The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-03
geligiaas gateIIigenfe,
FROM THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Presbytery of Roanoke

Met at Hermon church, Charlotte county, on the
10th of April, and was opened with sermon by
Rev. William H. Matthews
Rev. II. r. Laird, now supplying the churches
of Spring Hill and Mount Carmel, in Halifax, was
received to membership in this body from the Pres
bytery of Holston, Tennessee.
Ministers in attendance, twelve; elders, fifteen.
A call from Village church for the pastoral SER
vices of Mr. William r. Atkinson, was accepted,
and order was taken for his examination, prepar-
atory to his ordination and installation, on Sat
urday the 18th of May, if the way be clear
A call from Hat Greek church for the pastoral
services, for half of his time, of Rev. A. B. Car
rington, was accepted and order was taken for his
installation on the Saturday before the 4th Sab
bath of May, by a committee of Presbytery, con.
sisting of Rev. Messrs. Cochran, Davis, and Wha-
rev.
The Stated Clerk was authorized to draw on the
treasury annually for $l0 to be paid to the Central
Presbyterian and Christian O6SerUeT-S5 to each
for their advertisements of our meetings.
Messrs Drury, Calhoun, and Richard Gregory
were nominated for Appointment by the Lunenburg
court to be trustees of the Nutbush and Lunen-
burg Court House Church properties.
The standing committees on examinations and
of the several evangelstic schemes, were reap
pointed Except that on account of the removal of
the Rev. B. w. Moseley to another Presbytery,)
the Committee on Publication consists of Rev. +.
NJ. Whaley, of Gainesville, DR.. George G. Vena-
BILE, and Mr. VIM. Ii, Morton, Jr. The chairmen
of the other committees are: Of Missions, Rev.
H. A. Brown, MoSsingford; of Foreign Missions,
Rev. j. II. Davis Charlotte Court House; of Ed
ucation, DR.. II. O. Alexander, Hampden Sidney;
and of Sabbath Schools, Rev. Alexander Martin,
Danvile.
Next meeting of Presbytery will be held in
Ridgeway, Henry county, on Wednesday, August
ODD.
Rev. Thomas Z. Peck, D. D., of Union Theo
logical Seminary, and DIR. William w. Darlington,
ruling elder, of Spring Hill church, Halifax. were
chosen commissioners to the General Assembly,
Rev. f. N. Whaley of GAINESVILLE, and ruling ell
der j. A. Shearer, of Old Concord church, were
chosen to be their alternates. The commissioners
were requested to attend the Presbyterian Univer-
sty Convention, to be held at Huntsville on the
day preceding the meeting of the General Assem-
bly,.
1t was resolved that in case Of the absence of a
church member for three years, without any intor.
nation concerning him, the session be authorized
to leave out of count the name of SUCH member
in their statistical report. But separate roll
shall be kept of all such members
DR.. Alexander read report written by DR..
Peck, the chairman of the committee previously
appointed tor the purpose, who was ABSENT In the
form OF pastoral letter from the Presbytery to its
congregations, on the subject of worldly conformity
in the matter OF amusements and the manufac-
ture, sale, and use of ardent spirits. The letter
was approved and ordered to be published. The
remainder OF the afternoon was occupied by the
free conversation on the state of religion" and
from the various reports made from the congrega-
tons on the subjects Of systematic benefcence
Sabbath Schools, pastoral support, &C., it APP.
peared that, on the whole, the cause of religion
was prospecting within the bounds of the Presby-
tery. Some Of the churches-as Hat Greek, New
Concord, and bethlehem, particularly the first
named-have received considerable additions on
profession Of faith others have been much strength
ened by addition on certificate from other congre-
cations The church of Christiansville, Mecklen-
burg which is almost entirely made up OF recent
settlers from Ohio and other northern States, has
grown rapidly. Some of the congregations are
still depressed from the impovershment AMI loss
of membership incident to the disastrous close Of
the war; The grace of liberaity in giving for the
support Of the Gospel among themselves, and for
the advancement of the Church's benefcent
schemes, has been strengthened
One of the brethren came to Presbytery superbly
mounted on remarkably fine horse, with new sad
die, &c. In the course of the free conversation"
it was stated by Rev. f. N. Whaley that these
ton. The ladies of some other congregations have
been manifesting commenable zeal in q like direc-
ton, with some success, but without having reach
ed such splendid results.
Reports were received on Publication, Educa.
ton, Foreign Missions, and Sustentation or Home
Missions, and from the Finance Committee show
ing the measure of interest and activity existing in
our congregations in regard to the several schemes
of Evangelization set on foot by the General As
sembly. As part of the report of Rev. j. IL.
Davis on Foreign Missions, an interesting letter
was read from Rev. G. N. Morton, member of
the Presbytery, who is a missionary in Brazil.
The Committee on Publication was authorized
to employ young gentleman, Mr. Dupuy, one of
our candidates for the ministry, as colporteur
during his approaching college vacation.
A motion was made and, after some spirited dis
cussion, lost, looking to the encouragement among
our congregations of greater interest in the IRE
lief fund" proposed to be established by the Gen
eral Assembly for the benefit of the families Of
deceased minister's The plan is kind of life in
surance but on more liberal terms than are offered
by insurance companies.
Every minister of the Presbytery was directed to
preach during the ensuing year to his congregation
on the duty of parents and heads of families to
maintain family worship.
Permission wasgranted to Spring Hill and Mount
Carmel churches to employ Rev. H, Il. Laird as
their stated supply for twelve months.
DR.. VIM. W. Darlington offered paper propos-