questioning and with
out doubt. If one is living near God, let
him live nearer-ifscold, come nearer and
higher. Mr.. Frost then spoke of the things
| that help us to draw near to God. The study OF
the Word Christians don't think enough OF
their Bibles. 1t is a letter from our Father-let
us keep it near us. Prayer draws us niSher 10
Him, especially private prayer in the closet,
| ,cuh the door shat. Meditation helps. The
| christian heart is not most overcome by logic
or oratory, but by communing in quiet hour
| with our God. Happy, thrice happy, the man
| that draws nigh to God. In conclusion, he ex-
horted his hearers to lay the matter to heart,
reminding them that it is a personal matter,
| and that as church they would draw near to
| God only as the individual members do.
| Mr. Frost is of good appearance, graceful in
| the pulpit, and evidently preacher of ability.
In the Lutheran church in the morning a
very interesting sermon was preached by Rev.
8. B. Barnitz of Wheeling, w. Va, a Lutheran
minister, who is doing in that city and else
service at night. Rev. Mr.. Barnitz preached in
thai church last night.
In the First Presbyterian church, the morn
ing services were held by the Pastor, Rev. w.
E. Baker The communion services were
postponed to next Sabbath, in consequence of
the inciemency of the weather.
In the evening, a very interesting lecture to
the Sunday Schools Of the city was delivered in
I LIirct hy-R & r
Barnitz of Wheeling. He will deliver another
lecture in that church tonight, 10 which mem
bcrs all denominatonsand Sunday Schools are |
invited. Those who attend will be amply re-
warded.
There were no services Sunday in the NJ. E. |
Church South-the pastor being at Conference.
| In the other churches, there were the usual
services by their regular pastors.
S
SAD DEATH OF A Young ENGLISH GENTLE
| MAN.-We are panied to announce the death
by typhoid fever on Friday evening last, at AZ
o'clock, of Mr.. St John Ben, at his residence,
''The Mount" about two and a half miles from
Staunton. He was young gentleman of about
y years of age, and settled in our county sew
eral years ago, since which time he gained the
good will and affectionate regard of all who be-
| came acquainted with him, and was generally
popular His early death is greatly regretted
| by all who knew him, and deeply mourned by
his friends and relatives.
| He was a native of England, from near Lon
don, and only about seven months ago brought
! over to his home here his youthful bride, who
morrns in agony-his untimely death.
His remains were buried in Thornrose Gene
terry last Sunday evening from Trinity Episco-
pal church, the services being conducted by the
T,lto n
standing the heavy rain that was falling, were
attended to their res ing place by very large
number of acquaintance, friends, and rela-
tives.
The pail bearers were Capt. w. L. Bumgard- |
ner H. P. Dickerson, James T. Byers, Herbert |
a'Court, Leonard a'Court, Robert Hill, Jr L. A. |
Kerans, and j. c. Scheffer.
Fertilizers suited to Spring crops.
mar2-2t J. f. GRAHAM.
CITY CoURT-The March term of the City |
Court is still in progress. The Grand Jury, |
which convened on Thursday, made only one
Indictment, and that against James H. Beverly, |
| colored, for housebreaking.
]. S. c. Eastman gave bond as guardian of
his children, and Miss Margaret A. Peters as
Executrix of the estate of Margaret f. Fisher
decd.
Rev. J. NJ. Frost, Jr,, was authorized to SOL |
emnise the rites of matrmony according to the |
| ceremonies of the Baptist church, and gave |
bond accordingly.
Geo. NJ. Cochran Jr., the lately elected men,
Der Of the City Council, took and subscribed |
the oath of Office.
| The case of the Commonwealth VS.. George
Amiss, for shooting in place of public resort, |
was tried on Friday and resulted in his acquit-
| tai.
| Liquor tax for February was reported at |
$li9.5I.
DEATH OF REV. Jos. BRoWN.-This venerable |
| Presbyterian minister died at Bryan, Texas, on |
the 18th of February, aged Il years. He was a
son of Rev. Samuel Brown, of Rockbridge, and
Mary Moore, who was one of the captiyes of
Abb's Valley, and was one Of the five brothers |
| OF that family who were Presbyterian preach
ers. He was united with the church in 1922 at |
the tender age of Is years at New Providence,
! Rockbridge county, and was ordained minister |
| at the Augusta Church in this county in 1886, |
| and was for ten years connected with the Lex |
1ngton Presbytery. The names of the five |
| brothers whoWere ministers are, Jas. Brown,
| Samuel Brown, Joseph Brown. Henry Brown. |
| and VIM Brown. The last Central Presbyterian |
| contains modest ketch of the life of Rev. Jos. |
Brown, decd, by hisbrother, Rev. VIM. Brown, |
d. D.
| LEE MAUsoLEUM BENEFIr-We are inform
ed that the management of the entertainment |
of "Schller's Bells" to be soon given by the |
societies of the Lutheran church of this city, |
| have, through Prof Ide, in a letter to Capt. w. |
A. McCue, announced their intention of giving |
e-third of the net proceeds to the Lee Maui
| solemn Association" Aside from the benevo- |
lent objects for which this entertainment will
be given, it will be deserving of a liberal pat
| ronage from our citizens because of the excel |
lent character of the music to be rendered and
the high talent of those who will execute it.
|
/ STAUNToN DEBATING SoCIErY-This Society
| adjourned last Saturday night for the session,
and will not meet again till next Fall. There
was no debate, as none of the debaters APP
pointed for that night, and but few of the other
members, were present. Mr. Robertson offered
| resolutions of thanks to the chrirman and sec