The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-10-24
TO CELEBRATE
CENTENNIAL
Presbyterian Church Of This City
Was Organized One Hundred
Years Ago.
WILL Be INTERESTING EXERCISES

The Centennial of the Presbyterian
church OF fredericksburg Will be cele-
DRAFTED IN next Tuesday and "Wednesday
nights. Oct. 21th, 2Sth.
The church WAS organized by the Rev
Samuel r. Wilson. ID. D., some time in
lSOS. so that il has rounded out it, one
huudredth year. At the time ~ It's or
gan zation. the church was within the
bounds Of Winchester Presbyterv. which
then extended from the mountains To the
sea, and the exact date of It's organiza-
tion within the year lSOS, was either
not reco ded or the records have been
host But the records oi the ial meeting
OF The Presbytery show the report of it,
organization az some prior date in that
year.
The exercises viii be held in the church
ON the nights Of Oct. 9th and 2Sth and
viii be- oi AN appropriate character. ON
She first evening there win be addresses
oi a historical nature, showing various
phases OF the churchs lie and work
during the past hundred years
The history Of the church during the,..
years b - been 50 intimately connected
with that OF the town as To render il
deeply interesting to all the people of
Frcd"ricksburg. who viii doubtless at
tend these services in large numbers
From the time OF its organization many
of those who have bcea most prominent
Is connected with the interests of the
town and have figured largely in it's
social and civil life. as well as in it's in
dustrial aud commercial progress, have
belonged To this church. and the names
OF very many honored families are to Ice
found ON its registers.
On the evening of tho 2Sth the princi-
TnN
dress 10y the Rev K L. Kerr. ID. ID. of
Baltimore whose subject will be: Some
Lessons from the Past DR. Kerr il
pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian
church OF the Monumental City and was
for many years pastor of the First Pres
byterian church of Richmond. being very
well known to many i'm fredericksburg
Tie Is one of the most scholarly and
eloquent ministers in his church and il
the editor of the church hymnal, known
as The Hymns of the Ages aud the
author OF several excellent books Of "a his-
tOrical nature. Hence he wilt prove a
speaker worthy of his highly suggestive
theme. and It viii be a privilege To hear
him.
There wifi be special music ut each
service. The exercises will begin at : p
m, and AL the people OF the town are
~ ''fAARAg ihNiStu W " GtfetHA "a
both services
Following DIR. Kerr's address on We'd
nesdRy night a reception will be- given by
the ladies' OF the church In honor OF the
speaker and those participating In these
exercises. This will be- held In the base
ment Of the church aud refreshments will
be- served.
IL Is hoped aad expected that not "A
lew guests from "A distance will be
present at this celebration. and It will be
"A most notable event in the lie OF the
church a. we'll a. a happy and auspici-
ouS occasion in the history OF our city.
The Rev J Calvin Stewart. u d..
pastor oi Church OF the Covenant, Rich
mond. Va. will be present to bring the
greetings OF the church at large. All the
former pastors. who are now living.
have been asked To take part IA the sarv-
ices. Many ~ the old church's children
aud grandchildren have gone out To play
an Important part in the civic and relig
ious lie OF our Commonwealth. aud they
arr 10 be found In positions Of Influence.
and Usefulness In various States OF the
MON. In so iar as practicable ID, =,
have been invited To be- present and par
ticipnte ia the celebration.
DIR. Jas. Z. Smith, So well known L.
our people and so long identified with it,
highest Interests, Will be one Of the
speakers
The pastor Of the church. Rev. j. II
llenderlite. viii preside on each evening
aud the programme viii be later pub
lishcd m iull