Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-03-07
Stanton vindicator.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 7. 1890.
LOCAL.
Death Of a Venerable Minister,
THE FATHER OF THE LUTHERAN
CHURCH IN AUGUSTA PASSES
AWAY,

REQUESTS TO THE STAUNTON FEMALE
SEMINARY, ROANOKE COLLEGE AND
GETTYSBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
his MINISTERIAL RECORD-HE BUILDS
FOUR CHURCHES-HIS LIBERALITY TO
HIS CONGREGATIONS AND HIS CHURCH
HIS LAST MOMENTS.
&C, &C, &C.
Rev. Christian Beard who may well be
called the father Of the Lutheran church in
Augusta county, passed away last Friday
afternoon at $3.50 o. clock, at his home near
Waynesboro. His health had been failing
more OF less for the last two years, and the
final sickness from which he never rallied,
began in November last. He was uncon-
scious from Thursday night until the hour
that he peacefully passed away. His last
conversations were full of the firm and un-
shaken faith that his life and works had
exemplifed. just before Inconsistencies
overlook him, he said to friend at his
bedside: 81 will soon be in the promised
land. will have a long time to be with
my God" He commenced to quote the
verse, "How beautiful are the feet Of them
that preach the gospel and bring tidings of
good things to come" but was very weak
and fast sinking, and when he had said
"How beautiful are the feet stopped
and said no more, he was too weak to
finish it. His funeral took place ON Sunday
afternoon, from Mt. Tabor church,
and was one of the largest that was
ever held in the county. Rev. A. P
Ludden Of New York, who was his pas
tor at Nit. Taborai under whom he studied
for the ministry, and who had married him,
conducted the services. Rev. James Willis
OF the Stanton Female Seminary, who was.
perhaps, the most intimate friend he had
among his ministerial brethren, made
some appropriate and touching re-
ference to his life and worth, and after
prayer by Rev. H. f. Shealy of Christ
Church, Staunton, the final services at the
grave were concluded by Rev. G.. W.
Splggle, pastor Of Mt. Tabor. When all
was over the large assemblage turned sadly
from the grave of the aged minister of God
who had been for SO many years, without
regard to denomination, the friend, counsel
lor, and helper Of most of those who had
stood there.
Rey. Christian Beard was born near
Arbor Hill, in Augusta county, on March
9th, 1920, and was within few days of
seventy years of age. His father, Jacob
Beard, was a Lutheran and his ancestors
before him had been Lutherans. His only
brother died at the Gettysburg, Pa, Theo-
logical Seminary in 1850 While preparing
for the Lutheran ministry. Christian
joined Mt. Tabor church when lad, under
the ministry of the late Rev. D. f. Bittle,
| D. D., afterwards President of Roanoke
| College. He was married to Miss Catherine
j. Engleman on March 25th, 1917, by Rev.
! A. P. Ludden then pastor of Mt. Tabor, and
under that pastor commenced, after his
marriage, to study for the ministry. He
| soon became a Licentiate in the Virginia
Synod and preached within it's bounds In
1852 he was ordained to the regular minis
| try. There are only two members of the
| Virginia Synod now living whose names
have been on It's rolls as long as his, and
they are Rev. j. f. Campbell of Capon
| Roads, and Rev. J. W. Miller of New
Haven, w. Va. MI. Beard leaves no chill
dren, but a widow. and two sisters, Mrs.
Geo. W. Shuey and Mrs. Louisa Baylor, to
mourn his loss.
HIS MINISTERIAL WORK.
MI. Beard S ministerial record presents
| -,l, "a
raised in a county and preaching in that
county all his life. His first passionate after
he was ordained was the Newport charge
in Augusta, which was composed of the
Newport, Mt. Zion and Ludville churches
Here he remained ten years. His next was
the Salem charge, composed of Salem and
Zion churches and Melancthon Chapel.
Here he remained % years. His last was
the Churchville charge, which includes
Chrchville, Pleasant View and St. Paul s
churches. 1t was in this passionate that he
died. While holding it he supplied for a
time Brownsburg and Luray churches in
| Page county. After the close of his min
| istrations in Salem charge, it was divided
into three-Zion and st. James with Rev
| V. R. Stickley pastor; Salem, Melancthon
Chapel and Mt. Sidney, Rev. D. Cricken-
berger, pastor; Churchville, Pleasant View
and st. Paul, Rev. q. Beard, pastor.
HIS MINISTERIAL ACTIVITY AND
LIBERALITY.
MI. Beard built Melancthon Chapel
! Pleasant View church, and st. Paul IS church
| and rebuilt Salem church. His individual
! Iberality was marked. He never fixed any
salary that his congregations should pay
him, but just took what they chose to give
him. For each Of the churches named
above, he headed the subscription list with
800 out of his own pocket. In CONVEX
sation with Rev. Mr.. Willis shortly before
his death he said he did not know if he had
not made mistake in the matter of salary
with his congregations, and if it would not
have been better to have taken their salaries
and put the money to some other good use
''Perha9s'' he said, sit would have beer
better for them too
He became deeply interested in the Rich
mond Mission 1.-THE First English Lutheran
church there) and was from its foundation
| a member of the Mission Board of which