Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-05-02

Caun, Jas Martin, j. c. Brownlee, Talbo
9. Coleman, NJ Wise, A. B. Stuart, Josepl
Wilson, FL. W. Henry, G. Francisco, Jas
Lyle, D. S. Bell, E. Schorn, VIM. Thomp
son, G. NJ. Et1inger.
BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
| A letter was received from Rev. r. Lewis
asking dismission to the Presbytery O
West Hanover, which was granted. To-da,
at II clock was fixed to hear the statemen
of those laboring in domestic mission fields
and the report of the committee on domestic
missions. Rev. B. NJ Hobson, of Ebene
ger Presbytery was invited to sit as cores
ponding member. An invitation was ac
copied to attend musical soiree after the
adjournment last night at the Augusta Fe
male Seminary, and the principal was thank
for the invitation.
DISSOLUTION OF PASTORAL RELATIONS.
A letter was received from Rev. Samue
j. Baird, Of Waynesboro, asking the disso-
luton Of his pastoral relations with the
church there and also the resolutions of the
session reluctantly accepting his resignation.
The dissolution was granted, and Rev. W.
I. Richardson was directed to preach there
at his earliest convenience
REJECTION OF THE NEW BOOK OF DISCIPLINE.
Rev. J. r. Bowman offered resolution
declining to adopt the revision Of the book
Of discipline, sent down by the General AS
sembly for approval by the Presbyteries, and
requesting the Assembly to discharge it's COM
mittee on Revision. He said the Assembly
had at a former meeting appointed COM
mittee to revise the discipline of the church,
and their report was now before the Presby-
teries in the shape Of new book Of discipline
which contained many radical changes.
There was no hurry for the adoption of this
report even if the Presbytery regarded it IA
vorably The church is right now, and will
remain SO. He feared change in discipline
might lead to change in church govern
ment, and if anything like that was intend
ed, he would rather the movers would 90
straight at it and not in roundabout way
Rev. S. W. Watkins seconded the resolu-
ton, He was not satisfied about the inten-
ton Of these changes He remembered once
that it was thought very important to get
out new copy of hymns aud when it came
out, Lthe only change from the old, was
three words in the hymn elbow firm a foun-
dation.'' He decidedly objected to one of
the new provisions, putting the session for
ward between the accuser and the accused,
and thereby weakening the personal respon-
sibility Of the former.
Rev. I. W. K. Handy offered an amend
ment to Mr.. Bowman's resolution, which
was accepted, requesting the General Assem-
bly, to preserve in its archives, the papers
and information used by their committee in
getting up the revision He thought this
question Of the change would have to be met
hereafter and in the right way-that is, by a
general convention Of the ministers and ell
ders, and the information would be valuable
then. The result of the deliberations of the
body could be sent down to the Presbyteries
for their approval
Rev. W. D. Price thought the
new book of discipline was only neces-
sary if the church was getting worse,
but he thought it was getting better every
year, and there was no necessity for it, and
he should support the resolution. The res
olutions were adopted with but one dissent
ing vote
CAUSE OF EDUCATION
Rev. Mr. Pratt, of the committee on cd
ucation, reported that, in the last three
years, the number Of candidates under the
special charge Of this Presby terry had steadi-
lg declined. until now it had only one
Mr.. Isaac NJ. Campbell, at Washington and
Lee Univerity. At Union Theological
Seminary there were Messrs. Frank W.
Lewis, R. H. Fleming Jno Piukerton,
Frank McCutchen, A. T. Laird, A. S.
Moffet, in whom the Presbytery took
special interest, all of whom were
we'll reported of by the professors
there, as was Mr.. Campbell By the profes.
sors at Washington and Lee University.
REPORTS OF TEMPORARY SUPPLIES
The ministers who had been appointed to
preach at places wanting ministerial supply
reported that they had filed the appoint
ments One reported that he had preached
to nearly two hundred convicts, who were
at work on the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
rail, and we're confined in stockades. He
found them attentive and respectful. They
had some score of singers, who sung by
note, and the choral service was we'll con-
Quoted
TOUCHING SCENE.
During the proceedings, Rev. Samuel
Brown, the venerable pastor of New Mon
mouth Church, came slowly forward to near
the Moderator's seat. He said that he had
entered Lexington Presbytery Al years ago,
and that to day there were only two, besides
himself still living, who were members of
itwhen his license was granted, one ofthem be-
ing Rev. Mr.. Calhoun. He said be had always
intended to work on until be was three score
and ten, but God S ways ale not our ways y
and he found, when two or three years short
Of that mark, from i'll health and bodily in.
formity, which his advanced age precluded
the idea Of overcoming. that be should have
OF resign his pastorship, and retire from the
work, in justice to his congregation. He
had resigned, that they might secure some
younger man to do the duties He was
obliged, from his great age, to seek rest,
and there was no hope of his recovering
strength The bowed form of the aged
minister. his plaintive, but accomplishing
voice, as ia steady, low tones, he communi-
Gated his last message to the Presbytery,
and the solemnity Of a final closing of
long and useful ministerial life, made
deep impression on the audience, and many
of them wept. After some appropriate
comments ON this last scene of the old Sol.