The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-13
FoR THE CENTRAL PnEsBYTERIAN.
To the Grandchildren of Rev. james d.
c. Leach, D. d.
LETTER VIII.

To the Grandchildren of Rev. James d.
G. Leach, D. d.
LETTER VIII.
My Young riends,-When your grand
father was asked, as the settlement of the
union of the two Synods was in progress,
"What will you do about the Constitu-
tional question:" he replied-"Let it be
just where it is. 1t is not likely another
such will ever arise. And should any
constitutional question hereafter arise,
there will be men and time to attend to
it. At present everything calls us to
concord" In taking and maintaining
that position, he showed the clearness of
his judgment and frmness Of his purposes.
He expressed his conviction as the larger
body, in very respectful and kind man
ner, had invited the smaller to union on
platform honorable to both, there was
nothing left about which unkind feelings
or notifications could be INDUCED, by
honorable minds; and he had no misgiv-
ings about the propriet5 and usefulness
of the union, and feared no charge Of
vacillation or want of firmness. 1t was
characteristic of your grandfather to
follow his convictions of duty fearlessly.
Never brow-beaten in any matters, he
might be persuaded in smaller ones. The
two persons that had the greatest infu-
ence in helping him to form judgment
were DR.. Hill and DR.. Hoge. His old
friend and well-wisher, DIR. Hill, often
exhausted his rhetoric without effecting
conviction on his young friends mind; /;
and then taking pinch of snuff, with a
peculiar side look, he would say, turning
away-"well, well;" and your grand
father would burst into laugh and then
if he could reconcile it to his judgment
and feelings, he was sure to coincide with
his old friend.
Upon the union of the two Synods,
the Synod of Virginia, as restored, pro-
ceeded to adjust the boundaries of the
Presbyteries, to the convenience of the
Churches and ministers, irrespective of
the term cold and New" and as the
two synods covered very much the same
ground, there was very little difficulty in
the arrangement. The peculiar location
of the churches in the Southwestern
part of the State, caused some perplcxity
of geographical nature. The ridges
and rivers presented difficulties in adjust
ing boundaries to suit distances; the
Virginia Synod having always preferred
the difficulties arising from extensive bor-
ders, to those arising from small Presby-
teries.
The Presbyteries also, wherever de-
sired adjusted the bounds of churches
and congregations, and pastorates, to suit
the wishes and convenience of the great
est number of families concerned. The
members worshipping as distinct church
es in cold Cumberland and Browns
church, once integral parts of the same
church, asked to be united as one church,
worshipping in the two separate but con-
venient places, and form one pastorate.
They presented call to DR.. Leach to
become their pastor. This movement was
unexpected, to him. He had made no
calculation of the kind. Counting on a
short space of time left him to labor in
the vineyard, he was intending to labor
according to his ability, wherever hemight
be wanted, till his end should come: CIV
ing place to younger and more robust
men, according to the adage, janiores ad
labores. I saw him soon after the pro-
position was made to him; and in the
course of conversation he said" Yes,
they have proposed to me to become their
pastor"-giving me an anxious look
without any further remark. 1 replied,
"and you have said, or will say, that you
will serve them till death" No farther
remark was made.
The pastorate suited him. cold Cum
berland" was about two miles from his
house; and Browns meeting house was
about FIVE miles, and the congregation
was so situated that all could easily at
tend public worship two Sabbaths in the
month, and a large portion of them every
Sabbath.
This congregation was gathered about
the same time with Briery, and was made
up of similar materials. The first pastor
Mr.. John Wright, was pupil of Samuel
Davies, and was installed the last Sab
bath of July, 1855. On the preceding
June, Mr.. Robert Henry was installed
pastor of Cub Creek and Briery. At this
time the whole country was agitated by
the Indian wars that accompanied and
succeeded Braddock' s defeat. And along
the frontiers the dissenters occupied as
many houses for worship as they found
necessary for their congregations, unmol-
ested. have not the dates of the Ii.
censes for Briery and Cumberland. Pro.
badly it was about the year 1852. They
have been preaching places ever since
and the pulpits have been filled by min
listers of the highest repute in Virginia
and elsewhere. The two Smiths-(Johr
Blair and Samuel Stanhope) )--Alexander
Lacy, and John H. Rice, succeeded each
other in proclaiming the gospel in colo
Cumberland" And your grand-fathe,
was rejoiced to end his days as pastor o.
that church, more particularly as it came
to him without his making any particular
movement for it. There was mixture
of what had been Old and New School il
it; and now when that division was set
tied, and its asperity gone, the kindness
and confidence manifested to him was 6
cordial to his heart. Nothing earthly 81
wrings the heart of an old preacher a.
neglect and want of kindness. DR.. Leacl
would have been contented to let hi
light shine in corner; and the Lord gav'