The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-02
Pleasant View Church.

w
T. doubt prove very interesting to a number o
. our readers in the vicinity of Pleasant View
= church, and elsewhere:
. pheasant View church is located on an EN-
inence on the road leading from Staunton to
{ Spring Hill. 1t is four miles from Staunton
the same distance from Spring Hill, and full
: that distance to church in any direction
: Till the fall OF 1869, when school house
: was built on the site of the present church
, this community had no religious privileges
nearer than from four to five miles, AS a
consequence. natural enough, the Sabbath was
desecrated, and the young grew up irreligtous
with no regard for Gods holy day or house.
Fishing, hunting, gathering berries, visiting
and the like, occupied the time ofthe Sabbath
with the most of the people,
) After the erection Of the school house men
toned above, Rev. G. Beard, pastor of the
Zion charge, preached there once month for
a period Of near ten years.
In the meantime Sunday school was or
gained by ID. w. Landes, member of the
Lutheran Church, and thus the young were
taught something of God and Heaven For
some time brother L. had much difficulty to
preserve order in the school, as had Rey
Beard, when conducting divine service
AT length, in October of 1878, meeting of
the citizens was held, when it vas decided to
build a house for the use of the Lutheran
church. The building is concrete, well finish
ed within and without; 30x36 it,, and cost, in
hun1rp1 Hnli oil nf
which has been paid. 1t was dedicated on the
22d of June, 1S79-Rev. J. H. Barb preaching
the dedication sermon After which the pres
ent pastor, assisted by Revs. HeGrick and
Barb dedicated 1t according to the order laid
down in the Book of Worship. July the Goth
prox., a congregation was organised composed
of sixteen members, officers were elected, and
on the following day were duly installed by
Bro. Beard, the pastor. He continued to serve
the congregation once month; the present
pastor, with the concurrent wish of Rey
Beard and congregation, till April list, 1881
When Rev. Beard-preaching once a month
also-retred from the congregation, the mem
bership had increased to twenty four.
Rev. A. g. Gearhart was then called to take
charge of the Salem Passionate, composed of
Salem, Melancthon Chapel, and Pleasant
View Bro. G. resigned the latter congrega-
ton, taking effect Nov. LIST, 1881, since which
time, by the advice of the president of the
Virginia Synod and in accordance with the
desire of the congregation, we serve them
preaching every two weeks in the morning.
We cannot close this brief sketch of the
history of this little church without commend
ing the sagacity of Bro. Beard firs:, in max
ing it preaching point, and ultimately in
building church and organising congrega-
ton. church was greatly needed there; the
community is composed of as sturdy, prosper
Gus, and excellent people as are to be found
in Augusta county. They are Industrious
honest, and now as much of Il church-golng
people as the writer knows in all his acqualn-
lance. Had Bro. BIS ministry resulted in
nothing but this it would be lasting bless
ing to the world, and fill with nstrous beauty
his crown of rejoicing. Truly it may be said
OF him now, in view of the results of this
work alone "Well done good and faithful
servant"
Thursday evening previous to the first Sab
bath of last December, we, by previous APP
pointment, commenced meeting in this
church. The first two nights we preached
especially to the young, and on Saturday night
held service preparatory to communion on
the following day The communion was well
attended, though the day was rainy. At night
| hal
every night during the following week. We
never saw more manifest evidences of the
Spirit of God, exhibited in the most marked
attention to the preached word, accompanied
| by the most perfect order.
A member of the congregation said to us
one night,"l saw tonight what I never saw
before AS you had asked all to kneel at the
prayers offered during the inquiry meeting, l
looked oyer the congregation, and there was
not one, from the pulpit to the door, not ON
his knees; this | never saw in my life before.
| During the progress of the meeting, con-
ducted occasionally in our absence, by some
of the laymembers, and by Bro. Beard, for
two nights and one Lords day, while we filled
a previous appointment in Culpepper county,
there were about twenty-five who professed
faith in Christ. Of this, nineteen have united
with our church, and there will be one or two
more additions.
The best families in the community have
been reached, and their children, and in two
instances parents brought into the Church.
The congregation has been almost doubled
in membership, as a result of the meeting, and
many more in the community are serious and
will, we trust, come into the church ere long
We have notified the members that very soon
we will organise them into class of catechu-
mems, and instruct them in the doctrines of the
Church and of Gods Word as found in
Luther's Catechism. But this article is suffi
GENTLY long.
l will add, as additional items of Church
news from Augusta county, that Bro. Gear
hart has had an extensive work of grace in
his Salem congregation, more thar two score
making a profession of religion, with large
accessions to the congregation.
Rev j. Il. Barb has entered upon his new
field of labor in lions church, near Waynes
| horo nj