Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-10-01

breaks are looked arG6r mOIo oioSo1I'
The history of Presbyterianism IN the
last 100 years has shown its aDiilty TO
withstand infdelity, then fanaticlsm. Then
the rending in twain of the cnurch
of the United States, and lastly
civil war-and had this centennial oc-
CURED few years ago we might nave SAID
our net was still in good condislon,
But now, as the century has reached It's
close we are obliged to admit that the old
net has given way again, and that the
principal business of the last General AS
sembly was mending it. Let US not De
discouraged. The old net is of Gods MAKE
and will come through this all right. This,
without calling names, was understood oy
the audience to be reference TO frof.
Woodro WIS new doctrine.)
THE INCREASE OF LEXINGTON REsBY-
Terry.
In 1885, Lexington Presbytery had Il
ministers and 2 licentiates; now it has 22e
ministers and 16 licentiates-an increase
of more than tenfold. 1t has had trial
after trial. Let us not despair, but let
down the net again, for it will doubtless
enclose multitude of fishes.
Remarks of Elder Jed Hctchkiss.
The centennial sermon was followed by
some re.narks from Maj. Jed Hotchkiss.
an Elder in the Second Presbyterian
church of Staunton, who had been invited,
by resolution of Presbytery, to address
them. He put up map which he had
which showed the number and
location of the churches in 1855. and the
same in 1886. The old Presbytery extend
Pennsylvania to New River. Somehow
there seemed to be some connection be-
tween Presbyterianism and limestone rock
they had gone together; starting from
Ireland, the Scotia of old and home of
religious liberty, where it was located on
the limestone country, its children struck
this Valley and again settled over the lime
rocks. 1t is just 100 years the 18th of last
were slaughtered by the Indians. When
Lexington Presbytery was formed only
twelve years had elapsed since the battle
of Point Pleasant, in which many Of the
members of its churches we're engaged.
DR.. Armstrong had said that he knew
little of the history of the pastor of this
Timber Ridge church when it was orga-
nized. The speaker had gathered a few
facts about him. John Brown was born
in Ireland, near the town of Limerick.
He was a Presbyterian, and Presbyterian
of Limerick was one, iatus ct cute. In that
county no Roman Catholic was allowed by
the law of that day. to reside. This church
was built in days of trouble. 1t was but
the year before it was commenced that
Braddock was defeated. Parson Gray had
come to Augusta church and was preach
ing to the people there. There were three
churches at the forks" of the Shenandoah
Rlv er-Mossy Creek. Thinking Spring and
Augusta, and three at the forks Of the
James-Monmouth, Failing Spring and
Timber Ridge. The subscription list to
Timber Ridge church showed many fami-
liar names Paxton, Mcclure, Lyle. Nc
Chung, Thompson, McFadden, McElhen-
ny, Grey, Dryden. Davies, McAlly.
Lowry, Mackay. McNabb, Trimble, Bor-
den, and so Forth John Brown graduated
at Princeton, N. j., and to-day his diplo-
ma is hanging on the wall there as the
first ever issued there. He married Mar
garet, the daughter of John Preston, a
shipbuilder of Belfast. For twenty years
he preached here; and for twenty more at
New Providence. He went from here
to Kentucky. His eldest son, John.
was the first u. S. Senator
from Kentucky. His son, James, was
Secretary Of State of Kentucky, and after.
wards the first U. s. Senator from Louis.
lana. His son, Samuel became doctor
in Edinburgh aud brought the first vac
cine matter to this country.
Maj. Hotchkiss gave many interesting
"reminiscences about the Presbytery
though the silent witness which his skill
and labor had prepared and which he hung
up in view of the audience, spoke more to
the beholder, of the growth of that relig-
ious body than any statistics which were
uttered during the day. The map when
arranged for printing, will contain a pho
tograph of Timber Ridge church in one
corner, and another of Augusta, better
known as the Old stone Church. Maj.
Hotchkiss will have it printed at his own
expense and the money derived from its
sale will go to one of the special funds Of
the Presbytery.
ROCKBRIDGE HOSPITALITY.
AS matter of course, and of education,
every congregation is hospitable to the
ministry. But a man without white
cravat at his throat, or shorter catechism
in his pocket, feels at such gatherings as
this, that he is sinner of such low degree
as to be almost out of the pale of church
hospitality. That being the status of your
correspondent. he desires to make note
of the fact that if he had been the Mode
rator of General Assembly he could not
have been treated better. I don't know
that my profession ever called me to a
place where witnessed such genuine, I'M
affected and bounteous hospitality as
among these Rockbridge people. If I
don't mention the nameof my new and
kind friend, Mr.. Charles Mackay and ex
press my gratitude to him, it is because if
did, and another Presbytery meets al
Timber Ridge everybody will be hunting
for him.
II. G. T.
The Baptist State Association.
This religious body representing the
largest denomination In Virginia. com