The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-20

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manly bearing always attracted the assem-
bly,. His sentences flowed with captivating
sweetness. There was charm about him
no one could describe. He seemed to be al
ways saying right things in the right way
Men, women, and children, hung upon his
lips. But the huskiness that would come
over his enunciation, and the heavings OF
of what seemed capacious breast, excited
the deepest sympathy, that one so noble and
so good, was evidently marked for an early
grave.
The Presbytery held its semi annual meet
ings, and continued in session generally
three working days, in which there was
preaching at noon, and candlehght, each
day; and Sabbath was included, or at
tached, to be occupied with the appropriate
services of the Sacrament of the Supper.
The intermediate hours of the working days,
after dispatching the ordinary business of
the Presbytery, were devoted to discussing
the great questions that then were calling for
the thoughts and action Of the Presbyterian
Church-the education of men for the min
istry, how far it should be carried classically,
and how far theologically; and whether
candidates should pursue their studies with
pastors, or in Seminaries, and whether these
Seminaries should be Synodical, Presbyte,
rial, or under the more immediate care of
the General Assembly of the Church; the
gathering of congregations, the cherishing
feeble ones, how this could or should be
done, and how necessary funds should be
raised. 1t was after years of discussion,
these matters took satisfactory form and
shape; and from meeting of Presbytery to
meeting of Presbytery, in some form or shape
these drew out the hematured thoughts of men,
bers, and propositions and plans were con-
sidered and modified and rejected, or amend
ed and adopted, and then again amended,
and so on from year to year, till the subjects
were settled in details and articulars.
The discussions on these subjects were
earnest and exciting. There was no acknow-
ledged leader of the Presbytery, but when
ever it seemed to come to pause for business
DR.. Hill was always ready to bring up
something and start debate. His resources
for an exciting discussion seemed exhaust
less, till a subject was well examined. He
had no system of attack or defence, and
would as soon begin in the middle as any
where. If he started the discussion, or if
he attacked, no one could imagine where he
would make his assault, or how he would
urge his objections, by argument, or humor,
or sarcasm, or defamation. He was never
weary or discouraged, and his desultory at
tacks left strong impression, and were
hard to answer from their disconnected num-
Der.
Mr. Williamson came to the discussion in
order, with well selected precedents, terse
sentences, and could be defeated only by a
counter argument of similar structure, and
overriding precedentS; always on the alert
and never making blunder.
Dr. wilson would take different course.
Mild as a summer morning, he would as
sumo some well known facts, or acknowledged
laws-and from these, after some explana-
ton, deduce one or more almost self-evident
principles, and then go on to some conclu-
sion that seemed necessarily to follow. In
his common sense, simplicity, and kindness,
and perfect cooluess were his strength.
lEr. Glass could weave a metaphysical
argument of great strength, and was gener-
ally unanswerable in that line. His strong
common sense, his honesty of purpose and
full belief in the Revelation of God, kept
him from being bewildered in those fascinat-
ing metaphysical theories he could call up at
pleasure.
DR.. Matthea0s was more elaborate than
Wilson, aud his conclusions following
greater array of preparation, were more i'm
posing. But Matthews, and Wilson, and
Hoge were those the mass of hearears lis
tened to in debate with most relying conf
dence.
The discussions, continued from Presby-
terry to Presbytery, never lost their interest;
and young ministers, and candidates, and
elders, found in them the richest commen-
taries on ecclesiastical law.
AS the discussion on constitutional ques
tions, embracing the Church at large, came
to a close, and as the Presbytery increased
rapidly in ministerial members, matters of a
more local nature, also embracing the great
principles of the executive and judicial pow
ers of Presbytery, began to claim the atten-
ton of that body. Of the old debaters,
there remained Hill, Wilson, and William.
son. Matthews had gone to Madison, Indi-
ana, to build up an institution for the West.
A company of young men trained under
these old men, were ready at the time of the
general excitement on the subject of religion
in 1881, ?, 3, and onward, to take their po-
sitiOn in debate and council. Among the
young men was the eldest son of Mr.. Will
sons early friend, Samuel Brown, who in.
herited much of his fathers mental endow.
ments, with tendency to an outflow, or
overflow of feeling not in his fathers habit.
Mr.. Wilson had the love and respect of all
the younger members. Itso happened that