Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-10

NN'1 o1., ot'
We alluded to the fact, last week, tina
the dedication of the new church edifice a
Bethel, next Sunday, was made doubly in
teresting by the history Of the old churc
whose place it takes. Since writing this
that venerable Presbyterian, MI. Mathey
Pilson, now III his 90th year, has kindly fur
nished us some facts about the old church
The first Bethel church sprang from the oil
North Mountain church. There was oppo
sition to it in the n orth Mountain congre
cation, an opposition which was silenced il
Almost effective way by Col. Robt. Doah, VIII
started all those in favor Of Bethel to hew
ing and hauling logs for it, and it was built
1t was 60X30 feet, Of three lengths of logs
with the pulpit at the side, as was the oil
style, and the Clerk S box in front of i
where the Clerk sang and parcelled out tn
the lines. Its first pastor was Rev. Arch
bald Scott, who commenced preaching Their
about the year 1777.
In 1921 the old log church was tori
down and its successor put up, Samue
Finley, Robert Doak, Samuel Blackwood
James Moffett and VIM. Wilson being TIL
building committee, and John Joseph, th
contractor. 1t was Of brick, 4SX56 feet
and cost $4,000. When the new church wa
built, the old pastor, Rev. Archibald Scott
had been dead some twenty-five years, ant
Rev. Messrs. John Glendy, John Mines
VIM. McPheeters, Samuel McNutt, Jos
al,
Chapman had filled the pulpit from his
death UP to the tearing down of the old log
church.
The first pastor of the new church was
Rev. Francis Mcfarland, who was born il
Ireland. had settled in Pennsylvania, and
was travelling in Virginia. When he got
as far on his journey up the Valley as Han
risonbuTg, he met the Rev. Jos. Smith, who
Informed him that Bethel wanted q pastor
and directed him to Samuel Finley's fol
further information. MI. Mcfarland
preached for the Bethel congregation and
they called him. He told them if the call
was unanimous he would accept. Bethel
congregation had a very pugnacious repu-
tation in that day, and Rev. Dr.. Spiece, to
whom MI. Mcfarland told what answer he
had given, informed him that they were a
rebellious people and he could never get
along with them. Dr.. Mcfarland howev-
er, had grit enough himself and accepted
the call, taking charge of the church Sept.
18th, 1928. For thirteen years that ''rebel-
lious" people thought there was nobody
like him, but in 1886, he told them that
having been appointed by the Board of Ed
ucation to be its Secretary, he should
have to leave them. The congregation
unanimously opposed his leaving, but he
thought it his duty, and his pastoral rela-
lions were dissolved by Presbytery Jan.
18th, 1886. 1t was five years before he
came back to them, and in his absence their
pastors had been Revs. Peyton Harrison,
Jeptha Harrison and 4. B. McCorkle. On
the sd of January, 1911, Rev. Dr.. Francis
McF arland was unanimously called and re-
turned to the Bethel congregation. He re-
manned it's pastor till he died, though to-
wards the end Of his life his sheath required
the assistance Of a co-pastor in his duties
The last co-pastor elected, was ReY. James
Murray, who commenced preaching July
Goth, 1868, and who, at the death of Dr.
McF arland in 1871, was chosen pastor. DR..
Mcfarland had served the church continu-
ously, with Il slight interval, for forty three
years.
THE OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGA-
TION.
The following is a list of the Elders Of
North Mountain and Bethel churches since
their organization in 1747, as far as Mr..
Pilson has been able to gather them:
VIM. Thompson, John Wilson, James
Mitchell, these were all the Elders in Nortl
Mountain when Bethel was first organized
about 1777,) John Christian John Tate
VIM. McCutchan, Sam i McCutchan, Robt
Doak, Sam i Doal, John Berry, Robt. Tate
John Crawford, Robt McPheeters, JOIN
Logan, John Sproul, Sam1 Humphreys
VIM. NJ. Tate, Geo. Hudson, Mathew
! Wilson, ST., Morris Austin, Jno. A. Doug
las, Jno. B. Christian, Jno. K. Moore
Chas. L. Peyton, Sam l Patterson, McCluns
Patton, John Pillson, Mathew Pillson
David Blackwood, John Merritt, Aaron
Finley Humphreys, Saml Hays, Alex
BroWnlee, A. A. Sproul, Jas. M. Hays
Benz. F. McClung, Jno. NJ. Lambert, Jas
w. Wallace, Jas. E. Beard, M. W. D
Hogshead, Sam1 T. Pilson.
In the last seven years, five Elders hay
died-John Merritt, A. f. Humphreys
Sam l Hays, David Blackwood and M. w. .
Hogshead. There still remain seven Elders
Mathew Pillson, A. A. Sproul. B. T. Nc
Chung, James E. Beard, Jno. M. Lambert
j. W. Wallace and Sam1 f. Pillson.
There were no Deacons either in Nortl
Mountain OF Bethel up to the year 1878
when these seven were elected-John w
Gilkeson, JAS W. McCorkle. Jno. w. Hays
Jas. N. Mcfarland, Jas. T. Wilson, VIM
II. Cochran and Robert W. Mcclure.
Jas. N. Mcfarland was also Treasure
Of the church. When he moved to Stauntol
Jacob II. Brubeck was elected Deacon, bu
has since died. Jas. w. McCorkle wa
elected Treasurer in place Of MI McFal
land.
, THE CONGREGATION.
The congregation now numbers 207 men
, bers. Some years ago it numbered over 40(
T but Shemariah On one side and Mt. Carmt
Oh the other, being more convenient, hay
taken a large number away. The increas
Of the mother congregation, however, ha
been steady and regular.
THE GRAVEYARD.
The old graveyard holds larger cOngr,