Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-05-23
Presbytery of Winchester.


A friend has kindly furnished us for publ
cation the following interesting report of late
proceedings Of the Winchester Prcsbytery:
The sessions of this body which commenced
at Moorefeld, Hardy County, on Wednesday
evening. 9Th inst, were closed on Saturday az
ternoon, 18th, after despatching an unusual a.
mount of important business-adjourning 10
meet at Shepherdstown, on the first Wednes-
day in June, at z. M.-for the special pur-
pose of attending to the call which the Shep
herdstown Church has made for the pastoral
services of the Rev. L. w. BEDISGER. The
stated autumnal sessions are to be at Martins
burg, commencing Oct. alst, at u p NJ
The religious services at Moorefed, twice
each day, and on Sunday in both the churches,
were attended by large congregations; and, al
though tho members generally had dispersed
by Monday noon, yet DR.. JAMES q. HAMMER
remained over Monday Night, to assistth yig-
orous young pastor in his minlstraiions to the
eager hearers, who had assembled from all parts
of the famous South Branch and other rich wales
which run up from the Upper Potomac, 1.-THE
ancient Cbhongoruton, and which are crossed
by the Parkersburg Grade and by the War
densville Turnpike Road.
Doubtless the two Richmond newspapers,
which are equal and coordinate opponents Of
the Southern Presbyterian body, 1.-THE veteran
Dr Converse's (" Observer" and the heroic DR..
Brown: : Central Presbyterian, will both give
ample details Of the proceedings. In tie mean
time we briefly state some items Conformation.
The Modera tor, Rev. Mr.. LUProy, at his
own reouest. was dish: Used to Rappahannock
Presbvtery. hayin. seti!e,ii, we understand, at
Leesburg, and having received : can from the
church in that place. -.
2. The present pastor at MoorefieiS5 new
G.. w. WHITE, son Of Rev. DR.. White at Ley
ington, dismissed from East Hanover Presby-
terry, was installed on Saturday night-the
Moderator propounding the Questions OF Cove
Enlargement between Pastor and Flock;
DR.. Hammer preaching the Installation Sermon.
and charging the Pastor Rev. Lewis +. VIII
son charging the people.
8. The installed Pastor, Rev. q. w. White
had previously-Iit was thefirst business trans
acted on the converting Of Presbyteryl-been
admitted rs a member, on being examined on
Theology. and exhibiting his certificate, above
mentioned. from East Hanover Presbytery.
4. The Rev. n. e.. NORTH, presenting a
certificate from the Presbytery of New Orleans
dated October 18th, 1866, granted at his own
request, was examined, admitted and enrolled,
in like manner, and at the same time, with
Rev. G.. w. White
S. J.. BELL, Ruling Elder Of Winchester
Church lKeat street, was recommended to the
Committee on Publication at Richmond, as a
Derosia for the books Of said Committee;
and the Rev. n. G.. NORTH was recommended
10 the same committee as an Agent for the cir
culation and sale of their books. lie was also
recommended to the Virginia Bible Society, Tor
similar services-his field Of labor, for both IN
stitutions, being the territorial limits OF the
Winchester Presbytery
The Rev. Silas Billings and Rev. \. g.
Morrill, were appointed committee to prepare
a memorial of the lamented brother, Rev, j.
l.. Frary, deceased, of jefferson c unity.
In closing this hasty sketch Of recent events
connected with the movements OF thS religious
"church-court" Of the Southern States-it Is a
very obvious reflection, that these apparently
earnest men, if not actually awake, are eyi-
IDENTIFY waking up. And equally obvious is
the historical fact-levincing no evil intent, az
all. 10 our own favored Jefferson County,
that the Presbytery met twice in this county IN
1866; that in few weeks, in June, there will
be another meeting with us; that again ~
October, barely beyond the 0pcquon, in Berke-
lev, they will gather together once more, at the
old countryside, Mtrtinsburg; but the most
wonderful Of all these historical allotmcnts Of
Providence is that still larger Presbytery,
1.-THE Virginia Synod which is truly only an en-
lrged Presbytery,) is 90 assemble in Pastor
HoPKIss's Congregation in November, in the
year Of our Lord, 1867.
This venerable body, composed Of Ministers
and Ruling Elders, ithe constitution permit
ting not only a majority, but two-thirds Of lay
delegates, if the people choose 70 assert their
rights and privileges as ldymen.l is constituted
by ali the ordained ministers and by lay-dele-
gates from all the "C urch-SessiOns," within
the territorial limits Of the following-named
Presbyteries. viz: East Hanover, Greenbrier.
Lexington, Montgomery, RappahapDock- loa-
nokc, West Hanover aud Winchester. Before
this large and important ecclesiastical body
meets il is well that oar whole community he
apprised Of the facts thus briefly stated. Aud.
to encourage the hopes Of oar people, in their
endeavors to render comfortable these h0nored
men when they visit as, we state the pleasant
fact, lascertained from returning visitors ttbe
late Moorefeld 'meetng,) that the Apostolical
usage of hospitality prevailed, as recorded in
the book Of Acts, 4th chaptcL 32d verse.