Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-04-05

high.
The very place where we worship him
becomes, by his manifestations to us, a
holy place. We should know and be
certain that these places are holy by roa-
son of the more than ordinary NANTES
tation of God. The place of secret
prayer becomes holy by reason of the
mi On of the Father with the child on
earth. Where the worshipers of God in
the closet and at family prayer gather
together in public to worship, can we not
conclude that this place where they pub
licly assemble becomes a sacred placei
For this reason, this place is dedicated
set apart for holy purposes. While Christ
was on earth, he could be physically
present at but one place at one time and
it became expedient that he 60 away that
the Comforter might come and do more
than he could do God, by hts holy
Spirit is present with his worshipers,
when they assemble to worship him. He
also showed that this place should be
preserved holy by ministers and the con-
gregation ana very forcibly prevented
the manner in which the sacred house of
God 10 often desecrated. 1t is defled
when we carry with us into the house of
God the world and all that that means.
Worship will not end here but will mlngle
with the worship Of the heavenly hosts
a communion that reaches beyond the
visible into the invisible. He very feel.
ingy referred to those with whom be
had worshped IN former years, and who
have been transferred to their eternal
home. he believed the worship of the
saints here mingled with the worship Of
the saints there and that the saints on
earth and the saints in heaven but one
communion make. He exhorted his con-
gregation to revere the sanctuary and
preserve 1t as a holy place.
After the sermon the choir cbanted
Glsria 7Ibi. The treasurer read in de-
tail the costs of the improvements. the
amount paid and the balance due which
IN round numbers was $1,000.
A collection was then taken up and
few dollars mere than was needed was
paid or subscribed and the church was en-
troly relieved o. debt. The promptness in
responding to this call was an evidence Of
the liberality of the congregation, and
their appreciation of the Gospel.
While the collectors were taking the
collection, beautiful solo was sung by
Miss Clara Irwin. of this place.
The conservation services we're conduct
ed BY Rev. n. H. skyles, the pastor.
After singing the doxology, the benedic
ton was pronounced by Rev. l. Bsussr-
man Of the Christian Church.
Rev. C. B. Heller of Mt. Crawford
preached in the Lutheran Church at
IL a. m.
SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETING.
A Sunday school meeting was held in
ct. Paula Reformed Church on Sunday
afternoon at o'clock, conducted by Mr..
J. W. Martin, Sup't of the Sunday school
The exercises We're opened with. prayer
by Rev. JOSIAH May of HawkinstOwn.
After singing, the pastor introduced
Rev. Cyrus ffenbacher, who gave a
very interesting address. He was fol-
lowed by Revs. VIM. Licbliter aud c. B.
Heller, of Mt. Crawford, whose remarks
to the children were attentively listened
to and highly appreciated These
speeches we're iuterspersed with singing
by the school and the infant class, under
the charge of Miss Ella Skyles.
At I p. m. Rev. VIM. Lichliter, preach
an interesting and instructive sermon to
very large congregation.
st. Paul's congregation, is probably
the oldest in the town. The sturdy Ger
mans who stopped a short time in Penn.
sylvsnia heard Of the attractive Shenan.
doah Valley nearly a century and a halt
ago, and many Of them sought homes in
this beautiful section. They brought
with them not only their families and
small possessions, but their household
gods. The religion which they had learn
ed from their ancestors was cherished by
them, and it as but short time before
congregations for the worship of God
were formed. They had obtained grants
from Lord Fairfax for the rich bottom
lands along the winding Shenandoah.
and soue of these patents as granted
| by Lord Fairfax are still to be found in
the families of the descendants of the
early settlers, Among the Immigrants
were the Hotels, the HOs&mans, the Del
fingers. the travels. the Fetzsrs the Bow
mans, the Mllers. aud others who settled
ia the neighbOrhood of what was after
wards successfully known as"Miller-
stsdU," "Millerstown, and wood
stock, " in the County Of Dunmore, which
name was repudiAted by our patriotic
ancestors, and the more beautiful Indian
name Shenandoah. substituted. The
ancestors of some OF these early settlers
were Huguenots and we're driven from
France by persecution on account OF
their religion. IL is unfortunate
that we have not been able to pub
lish an acco1nt of the organization
of this congregation which was made,
from the best historical evidence We have,
between 17i5 aud 175l, at which time
Michael Schlatter organized churches in
Virginia aud several other states.
THE OLD CHURCH.
The Church on the bill was evidently
built q short Jime after the laying out Of
the town. 1t was a square edidce, gal
leries around on three sides. ceiled on the
inside and furnished with pews which
were at all times suggestive of penance.
For nearly one hundred years, this build
ing served it's purpose. Now it has pass
ed away, and with it every pastor that
served the congregation. Nearly all the
wcrshipers have gone. Some have re-
moved to distant homes and are still
lingering on the shores of time. Here a
few remain to transmit to the present