Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-11-21
CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Sixth Anniversary of the Passionate
of Rev. J. II. SheaIy.
INTERESTING STATEMENT OF THE PROGRESS OF
THE CHURCH DURING THAT TINE.


INTERESTING STATEMENT OF THE PROGRESS OF
THE CHURCH DURING THAT TINE
Last Sunday, November 18th, was the sixth
anniversary of the pastorate of Rev. J. H.
Shealy, the able and popular Pastor of the
Lutheran church of this city. After his ser
mon on Sunday last. he read the following
interesting statement of his labors and the
progress and prosperity of his church during
the six years of his pastorate:-
Just six years ago to-day preached to
this congregation for the first time. 1t seems
very short time since that day. Yet in
these few years many are the changes that
have taken place. Many whose faces | look
ed into then for the first time, but which be-
came very familiar afterward, | miss today.
Their earthly abors have ended, and they
have Joined the innumerable hosts on the
other side of the mystic river And these
changes of the past six years force upon us
the thought How many similar changes shall
we see in the next six? May not he who
stands here to review the past on the 18th of
November. in the year nineteen hundred,
miss many of us who are here today? Yea,
1t is not only probable, but almost absolutely
certain. The past teaches us these solemn
facts, which no process of reasoning can OBJ
literate.
At that time we were worshiping tempo
rarly in the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton Hall, on the lower floor OF the opera
house-a room about forty by twenty feet.
since, we have seen this beautiful church
building erected, furnished throughout and
consecrated to God; with chapel also well
adapted for lectures, and week day and Sun
day school services.
In these six years we have preached six
hundred and fifteen sermons, and conducted
about half that many Wednesday evening
lecture and prayer services. Eightytwo per
sons have been baptized, infants and adults;
thirty have been received by confirmation;
nineteen marriages have been performed;
sixty funeral services have been conducted.
Many of these persons, however, were not
members of this church. One hundred and
forty five have been added to the communi-
cant membership of the church
Six years ago the Sunday school numbered
ffty-six scholars eight teachers and two Off
GERS, or sixty in all. To-day it numbers
one hundred and fifty scholars, nineteen
teachers and six officers or one hundred and
seventy five in all
The Ladies' Aid Society. which was in exis-
tence, has grown in numbers and usefulness
very much, and has done great deal of ex-
celient work. 1t holds regular monthly
meetings and has grown from twelve to thir-
ty-five members. A Ladies' Home and For
eign Missionary Society has been organized
and now numbers sixty five. The meetings
ladies, and much has been done, not only in
the raising of funds. but also in the cultiva-
ton of knowledge of and an interest in the
mission work. This society holds regular
monthly meetings consisting of devotional
missionary service the reading of missionary
literature, and business session. These socie-
ties have constitutions for their government
prepared by the pastor himself.
A "Young Peoples Luther League has been
organized within the last two years, which is
now in excellent working order, numbering
forty five. The aim of this league is to cult
vate sociability among the young people,
love for their church, and knowledge of all
that will go to make them useful in after years
in the kingdom of our blessed Redeemer
And in finances and Christian liberality of
the congregation, there has been very COM
mendable progress Six years ago the congre
CATION raised for all purposes thousand dol
lars, and only thirty dollars for benevolence.
Last year was raised for jail purposes more
than two thousand dollars, and four hundred
for beneyolence. This year we are expected
to raise for all purposes twenty-three hundred.
The congregation has met all its financial obi
cations promptly at the end of each month,
till during the past summer, it fell about one
month behind. Moreover, we have paid off
debt during this time of two thousand dollars,
with the exception of about seventy-ive. This
is all the debt resting on the congregation to-
day.
In these six years we have raised, for all
purposes, eleven thousand, six hundred and
forty six dollars And very little of this has
been raised by dinners, suppers, teas, and such
like methods. that cultivate the selfish in
stincts of human nature rather than Christian
liberality.
And the congregation has grown in ways
that can not be estimated or measured by
words and figures more perhaps than in any
of these we have mentioned. pray God that
we may ever stand, as we stand to-day, for
Ntrsct
anism in doctrine, practice and worship. Then
whether the visible results be great or small,
[ am fully persuaded that we will accomplish
in the fullest measure the will of our Divine
Lord and Master.
This is splendid record,-a record that
eclipses many congregations of three times
our numbers. Andyet we are only beginning
to work-we are only learning the first lessons
of how to do something for Christ and how
blessed it is to labor and give for his cause.
May we not hope for grander development in
the next six years? We have far more to start
with than we had at the beginning of the past
six. Only let us be active and faithful in the
discharge of every duty. I want to thank the
many who have been so in the past for the
encouragement their fidelity has given 1t is
only by your prayers and your assistance that
we have been enabled to accomplish anything.
And in the name of Christ and for the sake of
his cause, appeal to all who have been care
less and Indifferent to awake to higher sense
of duty, and of the responsibility that rests
upon them. And in conclusion l want to
thank the congregation, one and all, for the
uniform courtesy, tender consideration. and
Christian kindness which Ihave received at
your hands in all these years. May God bless
you each one. and make you blessing, and
may you be prosperous and happy both tenn
porally and spiritually; and when you are
gone may the world be better because you
have lived"
The life of Mr.. John burns, prom
inent farmer of Jefferson county, who
died last week was insured for 1874, 900.
The life of Mr.. Richard Alexander, of
the same county, who also died last
week, was insured for about $14, 600.
PUGILIsTIC ENCOUNTER.-A de-
spatch from Coney Island, N. Y, says
that 5000 persons assembled on Mon