Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-04-19
For The Register.
LETTER FROM CHARLESTOWN.

Mr.. Zittle-My paper of the fifth did
not come to hand Whether it is the
fault Of the Register man or Uncle
Sans post man at C.harlestown | can
not say. | simply note the fact to show
that prize the Register and miss it
much when it fails to arrive which is
very seldom.
Our town has worn most lively APP
pcarance for the past week. The ser
vices of the Presbytery, those of Pas
sion week at the Episcopal Church, to-
gether with the session of Judge Hoge's
Court, have attracted largely and many
strangers have been drawn to the place.
Main street has been much thronged
with carriages, pedestrians, dc, and the
fact is demonstrated that ours is large
ly church going people. The last end
of the town where the two occupied
churches are located, has been especially
the scene of interest. The churches be-
ing contiguous the simultaneous ringing
OF the bells, and the movement of the
people to their respective houses of wor-
ship, have presented an unusual degree
of activity and stir The Presbyterian
Church where the sittings Of the Pres
bvtery were held was the chief point of
attraction. This was natural i'll as much
as an ecclesiastical body was convened
among us, an occurrence perhaps only
in decade composed OF number of
strange ministers, whose deliberations
were open for all to hear This en-
braced the usual business of such a
church court, with preaching twice a
day thrown in---the latter think wise
practice, for it gives fresh interest and
adds to the probability of good, and l
must say for these Presbyterians that
they sustained well their meetings by
their presence and attendance. The
congregations were large and apprecia-
tive. l was fayorably impressed with
this religious convocaton and its dclib-
erations. Its talent | infer was quite up
to any similar body of any sister denom-
nation did not discover or learn
that there were any brilliant stars among
them, but it was manifest, for clear, for
chile, earnest preaching, zeal in their
masters cause and desire to promote
his glory these men Of God are abreast
of any others. Where such men as
Riddle, the Whites, Scott, Grayham,
Hopkins, with many young men tread
ing in their footsteps compose the body
we could expect noting else The Pres
bytery was happy in the selection of a
Moderator, the Rev Mr.. Converse, of
Woodstock. This gentleman though
comparatively young, showed himself to
be at home in the position, and display
ed great suavity of manner and prompt
ness of decision in the chair. He won
the hearts of our people in and out of
the pulpit. lie was formerly Missiona-
nv to China for ashort time The ques-
ton of most interest before the body,
drawing out the most discussion was
touching the merits of the old and new
book of discipline, which came down
from the General Assembly asking of
the Presbyteries the adoption or cr!ti-
cism of the latter. The Presbytery aft
err lengthy debate accepted the paper
of Mr. Grayham, respectively declining
to adopt or criticise-a virtual rejection
of the new book. 1t appeared to me it
was conceded by ali that in two or three
points reformation in discipline was
needed and the new book embodied
them, but the dread of an innovation
upon what has been the practice of the
church for more than seventy years, in
tluenced the majority to vote as they
did. The new book comes with great
force of authority, it being the produc-
ton of such master minds as. Robinson,
Adger, ETC., the great lights of the
church, who could not be suspected of
advising any thing but what would be
for the good of the denomination.
1t was evident that this Presbytery
was disposed to maintain the practice
and purpose of the church to hold its
ministry to high degree of culture and
qualification for the duties Of the pull
pit. This cropped out in the examina-
ton and criticism Of the Rev. Mr..
Downey, candidate for ordination and
called to the Falling Waters Church.
The young minister, though subject to
q scathing fire, well calculated to en-
barrass one so young, passed the gaunt-
let, was declared to have given very
respectable examination, and by unani-
nous vote was accorded the rite of or
/ dination at the hands of the Presbyterv,
which is to be administered on the Sth
Of May, proximo, at his church. 1t is
right to be rigid in requiring the Minis
/ try to be well trained where the facili-
ties of education are afforded as it is
among this denomination, but | must
confess Twas pleased to hear one minis
ter at least (who has the repute of being
an able one,) say i'll substance that
where the candidate was called of God
he would not be so exacting in the con
struction of the Hebrew and Greek a
very sensible conclusion, | thought
Upon the whole this was most plea
SAINT and harmonious session of the Win
chester Presbytery The weather has
been favorable, the members have been
Hospitality entertained, the preaching
has been of an excellent type, the at
tentions and amenities of Mr.. Hopkins,
the pastor, have been most assiduous
and untiring. The services of yester-
day, Sabbath, were highly impressive.
The holy communion was administered
to a large number, Rev. Mr.. Johnson
preaching in the Presbyterian church.