The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-30

Especial to The Richmond Nirginian.)
LCRAY. VA, March 3o.-Broad
Street Baptist Church, Lursy, around
which clusters IN uniqueness an his
tory unparalleled amupg church edl-
fees in Virginia VIII soon be torn
down to permit, the extension OF Broad
Street. This IN the building which
for years has been IN the legal lime
light. The church was erected in ls49,
seventeen years after Page county was
formed from Shenandoah county. The
site upon which the building was
erected was given to the congregation
by one Michael Buracker. three guar
tiers of a century ago citizen of this
town Tine stipulations. which we're OF
an iron clad nature, provided that the
tenets and doctrines OF the old School
Baptist denomination should be rig
idly obset, ed for all time by the con
gregstion worshippiDg in the build
ing which Was erected upon the real
estate as a monument TO the liberallty
OF Buracker. He even went further.
saying that when these things should
cease 10 be observed that the land
should revert 10 the donor of his heirs
For years harmony beautiful. scrip
tural and brotheriy, reigned In the
flock The ministers in those early
days were little given TO the ideas OF
advanced education, usually were men
past the meridian of life, travelled
horseback from their charges In diner
ent counties, and were never minus the
popular saddle bags. Tradition IL so
tlrmly entrenched Of certain charac-
terlstics Of the contents Of the time
honored ssddlebags that no amount of
modern evidence could dislodge IT. In
Justice however, to the horseback
ministry Of those DAYS ii should be
stated thai the leather receptecles
never contained anything hut goodly
edibles. the gifts of liberal parishton-
ers to the Cody men.
For wears no cloud or note Of DIS
cord ever thrust itself across the
pathway II the little band of worship
pers when met at stated intervals IN
the brick edifice. The doctrine which
they claimed had been handed down to
| the little band from apostolic times
was held inviolate. They never dream
ed OF departing from the paths their
| fathers trod."
But schisms chickering's, disputes.
examinations and recriminations, for d
! time unobserved. were at work In the
doctrinal ramiticstlons of the congre-
cation. The only thing needed was a
spur, in figure "a part OF the footwear
Of a portion of the congregation. TheEe
bwera usually worn by the younger
Element OF the congregation. AT each
revolution of this instrument OF tor
ture some old and honored practice OF
the worshippers would be given a
puncture. The result was that often
blood flowed from the wounded tenet,
and a wound, gaping, repulsiVe and
hideous stood in bold relief. Every
effort TO swathe with ointment ana
bind with pacific lotions was temper
airy.
Foreign missions, Sunday schools,
and the use Of musical instruments
in church worship we're some OF the
things contended for by a portion OF
the congregation. This element OF the
band was conscientious, and declared
these things belonged to Old School
Baptist worship and practice. The old
er faction stood In unspeakable horror
at the innovations, declaring they
were unwarranted, nnscriptural ano
never contemplated in the mind ol
Michael Buracker, when he gave tins
land upon which the church was built
division pronounced, clear cut and
involving the true ownership OF Broad
Street Baptist church, was the out
come
About this time Luray DESTROYS for
more land over which 1t could spread
itself stood face TO face against gl-
gantic pile Of brick and mortar at tbs
south end of Broad Street. Meetings
of the town council and the citizens
OF Luray could see only one way In
which the street could be extended
the removal of the church In lordH
fashion, unable to conceal its horse
leech propensities, the town loudly
cried for more land Ever and anon
the town would hold its magic wand
over the warning factions and set forth
fabulous figures in allurins coiors
which it stood ready TO give for the
small plot of ground upon whlcn
for 62 years the church had stood.
To settle the ownership question
the Intervention of Judge Haas. OF the
Page county circuit court was made
Necessary. on either side was arrayed
legal lights which had introduced wit
nesses and dispositions which would as"
sist Judge Haas. in an Impartial DE-
cision as to who the rightful owners oi
| the church were.
This ownership, Judge Haas is con-
WINGED belongs to the faction whico
for wears has combatted the fntroduc'
ton of Sunday schools, missionary
work AMI the use OF musical lnstru-
u,ents in church service.
And the town will soon come into
possessjon OF the coveted real estate
which will lengthen and beautify one
of the principal thoroughtares OF