Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-09-07
From the Winchester Times.
REUNION OF THE WINCHESTER
PRESBYTER1ES.
WINCHESTER, Sept. Cd 1866.

| Messrs. Editors II send you brief notice
of the reunion of the two Winchester Pres
byteries after a separation of some twenty-five
years.
At the hour of 10 A. N, ), on Thursday, Aug.
3lst, the Winchester Presbytery, late in con-
nection with the United Synod, assembled, on
call of its Moderator, at the Loudon Street
Church. At the hour of IL they met at the
Kent Street Church, the other Presbytery Of
that name, the two together listened to dis
course upon keeping the Unity of the Spirit
in the bonds of peace" Immediately after the
calling of the roll of the last named Presbytery,
the roll of the first mentioned was called for,
whereupon the
Rev. w. A. Crawford, the last Moderator.
arose, and producing the roll, proceeded to re-
mark That the members of the Presbytery he
represented were here to carry into effect the
union so long projected, and for many reasons,
so much..to be desired. That thestep they were
taking they would feel to be one Of solemn in
terest, but for the fact that the question Of
union had already been decided. That the &C
ton of the United Synod at Lynchburg, in Au-
gust of last year was their authority for the
step taken to-day. That under circumstances
of peculiar difficulty, owing to military occupa-
ton of the country, they had secured repre-
sentation in that body; that they had most cor
daily acquiesced in the decision there reached;
that they were only acting in good faith when
they appeared here to-day tocarry into effect the
union as a Presbytery and make it blessed
reality, and that they expected to be received in
the same fraternal spirit which had prevailed
between the Synods in October last.
Upon receiving the roll, the Moderator, the
Rev. Mr.. Woodwork, replied, assuring tho
Brethren of a cordial reception: that henceforth
distinctive names should be forgotten, and that
all should press forward alike in the great work
before them.
Proceeding to organize, the Rev. Sas Bill
lings, of Elk Branch Church, was chosen Mod
orator, who also took occasion in impassioned
language to remark upon the happy event just
conslimmated, and moment afterwards tho
presbytery received the congratulations of DIR.
Read, of East Hanover Presbytery, in his own
unequaled STYLE after which he was invited to
sit as corresponding member.
On motion of the Rev. Mr.. Crawford, the
Presbytery adopted for themselves, as eminent
" expressive of their own sentiments, the reso-
buttons of the Synod of Virginia, at Lexington,
in October last, which are substantially as fol-
lows
Resolved LIST, That the Prcsbytery Of VIM
chester, having consummated in due form tho
union provided for higher judicatories, does
hereby contemplate, with great satisfaction, an
event so full of interest 10 our Zion, and so I'm
portant in its bearing upon her welfare.
ID, That we deem the occasion to be one
calling for devout gratitude 10 the Father OF
Mercies for the manifest guidance Of His Holy
Spirit and the watchful care Of His Holy Prov
idence, in the Christian Spirit and successful
measures by which our divisions have been
healed
Sd. That we solemnly pledge ourselves to
God, and to each other, that no effort shall DO
wanting to make this union blessed reality to
cur church, by upholding her timc-honored
faith and order, as presented in her standards,
and as currently expounded in times past by
our fathers And we do now earnestly exhort
and enjoin upon our people everywhere, that
they shall henceforth strive to carry into full
effect the scheme embraced by this movement
in the same spirit in which, as We believe, it
has begun and ended.
rive will endcavor TO give the remainder
the proceedings in next paper. The Prcsbytcry
adjourned on Saturday night TO meet in April
next in Charlestown.]