The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-28
Correspondence of the Central Presbyterian.
Presbytery Of st. Louis.
JERsEYvILLE, ILL, April lot

Dear Brother Brown: The Presbytery of St.
Louis, Declaration and Testimony, has just closed
its spring sessions at the I'd Presbyterian church
of this place. The meeting has been, L think, a
pleasant one to all concerned, and helpful also to
our people and cause here. Jerseyville isa neat
little city of about 5000 souls with beautiful en-
vironings, the country being rolling, rich and we'll
farmed, choice portion of the Garden State
We are within two hours ride of st. Louis by
what is known as the Jacksonville Branch of the
St. Louis and Chicago Railroad. about due
north from that city, The first settlers Of Jersey
county were New Jersey men. Many families
from Tennessee and other Southern States also
came in and entered lands At this time radical
ideas are below par, and public sentiment savors
strongly of the good old times The ID Presby-
terian church is an offspring of the First church,
New School, and had its birth at time when
abolition politics and counsels began to prevail and
to breed trouble in Christ's house. The more con-
servative portion of the members protested against
the preaching of another gospel, which is not
another" and at last seeded, although the move
ment was not so designated in those ante-bellum
days. They formed an Old School church, under
the pastoral charge of the Rev. Samuel Lynn
weak in numbers, but strong in being homogeneous
and in the character of its members Within two
years past this church has joined hands, on the
Declaration and Testimony basis, with the Synod
of Missouri, and been cordially received by the
St. Louis Presbytery. You may know that these
good brethren have not taken and maintained the
ground which they still staunchly hold, without a
sore struggle and many trials of faith and patience
Although personally in good repute, their church
enterprise does not seem to have met with the
popular favor; but perhaps in time by the bless.
ing of God, there may be change for the better
[ believe that the brethren across the river regard
their Jerseyville protege with much interest, as
they have cause to do, and they have come over
at this time to cheer and help us on by their pre-.
sence and counsels From this worthy motive,
mixed perhaps with spice of curiosity to see
how things are outside of Missouri, they have
turned out in force, a goodly number of those
modest BRETHREN the ruling elders, being present
The meeting was opened on the 18th inst, with a
sermon by DR.. James H. Brookes, of St. Louis
1t was setting forth of the duty and glorious re-.
wards of ministerial fidelity, as being in no wise
contingent upon the present results of our preach
ing and working. ave are unto God sweet
SAVIOR of Christ, in them that are saved and in
them that perish" The desire of the public to
see and hear this gifted and honored servant of
Christ drew out many people, and his stirring
words were listened to with deep interest. DR..
Brookes has fine personal presence and address,
and his very looks command your attentive re-
gard. His speech is easy and fluent, always i'm
pressive and at times very graphic and eloquent
He carries you along as with full tide, and there
is sometimes resistless power in his glowing and
thrilling utterances do not suppose there is a
more single-minded and effective Gospel preacher
and worker in the land. The impulses and re.
sources of his genius appear to be wholly conse
Grated to Christ, and he is most fearless witness
for the truth. I have heard the venerable DR..
Stiles pronounce him the best pastor and preacher
together, whom he bad known. One who reads
his late Letters on Dancing may obtain an insight
into the spirit and character Of the man. God
seems to have raised him up for the times, and
has given him high and honored place of trust
and influence in the Western church. While
speaking of our preachers and preaching [ will
add, that we were favored with sermons by two
other of our sterling men, the Rev. Thomas Wat.
son, and Dr. R. P. Farris of the Missouri Presby-
terrain. The latter is well. known as an able and
fearless upholder of the old land marks, and is
such man as the times demand | was much
impressed with brother Watson as strong origi-
nal thinker, and he is in high repute with the
brethren here. His discourse was on Christ s
Headship to the Church, and his trumpet gave
no uncertain sound. Here let me say, that these
men of the Declaration and Testimony are strange.
ly old timed in their preaching fashions, and in
all their sentiments and feelings Even Rock
bridge or Augusta man may easily forget his
change of latitude and longitude among them
Many of them indeed hail from the O Id Dominion.
They appear to be of one mind with you on all
mooted questions, and they are also very much
"set in their ways" So far from looking back
with desire to the fesh-p'ts of the old Assembly,
am pleased to find, that their faces are set as a
flint the other way, being fully persuaded that
they see the pillar of cloud and fire in that direc-
ton. A resolution was offered protesting against
lone and all of the plans and schemes proposed
to bring about reunion with the New School
Presbyterian Church, This paper was laid on
the table in disgust The mind of Presbytery was