Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-22

Episcopal church in Staunton, July 24th.
1902 Everything, Sunday morning,
bore the stamp of age, except the rector
and the congregation. They were cele-
brating two dates, the one hundredth
anniversary Of the reorganization Of the
ginia, and the thirteenth anniversary OF
the incumbency of the present rector.
THE COLONIAL CHURCH.
Mr.. Hullihen gave rapid sketch of the
Established church Of England while it
existed in America. and many historical
facts that are unfamiliar even to those
who are members of its successor the
Protestant Episcopal church. For in
stance one; that of all the members Of the
House of Burgesses that assembled in the
capitol at Williamsburg in May 1776, and
passed the famous Bill of Rights, there
were not more than three who were not
Vestrymen of the Episcopal church. OF
this church, also. George Washington,
Patrick Henry. Francis Lightfoot Lee,
George Mason and many other distin-
guished actors in the Revolution, were
members.
AFTER TIE REVOLUTION.
AS this had been the Established Church.
it had become identified in the minds of
the people with the name and thought of
all that was ''British,'' and though many
Of the patriotic revolutionist leaders were
members Of it, the popular feeling was
aroused against it. Its ministers were
prosecuted, one was taken out and whip
ped by mob, and others had to carry
arms into the pulpit with them
The Church was so nearly extermi-
mated that a resolution introduced
in the legislature in 1902, spoke in
good faith of the late Episcopal church,
At the beginning of the Revolution the
Church bad 81 clergymen and 1854 churches
but in 1912 Bishop Meade, returning from
a church council held in Richmond, re-
ported that only thirteen clergymen could
be assembled after the most strenuous
efforts. Two years after that, only sere7a
could be assembled.
The first Episcopal church in the Val
ley was built in l740 by Morgan Morgan
of Wales, in Berkeley county, in which he
was assisted by DR.. John Briscoe and Mr..
Hite. In the same year Ii. Governor
Gooch issued commission for forming
church parish in Augusta. The parish
was called after the Princess Augusta, the
wife of Frederick, Prince Of Wales. The
commission authorized the election Of
twelve vestrymen, and James Patton,
John Madison, John Christian, R)bt. AL
exander, James Lockhart, John Math
ews, John Buchanan. Patrick Hays.
Thomas Gordon. John Archer and 1.-THE
Inevitably John Smith we're elected "Gen-
tlemen Ves5rynnen."
THE FIRST RECTOR
in the plrish of Augusta was Rev.
John Hindman, who took charge In April
1747. The vestry however received him
only on condition that for two years he
would not require them to furnish glebe
(rectory) and gIebe lands, and that in the
mean time he would be willing to of1iciate
in the court house and at the private
houses Of the parishioners. John Madi-
son was chosen clerk of the vestry and
Robt Alexander and james Lockhart,
church wardens. One duty of the ward.
ems was to see that all laws respecting
religion and morals were carried out. and
to attend to the provisioning of paten-
ted lands. The salary of the rector Was
1900 pounds Of tobacco Grated at farth-
ings pound) ESQ in money, and ego extra
until rectory should be built. That was
a good salary, considering that in that day
a hot dinner was furnished for twelve and
q half cents, and cold one for eight cts.
Rector Hindman was followed by Rector
John Jones. who was appointed by Lat.
GOV. Dinwiidie in November, 1852.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN STANTON.
The first Episcopal church in Staunton
was completed in 1853 and was forty feet
long, twenty-five feet broad, and sixteen
feet high. It cost e499 (S2,495) and was
built OF brick, by Francis Smith, ''gentle-
man." OF Hanover county. The ground
of the yestibule Of the present church was
covered by the original building. The old
church faced east and west and the main
entrance was by the front door which was
approached by gate opening on what is
now Lewis street. From the entrance
door was q broad aisle running north to
the CLERKS desk, which was erected
little above the Fl ,or. little higher was
the reading desk, and higher still Was the
pulpit. over which was the old time sound
ing board. On each side of the broad aisle
were the boX-iike sou IRE p9Ws, with SIDES
four feet high and seats facing each other
like stage coach. The females occupied
the right side Of the church and the males
the left. At the eastern end Were two round
Windows and at the western end 2 gallery
ten feet deep-aii Of which was stipulated
in the contract to be done in beautiful,
fashionable. and workmaHlike manner"
On the day it was dedicated there was
great gathering of the knee-bEeecleS
silvf.. buckles and queues of thai
90 and John Madison, the clerk, who
was in great glory, led by the hand bis liGCls
son who. ia after years, was TO be the good
Bishop Madison Of Virginia, the first Viz
giuia bishop aud the President of William
and Mary College.
In l772 Rev. Adam Smith was appoint
ed curste or assistant to Rev. Jno. Jones
but was succeeded in a few months By
Rev. Alex. Belmaine, who became histori;
by being chairman OF the com mites
in the meeting at the Augusta Court
House in 1775, that prepared the resolu
lions instlucting Augustus delegates tt
the Colonial Convention at Williamsburg
In 1772 Rev. John Jones, being incapacl'
tated by age retired, latter surrendering al
his claim to the glebe and buildings, to Ill