The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-08-18
From the North Carolina Presbyterian.
Synod of North Carolina.
NO. ".


1t has not been the good fortune of the Synod
of North Carolina to enjoy very large share of
prosperity for number of years past. In 1852,
II years ago, Fayetteville consisted of "a ministers
and 81 churches. In 1868, Including the Presby-
terry of Wilmington Fayetteville reported 30 min
listers and GO churches In II years, an increase
of ministers and IA churches This is slow pro-
gress, minister added about every 3 years, and
rot an additional church yearly. Fayetteville has
done badly, but she has shown more of a missionary
spirit than Orange and Concord. She has added
more churches to her list than both Of the other
Presbyteries. In 1852, II years ago, she had
members enough to have formed Presbyteries,
but up to 1868, she persstently refused to divide
And even, in 1868, some of the members expressed
very grave doubts with regard to the propriety of
a division, and a few voted against the formation
of the Presbytery Of Wilmington.
There are but 9 more ministers in the Synod Of
North Carolina than there were II years ago, and
81 churches. This is approaching stand STILL
Large bodies have made sad experiment. | am,
and long have been, the advocate of operating
through smaller bodies. Large bodies have been
sufficiently tested to demonstrate their utter inef-
cheney.
THE SYNOD OF FAYETTEVILLE.
am in favor of the formation of Synod within
the old geographical limits of the Presbytery. of
Fayetteville including the Presbytery of Whining
ton. The territory is quite large enough. for a
Synod 1t is about 200 miles long by so broad
and contains about 16, 900 square miles, There are
80 ministers and 6S churches in this territory
Three.fourths of these churches, suppose, would
be entitled to representation.
That would give us an eldership of about 50.-
And 80 ministers added to 50, the ruling elders
would make so. This would lba large body.
When the Synod met at Danvile, in 1852, there
were present, at rolcal, only 80 ministers and Ia
ruling elders, 46 in all. We might have so in less
than one.third Of the territory. AND division
would increase the feeling of responsibility, and
both ministers and ruling elders would attend with
far greater punctuaity than they do at present.
The Synod, in 1868, in Wilmington, was very
small There were present, at roll-cal, from Or
ange 10 ministers and ruling elders, from Con-
cord 10 ministers and , ruling elders, and from
Fayetteville 90 ministers and l6 ruling elders, in
all 70 And As ministers, nearly one-half of the
Synod were absent. The Synod at Newbern in
1867 was even worse represented There were
present from Orange Is ministers and ruling
elders, from Concord ministers and ruling
elders, and from Fayetteville Is ministers and 10
ruling elders, in all 59-3S ministers present and
81 absent-and 100 churches not represented.
The Presbytery Of Fayetteville now consists of
20 members This is material sufficient to form
Presbyteries And . Presbyteries can be formed
in that territory consisting of 10 ministers and 81
churches each. The new Presbytery might be
called Centre, Ashpole, or Lumberton. And it is
not too much to assume that three. fourths of the
churches would be represented in Presbyteres re-
duced to proper size. The Presbytery of Fay
etteville would then be represented by 10 minis
tiers, Is ruling elders and Is deacons the represen
tatves of temporalities, according to our book in
all 40 Wilmington 10 ministers, IS ruling elders,
and Is deacons, in all 10 and Centre 10 ministers,
l6 ruling elders, and l6 deacons-in all Az and
40, 49, and ID make l2S-a gOodly number for the
the Synod of Fayetteville. H. A. NJ.