Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-08-05

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Smith, D. D., that Bethel was vacant
and they wanted pastor-that the
had just finished new church, an,
directed him to Mr.. Samuel Finley
for information. He arrived at Mr.
Finley's on Friday night Mr.. Flnle
invited him to preach on Sunday. H
remained and preached three Sundays
The session falling to get moderator
no Call was made out. Session inform
ed him that a call would be made a
soon as they could get moderator
He informed them, if it was unanimous
be woud ACCEPT. but could not come
until June. He left on Monday morn
ing, calling ON DIR. Speice as be wen
on. The DIR inquired where he ha6
been. No'farther up the Valley thai
Bethel. Brother Mcfarland, you de-
not think of settling there? l prom
lsed Them if they made out unani'
nous call | would accept. Why, Broth
er Mcfarland, you can never stay there
They are rebelliOus people; no one
can please them. l heard DR.. McFar-
land say more than once, he would
have given his horse (had he not paid
fOr) if be had not have told the Bethel
pCOCiCs IL lucy utuC Out a Cnii uO WVuiO
take it under consideration.
The call was not made out until the
18th of June, 1928. He commenced
preaching the 23rd. September 1Ith,
he was received into Lexington Pres
bytery. September 18th. installed as
pastor of Bethel. Rev. DR.. Rnffner
preached from Malachi end chapter, Z
verse. DIR. g. Specie presided and gave
the charge-Dr. Mcfarland being ap-
pointed by the Board of Education
their Secretary, feeling it to be his
duty to accept that office. A meeting
of Bethel congregation was called on
the 10th Of January, 1886, for the pur-
pose of determining whether they would
consent to the dissolution of the pas
toral relation. Rev. James G. Wilson
presided. The congregation were unani
opposed to his leaving. but, in
as much as be felt it to be his duty,
they referred the whole matter to
On the 22nd of January,
1886, at StauntOn, the pastoral relation
was dissolved. He had been pastor II
years, months. The additions to
Bethel church during that period were,
On examination, about forty per year.
At meeting shortly after, Mr.. Nc
Farland presiding, Rev. PeytOn Har-
rlson was unanimously called to be-
come pastor of Bethel He accepted,
md was received from w. Hanover in
% Lexington Presbytery, at Lexing.
;on, in April 1885, He came, with his
alnily. to the congregation In July.
His throat being much affected, be was
orbldden to preach by. his physicians.
lie remained here some time. Not be-
ng able to preach. be resigned the call,
and it was returned to the congr ega-
ion.
The session determined to hold the
all. and get such supplies as they
ould. Rev. George Leyburn. being un-
mplOyed, was invited, but be declined.
Then Rev. Jeptha Harrison was engag
d by the session for several months at
he rate of 800 per year. There being
10 prospect of Mr.. Harrison's 3 being
bile to preach, the congregation having
'ut little preaching for several months,
we're not in favor of Mr.. Harrison as a
upply. Many of the congregation
Oubted whether the session had the
light to engage a supply for a length
# time without consulting the cOngre
alton. and bind them to pay for
upply they were not in favor of. A
Meeting of the congregation was call
d and that engagement nullified.
The congregation at that meeting
lirected the session to invite some one
whom they thought would suit as pas
or. In October, 1886, meeting was
j. g. Wilson presiding.
\ unanimous cali was made out for
Rev. James Brown. Mr.. Wilson was
Iirected to inform Mr.. Brown. After
consideration, he declined November
Och, 1886.
The congregation met on the 4tf of
December, 1886, and directed Session
o invite Rev. VIM. s. White to visit
be congregation with the assurance
hat a unanimous call would be made
'ut for him. Mr.. White Was before
he congregation at the same time Mr..
Brown was and declined. Both being
'efOre the congregation at the same
ime was the main cause of getting nei
her. Mr. White declined by letter to
session dated January 10th. 1887. The
,sslon then invited the Rev. James
Wood, agent for the Board of Educa
Ion, to visit the congregation with the
y'ew of settlement as pastor. He also
leclined, by letter dated March 10th,
S37. On the 10th of April, 1887. the
Sess ion invited Rev. A. B. McCOrkle
10 visit Bethel, and on the 9th of same
month unanimous Call was made out
and presented to him at Presbvtery at
Union on the 26th of April; and,
the same channel, was accept
e: on the 29th and regularly installed
on the oath of August, 1887.
He resigned his pastoral relation on
The End day of August, 1910, and it Was
dissolved on the 3rd of October, 1910.
by Presbytery. Mr.. McCorkle was
promised 500 salary.
The Session. with the appreciation
by the congregation, invited Rev. Will
liam Scott as a supply for one year. He
also declined. Owing to not receiving
the first letter sent him, and some re
ports through an unknown channel,
he thought the congregation was not
united.
The mind of the Session and the peo-
pie were then turned to DR.. McFar-
land, their former pastor.
On the 23rd of January, 1S41, DR.. B.
M. Smith presiding. he was unanimous
Iy elected pastor of Bethel. He com
menced his ministerial duties on the
22nd of August, 1S41. and was installed
on the 10th of October, 1871. Rev. VIM.
Calhoun supplied the pulpit several
months from the time Rev. A. b. Nc
Corkle resigned till DIR. Mcfarland
crme in August. 1S4l.
DIR. Mcfarland, in the years 1852 and
1858, or a considerable portion of those
years, was not able to preach or per-
form the duties as pastor. Rev. vii.
liam G.. Campbell and Rev. VIM. b.
Brown supplied the pulpit alternately.
Mr.. Brown, being the Principal of the
Augusta Female Seminary at Staun-
ton, found it inconvenIent for him to
preach any longer. Rev. VIM. w.
Trimble took his place.
Dr. Mcfarland again resumed his
duties as pastor in September. 1858. anG
continued to preach most of the time
not able to perform much pastora
work. Rev. w. W. Houston supplied
the pulpit some three months.
At meeting of the congregation oil
October 21st, 1866, they invited Rev. Il
p. FIournOy to supply the pulpit ant
assist DR.. Mcfarland in his pastOra
work. He remained about thirteeI
months. There was meeting calle,
to ascertain whether the congregation
uas nrenared tO call Rev P p k'lOur