Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-05-06
LEXINGTON PREsBYTERY.

| this City on last Wednesday evening, is one Of
the largest as well one Of the most distinguish
ed religious bodies in this country. 1t embraces
| a large extent of territory, numbers thirty
ministers and forty-one churches and was erect
| ed out of Hanover Presbytery in 1876. Its geo.
| graphical limits were at first co-extensive with
| the State of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge
and north of New River. It embraced at its
| formation the following ministers, viz: John
| Brown, Archibald Scott Edward Crawford
Benjamin Erwin, John Montgomery, VIM. VIII
son, Moses Hoge, John McCue Samuel Car
rick and Samuel Shannon. Its first meeting
was held at Timber Ridge, in Rockbridge coun-
ty, in September, 1876, when the Rev. John
Brown, the ancestor of B. Gratz Brown of Mis-
souri,, was elected its first moderator. In 1874 it
had thirteen Minister'S and was divided by the
| Synod of Virginia by cutting off its northern
| portion and forming out of this part, cut of,
Winchester Presbytery, with FIVE ministers
| In 1887, it was again divided, and Greenbrier
| Presbytery, with ten ministers, was formed upon
| its Southwestern border. II 1843 Montgomery
Presbytery was cut off from its Southern ex-
| tremity, with fourteen ministers, leaving it at
| that time with twenty-three ministers and TWEEN
| ty-six churches. Geographically, it covers that
part of Rockbridgs which lies north of James
River and Buffalo Creek, with the counties of
| Augusta, Rockingham, Pendleton, Highland
and Bath in Virginia, and the counties of Ran
dolph, Barbour and Tucker in West Virginia.
WEDNESDAY EVENING.
At s O. clock on Wednesday evening the Pres
bytery met, pursuant to adjournment, in the
Presbyterian Church, where large audience had
| assembled to hear the opening sermon by the
Rev. Harvey Gilmore, of Rockbridge county,
the moderator of the last session, who preached
an able and interesting sermon from the 18th
verse of the LIST chapter Of Romans.
tAfter the close of the Sermon, the Presby terry
was called TO order, opened with prayer. and
organized by the election of Rev. G. B. Stricklsr
of Augusta, moderator, and Revs. G. S. M. See
and j. 81. II. Winfree, clerks. The roll was
called and the following members found present :
Ministers-Wm. G. Campbell, P. Fletcher
ID. B. Ewing, ID D., s. W. Watkins, VIM. Pink
erton, j. r. Bowman, w. z. Baker, @. S. NJ
See, r, G. Walker, W. 7. Price, J. 3. q. Win
w. K. Handy, G.: l.. Brown and Harvey
Gilmore.
Ruling Elders-Jno Merritt, D. Morton, s.
Firebaugh, B. Hansel, Jno. Wilson, Jas. Nc
JAS. Herger, r. Black, J. 7. McCsun, Jas. Mar
tin, j. G. Brownlee Talbot B. Coleman, M.
Wise, A. B. Stuart, Joseph Wilson, H. w Hen
ny, @. Francisco, Jas. Lyle.
On motion, committee was appointed to pre-
pare memorials of Rev. J. S. Blan and Rev.
r. j. Taylor, members of the Presbytery who
had died since its last meeting On motion, the
Presbytery adjourned until o'clock Thursday
morning
THURSDAY MORNING.
Presbytery met at 8 O clock and was opened
with prayer and roll called. The following ad
ditional ministers and ruling elders were pres
ent: Ministsrs-G. L. Brown, S, Brown, E.
Thomas, Alfred Jones, Dr. Junkin, e. G. Cor
don and j. W. Pratt
Railing Elders-D. S. Bell. L. Sehorn, G. M.
Efinger and VIM. Thompson.
A letter was received from Rev. z. Lewis,
giving excuse for absence and asking dismisson
to West Hanover Presbytery. The request was
granted and the stated clerk was directed to fur
nish the usual certificate of dismission.
Rev. W. T. Richardson was admitted to the
Lexington Presbytery from the Chesterfield
Presbytery.
Rev. B. nj. Hobson, of the Presbytery of
Ebenezer, was invited to sit as a corresponding
member.
An invitation from Miss Julia Baldwin to the
u
| tertanment Thursday night was accepted.
A letter from Rev. Samuel j. Baird, D. D.,
was received, asking for dissolution of his pas
tora relations with tbs Church at Waynesboro.
The session of the Church conourring in the
request it was granted, and the pastoral relation
was dissolved. Rev. W. T. Richardson was d.
rected to preach at Waynesboro, at his earliest
convenience, and declare the Church vacant
Rev. J. r. Bowman introduced a resolution
that Presbytery decline adopting the new book
of discipline and request the General Assembly
to discharge its committee of Revision.
He said this new book of discipline contained
many radical changes and he was opposed to
making any changes in the discipline of the
Church; the adoption of the book Of discipline
would probably lead to a change in church gov
eminent and he didn't approve of this rounda-
bout way of doing it.
This motion wis seconded very heartily by
Rev. S. W. Watkins. He believed that if some
of these proposed changes were adopted, they
would result in the utter subvetsion of the
Church. He urged strong objections to one of the
changes, which proposed to put the session be-
tween the accuser and the accused.
Rev. I. w. Z. Handy seconded the resolution,
but suggested an amendment, which was adopted,
requesting the General Assembly to preserve, in
its archives all the papers relating to the revis-
ion for he believed that this subject of revision
would come up again some time in a different as
pect from that which it now presents. He believed
that the proper way to make this revision was by
general convention of ministers and elders,
whose action should be submitted to the Presby-
teries for adoption.
Rev. w. T. Price also supported the motion in
few we'll chosen remarks. The resolution as
amended was adopted with but one dissenting
vote.
The Committee to organize Church at Noun
tain Grove was continued.
A statement was made by Rev. S. Brown in
relation to Kerr's Greek Church.
Rev. j. w. Pratt, chairman of committee on
Education, made report in which he stated
that during the last three years, the number Of
candidates for the ministry, under the special
charge of this Presbytery, had been steadily
falling off, until now there were only one-Mr.
Isaac Campbell a student at Washington and
Lee University, of whose progress the professors
report very favorably.
At Union Theological Seminary. there were
Messrs F. W. Lewis, r. H. Fleming John Pin
kerton, Frank McCutchen, A. F. Laird, A. s.
Moffett, in whom the Presbytery feel special
interest," though not under its charge, all Of
whom were well reported of by the professors
there.