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

! -Ats L ilbOI W WTlUc ~ OnCe GO ulIii
with the hearty concurrence of DIR
: Mcfarland. He wrote Immediately
but owing to his letter being directed
to the wrong postof1ice. it was som'
time before he received it. He asking
some farther information, his secont
letter was not received till in Novem
ber declining to come.
DIR. Mcfarland invited Rev. James
Murray to visit the congregation ant
preach few Sundays. He arrived or
the Sth of December, and after preach
ing to the congregation, notice was
given for a congregational meeting On
the 2ud day of January. 1868, for the
purpose of calling a pastor. Rev. j,
Ia. Preston, by invitation. preached a
sermon on that day, and then mod.
erated the meeting. Rev. James MUIR
rayswas unanimously elected. A call
was made but. and accepted by M.
Murray, to act as co pastor. He CON-
menced preaching ON the 26th of JAN
uarv, 1868. He was received into Lex
ington Presbytery, from East HanOve'
on the l4th of May, 1868. Installed by
committee of Presbytery on the 9th
of June, 1868. Rev. VIM. E. Baker
presided and preached the sermon.
Rev. Thos. l.. Preston gave the charge
to the pastor, and Rev. VIM T. Rich
ardson the charge to the people. Rev.
James Murray became pastor at the
death of DIR. Mcfarland, October 10th,
1871, and remains as such this 26th of
January, 1882. DIR. Mcfarland came
to Bethel June 18th, 1923, and died OIL
the 10th of October, 1871. He was the
active pastor for about 80 years. The
additions to the church during the
period were about 640 Near the last
time he was able to be at Bethel, he
made few remarks, and stated that
during his long pastorate he had never
received an unkind word from any
member of his Session.
The following is list of the names
Of the Elders of North Mountain and
Bethel since their organizati in 1747
as far as have been able to ascertain:
VIM. Thompson, John Wilson, james
Mitchell, (these were all the elders in
North Mountain when Bethel was first
organized about 1777), John Christian,
John Tate, VIM. McCutchan, Samuel
McCutchan. Robert Doak, Samuel
DOak, John Berry. Robert Tate, John
Brawford, Robert McPheeters. John
Logan. (these were all elders of Bethel,
but no record of when they were elect
ed or ordained). John SprOul, Samuel
Humphreys, VIM. M. Tate, George
Hudson, (these were ordained Sept.
IS, 1881, Matthew Wilson, ST., Tor
dained May 80, 1924. Morris Austin,
Ordained March II, 1927, John A.
Douglas, elected June 26. 1S31-had
been ordained before), John B. Chris
tian, John K. Moore, Chas. L. Peyton,
(Ordained Dec. IA, 1884, Matthew Will
son, Jr., Ordained March 2S, 1855,
Samuel Patterson, elected April "a.
1837-ordained at New PrOvidence),
McClung Patton, Ordained in 1889,
John Pilson, elected July 5. 1S47-Or
dained in West HanOver), Matthew
Pilson, David Blackwood, (ordained
March II, 1S4S), John Merritt, Aaron
Finley Humphreys, Samuel Hays, Al
eXander BrOwnlee, lOrdained July rs,
1850. A. A. Sproul, James M. Hays,
BENZ. +. McClung, (ordained August
4, 1860, John M. Lambert, James w.
Wallace, James E. Beard, (Ordained
Nov. 1, 1879, M. W. ID. HOgshead,
Samuel F. PiIson, (ordained August,
1879
John Christian was the first clerk of
session. His records all burnt.
DIR. r. H. Chapman kept the record |
from 1877 to 1921.
From that time to September, 1928.
no record to be found.
Rev. Francis Mcfarland kept the
record from Sept. 1928 to 1886 assisted
by John A. Douglas part OF the time.
John X. Moore was appointed clerk
in 1886, and kept the record till Aug.
Is, 1S47.
At a meeting of session on the 10Th
pointed clerk of session, and acted as
such to April, 1919, when he resigned.
B. f. McClung was appointed clerk
on the same day of April, 1879
There were no deacOns, either in the
North Mountain or Bethel, up to 1879
at which time seven were elected, or
dained and installed, viz: John w.
GiIkeson, James w. McCOrkle, John
w. Hays, James N. Mcfarland, James
f. Wilson, VIM. III. Cochran and
Robert w. Mcclure.
James N. Mcfarland was elected
treasurer of the congregation.
Jacob II. Brubeck was elected, or
dained and installed deacon in 1851.
MATTHEW PILSON
January 26, 1882.
Besides the article written above the
following has been added the cem-
etery has been enlarged By the addition
of $50 new lots, a number have been
purchased and occupied
Only "a were buried III the old part
of the grave yard previous to 1917,
now over 700. Fifteen elders are i'll
tered here. Messrs: Black wood and
Matthew PilsOn are e-buried in the PHI
son burying ground, Oh the fison
home farm. Those buried at Bethel
are Messrs. Maurice Austin, Alex.
BrOwnlee, John Crawford, Sr.. John
A. Douglas, Col. Rob-. Doak, Sam'l
Hays, Jas. M. Hays, Col NJ. w ID.
Hogshead, Sam' Humphreys, A. Fin
ley Humphreys, John Logan, John
Merritt, ST., Benz F. McClung, John
Sproul, and Arch. A. SprOul. Three
ministers-Rev. Eusebins Logan, Rev.
David Humphreys and DIR. Fran
els Mcfarland. The two wives of Rev.
McPheeters, Mrs. DR.. Mcfarland,
Mrs. y. 3. Lambeth and Mrs. RObt.A.
Lapsley, are buried here. OF others
there are % Bumgardners, Is Browns,
| s Brownlees, 16 BrawfOrds, Boards,
13 Christians, 8 Cochrans, ~ DOaks, 8
Fairbournes, Is GilkesOns, Gibsons,
6 Grahams, Gardners, IA Hawpes, /
Hays, 12 Humphreys, 9 Logans, IS
Lightners, McFarlands, 8 McPhee-
ters, 12 McClungs, 2l McClures, Mer
ritts, II Mitchels. 10 Sprouts, II
Swinks, u Tates, 6 Tarbots, II Wal
laces, with lesser numbers OF other
families. Eight person were inferred
last year, and six this year.
The nearest attempt at missionary
work was a Bible Society formed in
1888, by the following named ladies.
| N % mention is made of an organiza-
ton. Members of the Female Bible
Society, Sept. 1888: Susan q. Graham,
Matilda Lynch, Betsy Blackwood, Sal
ly Blackwood, Lucy A. Humphreys,
Sarah A. Heiskell, Eliza M. Swoope,
Catherine jackson, Susan j. PeytOn,
Jane Tay lor Steele, Mary Moore Steele,
IJuliana Sharpe, Catharine Hunter,
Elizabeth Prison. Phebe L. PiIsOn,
Mary w. PiIsOn, Mary D. Brown, Mary
E. Brown, Elizabeth Gibbons, Rache
Logan, Maria Logan, Jane E. Logan,
Reb. cca Bare, Mary b. Hannah, Ro
| N. n.,fa Mor (.