The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-02

The delegates to the annual meeting
of the Old German Baptists rested we'll
at their temporary home Friday night,
with one exception. Among those
domiciled In the barn near the Bru-
baker farm was Delegate Churchbaugh,
an aged brother from Kansas, whose
sight Is dim. Owing, possibly, to this
weakness Of vision the old gentleman
arose and early in the morning, mis-.
taking an opening in the side of the
house on the first floor for door, step
ped out and fell heavily to the ground,
some dozen or so feet beneath bruising
him painfully, but it is hoped not
seriously. DR.. Baskerville, of Hollins,
was sent for and rendered the necessary
attention.
After substantial breakfast the
brethren gathered under the roof of a
big barn which is doing service as tab
ernacle and seated themselves. From
10 to ~ o'clock there were religious ser-
vices, consisting Of prayers aud short
sermons, interspersed with hymns
''lined" out IN the good old fashioned
style and sung with much fervor. The
some almost eloquent in their talks, all
OF which were full OF apt Biblical allu-
slons setting forth the tenets of thei.
religion.
AT noon recess was taken during
which several hundred people adjourned
to the creek near by, where, after ap-
propriate prayers, Elder Daniel Yoder,
OF Trenton county, Indiana, baptized an
aged sister in the manner peculiar to
the brethren, viz, by three immersions
face downward. Soon after this, all re-
turned to their SENS in the barn where
the religious services we're continued
until three o'clock, when 1t was an
nounced that the meeting would close
for the day and that at four o'clock din
ner would be served In the large eating
house
Principally at the hour named the
sisters entered the doors from the north
side, whilst the brethren entered from
the south side and took their seats,
twenty-four to the table, as described
In yesterdays TIMES, 1t will BIS re-
membered that there is on aisle down
the center OF the building, and this
divides the sisters from the brethren.
1t had been publicly requested that the
young people allow the old folks to get
seated first, and this order was we'll
carried out and observed.
twas noticed that out of the $50 people
seated at the tables at least $50 were
visitors who had come to look on, but
were welcomed by the hospitable breth.
rem without any distinction whatever.
As soon as all were seated the doors
were closed and then the verse OF
hymn was sung and prayer offered,
both, by request, being in the German
tongue, which is much spoken by the
brethren in Ohio. Twenty minutes suf.
hced for dinner, and then after return
ing thanks the doors were opened and
the building vacated. Immediately
thereafter the doors were again closed,
and the tables again set for those breth-
rem and sisters from Floyd and Franklin
counties who kept continually arriving
all the evening until quite late.
To-day at 6 o'clock there will be
morning service followed by breakfast
att. Services again from 10 to 12 and
to 3; dinner at 4; in the evening cele-
brstion OF the Lords supper and foot
washing.
A TINES reporter converted with
number OF the brethren from the West
and found them quite pleasant and
agreeable. The largest delegations
come from the States o. Ohio and Indi.
ana, where they say that less than half
crop OF wheat will be made owing to a
warm spell In April and very cold one
about the middle Of May. From the
same causes the corn crop there is
backward, although of fruit OF all kinds
there is an abundance. Those Western
brethren commented favorably upon the
growing crops they had seen 10 Vir-
Rinia. They say, however, that the
meeting here will not be as we'll at
t led by delegates of their churches as
those held in the West on account of the
difficulty experienced in getting here.
1t Ia hard to obtain an estimate OF
the number present, but the general
opinion OF the best posted of the breth-
rem seemed to be that it would range
between thousand and fifteen hundred
OF course, to-day the visitors and spec
tators will be there by the thousands,
judging by the way horses and teams
nave been engaged beforehand in Ros-
noke and Salem.
Sheriff Zirkle, with Deputies Peters.
Blackwell and Bishop were on hand
yesterday to keep order, but their SER
vices were really not needed, and 1t Is
hoped that the same can be said when
To-day Is over.
The refreshment booths are we'll gu o.
piled with cooling drinks, fruits and
confectioneries, willis. Willard Huff Is
also operating frst"clsss restaurant,
30 that no one need suffer to-day. Even
the horses can be fed on the grounds.
The reporter was under obligations to
so many people yesterday that he fears
he would weary his readers If he at
tempted to name them all; every one,
including the Roanoke Street Railway
Company, did all they could to assist
him, for which he Is truly gr:teful