Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-01-31

preach at Bethel as licentiate NOvem-
Der 4th, 1905. He accepted q call from
the church April 18th, 1906, and was or.
da1ned and installed April 21st, sermon
by DR.. Baxter. Rev. Sam1 Brown
presided and gave the charge. The
pastoral relation between Rev. VIM.
McPheeters and Bethel was dissolved
April 23rd, 1910. Rev. Eam'l McNutt
supplied the pulpit about six months.-
Rev. Josiah Henderson was received
from the Presby terry Of Baltimore Octo-
ber l7&h 1910. Began 70 pseach at Hethsl
for ON year 4csab1r 48th, 1911, he va
appqth htated supply nntti the pexi
nsss!nt q ssaa tssr1,Ss q rs:.by s sSsh' lsl2
October 3lst, 1872, john Humphreys
and others complained to Presby terry ol
y disaffeciion towards Mr.. Henderson.
The Presbytery recommended them, il
possible, to become reconciied. May 1st,
1918, Mr.. Henderson agreed to with
draw ut the end of his year. May 18th,
1914, charges were exhibited against Mr..
Henderson. He was chatged with be-
ing intoxicated, and other improper
conduct. July 22nd, 1874 Mr.. Hender.
son resigned his ministry into the hands
of ths Presbytery. he was suspended
December 9th, 1916. Rev Robert And
erson was received by Lexington Pres.
bytery. He preached Vt Bethel about q
year, and received call TO Kentucky.
All were highly pleased with him.
November 18th. 1917. Rev. Robert 81.
Chapman, DID,, was received by Lex
ington Presbytery from Orange Presby-
terry. No record of the time he COM
menced preaching at Bethel but am
of opinion he commenced some time in
1916
DR.. Chapman resigned his pastoral
charge April 2Sth. 1921 The old church
being thrown down, and no place fol
pews was removed east Of the church
there the congregation met, the elders
getting such supplies az they COULD
Spring, and Rev. James Morrison, OF
New Providence, preaching oftenel
than any other ministers. They had
several communions in the grove. There
were no regular record ofthese meetings
of those who were received int the
churcb find no record in the session
book from April 28sh. 1S21-which
meeting was moderated by DR.. Chap
man on the same day he resigned his
charge September 18th, 1928
when the first met ting of the session
was moderated by Rev. Francis McFar.
land The first sermon preached in the
new church was by the Rev DIR. Foot
of Romney, when quite young man
The house was not finished, only closed
in and the floors laid. A work bench
was placed where the pulpit now stands
for pulpit. The old pews were carried
in, also plank for seats The church
was filled, Rev. Mr.. Doak supplied some
of the vacancies for few months. He
went to Tennessee. In 1922 the church
was finished, and the pews sold OUT
The session was instructed to look out
for q minister to visitrshe congregation
with view Of ofsettlemeDt.
II 1929, Rev, r McFatland. desiring
70 Settle az paStor, ~ aye . visit to the
Valley of Virginia
He was born in Ireland and came tG
Pennsylvania when he was about five
years old. He was educated and lived
there. On arriving at Harrisonburg
he was informed by Rev. Joseph Smith
ID that Bethel was vacant, and they
wanted pastor they had just
finished o new church, and directed
him to Mr. Samuel Finley's for infor.
nation. He arrived at Mr. Finley's on
Friday night. Mr.. Finley invited him
to preach on Sunday. He remained and
preached three Sundays. The Session
failing to get Moderator, no call was
made out. Session Informed him that
a call would be made as soon as they
could get q Moderator He informed
them, if it was unanimous, he would
accept, but could not come until June
He left on Monday morning calling on
DR.. Speice rs he went on. The DR.. in
quired where he had been. No farther
up the Valley than Bethel. Brother
Mcfarland, you do not think of settling
there? 1 promised th~m if they made
out unanimous call would accept
Why, Brother Mcfarland, you can new
er stay there. They are q rebellious
people; no one can please them. heard
DR.. Mcfarland say more than once, he
would have given his horse land he not
paid for) if he had not have told the
Bethel people, If they made out call he
would take it under consideration.
The call was not made out until the
18th of June, 1898. He commenced
preaching on the 2ard. september 11th,
be was received into Lexington Presby.
terry September 18th, installed as pas
tor of Bethel Rev. DR.. Ruffner preach
ed from Malachi End chapter, verse.
Dr.. c. Speice presided and gave the
charge-Dr. Mcfarland being appoint.
ed by the Board of Education their
Secretary, and feeling it to be his duty
to accept that Office. A meeting OF
Bethel Congregation was called on the
10Th of January, 1896. for the purpose OF
determining whether they would con-
sent to the dissolution of the Pastoral
relation Rev. James c. Wilson presid.
ed. The Congregation were unanimous
ly opposed to his leaving, but, in % much
as he felt it to be his duty, they referred
the whole matter to Presbytery. On the
22nd Of January, 1886, ut Staunton, the
pastoral relation was dissolved He had
been pastor II years. months. The
additions to Bethel Church during that
period were, on examination, about for
ty per year.
At meeting shortly after, DR.. Nc.
Farland presiding, Rev. Peyton Har-
rison was unanimously called to become
pastor of Bethel. Heaocepted, and was
received from w. Hanover into Lexing-
ton Presbytery, at Lexington, in April
1885. He came, with his family, to the
congregation in July. His throat being
much affected, he was forbidden te
preach by his physicians. He remain
ed here some time. Not being able tC
preach, he resigned the call. and 1t was
returned to the congregation.
The Session determined to hold tn
call, aud get such supplies as they could
Rev. George Leyburn. being unem
ployed. was invited. but he declined
Then Rev. Jeptha Harrison was en-
gagged by the Session for several month";
at the rate of 500 per year. Their
being no prospect of Mr.. Harrison'l
being able to preach. the congregation
having but little preaching for severa
months, were not in favor of Mr.. Har'
rison as a supply. Many of the congre
cation doubted whether the Session hat
the right to engage supply for a length
of time without consulting the congre
CATION, aud bind them to pay for sup
ply they were not in favor of. A meet
ing of the congregation was called ant
that engagement nullified.
The congregation Vt that meeting d1
rected the Session to invite some on
whom they thought would suit as pas.
tor. In October, 1886, meeting wa
called Rev. J. e Wilson presiding
A usanimous call was made out 70
Rev. James Brown. Mr.. Wilson wa
directed to inform Mr.. Brown. Afte
consideration, he declined Novembe
10th, 1886