The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-03

teaches the true meaning of the word of God.
and which will continue so to teach as our
Savior promised l"sll days, even unto the end
of the world"
ParnaSSuS Items.
s- 40 Reported for, the VIRGINIAN.l boo c..e
Last Saturday and Sunday, copious, gentle
and most refreshing showers visited our sec
ton. The rain came in good season, for much
of the newly sown wheat was unable to sprout
in consequence of the want of moisture. Our
water supply was well-nigh exhausted, and
few weeks continuation of the drouth would
have entailed much suffering
The dedication of the recently erected Ger
man Baptist Meeting house, near Parnassus,
took place on last Saturday Owing to the
inclement weather, the attendance was not as
large as was anticipated. ELK Run" meeting
house is the name it bears, and it is large and
neat structure, well supplied with all that is
required in a house of worship. 1t was built
at cost of about eleven hundred dollars. all
of which has been paid over, and the church
starts on its holy mission free Of the incum-
brance of debt. 1t is eligibly located in a
accessible to every part of it, and is likely to
command a large attendance. Its membership
is composed of our best citizens. A bright
future for its denOminational interests may be
safely predicted. Services in the meeting
house at Moscow will be continued. It may
not be uninteresting to give the following
history by Elder s. T. Sharp, A. NJ, of the orr
gin and present status of this denomination
This body of Christians arose in the year
1908, in Schwartzenau, Germany. The general
lack of spirituality in the Established or State
Church, at that time, induced seven neighbors
to meet regularly for the purpose of reading
the Scriptures, prayer, and mutual edification,
with view of attaining a higher state of
holiness. Not knowing the existence of any
organized Baptist church, they were led by
reading the Bible to reject pedo baptism and,
by strict Interpretation Of the commission
Matt. 49, 1877, to adopt trine immersion
Among them was a man of liberal education
by the name of Alexander Mack, whom they
chose as their leader and organized themselves
into church, taking the name of Brethren"
as their title, in harmony with Matt. %: s.
Cali ye are brethren" From their mode of
tuCy "ClC OltCu CdllGu uukCTS anu
Dunkards from the German word tu7a1ten, to
immerse.
Their number increased steadily, and two
other societies were formed besides the original
one, but were soon driven by persecution to
Crefelt and Holland, while the original CON
gregaton removed to Fresland Between
1913 and 1929 they all removed to America,
and settled in the vicinity of Philadelphia and
Germantown. From these points they spread
to Maryland and Virginia; and with the tide
| OF emigration were carried westward to the
/ Pacific. No organized churches Of this de-
nomination exist in the Eastern States or in
New York; but in all the other Middle, North
ern, and Western States. in most of the South
ern States and in the Western Territories
being most numerous in Pennsylvania, Vir-
ginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas.
In church government each congregation
maintains the democratic form; and all bust
ness matters are decided by the majority vote
OF the whole church. In the District Confer
ences into which the States are divided, and
in the General Assembly of the whole denomi-
nation, known as the Annual Meeting, the
republican or representative form of govern
ment prevails To the executive committee of
the Annual Meeting ordained elders are eligi-
bic. Each church is entitled to two represent
atlves at the District Meeting, and each Dis
trlct Meeting sends two delegates to the An
nual Meeting or General Assembly.
In regard TO the so-caled general princ-
pies" OF Christianity, the Brethren" agree
with the other Protestant Churches Their
peculiarities are, that they have never allowed
their members to hold slaves, go to war, hold
any office requiring the administration of an
oath, nor to take an oath themselves, to Join
any secret organization, to 90 to law with
their brethren, nor to indulge in the vanites
and fashions of this world. AS early as 1881,
just one hundred years ago, their Annual
Council lnterdicted the manufacture of ardent
spirits by its members None are received in
to church fellowship without repentance, faith
and trlne-immersion. They hold that the
Lords Supper (delpnon) is always full meal,
and is eaten in the evening, and differs from
the bread and wine of communion which were
distributed bythefLord after supper,pQ Cor.
II :25.l At their seasons of love ftasts (oga-
Asp, Jude 1: 1877 they practice washing the
saints feet John 10 IA; Tim. 5: 1O,) giving
each other the right hand of fellowship and
the kiss OF charity. The different sexes al
ways practice the ceremonies separately.
Amounting the sick with OIL in the name of
the Lord (James 4: 14) is a privilege of
which many in this church avail themselves
when sick.
Although the first Sunday School ever held
was organized at Epbrata, Pa, by one who
had been member Of the Brethren, yet the
Sabbath School work, until recently, was
greatly neglected in this denomination. For
eign missions, Sunday School literature and
Colleges have received a great impetus during
the last five years. A Home and Foreign
MISSION Board was appointed year ago at
thelr General Assembly, and very successful
mission is sustained in Denmark, besides nu-
merous home missions. Three Sunday School
week.-Mrs. one monthly, six church weeklies
and one monthly are sustained by this denomi-
natlon. One academy in Virginia, another in
Maryland, college at Ashland, Ohio, one at
huntington, Pa, and another at Mount Nor
IT'S, H., have recently been established by
members OF the Brethren Church. The two
last-named colleges are in a fourishing CON
'dition
The number of communicates can not be
given until after the census report is published,
out there are 1879 ministers enrolled.
4. Kew DIR. Martin recently dedicated, at West
Augusta, neat and handsomely equipped
Methodist church. The collection at these.
services was liberal and sufficient to remove
all Indebtedness With an active corps of
members, and an energetic and Jealous minis
ter, the future of Methodism in that section is
beaming with the sunshine of success.
- -AooSou, VI JOui ivy iAhuNiS OIL S'sA y
barred and unheralded visit to our little burg
last week to officiate at the marriage of ReY
y. y. Holman to Miss Laura V. Whitmpre,
eldest daughter of Mr. NJ, S, Whitlnere. They
were married at early dawn, and left immedi-
ately for West Va. Our community very re-
luctantly parted with such an efficient useful
and accomplished lady. She was for several
sessions our school teacher, and also church
organlst, and was highly esteemed.
A number of our farmers have been expert
menting with the various chilled plows, and
the Bradley chilled" manufactured at Har-
risonburg at the foundry of Mr.. Phlo P. Brad
ley, carries off the palm, giving the best salts
faction in every respect.uWe are glad to see
home enterprise encouraged,
There is an unusual amount of sickness in
our locality Among those that have been ex-
tremely i'll are Miss Mary D. Hamrick, Mrs.