Newspaper article dated Sept. 28, 1905 reprinted.  

The dedicatory sermon of the new church at Yellow Spring was preached by Rev.Burley, of Bristol, on last Sunday. The occasion drew forth a large audience from all parts of the county, of all denominations. All were sumptuously fed, after which Rev. Burley entertained with an evening sermon.

Rev. Burley’s discourse was on the subject of Church Unity. His effort was liberal, able and eloquent. He is a young man of much promise.

In the pulpit were also Revs. Sage, Barnett and Neal, the latter offering the first prayer in the house , his presence being familiar to our people, having preached in the old house during the war. The exercises passed off pleasantly to all of the great assemblage.

Yellow Spring Church, just completed and dedicated, takes its name from a very large spring of fine water one quarter of a mile east of the church, its bottom and outlet being covered with gravel of a beautiful golden color. There are many smaller springs in the vicinity with similar characteristics.

The new church, which is quite modern in appearance, takes the place of the old log one built one hundred years ago on an acre of land donated by John Logan for the use of all orthodox denominations. Hence, the building of the present Union House, in this day of sectarianism, is explainable, and commendable.

The old house was built of hewn logs, two doors and three windows, large fire place, gallery above (without light), high pulpit, no altar save the front bench, “chinked and daubed”. It had an ancient appearance. Here it stood alone in its glory, its walls echoing the inspiration of such voices as Joseph Haskew, John Crismond, Robinson McTeer, Price, Neal, Dr. Ephram Wiley, of the Methodist Church, Revs. Colley, DeBusk, Sledge, Jesse Davenport, the Baldwins, Kefauver, Kitzmiller, Kincannon, Little, Harrison and others of the Baptist Church.

The master and slave worshipped together in this old house, one corner being set apart for the blacks. When the sacrament was administered, it was first to the whites, then “our colored brethren” were invited.

Yellow Spring Church from its proximity to Emory and Henry College enjoyed early advantages from various young men from that institution. Hugh A. Guinn, one of its students, organized the first Sunday school ever taught in the country within the walls of this old log church. He walked from Emory every Sunday, be it said to his credit. Thaddeus P. Thomas took up the work vacated by the graduation of Guinn and followed in the footsteps of his predecessor. The work has been going on to the present day. Many remember the two young men pleasantly and gratefully.

But few remember the old school house on the hill. It was used as a school room by the teachers of that day: Snead, Shanklin, Davenport, Lowery, Remine, Dudley, Miss Cox and others, some of the students receiving their business education under them.

They were strictly fine teachers in common English, and it is doubtful whether their superiors could be found in the present day. The old houses are gone from view, but not from memory: memory's charms are fairest to those of that generation and dear old days.

There were three old log churches built in nearly a parallel line north of Walker’s Mountain, viz: Mahanaim, Yellow Spring and Laurel Spring. From their ancient appearance, some years ago, they were undoubtedly among the first built in this county.

There is a public free school house built upon the church ground which, under the supervision of Capt. Geisler, was soon after its building converted into a high school, which has employed some of our best talent as teachers, both male and female. Many of our young folks, just embarked in life, received their preparatory touch for Emory and Henry and other colleges in this institution. Some finished their business education in it entirely.

John Logan was authority as a historian, and confidently predicted, away back in that early day, that the time would come when the power of steam would penetrate every hollow in this mountain range, and lay their wealth down in the laps of other sections not so highly favored. It only remains for time to verify the wisdom of his generous mind. No doubt his far seeing eye viewed through a glass darkly the time when the lion and the lamb shall lie down together. Enough of like minds have been found to erect a beautiful house to his memory.

S.R. Davenport