The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-05-27

The people are poor, the church small, and
have had but one sermon preached to them
for the last SIX months,
"He brought with him si& dollars and sew
enty-6ve cents, the cOntrbutionfro his church
for Foreign Missions.
Rev. John r. Rice, D. D., assisted In the ded-
ication of church built by the Presbyterians
of Hazlehurst, Miss, on Sunday, the 10th
inst The Rev. NJ. W. Trawick is the pastor
of this people.
Helena. Arkansas.-A few months ago there
were few scattered PresbyterianS in the neigh
borhood of this place, who gave call to the
Rev. T. W. White, of Lunenburg county, Va,
to break to them the bread of life At his first
communion season, on the first Sabbath in this
month, four were added TO the church-three
BY certificate and one by profession. They
have just gotten into their church building,
and their prospects are encouraging Chr'S-
tian Observer.
Presbyterianism in New 0rlsans.-The Rev.
r. Q. Mallard, in letter to the Presbyterian
Hder dated May Sd, says of our churches in
New Orleans:
ave had a most delightful Communion
Service yesterday 1t was our great privilege
to receive into fellowship fourteen. Fire were
by certificate, and nine upon profession. Two
of these latter were from our Sabbath School,
two young ladies recently connected with our
congregation, and five were heads of families.
One of the last mentioned class was a lady ad-
vaneed in years.
''Dr. Palmer, understand, had twenty four
acceSSions to his membership yesterday. Dur
ing the last ecclesiastical year, the additions
to our churches have been greater than in any
previous wear In the history of our denOmina-
ton in this city. Brother Markham is rapidly
completing his church building on Magazine
street; and monument it is to his popularity,
energy and efficiency, and to the zeal and lib.
crafty of his people.
Columbia seminary.-The Board of Directors
met here last week. 1t was a full and pleasant
meeting, and all concerned were much encour-
aged by the fair and hopeful prospects OF the
Institution. 1t is without one dollar OF debt.
1t has lived and it can live on the free gifts
and contributions of the churches added to
what vested endowments are left 1t has had
three and twenty students 1t has the pros
pect of considerably larger number next year.
The chairs of instruction are all filled. The
boarding house arrangements are very comfort
able, and the price of boarding very reasonable
not over fifteen dollars per month for the
best OF boarding, and that on the Seminary
grounds The necessary expenses OF stu
dent including boarding, washing, fuel, and
lights, do not exceed one hundred and fifty
dollars. If the Synod of South Carolina will
raise for the Seminary, this year just now be
ginning, the sum of two thousand dollars,
(which is bu- few cents to each member OF
the Church, and the Synod of Georgia fifteen
hundred, and Alabama and Mississippi one
thousand dollars each, the Seminary can go on
comfortably, and be out Of debt again, when
the Board of Directors shall meet year hence,
once more to examine into its condition.
Southern Presbyterian.
The Pastoral Relation.-At the late meeting
of Harmony Presbytery the following resolu-
ton was adopted:
That in view of the fact that steps have
been taken In a number of cases of late in this
Presbytery, to dissolve the pastoral relation In
somewhat irregular manner; and with view of
calling the attention of the brethren to the
teaching of the Form of Government" on
this subject, as well as the solemn and binding
nature Of the obligation itself; this Presbytery
earnestly diSapproves of any pastor leaving his
people for any considerable length of time
without their consent, or Of his taking any
steps towards the dissolution of this relation
ship, without first consulting with the PreSby
terry by whom this relationship was originally
formed; and that In any case where these gen.
eral principles may be disregarded in future,
the PreSbytery will feel at liberty 10 withbod
a regular dismiSsiOn until satisfactory reasons
be given to the body for said irregularity.
STATED CLERK.
Louisiana State Seminary and Military Acad-
emy.-This fourishing Seminary is situated
about three miles north of Alexandria on Red
River. Rev. Z p. Palmer, formerly pastor
of the Presbyterian church, Marietta, Ga,
is now the Protestant Chaplain and one OF the
Professors of this institution. The religious
services are prayers every morning and preach
ing every Sabbath day. The service on the
Sabbatheis well attended by the cadets, and
they give not only respectful, but even an
earnest attention to the word. The corps Is
indeed, to a large extent, composed OF hne
Young men. Were there no such chapel ser
vices, they would at present have no oppOrtu
nity, except on rare occasions, of hearing the
gospel from the lips of Protestant minister
or of attending Protestant services.
Mr.. Palmer has also instituted a monthly
service, on Sabbath afternoon, in the neigh,
boring town of Alexandria. This town suffered
severely during the war. At present, they
have no Protestant minister or house OF wor-
ship in the place. The churches which for
merly existed were burned during the war
No other Protestant service Is held there, ex-
eept the one mentioned, and 1t appears to have
awakened lively interest, the congregations
being larger than have ever hitherto assem-
bled, except on special occasions.
An Official Newspaper Committee Of
Publication at Richmond submitted to the
Nashville General Assembly proposition to
establish, an official newspaper, to be pub
hShed, we presume, by the Committee OF Pub
LEGATION. The Assembly referred the matter to
the Executive Committees at Richmond and
Columbia, to report to the Assembly. We do
not know what the report from Richmond will
be but we understand that the Committee at
Columbia report adversely to the proposition.
In this We think they are doing wisely
Southern Presbyterian.
Rev. ]. C. Kennedy, recently of Fairfield
District, s. c., has accepted an invitation to
supply the Des Arc and Wattensaw churches
in Arkansas. His post office address Is Des
Arc, Arkansas.
A. W. CASTOR. recently of the Columbia Semi
nary, has accepted an invitation to supply the
Church at Dalton, Ga.
Southwestern Bible sOcisty-The n. Orleans
Christian AdrOcate says: DR.. Harmon, the
agent of this society for South Mississippi and
East Louisiana, has returned from an extensive
tour in this agency. Bible societies were re-
organized at Yieksburg, YazOo City, Canton,
Jackson, Newton Station, Amite City, Baton
Rouge, and other points. Notwithstanding
the financial striugency of the present moment,
he found the people everywhere generous, and
he bears record that to their power, yea, and
beyond their power, they were willing.