The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-06-13
GERMAN nsrrrsr ASSOCIATION.

Sunday last was ii t central day OF he
igious services nf the German Bap lists at
Iarrisonhurg The |; s. @ ran eXc'n sion
rains from Lsxingten ard Harper s Ferry.
The tram from fAXlneton came into the
Stanton depot with three full coaches
1t took on seven more and they we've more
han filed. Five huuirrd people hoaidtd
the train at ihIs point, aud tie lIain OF III
cars, with over seven hu dred passengers,
ran from Stauuten TO Harflsol'hnrg, Will
every depot. The train returned. however,
at once and brought up ali the way passel
gers who could nos get on the llrst lralf.
Arriving dt The camp, which is located Oh
the beau ifu Il.es.dow lard adjoining the
soutlIern corporation Iii e OF Harrison
burg. We found Tie rabsruacit." in
which were seated 5 0t0 people, singing
that good old gospel hymn 'Oniy trust
Him." The Tabernacle" is an immense !
roof of boards. supported by posts set in
the ground, and braced in every direction.
The seats are benches Of dressed pine,
without backs. the floor. mother ea!th. |
The size Of the "Tabel nacle' is 100 liz
feet and right through the centre, III the
direction of the shortest line is platform
raised about II inches from the ground |
On this is IA table SIX feet wide and III
feet long and on either side of il wooden
benches with backs. On both sides OF this
table all the ministers Us in numher). are
seated The preacher and leader Of the
song service are near the centre. ana as
they address The immense audience or line
/ out the hymns. they turn round contln-
ually, 50 as To face all The people AS much
! AS possible. First There was il song sell
vice, with such familiar hymns as only
trust Him." "B-uiah land " Jesus iuyer
/ of my sodl" DC. TnrIe WAS Ito instru-
ment. The singing was earnest and from
the heart, every body taking part in It,.
The prayers were full of deepest earnest
ness and were peculiar in this. There
were always two prayers: the first general
in its character. and then while still kneel-
ing another minister repeated the Lords
| PRAYER, and the whole congrega'i ion re-
spOnded with loud amen. The congrega
ton did not audibly repeat the Lords
| PRAYER The sermon at tile first service
was 10y the Rev. Mr.. Roger, principal of
the MI. Morris Normal School, III. He
read from the 18th chapter of Heb. 9th to
II h verses, and said it was from "Paul's
Episle to the Hebrew Brethren" His
sermon Was based upon the last clause of
18Th verse, and The first of the 18th. "bear-
ing his reproach. For we have no contin-
uing city, The trend of the discourse
was, that the world is not the Christians
civ, not his home. He is not citizen OF
the world, but pilgrim aud stranger; and
should To willing to bear the reproach OF
Tile world for the sake OF Christ. That
Christ has built for us a city where there
is no reproach. no sorrow, no tears. The
sermon was thoroughly practical, and ell
forced by illustrations taken from famil-
lar events, and recent happenings. The
entire congregation sung with great force
at the close of the sermon, There are no
tears in heaven"
At l.30 Rev. ID. l.. Miller, of the Mt.
Morris School delivered IA lecture on the
Holy Land The service was The same as
the morning, only the lecture took the
; place of the sermon. The lecture was
thoroughly practical. and very interesting.
We have space for only one thought
among the many good ones in the lecture.
: Mr. Miller said that in all his travels, one
eIs: L., Is, cd and
was, that in our own good country. where
God and Gods Bible are recognized. and
taught, and laid down AS the rule of action
for all people, the greatest happiness and
peace are 10 be found. He returned with
increased loye and admiration for our own
country
s s, Mohler, Of Spring field. Mo-, is mod
orator Of the conference. Ino. Wise. OF
Iowa, reading clerk, J. e. Errow, writing
, clerk.
The ladies sat in the tabernacle without
bnnuets. but had OH their heads light
muslin caps. presenting quaint but very
neat and striking appearance. The pecu.
liar dress of the inen, and the unadorned
simplicity of the women, marked them
distinctively in that throng of 10000 or
, u coo people. The females are always
spoken of as "wumen.n the males as
men, never lad es and gentlemen. The
men kiss when they meet, just like the
wamen I hey are an honest. reliable and
. Trustworthy people. of high integrity; who
do not dress 10 attract attention: but who
!, believe in and honestly practice the Bible
doctrine. OF putting Oh the adornment OF
a meek aid quiet spirit. We had most
interesting conversation with the Rev. e.
W. Grippe, of Zero tiordo. ILL.,. who ex-
planned many things TO us. His people
, do not like to belconsidered peculiar, what
others deem peculiar is part OF their be-
lief and religion. and as such they practice
it. believing that Gods word teaches
j, that women should not adorn themselves
! in irinkets Of gold and silver, they can not
.fellowship'' with such. When they in
Q termarry with any such, they must ahan-
don their outward adornment or be de
med fellowship. Mr.. Cripe said they
f rarely fail d to convince such an one
They have schools and colleges, at WHICH
their boys and girls are educated; but they
have no theological schools, and therefore
, 10 persons educated .cially for the min
, istry. Each congregation sets APART men
of character and education, to serve them
, in the ministry. They have Sunday
, schools, and use the International lessons.
, Some of their ministers speak several Ian
guages. They have among their people
bankers. merchants, SC. hnt the large
majority of them are farmers. Their
crt ed agrees substantially with all ort no.
dox creeds. and they preach and practice
true" baptism.
On the grounds in addition to the Tab.
ernacle. is large dining hall with a seat
ing capacity of 500. and "A kitchen of size
} suited to the difing hall. There is also a
: postollice, baggage room and railroad lick ct
office. Meal tickets are sold at IS cents
! each, at all hours. The entire force of
workers on the grounds, is taken from
their own people. In the dining hall the
wol kers are all numbered. their numbers
} corresponding with the numbers of the
fables They sing and Say grace before