The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-27
&eliaion5 gutelliaente.
FROM THE SOUTHERN STATES.
East Hanover Presbytery.

The Presbytery met at Mount Carmel church
Powhatan county. at l o'clock, 4. NJ A1Il
2lst, and was opehed with a sdsnfsn by -ssciseV:
-fnofhas, Of Northampton county, the
last Moderator present, from Romans viii: 81
" If God be for us, who can be against us?'
There were present on the first and second days
nine ministers and six elders-a very small meeting.
Rev. Thomas l.. Preston was elected Moderator,
and Rev. j. d. Thomas and Rev. James A. Wad-
dell were elected Temporary Clerks.
A letter from Montgomery Presbytery, dismiss.
ing the Rev. James p Smith to this Presbytery
was read and Mr.. Smith, after passing the usual
examination, was enrolled as member OF the
Presbytery.
A committee appointed to organize church in
Charles City county reported that they had on the
9th Of last September organized a church called
Bethany" with twelve members, one elder, and
one deacon.
The Executive Committee of Domestic Missions
presented report setting forth the fact that there
have been encouraging tokens of the Divine bless
ing upon the labors of the brethren in charge of
the churches aided from the finds Of the commit
tee. They call attention to several vacancies still
existing and urge the Presbytery to use their ut
most efforts to supply them. The report contained
other statements not of public interest 1t was re.
ferred for consideration to a committee consisting
of Rev. DR.. Brown, Rev. j. A. Waddell, and j..
NJ. Herndon.
The next stated meeting was appointed to be
held in the Tabb Street church, Petersburg, on
Tuesday before the second Sabbath Of April, 1870,
at y P. NJ.
The Rev. James P Smith having signifed his
acceptance of call from the church of Frede-
ricksburg, it was ordered that the Pres byery pro-
coed to install MIR. Smith as pastor of this church
on the second Sabbath of November, and that the
following be a committee for this purpose: Rev.
William Brown, d. d., to preside and propose the
constitutional questions Rev. NJ. ID. Hoge, D..
D., to preach the sermon and deliver the charge
to the people; and Rev. Thomas IL. Preston to de-
liver the charge to the pastor.
A call for the pastoral services of the Rev. j.
D. Thomas from the church of Wytheville in the
bounds of Abingdon Presbytery was forwarded to
this Presbytery, and by its action placed in Mr..
Thomas's hands. He sgni6ed his willingness to
accept it, and asked dissolution OF the pastoral
relation now existing between him and the Holmes
church. This church was then cited to appear by
its commissioners, before Presbytery at an ad.
iourned meeting to be held in the lecture-room OF
the Second church, Richmond on November LIST,
at 10 o'clock A. NJ, and show cause, If any they
have, why this request should not be granted.
1t was resolved to postpone action on the new
'Ronk of Church Order' reterred 20 the Presby
teries for consideration by the General Assembly,
until the spring. Meanwhile the book was re-
at that meeting-viz Rev. William Brown, d.
D., Rev. NJ. D. Hoge, D D., Rev. G. H. Read
D. D., and Elders Peachy R. Grattan and E. Ftz-
hugh.
A committee appointed at the last meeting to
report "a complete system, by means Of which the
items of business mi ht come up more regularly
from the churches, and be'more regularly attended
to by the Presbytery, reported "a Directory fol
the Presbytery; which was adopted.
An idea of the nature of this Directory may be
formed from the following list of the items con
tanned in it: |. The boundary lines of the Presby
terry. 3 A roll Of the churches, with list Of the
elders and deacOns of each. 3. The officers Of the
Presbytery. 4. The standing committees 8
The quotas of the churches to the Presbyteria
Fund g. Reports to be sent from the churches to
the Presbytery. 7. Attendance upon the meetings
OF Presbytery. s. Reports to be sent by absent
members. 9. Standing missionary supplies. 10.
Annual payments to be made by the treasurer. Ii.
A docket of the business OF the regular meetings.
r. OF licentates and candidates. IL. COllec
tons ordered to be taken up.
The standing orders of the Presbytery are dis
tributed under these various heads.
One provision of the Directory requires writ
ten narrative of the state of religion in each church,
to be sent up to the Presbytery from the session
instead of the informal verbal statements now made
in the free conversation on the state OF religion
within the bounds of the Presbytery." This
change of an old custom elected some discussion.
1t was argued in favor of the proposed change
that written report would occupy less of the
time of Presbytery, and give more definite and sat
isactory information that the verbal statements
were often diffuse and prolix. On the other hand
it was argued in favorof the old custom that YER
bal statements, being more interesting, often con-
veyed more information by reason OF the attention
they secured than written reports, and that many
items of interest not thought OF beforehand would
be suggested by statements from others or elected
by inquiries made in the free conversation.
The rule was, after discussion, modified by the
addition that ''the narratives, after having been
read, may be accompanied by such verbal state
ments as may be desired.
Another custom Of the Presbytery is changed
by provision OF the Directory. The minutes Of
the church sessions sent to the Presbytery annually
for review have been heretofore referred each to
special committee. There has consequently been
want of uniformity in the action of the Presby
terry in approving, and disappearing the proceed
ngs of church sessions. 1t is proposed to obviate
this difficulty by the appointment OF a standing
committee to whom all the records shall be re.
ferred for review.
The Stated Clerk was directed to have printed
enough of copies of this Directory for the use Of
the churches.
THE conversation on the State of Religion pre-.
sented on the whole an encouraging view. The
contributions to the benevolent enterprises of the
Church are generally well attended to. Total to
Foreign Missions, 81, 100; total to Sustentation
SAL; total to Education, 81 pol; total to Publ
cation 81, $685. total to all other causes, $50, 646
total amount contributed, $37 ,2l7; whole number
of members, 2,S4O; average contributed by each
member, $l3
A report on Sabbath schools presents important
points, but as it will be laid before the Synod it is
here omitted.
The resolution before the Presbytery last spring,
and laid over till this meeting which related to the
boundary lines for division of the Synod, was
called up, and then indefinitely postponed it be-
ing understood that the whole subject will come
before the Synod.
The following paper was adopted
"Whereas the Presbytery has learned that the
Rev. A. j. Leavenworth, deceased, left legacy
of $1,000, the proceeds Of which shall be appro-
priated to the aid Of candidate for the gospel
ministry, under the of the Presbytery of East
Hanover, and having the Foreign Mission field in
view; and whereas Presbytery has no such candi-
date at present under its care it expresses its will
lingness, if consistent with the conditions of the
gift that the proceeds of the legacy until further
action, be placed at the disposal of the Assembly's
Committee of Education,
Adjourned to meet in the Lecture Room of the
LIST Presbyterian Church, Richmond on Nov. lst at
TO- o clock A. NJ.
Rev. Jas H Fitzgeralds Post office address is
T. / L. IL L