Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-08-26
A Letter From Along The Way.

Along the way from Shepherdstown to
Lexington. Va, were signs OF drouth and
of refreshing. AS we approached Lex
ington the corn and the pastures were
green, evidence 'of more seasonable
weather, if not of richer soil. Six miles
out from Lexington in the Alone Valley,
near the Alone postoffice, is Bethlehem
Lutheran Church, where the Virginia
Synod held its annual session OF 1893.
The narrow valley, rolling hills, verdant
fields, and shadowy mountains rising in
the distance, form picture beautiful to
behold, with the church and the school
house in the center of il. There the good
people of the valley excelled in the en-
ter!ainment OF the Synod Thoughtful
were the arrangements they made, COIL
venient were the appointments, and most
hospitable the ministries of that people.
Synod was we'll attended, business was
dispatchedin order, opening fields pressed
hard their claims, large liberality was
called for, and the fields were seen to be
ripe for the harvest, but the laborers few.
Rev. DR.. Bowers, OF Winchester, was re-
elected president, and Shepherdstown
was chosen for the next annual meeting,
Lexington, where Washington and Lee
and Jackson live in monument and in
loving memory, claimed a day OF our
visit to the mountains. We lifted our
hand in salutation high to Washington,
high on his pedestal OF fame, and uncov-
cred our head at the foot OF the immortal
Jackson. Then to the mausoleum OF Lee
we went. There in recumbent statue
rests the mighty hero
The noblest and cour,lest gentleman.
The knightieSt knight who wore the gray
And the office where the scholar, the
statesman, the hero, the great American
commoner, the peer of the greatest and
the best of all history, held the pen,
turned the page that pointed and turned
the destiny OF aspiring youth All, there
we could have stood uncovered, have sat
with bowed head in meditation, and have
tarried until the spirit Of the immortal Lee
would have inspired, as it did, for more
noble endeavor and more loving and di-
vine ministries.
"Blest Lexington Truly meet mausolcun,
For Virgina'S hOnored and llustriOuS dead
Guard well the tomb oil thy sleeping warrior.
Twelve miles east is the city OF beau
tiful vision, seen not only in dreamland,
but touching the earth in outlined tracery
and broken efforts of men to realize and
materialize the vista. Beautiful is the
view, though selfish may have been the
effort TO humanize and materialize it, and
TO SET the vale and the mountains around
to humming with human life and ndustry.
Gods hills and mountains and wales,
painted in living green, Swallowed with
silvery clouds, and all lined with golden
sunshine, make picture that no artist,
though helped by the most industrious
artizan, can duplicate. The artist OF all
artists and the workman OF all artizanS, is
God, the inspirer OF the true,the beautiful
and the good.
Another run on wheels for less than a
hundred miles and we stopped off for the
day of rest. In the heart of vale beau
tful, in hosiery most comfortable, the
stars came out over us and we dreamed
the dream of the sleeper. Light came in
at the window, played with our eyebrows,
walked us, and pointed to the thermometer
registering forty-seven. 1t was worth a
days travel to see so much beauty and
feel such refreshing.
Thus dawned the holy day. The
church bells rang. The stranger caught
the sound and went TO its source. AT the
church door he was met by a welcomer
with smile and open hand, and invited to
walk in. He went to the third pew from
the door, sat down mot at the aisle end
to keep others OUT on the further end,
glanced at the two dozen others there,
heard talking, saw what appeared to be
visiting in the house of God, but others
came, some bowed in silent prayer, and
in the course of ten minutes the house
was nearly full, though it was the twenty
second OF August. Members of the choir
were in their places, the organist IA young
man touched softly the great organ, then
all arose and sounded strong in song,
"Praise God from whom all blessings
flow" &C. The pew of the stranger was
full and the best book in the rack was hand
ed him, a book with hymns and tunes, just
such as he liked, and he felt at home with
the worshipers, bowed with them when
they bowed in prayer, sang the songs OF
Zion with them, heard a good Sermon
after the benediction quietly walked out,
as eyes glanced at him, as if saying
"Who are you?" The stranger learned
a good lesson that day. He tells it not
now. Come again 2"
II r II