The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-09-23
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Andrew Hart.
(coNTINUED.)

CONTINUED.
Mr.. James Robinson became pastor of
the Cove, or Rich's Cove, church, in
1899. | am not able to say whether
Mr.. Hart was ordained elder previously
to that event or subsequently. But he
was a working elder before he consented
to become one officially. His advice,
promptings, counsel, and assistance had
all been brought into requisition; and
she had been proved" i" By ordination
he cemented the kind feelings of the
church, and felt in himself weight of
responsibility, that in its best tulflment
conferred on him no additional influence
with the community, and no enjoyment
but the love of the Church and the ap-
probation of an enlightened conscience ia
the performance of duty in the sight of
God. Asa member of session he assumed
no authority or preeminence; the old,
kind-hearted, pious, devout elders were
respectfully treated by him as the fathers
of the church. Mr.. Hart was not given
to speech-making or dictation. His habit
was to suggest matters for consideration,
either to the session in meeting or to the
individual members in private converse
tion-and wait for their convictions after
reflection. And then he cheerfully sec
onded as the proposition of another what
really originated with himself, "preferring
his brethren in love" The ardent Rob
inson listened to his suggestions, leaned
upon him as his supporter, and rejoiced
in his excellencies as with renewed cour-
age, after consultations, he pressed on his
fiery way. He could be gone Sabbath,
and leave his elders to conduct worship,
and feel assured that the church prayed
for him in his evangelical labors in
neighborhoods removed from the regular
ministrations of the Gospel.
AS soon as Mr.. Irwin was released from
the pastorship of the church, principally
on account of his feeble health, siren
uous efforts were made to obtain the ser
vices of Mr.. Samuel Ramsey, of Lexing-
ton Presbytery; and in the Spring Of
1877 call was put in for him at ses
sion of Presbytery at the Briery congre-
CATION in Prince Edward county. At the
fall meeting of that year, at Pisgah, in
Bedford county, Mr.. Ramsey declared
his preference for Grassy Valley, Ten
nessee, to which he had been invited.
In the spring of 1898 the people of
the Cove having heard Mr.. Robinson
during the winter previous, put in a call
for his services at the session of the Pres
bytery at Hampden Sidney. In the fall,
at the session of the Presbytery at Cum
berland Westinghouse, Mr.. Robinson was
received as probationer from Winchester
Presbytery; and expressed his accep-
tance of the call. An appointment for
the meeting of the Presbytery for his or
dination and installation on the 21st of
December failed to take place. A called
meeting was held on Friday, May 9th,
1899, at the Cove; and the ordination
and installation consummated. Minis
ters present, Lacy, Lyle, Mitchell, Irwin,
and Alexander, all men of note in their
day, and on the records of the Church of
God. They set apart torch bearer for
the people whose light shone brightly,
sometimes fercely, as eled the way.
The great question on the minds of men
was-"Is the Bible of paramount obliga-
ton among men, in religion and morals?''
cor is it superseded by some other
lights Some said Aye; some said
No; the greater number said non hquet
that isl am not fully determined.
Robinson could not argue that question
without earnestness; generally deep
emotion, in view of what was lost by
putting aside the Bible. His mode of
labor or warfare, if 1 may so call it, was
not by long arguments for the Bible or
Christianity, or long discussions on Inf
deity. These statements he made short,
clear, and pithy; and thus, like Paul, he
preached Righteousness, Temperance,
and the Judgment to come, and set forth
the cross of Christ with intense earnest
ness.
The pastor Robinson, and the elder
Hart, were of about the same age, and in
the vigor of manhood; and in their ar
guments and contrarieties were admirably
united; feeling their union from the first,
and its growing strength from year to
year. Hart was self-possessed, calm, of
tender conscience, kind in his tempera-
ment, and warm in his attachment, a
large share of common sense, healthy
we'll trained body, and all under the COM
mand of strong will. Robinson was i'm