The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-10-06


to 1866, when he died
Thomas R. Muse, ruling elder from
1856 to the present.
Robert B. Norman, ruling elder from
1875 to the present.
Ferdinand Rorer and G. w. Thomas,
ruling elders from 1875 to the present.
J. Dickson and T. j. Teaford, ruling
elders from 1888 to the present
Daniel @. Yates, ruling elder from 1883
to the present.
Present acting elders-Messrs. Moor.
man, Yates, Thomas, and Teaford.
Membership reported April lst, 1885
215.
Owing to the wonderful growth of the
city of Roanoke this church has come to
be one of the most important in Mont.
gomery Presbytery, and has promising
future before it.
Sketch of Rev. Urias Powers
Urias Powers was born in New Hamp.
shire in the year 1892, and died at his
home in Roanoke county in January,
1870, being thus rs years old. He was
educated at Dartmouth College, and was
licensed and ordained as Congregation.
alist, but connected himself with Har-
mony Presbytery, South Carolina, soon
after he settled in Cheraw, where he also
taught classical school. Among other
persons who received instruction at his
school were James H. Thornwell, who
afterwards became so distinguished as
preacher and theologian and James
Lynch, who was of Catholic parentage,
and is now Roman Catholic Bishop of
South Carolina. 1t is mentioned by DR..
Palmer, in his admirable life of DR..
Thornwell, that it was mainly through
the agency, and by the advice of Mr.
Powers, that DR.. Thornwell was led to
choose the ministry as his profession !;
and if he had done nothing else but this,
he would be entitled to the thanks of the
Church of which DR.. Thornwell after.
wards became so distinguished an orna-
ment. Mr.. Powers married in Darling
ton, S. O., but there were no children by
this marriage. In 1887 he visited the
Virginia watering places for his health;
and while using with great benefit the
sulphur water of the Botetourt Springs,
nine miles from Salem, he was invited to
visit that church, which was then vacant,
and preach there; which he did with
became the stated supply, and contin-
ued so for eight years, viz until l845,
when he was installed as pastor, and re-
tanned this connection until October,
1850, when it was dissolved at his own
request; and he afterwards continued his
ministerial labors in the church az Big
Lick (Which had been organized with 25
members set off from the Salem church,
without any definite arrangement as to
salary, and in fact he received very little
if anything for these labors. By judi
cious investment of few thousand dol
lars acquired by his marriage) in farm
which rapidly advanced three or four
fold in value, he was enabled to support
himself very comfortably, dispensing his
charities to worthy objects with liberal
hand, and at his death devising one.half
of his estate to Union Seminary, amount
ing to more than $4,000; and indicat-
ing in his will his desire that his wife
should make similar disposition of the
other half, which she did as to the greater
part, and thus the seminary has received,
or will receive, more than $16 900 from
Mr.. and Mrs. Powers.
He was a sound theologian, though his
gifts as preacher were only moderate
his preaching was highly practical and
edifying to the church, but was not cal
culated to produce much impression on
the careless and impenitent He was an
excellent presbyter, being always prompt
and punctual in his attendance on Pres:
bytery, generally taking part in the dis
cussions, and always speaking judicious-
ly and to the point; practising on the
wise rule of saying nothing when he had
nothing to say, and stopping when he
had finished what he had to say.
Buohs nan Church
This church was organized on the 9Th
day of July, 1885 by Rev. John M. Full.
ton (wbo was then pastor and stated sup.
ply of Fincastle church), as a committee
of Lexington Presbytery, with 40 mem.
bers and one ruling elder-James Alex
ander. Rev. John M. Fulton preached
to this church for several months, when
Rev. Henry H. Paine became stated sup.
ply at q salary of 5000 for half of his
time, and continued so until 1854, in
connection with Locust Bottom church.
Rev. Andrew Hart was pastor from
1857 to 1889.
Rev. P. B. Price was installed as pas
tor in June 1879, at salary Of $3.50 for
one-fourth of his time, in connection with |
High Bridge church, the pastoral charge
nj which he reaioned in 1894