Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1908-07-21
A GOOD flateh

0VV0 A0SSus
The Religious Herald prints good
picture of Rev. w. r. Flanagan. the
new pastor of the Charles Town Baptist
Church, and under the above heading
says
When church and preacher really
fall in love with each other and unite to
promote the Lords work that work pros
pers. lust az in the case of a happy mar
rage we would call that good match.
If signs and tokens indicate anything.
just such match as that has been made
at Charles Town. w. Va. between the
Baptist church at that place and Rev. w.
R. Flanagan. recently of Orange, Va
If that is not real love match. then all
signs fail.
Charles Town IS the county seat of Jef-
ferson county, w. Va. That. however.
| is only an arbitrary political division.
Geographically Jefferson and Berkeley
counties in West Virginia are as much a
part of Virginia proper as any other por-
ton of the Shenandoah Valley. 1t is said
that, at the time the line between Vir-
ginia and West Virginia was being estab-
lished, the president of the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad used his influence and
money to have Jefferson and Berkeley
counties cut off with West Virginia be.
cause he wanted his railroad to pass
through one less State. AT any rate the
division was made. But the people of
Jefferson and Berkeley are as pure type
of true Virginians as can be found any
where
Located in one of the best sections of
the Valley. and composed of some of the
best people of any land. the Charles Town
church is bride worthy of the hand OF
the most worthy pastor. The mention Of
few names is sufficient proof of this
statement-the Littletous. the Bars. the
Colstons. the Milbourns. the Hattons, the
Phillips. the Lucases and many others
equally as worthy.
The Charles Town church has had a
varied history. The church was first or
ganized in 1872 at the home of Mr.. Chris
topher Collins at Zoar. four miles from
Charles Town. Brother Collins being the
first pastor. He was succeeded by Rev.
Francis Moore. Then followed William
Marvin. after which the church was some
what disorganized for several years, and
reorganized December 20. 1874. and Rev
Joseph Baker as pastor. who resigned in
1855. and DR.. ]. A. Haynes became pas
tor. August. 1856. when the church
changed its place Ct worship from Zoar
to charles Town. The present church
property was secured under the leader
ship of DIR. Haynes and present building
was begun. DR.. Haynes resigned in Il 500.
The rext pastor was T. B. Shepherd. who
was succeeded by w. s. Penick, who
completed the church edifce. Then
came A. E Rogers. who was succeeded
by T. B. Shepherd. pastor for the second
time. Other pastors were Frank McGee
Frank Dixon. NJ. S. Reed. S. w. Cole,
L. R. Milbourne and w. R. Flanagan
who takes charge June /. 1908. The
dsacons are William Wilt J. T. Colston.
A. D. Barr and Zach. 7. Fleming.
Rev. w. R. Flanagan. the new pas
tor, is equal to the best and worthy of the
best. He began his work at Charles
Town the first Sunday in June. Already
he has taken strong hold on the work in
his new field and the work is taking
strong hold upon him. His people love
him and cooper ate with him.
w. R. Flanagan is a prince, the child
of royal parents. He is a son of King
and Queen county. Born in sight of the
ocean and on the border of a continent,
IN physique, heart and soul. he resembles
both of those great bodies.
Brother Flanagan is well prepared for
his life's work. In addition to all his
natural advantages he has had the best
preparation that personal experience and
our schools can give. He was converted
and joined the church when he was
twelve years old. This is an experience
which every successful laborer in the
Lords vineyard must have, one which
we cannot emphasize too much in our
preaching and teaching. twill be sad
day for our Baptist churches when PAM
by-namby. kid-glove Christian experience
will pass current among them. Let our
churches hold fast to the doctrine of a
personal change of the heart.
A great deal is said in these DAYS about
the call to preach. w. R. Flanagan is
one of the men who labors under the
conviction that the Lord has called him
to preach. He heard no such audible
call as came to Samuel, nor was there
any mystical or fanciful appeal to his
imagination. But the impression that
the Lord wanted him to preach the Cos
pei grew upon him. Such conviction
became mighty force in that, the high
est work of life. In addition to that,
Flanagan had the best preparation that
two of our best schools could give. He
graduated at Richmond College in 1906
and at Grocer Theological Seminary in
1895 From Grocer he went to Orange,
Va. where he labored for ten years in
succession. doing a SPLENDID work and
building up the work of the Lord in that
region. AS further and better prepare
ton for his work he married Miss Lille
], Kent, of Fluvanna county.
West Virginia has three female en-
balmers.