Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1925-07-24

Duiiulng was large two-story fran
structure, at the time the larges
church building in the county. TIL
auditorium was on the second floor
and had seating capacity larg
enough to accommodate the entir
church-going population of the town
The first floor was fitted up for schoo
purposes.
The dedicatory services were hel,
on December Z, 1857, at which tim,
these Reformed ministers were pres
ent and took part in the services
Rev. j. o. Miller, D. D., Rev. Rober
Douglas, Rev. ]. C. Hensell, Rev
Daniel Feete, and Rev. H. st. Johr
Rinker. On Easter Sunday, 1858
the congregation was organized BY
the Rev. H. ST. John Rinker.
The Rev. George w. Aughinbaugh
D. D., became the first pastor of the
congregation, and the principal OF
the Edinburg Academy, which, un.
der the direction of the Chassis. he
organized and conducted in the rooms
of the first floor of the church build
ing. Being strong Union man, DIR.
Aughinbaugh resigned his work in
the church and the academy and re-
turned to Pennsylvania in July, 1860.
He was succeeded by the Rev. d. G.
Bragonier in the fall of the same
year, who ministered to the eongre-
cation and conducted the school un-
til 1866.
Prof. ]. Monroe Hotel, the most
prominent educator of his day in
County, conducted the
Academy for many years in the
church building.
The present church was built dur
ing the .pastorate of the Rev. ]. M.
Souder, and was dedicated in 1913.
We would add to the above that
Mr.. Joseph Bragonier, a son of the
minister spoken of. was one of the
teachers in that school, He is now
a distinguished lawyer and lives in
Shepherdstown, w. Va. Major w.
H. Miller, who now lives at Baker
Run, W. Va. and although more
than 80 years of age. is still hale and
hearty, taught school for some years
in the rooms spoken of above.
Rev. Mr.. Croft is in charge of the
church at this time
Forge Church
Augustine Hollar and Catherine,
his wife, conveyed to Joseph Arthur
and John Farrow, trustees and their
successors. in behalf of the school
house. Both more especially to en-
courage religion and promote the ed
ucation of youth.
For the sole use and behalf of the
said school house forever convey
one acre five perches in Shenandoah
County, now the Union Forge, in
Guiding the said school house now
built thereon and about finishing. To
erect and build thereon and constant
ly keep in repair for the education
of youth sand on Sundays and all
other times when not occupied as a
school house said house shall be open
for any Christian preacher of the gos-
pei, who may be disposed to preach
Signed in German by Augustine
Hollar only.
Witnesses: A. Hoffman. Thos.
Clark, VIM. w. Payne.
Admitted to record and recorded
as to him, December 18th. 1915.
P. WILLIAMS, Clerk.
d. B. W., page 246.
Disciples of Christ
We are indebted to Mrs. l.. c.
Evans for the following historical
sketch of the Church of the Disciples
of Christ, at Edinburg;
The history of any organization is
naturally of most interest to men,
bers of that body, but the following
brief account of the beginning of the
Disciples of Christ in Edinburg will
not prove uninteresting to all read
ers who receive this Homecoming
issue of the Herald.
The earliest date Of preaching
known to the writer was about 1885,
or 1896, for in the latter year Ellen
Saum was baptized by Elder Fergu-
son, as shown by records in the
hands of the present clerk of the
Edinburg Church.
So exceedingly obnoxious to ortho'
dox churches was the "hereticai
teaching of the Campbellites" that
the churches would permit no Dis
ciple preacher to speak from theil
pulpits-even refusing Gin one cast
in town. to allow funeral services
of a child of Disciple parentage tt
be held in a church. All this is o.
the past indeed, ana the sWeetes
Christian cooperation of the foul
churches in the town to-day is proc
thereof.
First Services
The first services held in thos'
long-ago days. between 1S49 ant
1859, were in private homes and Il
the "Old Potter Shop" In thos
days, through winters cold, an
summers hot" by horseback, owe
bad roads, came j. A. Cogwill, jon
Pirkey and George w. Able. the LAT
ter man of great learning (for thos
days). being able to read his Bfbl
in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, as well a
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