The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-08


necessary severance of his relations with
the metropolitan Church, DIR. Ncwman's
absence was seriously felt: for the audi
cnce dropped down to almost nothing.
Tho people were hcro-worshipcrs, Dr.
Newman was their hero, and they werc
disinclincd to listen to another in that
pulpit Time, which heals all wounds,
has fortunately relieved tho celebrated
church of the weight of its disappoint-
mont. in great measure, and its audi
cncc room is again we'll filled with de-
Won't worshipers
Chief Justice Salmon =. Chase, Asso-
ciatc Justices Bradley, Miller, Blatch-
ford and Harlan have worshipcd there.
Speaker ColfaN was ~ member. and
among the worshiping statesmen of the
present day who attend, arc Senators
Stanford, ingalls,, Colquitt, Teller and
Frye. Not less than seventy members
of Congress arc members of tho congrc-
Cation, and attend with their families.
The asscnblagc, every Sunday morn
ing, is tho most distinguished in this
city. Not many weeks ago, tho repre-
sentative men of twenty different States
came to the pulpit to speak to the pas
tor upon various topics of interest to
the church and to themselves. There
wcry $50 present upon that occasion tho
Persi.' Minister, with his secretary,
'wo ;ra' IRIS Of the Japanese Legation
?rN tlr,o i'riu"cs o; The ROYAL house of
China. Tie church has a seating capac-
ity OF two thousand, and is frequently
taxed to the utmost. On the morning
of May so, 1870. the first official Dccora-
ton day. for the decoration of tho sol
dicrs' graves, there werc three rows of
Major Generals in full uniform in tho
church during tho sermon.
When DIR. Newman delivered his
series OF lectures on the Holy Land,
after having travelled all over tho
Orient, the demand for admission was
so great that the trustees made Il norni-
nal charge at the door of an admission
fee. This was done for nearly month
before the pastor know of it. He i'm
mcdiatcly put Il stop to it, saying:
"Thesc lectures arc sermons. No mat
tor whether am lccturing or giving in
formal talks, am all the time, sleeping
or waking, Il preacher of the Word, and
no man, woman or child shall be con-
frontcd with demand for money in
order that they may hear the Gospel.
They shall not be kept out; for, on tho
contrary, we are ordered to go outinto tho
highways and hedges and compel Thorn
to como in This incident is men
toned as illustrative of tho sincere
piety and honest religious fcryor Of tho
celebrated divine. His rcgrct was that
there was not moro room for Tho people
who wanted to listen to the Word of
Life.
Rev. G. II. Corey, tho present pastor
of this celebrated church. is now in his
third year Of service hero. IIo was
formerly ono of the most popular
preachers in New York, having spent
twenty years in the ministry in that
State. lie was born in Athens, n. V,
and carly i'll life turned his attention to
the study of religious topics, ultimately
! becoming convinced that his life work
lay in the direction of the ministry.
llo is charming man in manner, being
cultured refined. and al excellent CON
versationalist. lie is tall, fne-look.
ing, and somewhat resembles DR.. Tai
mage. lie is decidedly man of intclli-
gencc of a high order, and as an orator
is Il worthy successor of Dr. Newman.
| The members of his congregation are
very much attached TO him; vet, accord
| ing to the law of the church, he must soon
| sever his relations with them, and be
assigned to another pastorate by the
bishop of the Baltimore conference.
Asa I. knight, an cmployc of the post.
! Office department, and one OF the found
crs OF tho church, acted as usher for a
! number of years until compelled by age
and inhrnity to rclinquish that pleasant
! duty TO Younger hands and limbs. lie
| narratcs many interesting incidents
concerning the Attendance of Prcsidcnt
Grant at that church. Mr.. Knight was
always present when the carriage of tho
| President drove up. and escorted him tc
his pew. He was usually accompanied
| by Mrs. Grant and their daughter Mel.
lie. until the young lady WAS married
/ and left the country. Mr.. Knight was
soldier and served under Grant during
the war. lie was proud to be able &c
! continue in his service in timo Of peace
ana to listen to the same teachings from
! the man Of peace.
! A description Of this cdificc would be
| incomplete without mention of the
chimes. The stecplc is the tallcst in
the city, and it con tains the only chimes
south of Baltimore. Professor Widows
rings them every Sunday morning and
evening. an hour before services, also
plays upon them on Christmas. Now
Years, Decoration day, and similar &C.
casions. The bells arc of excellent
temper, and their clear tones can he
heard all over the city and even across
the river at Arlington. Prof. widows
plays the airs commonly used in church
and Sunday-school. and the tunes are
recognized everywhere by church gocrs.