Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-22
THE VALLEY CITY.
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCI
MINISTER TO BE INSTALLED.
History OF the Congregation and
Some OF the Prcachcrs-Thc Corn
Shocking Pastoral Good Election
Story-PcrsonaI and General.

sTAUNTON, VA, November 2l.-(Spe-
cial.)-The Rev. J. Nj. Wells. who was
last Sunday installed IN the pastorate Of
the Second Presbyterian church. with in
teresting ceremonies, WILL tomorrow
morning. deliver a special sermon, com
memorating the twenty-nrst anniversary
OF this church. Really. last Sunday was
the twenty-frst anniversary. but the in
siallation Of Mr.. Wells on that day, made
postponemont OF the memorial exercises
necessary. This congregation Is an off
shoot from the First Presbyterian church.
and was established In 1876. by mere
handful Of former members OF the parent
church. which latter at the time, had as
Its shepherd the late Rev. William f.
Baker, a man whose character and learn
Ing IS revered IN this community. The
infant church had as its first pastor the
Rev. Mr. Simpson, a young sco;chman
who. after successfully steering the new
church for a few years. returned 10 scot
land Its next pastor was a Richmond
gentleman. the Rev. J. l.. Booker. who
after a long and able pastorate. resigned
10 accept the pulpit of Hebron church, in
Augusta. where he is now stationed.
Mr.. Booker some years ago earned for
himself the sobriquet Of "the Corn-Shuck-
ing Parson." II happened this way, they
say: This reverend man of God is a
thorough faced Democrat. and riding
along the road on electionday. saw a
man In corn field al work. Mr.. Booker
learned that the laborer had not voted.
giving as his reason, that the polls were
far off and that he couldn't spare the
time.
Being n man Of convictions, and be-
lieying that there are more ways than
one by which a person can show his
faith by his works." Mr.. Booker check
mated the hesltant sulfragan, rendered
him his horse. pulled off his coat, and
proceeded TO shrck corn. that the poor
man might be none the loser in doing a
citizens duty. And that night the judges
counted a vote for Harry Tucker, that
otherwise would have been lost.
The Rev Dr. II. II. Halves, a brother
Of Marion Harlan, and Of Messrs. 5. IA.
and Percy Halves. Of Richmond. succeeded
Mr.. Booker. and was In turn succeeded
by the Rev. William Cumming. Dr.
Halves went to Buefleld, and Mr.. Cum
ming, under whose guidance the church
grew rapidly, was called to Baltimore
a short time ago Mr.. Wells, the new
pastor. who will conduct the anniversary
vigorous active worker. He assumes
charge of thriving congregation Of over
800 members, whose eager church workers
have established a mission church Oh
Sears Hill.
The Virginia Paint and Powder Club,
OF this city. are engaged in rehearsing
Bronson HowaId's Young Mrs. Win
throp." There are in the cast these
prominent members Of the club: Miss
Clemence Cooke. Mr.. w. L. Cooke. Mr..
J. Morton Fultz, and Mr.. Hugh Timber
lake.
young Mrs. Winthrop" will be played
shortly in Harrlsonburg for the benefit
OF the Harrisonburg Episcopal church.
and another performance will be given at
Bridgewater.
Dir. william A. Burnett, County Court
Clerk. this fall has had a flush of appl-
cations for marriage licenses and has
issued more. of these permits 70 Cupid
than ever before in the same period.
Eighteen hundred and ninety-six promises
TO be a red letter year in the annals OF
Cupids game Of archery.
TINS county is loser 10 the extent Of q
handsome sum by the almost total failure
Of the apple crop. Already our markets
are stocked with New York and othey
fruit
Though the magic Christmas month Is
not yet on US. our merchants are taking
time by the forelock. and displays OF
holiday goods peep at you from behind
plate-glass windows.
The Bodley Wagon Company. OF this
city, has just built probably the biggest
wagon ever constructed In Virginia. This
monster vehicle has a capacity Of fifteen
tons. and was built for William Nc
Keever. OF stanton. for transporting
boilers, castings, and heavy machinery.