Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-09-29
Meeting of the Virginia Lutheran Synod.


The sixty-ninth convention Of the Vir-
GINA Synod was held the last week OF
August In Hebron Church, Madison
county, Va, Rev. G. W. Huddle, pastor.
Rev. G. Fl. Hockey, of Shepherdstown,
accompanied by Mr.. Mayberry Mckee
as delegate, on account of the inconven-
fence of reaching the place of meeting
by rail. drove through distance of 80
miles. The drive over new country
and across the Blue Ridge mountains at
Front Royal was exceedingly interesting
and delightful, easily covering the dis
lance in two days.
The church in which Synod was held
is two miles north of Madison Court
House, and in rich and very productive
valley on the banks of the Robinson riv-
err. Land is worth in this region and was
sold for Sl02 per acre, while just short
distance away land can be purchased for
from S. to $40 an acre. These are the
widely known Pine Hills of Eastern Nir-
GINA. Much of this land is made up OF
red land and was once cultivated, but
long since abandoned, and now grown
I'D with dense underbrush and looks like
a barren waste for miles. The roads run
lad libitum" through these extensive
woods, anyone being free TO make his
own road by shorter route TO his destl-
nation. At times the road shoots alb
ruptly into the river bed as if to get rid
of the dust and splashes through the wa
ter for mile or more at time. The
Gap" road across the mountains, how
ever, at Front Royal is the finest noun
tain road ever travelled The grade is
very gradual and the road-bed wide and
in most excellent condition. The view
from the elevation looking over into
Eastern Virginia, is panorama Of rare
beauty stretching for miles before you.
The Hebron church is historical. 1t
is the only Lutheran Church in TUCK
ahoe," except the churches planted by
missions in Richmond and Norfolk. The
country east of the Blue Ridge and as
far south as the Virginia line was settled
by people from lands other than Luth-
eran. Emigration westward seemed to
stop at the Blue Ridge. The Shenan-
doah Valley, in which the Lutheran
Church is so strong, was settled by peo-
pie from Maryland and Pennsylvania.
The descendants of the Hessians sent
into this valley by Washington after the
Revolution, are still to be found here.
But these people never colonized east
ward. The existence Of Hebron Luth-
eran Church standing alone in all that
eastern country has the following histo-
nv: Early in 100 Governor Spottswood,
of Virginia, donated rich tract of land
to a colony of Germans on condition
that they would settle here and work
the iron mines which were recently
opened. They undertook the iron in
dustry, accepted the proposition and
emigrated to Madison county from
Germany. Soon after a number Of
Swedes Joined them. Shortly after their
landing a German Lutheran Church was
organized and church edifce erected.
This was replaced in 1747 by the present
church building, erected in the shape
of a Il, being therefore Isl years old,
one of the very oldest churches in the
State. The pipe organ was the gift OF
the King Of Sweden, manufactured IN
Germany, and erected in the old church
in 1877, and placed in the new church
gallery in 1747. 1t was told me very
authoritatively by the choir leader that
Gustavus Adolphus was the Swedish
King making the gift. If Gustavus
Adolphus did donate this organ he must
have risen from the grave to do ii, for
this Snow King" died at Lutzen one
hundred years before the organ was
built The organ is still in use and APP
parently in good condition. The COM
munion set, very elaborate and heavy
silver set of three pieces, still in use in
the services, was the gift of an English
Lord to this church in 1927. The origi-
nal wooden case in which the silver set
was contained when shipped to this
country still holds its sacred treasures.
Synod was organized in this church at
it's last session by the election OF Kew.
w. J. Smith, president; Rev. G. ii.
Hockey, vice-president; Rev. l.. l..
Smith, secretary, and l.. 5. Walker,
treasurer. The opening sermon was de-
livered by Rev g. H. Hockey. The
routine business Of Synod was transact
ed, showing general prosperity OF the
churches. More money was received
by treasurer the past year for the extern
sion Of the church than any previous
year. Excellent addresses on Education
and Missions were delivered by Revs.
Freed and Brown, the latter the Mis-
sionary elect to Japan. Smithfield,
which has been vacant for years, has
been placed with Stephens City and reg
ular pastoral services will be given it.
New work will be opened in Newport
News during the year. Capon charge,
which has been developing in Hamp-
shire county, has divided and another
pastor placed on the field. Harrison
burg and Buena Vista, now separate
missions of Virginia Synod, will soon be
placed with other churches so that no
missionary appropriation will no longer
be needed There has been much ad-
vanced movement along many lines.
Synod will meet next year at Norfolk,
Va. H.