The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-12-21

CHURCH GROWTH.


The Episcopalians Encouraged.
The sermon of the Rector on Sunday
last was a review of his ministry since
his coming to+Clifton Forge, thirteen
months ago The reverend gentleman
took for his text the words from Hebrews
chapter 9th, verse 10th: God is not un
righteous that He will forget your works
and labor that proceedeth of love, which
love We have showed for his names sake.
ION coming to the field in November
1892, there were found ten or twelve com
municants of our Church, neither pastor
nor services held; the very form OF our
beautiful liturgical service almost Tor
gotten the sheep starved, scattered,
and some lost to the fold. | came in and
out amongst YOU; parish room was
rented and services held regularly. The
| valuable aid OF lay reader has helped
to keep the flock together. Alternate
lay and clerical service have been held
week by week. The work is no easy task
amidst such a floating population;
amidst people employed nights and
often on Sundays; an almost utter abb
sence of men of wealth. Yet with many
drawbacks and discouragements L have
had many joys, and not the least is, we
are an unbroken line in church work.
| ''There are none who have gone out
| from us who were of u.s." The devil has
| tried but not succeeded; the flock are
not scattered Thanks are due to the
Ladies' Aid for much plodding work,
and also to the Sui day School in r Using
funds for the propoi ed church. We have
valuable plot of land decided to US by
the Clifton Forge Company in capital
location pro boz pmb1ico."
Mr.. Wood then read a statement as
| follows, relating to the proposed church
to be erected in the Spring of 1894;
Land, so 1875 feet.
Funds in Treasury of Ladies'
| Aid Society lSO-Oo
Funds in Treasury of Vestry 377S5
Donations promised money and
kind. 9lUoo
Donations in sight l0O.OU
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $157s 35
A fair amount considering the panic
we have just gone through. The time
has come when we must soon build and
have accommodation for our growing
| numbers.
We have now forty communicates and
subscription roll of SO towards the
salary of your Rector.
/ Of ho
Wood then showed how necessary it was
that the sum of $500 year promised by
those interested should be paid and that
with regularity. While many have done
their part, kept their promises and paid
regularly; some had done nothing. Some
meant we'll but that is all. To meet the
| Indebtedness to the Rector the Vestry
have had to borrow 1925, owing to res
moved and deficient subscribers, and yet
did those remaining pay their dues all
would be cleared off.
This state of things msans a serious
matter to the Vestry, and it would be
so easy did all do their part.
Mr.. Wood then showed in the most
lucid manner that if the forty commune
cants would lay aside about cts per day
or the thirty-thr on the subscribers
roll an average of less than cts. per day
a balance would be in band 1t needs
but seventeen people to deny themselves
but 5 cts. day to enjoy the opportunity
of residing clergyman, to have a weekly
service and carry on the work of Minis
tering to the flock of Christ. These facts
are stubborn things and need to be
looked at The monthly envelope now
distributed enables all to do this as
T''unto Che Lords treasury easily.
Mr.. Wood went on to say that there
was need of more help for efficient Sun
day School work, and especially in the
music of the nursery of the church, and
also in some brotherhood work for
gathering strangers and Bible study and
growth in religious life.
He closed by saying that giving of our
substance. giving of our talents to the
Masters use doth of which are our
bounden duty the most important OF all
was the gift of our souls and bodies to
our Masters service; deeper repentance
| then would follow that which was said
and of which it was shame to speak.
the mere pittance for the Lords chest,
neadful for the laborers' hire at this end
of the parish.
We must remember that all our pos
sessions of any kind are simply lent to
us. We are but stewards. God claims
| our first fruits. Neither hard times nor
any excuse will do in God asking for
his own. 'Not every one that sayeth
unto ME Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth
the.will of my father which is in Heaven"
Mr.. Wood then exhorted the people to
! strengthen his handsome to the sery-
ices for Gods worship. Begin the Adj
vent season with fresh repentance, erect
/ the family altar and pray for your
clergyman and his work, open your
Bibles, learn your prayer book, memor>
ize the hymns. Then when vision fails,
steps falter, the means of grace are fewer,
what comfort and a joy you have
within. The chorus of Heavens service
will blend with happy memories of the
days of youth spent in preparation for
that change. Speak kindly to and of
one an other. Let by cones be by cones.
If you fall, by grace rise again. Be strong
in the Lord and in the power of His
might. Never be discouraged. Pray
for me, for my work. for yourselves, CO.
operating with me ito preach the King
dom of God and teaching those things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ
with all confidence
"A Flying Visit.
! Capt. W. T. Snapp, of Staunton, now
holding an important position in the U.