Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1900-12-05
rat OLD STONE oHtkoH f.
DEDICATED.

4
has been enlarged and improved to
meet the craving demands of the con-
gregation. 1t is one of the many his
toric landmarks of Rockbrdge county
and Virginia and tn first congregat on
was organized in 1746. In 1855 the
Old Stone Church was erected and has
seen mauy changes since that time to
meet the growth of the county but tits
stall the ancient landmark with the grey
stone walls intact as first built. In its
erection the noble women of the con-
Igregation took an active part and car
ried the sand, used in the wal, in bags
on horseback. Many eminent ministers
served as pastors of this Scotch-Irish
Presbyterian church, and in its con-
gregatiors from tine to time have been
many citizens of sterling worth. The
present pastor is the Rev. j. Layton
Name, who has labored hard and now
attained bis earnest endeavors that his
church might be improved. The i'm
provements amounted to $3.50.
The exercises were highly interesting
and practically lasted the entire day.
From all parts of Rocbbridge and sur
rounding counties people attended, and
many went from Lexington. There
was large congregation present.
The opening services which began in
the morning at II o'clock was begun
with prayer by the Rev. D, P. Neel,
pastor of Associated Reform Church OF
Ebenezer.
Rev. DR.. Owens Brown Stricken, of
the Union Theological Seminery, Rich
mond, preached the dedicatory sermon.
DIR. STROLLER is q native of Rockbridge
county and was gallant Confederate
soliier. His sermon was an able dis.
cou Sc and was d livered with powerful
eloquence.
Daniel j. Hileman, chairman of the
building committee made his report
upon the CO Iclusion of the sermon,
which showed the cost of the recent
improvements, and then turned over
the church leys ty 1. Frank Sterrett,
president Of the b ar of church trus-
tees. The mornings exercises closed
with dedicatory prayer by DR.. Strick
Ter.
The services of the afternoon were
Of highly interesting histC-"sl char
acter, and began at 2 o'clock, Rev.
DIR. Henry Alexander White, of Wash
ington and Lee University, spoke upon
"The early days of Presbyterianism in
the Valley and the first fifty years of
tie Old Stone Church at Timber
Ridge" DR.. White gave first survey |
of the exodus of the FISHERMEN, which
brought half million of strong Scots
into the Allegheny regions just before
outbreak OF the Amer can Revolution
He next describ d the entrance of |
some of these Presbyterian clans into
the Valley of Virginia. Their mara'
was described as tbsy came with Bib.e
md Confession Of Faith, with the axe
and with the life. Tie buildi G of |
log cabins followed. All Of this e.
liminary narrative Id up t. the de-
scription of tie bui dihs of thu Old
Store Church in 1855, when MN, wo-
men and children took part in con-
structing the sacred edifce.
This was followed by an on line of
the growth of this church un il the
close Of the Eighteenth century, with
spe i ! reference to the connection OF
the church itself with the develop
ment of Liberty Hal Academy, school
which b since become the Washing
ton and Lee University.
On tablet on tie wal! 10 The right
OF the pulpit Was q roster of the minis
ters of the church, with years of service,
ss follows: Climber Ridge Church
organized by Rev. John BAR, A, D.
l1746. Ministers-Willian Dean, 1748;
John Brown, 1856. William Graham,
1776; Daniel Blair, 1902; Henry Ruff
ner, 1919; Allen D. Metcalf, 1881;
James Pane. 1885; George D, Arm
strong, 1888; W. w, Trimble, 1851;
r. @. j. Taylor, 1866; D. G. Irwin,
1878; Allied Jones, 1881; Henry Alex
auder White, 1890; John H, Davis,
1898; ]. Layton Mauze, 1892"
| The improvements consist Of two
wings on the sides at the rear and ad-
/ Ii.