The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-08-05
STAUNToN. VA. JaIy a4tl1. 1856.

STAuNToN, VA. Jaly 24th, 1856
To Whomasoeuer it My Concern
We, the deacons Of the Mt. Zion Bap
! fist church of Stanton, Va, take the
greatest pleasure in recommending the
| Rev +. IL Porter. who for the last eight
| years has so afdently ana zealously, eff
GENTLY and satisfactorily filled the pastor
ship OF the above named church as q
| young man OF sterling qualities and moral
worth, vigorous, able. and actuatad by an
earnest Christian 2pal as a consistent
christian gentleman, OF pious, chase and
unquestionabe character, whose lips seem
animated by a love OF and uncomproInis
| ing adherence to the good, the noble, and
the true as an apostle, whose conyersa-
| ton, action, and every deed, evidence Il
commission received from Him. who in
His wise dispensation, infinite wisdom.
and gracious mercy, has established the
church and promised to conduct her to a
| glorious iinality; nor are his daily walks
and benefactions less Indicative Of the
| possession OF a heart pervaded by love,
truth, and charity and that holds constant
communion with God as a tender shep-
ard loving his flock and ever watchful Of
their interest, protecting them from the
enemy and blasting storm. calling them
within the fold of the temple admins
tering to their individual and collective
wants, needs and necessities delighting
to know them name by name He is a
minister OF virtue and wisdom, tact and
talent, push and energy, of enlarged, com.
prehensive, and liberal views of christian
| ity, yet is decided Baptist, confirmed
and intieXible in his religious scruples.
While not dogmatic in his religious pro-
fessions, he allows nothing to stay or in
tercept his advocacy thereof. In HIM
christianity has worthy and untarnished
disciple, whose works are seen and known
of Men,-Whose christian example serves
as a beacon of light emitting the brillancy
Of its purest rays like the penetrating,
vivifylng, Illuminating rays of the MONDAY
sun, thereby enabling travellers to walk
upright and stumble not. In him the
church has an ardent advocate, strong and
powerful. His life is identified with its
growth and PRONUNCIATION. His sincerest
wish is that he may be instrumental in
fastening the universally of the power
OF the church; when she shall be acknowl-
edged omnipotent in her power omn-
present in her existence, omniscient in
her wisdom, conducting redemption to a
universal contamination.
In him education has a friend, whose
zeal and friendship are tempered and
quickened by the elevating influence of
the gospel representative, whose pre-
| tentions have not scaled the summit of
perfection, nor has his rational profundity
surpassed the ne Plus ultra, but his acqui-
sitiOn in general and theological has been
conceded by the church community, and
State in which he has SO long moved. Ed
| ucatorS, white and coloTed, are lavish in
their contributions of praise
With US he is q friend of futurity and
progress, rather than a slavish devotee Of
conservatism and the past. He conceives
and grasps with a practical reality the ever
living and all absorbing present. To him
education means the complete develop
ment of the mental, moral, and physical
powers OF man. He believes these are
susceptible of infinite development, and
that ignorance and christianity are incom-
patible. And that education and chris
tianity are the hand maids of each other.
and that the more complete their mutual
and friendly development, the nearer do
We approximate the true likeness of
Christ, in whose image we are created. |
the South for the West, where he may
have access to greater facilities for en-
riching the stores of his mind Having
for his motto, ercelsior he strives ever to |
be foremost in the race of life
In him the cause of education has an i
able defender. Whenever age and youth |
W.. Meie allayeu against eacn oGhef III pugll-
lsvic GoniuaC, eacn clalhlihg ana asserting |
pieceuelce ano superiority IN coh0sadlc
ZION 70 ana 10 5he dlspafagement OF each
olilel, ne mas peeH theif arbitrator, 1alr-
mlhoea ana true sometimes censuring |
we opsCiiiate ana ooasted experience I
ol age ana at oCher Times cuIDlng the I'M
FASHIONED ana lauded intellectually OF
youGn. ne would snow tnat each III turn
might challenge supremacy that their
goiaen lunction was 10 work III harmony,
engineering ana sldihg WIN each other,
-thaG questlons OF DOUBT and difference
sheuld pe settled by reasoning and fair.
hesS-not by Boosting and pretentions.
we can not speak OF nm IN terms TOO
high. lie assumed the Passionate OF this
chufch, Wnen. we regret TO say she was in
a !: uepiofaoie condition ana when the spir-
ltuallly OF her inmates was at a low cob.
~ Iilat Time Inc cnuIch was split III
Twain. Ole wing OF the divlslon was
chlg!ng 10 Ile nothef zion, and The other
forming themselves INTO the present Ed
ehezer cnurcn OF thls place.
10 restore the mucn needed order aud
IN aIt energy ana lie TO the llleless
cnulcn 10 we'd ana cement IN love,
MaIliltL auu enthusiasm Gne troubled ana
uISGonlentea IactlohS stlll cllDglng to the
coiu ana uIlfequented Tempe, IL demanded
VIII not less fesolute ana determined an
energy not less potenI ana powerful
push nOG less persistent, wisdom not less