Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-06-05
How Lexington Treated The General
Assembly

l -
General A ssembly of the Presbyterian
Church (Soutb) would be entertained
by the people CT Lexington, Va, th'
; envious ones who knew that the C, II
lsus gave the historic and classic littl'
city a population of only $500 per
sons, predicted that Lexington hat
"bit off more than size could chaw.
But the assembly came last week in
larger force than ever before, and
after remaining ten days jawing and
chawing, returned to their homes sat
isfied and in a delightful frame OF mind
and body, declaring that there was nc
place like Lexington.
Lexington is city of homes and
| they we're all thrown open. The doors
Of the Episcopal, Baptist and Metho-
dist homes were as wide open as those
of the Presbyterian, and the houses
seemed all to be made of some elastic
material that expanded in proportion
to the demand made upon them,
while the tables groaned under the
burdens imposed, the guests responded
with spirit, and if the hosts groaned
no one ever heard them.
When it is stated that the commits
sioners numbered 2O7, the officials, mis-
sionaries. editors of church papers,
&C.. were SO, the visiting ministers SIS,
with the wives and daughters of many
of these, while Staunton, Lynchburg,
Rockbridge, Augusta, Botetourt, Bath
and other neighboring counties, fur
nished their full quota of elders. dea-
cons and other interested Presbyteri-
ans, the wonder grows where they
slept and how they were fed, but
housed and fed they were and every
body made happy except two hosts,
who the writer heard of complaining
at the close of the meeting, ore. that be
had been promised three preachers
and had got only two, ond the other
had prepared for two and none came.
l came to the conclusion that the Lex
ington appetite for preachers is insa-
table and if the supply last week was
not equal to the demand, the demand
will never be supplied.
Another subject of general remark |
and self congratulation by the Assem-
blymen was that the perfect system of |
their reception and distribution over
the community had never been excell
ed, while the arrangements for COM
fort and convenience of commissioners
and committees was beyond criticism.
The writer, who mas been an assembly
goer for over thirty years, noted this
feature of the Lexington ENTERTAINMENT
at once. Every guest knew before he
eft home who would be his host. Mr..
J. Med. Adair and his committee had
liked all that, so when they reached
Lexington inste ad of having to assem-
ole at the church they were met by the
with carriages, and guides,
and porters and pages, and in the
shortest time the large party were all
landed at their homes,
where they found their hosts waiting
It the door with smiling faces to well
come them, or their latch string hang
ng outside with an unmistakable well
come look about it.
Then at the church the forethOught
Ind systematical arrangement of DIR.
W haling, Mr.. M. w. Paxton, Mr.. W.
}. Stuart and their committeeman left
to be suggested that could
contribute to the comfort and conven-
ence OF their distinguished guests. |;
Although there were many commit
ices, there was no lack of quarters for
hem. The National Bank lent their
lirectors' room. The Firemen fur
lished their parlor and reading room.
The handsome new court house loaned
is grand jury room. sheriff's and I
udge's offices and petit jury room, and
he Baptist and Methodist churches
upplied their Sunday School rooms,
which We're kept open day and night.
The church has, as it has always had.
/ good choir and it furnished for the
Assembly some good, helpful music.
N this choir sat Prof. Nelson, BROTH
Il of the late w. J. Nelson of Staun
on. The writer saw him sitting there
irst in 1854 in the same choir;
,ver since that he has held
lis place and his voice in the Lexing-
nj, 4l 10 an, fr,l
here is any such case on record as a
nan singing in good voice forty ne
,ears. T. C. M.