The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-05-24

ars in Hts Sunday-school.
Bethany Presbyterian Chu rch was
formally dedicated to divine worship
last Sunday morning. The dedicatory
sermon was preached by Rev. R. Ii.
Fleming, of Lynchburg Prayer was
offered by the pastor, Rev. w. II. Groves.
Rev. DR.. w. G. Campbell announced
that there was debt of about $500
hanging over the church and proceeded
to raise that amount, which was done
in about fifteen minutes. Since the Or
ganization OF Bethany Sunday-school
in about 1884, over one thousand pupils
have been enrolled. Familiar faces
have disappeared, but Bethany still re-
tains it's original Sunday-school super
intendent, who read in substance the
following interesting paper a. the morn
service:
In the year 1883 several nom bers of
the Presbyterian Church, believing
Sunday schools to be the nursery of the
church, showed their faith by their
works and planted a nursery in East
Roanoke, then known as New Town.
Fifteen young men in the Presbyterian
Church, acting upon the suggestion Of
their pastor, Rev. w. C. Campbell.
pledged the amount of $40 per year, for
three years, as u corner stone, and
others rallied with their mite to build
upon it 4 suitable structure in which to
hold Sunday.school and pra yer meet.
ing. The session of the church APP
pointed Nj. G. Thomas, DR.. r. w. CroZior
and Chas. A. Pilsbury building com
mittee. The committee decided upon a
plan and commenced operations at onco
on the lot kindly donated by the Roa-
noke Laud and Improvement Company.
The house known as Bethany Chapel
was completed in December, 1883, and
dedicated TO Gods service tho first Sun
day in Jan aary. 1884.
Bethany Sunday school was organized
the following Sunday with c. A. Pills
bury as superintendent Sixty-three
scholars were enrolled that day and
seven persons responded to the call for
teachers. This was a good beginning
in community numbering about one
tenth of its present population. The
attendance increased rapidly, friends
gathered around the school and gave it
encouragement and it soon became
better equipped for the work. Its pro-
motors never asked in vain for any-
thing to promote the welfare of the
school. Bibles, class books, lesson
helps catechisms, pictures, library,
clock and an organ, all things neces-
sary Tor splendidly equipped school,
were given in answer to prayer.
The attendance increased the first
year to 16S. The teachers walked one
and three-quarters mile to hold cottage
prayer meetings two and three times a
week in the homes Of the scholars for a
Der Of years. They were blessed
at both ends OF their journey and all
along the way. The scholars came
from east of the Grocer furnaces, south
of the Norfolk and Western railroad,
north of Old Lick and parts of the town
proper west of Commonwealth avenue.
singing school was organized in
C onnection with the Sunday school, and
instructions in music were given gratui-
tously one night each week during
three years to any who desired to learn
to sing.
1t was said outside of the school that
bethany scholars sang" with the
spirit and the understanding. For five
years people were coming and going in
that locality. 1t seemed an unstable
community. The scholars continually
undergoing changes; month after month
new names were added to the roll and
yet the average attendance did not in
crease. Though new ones came, the
familiar faces the teachers had learned
to love so dearly were missing. Now
and then, the Good Shepherd would
take lamb to the upper fold and
hearts made sore would draw nearer to
Him. To many of them it was only
the shadow of death" in that valley
through which He had led them out of
Bethany and by faith they heard Him
say, Thy brother shall rise again"
There were no discouragements in
these changes. They were only seed
sewers. not harvesters, AMI they contin.
ued sowing the precious seed, leaving
the results to their Lord and Master.
The time came, however, to transplant
from the nursery to the church. They
wanted preaching in the chapel and a
church organization. Services were
held during some of the summer months
in later years with good results, but an
organization could not be perfected.
The lot on which the chapel now stands
was purchased, and the probabilit of
new church building was discussed
and the sale of Bethany proposed. The
idea of parting with bethany bone
could not be agreeably entertained. Lo.
Shoulder such a burden as paying for a
new church and the responsibility OF
starving preacher was calculated 10
take away the sweet peace hitherto en-
j,yed. TO some it meant the annihila-
zion OF the school.
But man proposes and God disposes.
The new church home Is com pleted. On
the Goth of December, 1891, bibles,
lesson helps, catechisms, clock. organ,
etc, with large portion of Bethany
family were removed from that dear old
home, hallowed by so many sacred
memories, to this now and beautiful