Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-10-13
A century by any shared
Seems in the abstract very long,
But with eternity compared
Is but story or a song.

A century by any shared
Seems in the abstract very long,
But with eternity compared
Is but a story or a song.
We meet day in temple reared
In what is called "the misty past
A relic that should be revered.
AS long as it and we shall last.
More than the double life OF man
One hundred, three. and forty years
To rise these very walls began,
And in the form that now appears.
Ye monumental walls! could you
But speak, and we but understand,
What memories. forever new,
Would stir the heart and nerve the handi
stone speak to stone, beam cry to beam.
And voice traditions to us dear,
Else Fancy will take up her dream,
- AND publish what s!ie seems to hear:-s
How woman wrought brave man beside;
How stone on stone was laid in prayer;
How Faith and Hope with builders piled;
How love sustained; how God was there.
Or how these walls gave back the sound
or early woodman's axe. the yell
or savages in nightly round,
Or how the gospel here was preached
To favored generations gone,
Whose songs and prayers sublimely reached
The ear OF Him upon the Throne.
Or erst. how sinners turned to God,
And plighted vows devoutly paid;
How bowed old saints beneath the rod,
And on the Christ their crosses laid.
The centenary year. we're told
We celebrate, of this Church Court,
Whose name should be in 1ettered gold,
Whose works God only can report.
Within these walls of quarried stone.
In covenant, the members met
Members, who now around the throne
Praise God their offspring liveth yet.
In fairy boat of parchment made,
The inky character to guide,
With banner of the Cross displayed,
Right up the stream of Time we glide.
At one round hundred years we pause,
And note this Presbytery's birth,
Created for Gods holy cause
To be blessing to the earth.
Hail Presbytery, Lexington,
Successor true of Body formed.
By men, who stood for Christ as one,
In panoply, so Pauline. armed.
We honor thee Gods Agent sent.
The Court of zion's holy King:
Nobly let all thy powers be spent.
And to thy Liege-lord fondly cling.
The faith delivered to the saints
Not only thy palladium is.
But its custodian thou against
A world SO sotanized as this,
The Bible in It's obvious sense.
The Symbols of our Faith as well,
Guard and defend with reverence,
And let no error with thee dwell.
How long the roll of noble men,
Whovc risen up to honor thee,
Whose ministries no human pen
Can write, however fleet it be!
By figures we cannot compute
The holy works and labors done;
'Twould call for an archangers lutte
Sweety to tell them one by one.
Through full one hundred years has GOO
Been with this honored Court to bless;
Chastened He has with gentle rod.
Yet never left 1t in distress.
Nor here alone, but South and West,
Thy worthy sons have borne the CrosF,
Where thousands now have Christ confessed,
And for Him counted all things loss.
Orgs nization most completed!
Thy labors are but just begun;
On, on, till the last sun is set,
Bid heralds with glad tidings run.
God has been with thee in the past,
And will be with thee to the end;
Thy burden on the Savior cast.
And dare his crown-rights to defend.
Dwell richly in this Body, Lord.
Thine incarnation let it be;
Use 1t to publish Thy sweet Word,
And give succession endlessly.
Now to Jehovah, God alone
The Father. Son, and Spirit, three
Be praise for all successes won,
Yea, glory in the highest be.
Pdrnussus Va R. NJ. TUrTLE.