The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-09-23
portuuity of contributing privately to the OBJ

Government, that this Presbytery Is In IaVoi
of striking out. See printed minutes, page
275.)
Also, in accordance with the action OF the
General Assembly, that it be enjoined upon all
our churches to observe the Monthly Concert
of Prayer for Foreign Missions on the evening
of the first Sabbath in each month; and tha'
regular collections be taken up at such meet
ings, in addition to the annual collection Tor
this object; and that they report at the next
meeting of the Presbytery their diligence
herein.
The following paper was adopted:
Whereas, the General Assembly at its ses'
sions in Baltimore, enjoined upon our church,
es more strictness in the establishment and
preservation Of the pastoral relation; and
whereas, there is no warrant in our constltu-
ton for employing minister from year to
year as stated supply:
ResotUed, That we enjoin upon our churches
more rigid adherence to the rules and de-
crees Of the church on this subject; and that
those churches that are able to support pas
tor, and have sufficient knowledge OF the plety
and ability of any minister willing to serve
them in this Office, be required to proceed at
once to have such brother settled over them
as pastor.
The Presbytery then adopted the following
NARRATIVE.
As our history the past year has been quite
uniform, we have nothing OF very peculiar In
terest to report There has been no general
revival of religion in the churches, yet one OF
two instances of the outpnuring of the Spirit
have occurred wherein numbers were con
verted One pleasant feature is, that most OF
our vacant churches have been visited, the
Gospel preached and sacraments administered
greatly to the comfort and edi6cation of the
hocks In one instance, a much neglected
church, where the Gospel had not been
preached for more than five years, has been
visited, their house of worship has been re-
paired, the people called together, elders elect
ed and ordained, the Word preached, sacra-
ments administered and sinners hopefully con-
verified. In this church such state of reli
gious feeling and activity has been developed
as bids fair to make this formerly neglected
church useful and prosperous one In three
other churches, additional elders have been
elected and ordained, and encouraging mum
bers added to the communion. From all our
country churches, we have the report Of their
eagerness to have the preached Gospel, their
regular and punctual attendance, even in the
most inclement weather, oftentimes crowding
the place of worship, and listening attentively
and solemnly to the words of eternal life.-
Within the last ten months, we have had the
marked presence of the Holy Spirit in the
churches of Cedar Spring, Mars Hill, Mt.
Bethel and Pleasant Forest and most encour.
aging additions to each.
Several Sabbath Schools of great interest
and Iveliness are reported, in which, it is
hoped much good is being done.
From one of our churches comes very ia
vorabe report for the prayer meeting, which
is remarkably well attended, especially by the
young people.
Eighty-nine additions on profession of faith,
and twenty-six by letter, have been made to
the number Of our communicates
We have received one candidate for the min
istry under our care, and have licensed one to
preach the Gospel. We record now, also, as
special encouragement, the unusually large
number of our churches represented by their
elders in this meeting of Presbytery. Our
Evangelist. or domestic missionary, who has
been laboring in our bounds since last Decem
Der, reports that he has visited most of our
vacant churches, preached one hundred and
eight sermons, administered the ordinances,
and built up our waste places as best he could.
We have still lack of ministers, and could
well support one or two more, but are encour-
aged by our correspondence to hope, that these
will soon be procured
In conclusion, we are thankful that we have
so few discouragements to report. Some in
temperance among few Of our members is
reported in two churches, lack of vigorous
life in one, lingering persecution and robbery
of church property in another; these, with
the want of more laborers and the means to
sustain them, constitute the sum of hindrances.
With the blessing of God upon our labors, we
hope that the walls OF our Zion will speedily
be rebuilt and her waste places repaired; and
we gratefully believe that we are slowly, but
surely and solidly growing in power, in godli-
ness aud in numbers. We believe that the
regular and faithful preaching of the great
doctrines of the Gospel, will place our church
upon sure foundation in this region, and
make her blessing to the generation in which
we live.
HIGH SCHOOL AT BRISTOL.
Rev. George A. Caldwell, of the Presbytery
of Holston having addressed the Presbytery
in regard to the High School at Bristol under
the care of that Presbytery, it was
Resolred That the Presbytery of Knoxville
will heartily cooperate with the Presbytery of
Hoston in sustaining the High School at Bris
to, and recommend it to the benefactions and
patronage of our people.
The order on Supplies was made as follows:
Monmouth church, McCallie, one Sabbath
in October: Morrison, one Sabbath in Novem
ber Mt Bethel church. Brown, one Sabbath
in October: McCallie, one in January. Shiloh
church, Park one Sabbath in October Nc
Callie, one in November. Cleveland church,
Morrison, one Sabbath in September; Park,
one in November: Brown, one in December
Provided, that should any of these churches
be regularly supplied in the meantime then
the special supply shall give the Sabbath APP
pointed to any vacant or. destitute place in his
region. at discretion.
Ordered, That collection, for some one of
the four grand agencies Of the church, shall
be lifted by each officiating minister in every
vacant church when supplied under this order
RESOLVED, That before any application shall
be made to the Assembly's Executive Com.
mittee for aid from the Suster alton Fund,
the churches to be benefited all make all
proper efforts to come up to the full measure
of their ability in supporting the Gospel among
themselves.
2. That all vacant churches proceed to take
immediate measures to ascertain the amounts
which they will probably be able respectively
to raise for the support Of the Gospel, and
communicate the same to the stated clerk as
soon as practicable.
Resolued, That the Presbytery hereby ex-
presses its hearty satisfaction at the very full
and unusual representation of the churches
during the present session of the body; and
we now give our assurance to the churches,
that the presence of their elders has given
double interest to the proceedings OF the Pres
bytery, and has impaired increased efficiency
to its action, and renewed zeal to those who
are called to labor in word and doctrine. And,
we hereby urge every church session to see to
:. L.. ia.as CO.. thas. be nra b.. III