Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-06-24

AS EVANGELIST OF THE PREsBYTERY-
A CANDIDATE FOR THE MINISTRY AC-
CEpTED-NEws AND NOTES FROM THE
NORTHEASTERN END OF THE COUNTY,
ETC.
Correspondence Of the SPECTATOR
At the last stated meeting of Lexington
Presbytery, Rev. Alfred Jones, pastor of
Timber Ridge and Fairfield churches, was
appointed Evangelist in the bounds of the
Presbytery. At the time, he neither ac-
cepted nor declined the service. When his
decision should be ready the Presbytery
was to be convened-accordingl the called
service was held at Timber Ridge Tuesday,
the 18th inst. Rev. A. a. Hamilton, of
Mt. Carmel Moderator pro tem., and Mr..
Jacob Fuller, of Lexington, acting Clerk.
Mr.. Jones, responding to the invitation
Of Presbytery, presented many documents
he had received in his interview and cor
respondence in relation to the new field of
work. He was an earnest advocate that
the Presbytery should engage moreacttvely
| in Evangelistic progress, and in touching
language referred to the reflections which
passed through his mind in regard to the
responsibility of his decision. In the mean
| time, his churches had met in council and
had sent up to Presbytery proceedings
which filed his soul and entered every pull
sation of his heart, and especially, in re-
Spouse to the appeal which came from them,
he could not ask separation, and must
leave to the Presbytery to say that his rela-
tions to bis churches should not be dis
| solved.
Upon the call for the churches to be
heard through their commissioners, Mr..
| VIM. M...Sale, of Fairfield, performed that
feature of the proceedings in a few but
genuine words, expressing the Astounding
and sincere attachment of the people to
Mr.. Jones and his rapidly developing use
fulness in the cause of the Great Master.
| Rev. DR.. Preston, Of Lexington, offered
the following statement and resolution:
| s'The Rev. Mr.. Jones having been heard
by Presbytery in regard to his views as to
his acceptance of the call rendered him by
the Presbytery of Lexington, to serve as
an Evangelist, and having also signifed,
under conviction of duty in the premises,
his want Of readiness to accept said call,
and the Presbyte1y having heard the me-
mortal of the churches most specially in
terested, therefore
Res0lDed That it is the opinion of Pres
bytery that the Pastoral relation subsisting
between the churches of Timber Ridge and
Rev. Alfred Jones should not be dissolved"
The proposition was sustained by Revs
Preston, Penick, Hamilton, and Mr.. Fuller,
and opposed by Rev. Mr.. Irwin. It was
adopted, only Mr.. Irwin dissenting.
The Moderator was instructed to commu-
nicate the action Of Presbytery to the COM
mittee of Domestic Missions.
William McCown Thompson, a young
man of fine promise, reared under Timber
Ridge church associations, was examined
and received into the care of Presbytery
for the prosecution of studies in qualifying
him to enter the ministry.
One of the interesting features of the
day at Timber Ridge was the bountiful
lunch spread out under the old oaks which
surround the venerable sanctuary The
ladies on this occasion, though accustomed
to making such displays of their thought
fulness and generous hospitality, seemed to
excel all former efforts in that way; and so
impressed the grave Presbyters, that ac-
acknowledgement of the same was rendered
(of course, outside of other proceedings,
and coming as it did, left pleasing impress
sions which will long linger in recollections
of the occasion.
The old Ben-Salem church, southeast
from Timber Ridge, for years destitute of
effective organization, is in the course of
reconstruction and restoration to its former
state under the charge of Rev. D. G. r.
| win.
At the location of Timber Ridge and by
the same name is another church-that of
the Ancient Reformed Presbyterian, which
with cold Providence" near the Augusta
line, constituted the charge of the late and
venerable DR.. Thompson, who for forty wears
occupied their pulpits. That eminent and
widely-knoWn minister was succeeded by
the Rev. S. W. MADDEN, whose ability and
attainments, though young man, gives
assurance that the mantle of the lamented
and aged leader in that branch of the
chnrch has fallen upon the shoulders of
one who was wisely chosen to wear it.
In this section of the county is. also the
pioneer church of the Baptist denomination
in the Valley. The history of the Virginia
Baptist preachers records that of Rev.
Valentine M. Mason. He was the first
pastor, commencing with the erection of
the church in 1916. 1t Is now under the
charge of Rev. John H. Harris, native of
the locality-an earnest minister and .es-
teemed by the entire community. Mr.:
Mason resided in Lexington, and for several
years prior to 1929 owned and edited the
| 1eOSNOlluSO INtCtttyCUCCJ3 WulCu Was SUI
ceeded in regular order by the Gazette, now
and for twenty years past the only perma-
nently existing paper of the county.
| Five miles enst of Timber Ridge is the
"Whites Gap'' Methodist church, attached
to the Fairfield Circuit. The main pillar
in this congregation, Mr.. John H. Whit
more, will shortly remove to Nelson coun-
| ty- His activity, not only in the affairs of
his church, but also as an enterprising far
mer and successful business man in Angus
ia and Rockbridge, renders this public ref
erence appropriate. His neighbors and
! friends, and they are the entire community
regret his departure, and in estimation of
his virtues and fine bearing commend him
to the good people of Nelson and Abe
marie around Covesyille, with whom his
future will be associated.
| A sketching artist has been along this sec
ton of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. His
designs are for The Virginias. Mai. Hotch-
kiss is giving much additional interest to
the organ of the two States in material de-
velopment by this feature in it's richly illus
trated pages-"Oypress Falls" just north
of Riverside Station, the grand vista view
from the railroad summit on the "Tuscan
Villa" farm at the mouth of South River,
which takes in two streams, in the fore and
III tue Ddck-gTOuuu Ine dome OF Washing
ton and Lee University and the turrets of
Virginia Military Institute, and the histor-
ical House Mountain in the farther distance.
the valley view and railroad junction at
Loeb Laird will all three be in the forth
coming group. In the Loeb Laird sketch,
the Harris Bottom and other North
River farms, with their well cultivated
fields, up to the base Of the gothic-shaped
mountain peaks have doubtless caught the
artists eye. By the way, l observe that
Charts Bottom" and the ''Irish Creek"
farms, the latter on the railroad also near
Midvale Station, are on the market through
Sheffey & Bumgardner, Attorneys for the
proprietor.
So much general talk has passed around
in regard to the tin development on Irish
Creek that it does not surprise those in the
vicinity to see occasional errors published
IN reference to it. can correct that which
said Col. B. J. Jordan was erecting fur
mace for its manufacture. None of the
many speculative designs have, as far am
informed, taken real business departure.
1t IS time the owners were doing something