The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-30
IReportcd for the Dispatch-1
Lexington PreSbytery.
FIRST DAY.

Thi. body convened to-day (April 22) at
New Providence church, and WAS opened
with sermon by the moderator, Rev.J. Ii.
II, Winfrce, from the text Jeremiah s. -.
After sermon the Pre>hytery was con>sl.
tuted With prayer By the retiring moderator.
The roll was called, when twenty ministers
and twenty ruling elders answered 10 theiT
names. Rev. {. S. NJ. Lee was chosen mo-
derator for the present sessions and Messrs.
Price and Jones were elected clerks.
Tie stated clerk announced the death OF
Rev. William S. White, d. d., since the last
meeting Of PreSb!tery.
The minutes Of preceding meetings were
read.
Rev. G. II. Denney was excused for ab-
sence from the present meeting OF Ires0s-
terry. Rev. DR.. kirkpatrIck ana Kew. no.
bert Scott were also excused.
Mr.. Daniel Wilson, q candidate under. the
care of West Hanover, was received from
that Presbytery on certificate OF dismiSSion.
Rev. a. II. McCorkle, of the Prcsbytery G.
South Alabama, was invited to sit as q cor
responding member.
Calls from Greenwood and Mountain
Grove churches for the pastoral services of
A. F. Laird were presented and placed in his
hands-which calls were accepted. and M
The Committee of Domestic Missions were
ordered to call on the committee at Ceum-
bia for an appropriation amounting to one
hundred and fifty dollars TO aid said churches.
Rep.'W IT, Price and A. Jones, with e.
der Hickman. were appointed to make az
arrangements for the installation Of MIR. Laird.
The treasurer made his report, which was
referred to the usual committee. William
WithroW and James w. Gilkeson were ap-
pointed said committee.
Communication from DR.. Ruffuer was
read, asking leave to demit bis Office as min
lister, owing to his health, and the necessity
of devotng himself TO secular pursuits.
A committee was appointed, consisting Of
Revs. DR.. Handy, Ewing, Bowman, and FL
der Colonel Preston, TO whom this commit
nication was referred, and that this commit
Tee report tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock.
A call from Waynesboro' church for the pas.
toral services Of Mr.. Frank McCutchen was
presented and placed in his hands. This
call vas accepted, and a committee appointed
10 arrange for the ordination and installa
ton.
Presbytery adjourned till tomorrow morn
ing ut 8 O'clock. Closed in usual form.
SECOND. DAY.
The Presbytery met and was opened with
prayer. Roll called, minutes OF yesterday
read and approved.
Rev. Samuel Brown appeared and was en-
rolled.
Elder Hall, of Colliertown, appeared am
VAS enrolled.
The committee to organize church u
Rehoboth reported.
1t was made the order Of tie day to hea
the trial sermon Of Mr.. .Dauiel Wilson.
The committee TO make arrangements 70
the ordination and installation ct Mr. Lairt
made report: the time, May I5th; officiatin
ministers, ReYs. Samuel Brown and WIN
free.
Moderator announced standing commit
S3lade order Of the day Immediately afte
recess to call for seasonal records, Eeeiproca
reports, &c.
Report of the faculty of Union Seminar,
on the standing OF our candidates YVES read
The committee to which the c0mme mic /
ton of DR.. Rutfner was referred, made q re.
port, which was adopted with but one dis
senting voice, and is rs follows:
Whereas. Rev. William u. Ruffner, in a
truly christian spirit. on account Of physical
disqual fcation, has, by letter addressed Il
thls Presbytery, requested to be relieyeaso
0is ministerial office; and whereas this cor
nition Of his health is OF such Il character ant
OF such long continuance as to permit no ex
pectation that be will ever be able again II
engage III the work Of the ministry; there
fore
Resotred, That we take great pleasure in
GEARING our testimony to his high moral and
Cniistan character and in * pressing our uu.
UNFINISHED confidence in him.
2. That in view of ail the circumstances y,
DIS case, we do hereby diyest him of the
sacred Office of the ministry, and do with
draw FROM hin all authority to preach the
gospel aud to administer the sscraments. and
do release him from ali bis ordination en-.
gagements.
y. That we assign him at bis ow., request
to membership 10 the church of Lexington.
to whose care and Christian confidence We
most affecionately recommend him. within
whose bounds and elsewhere, as the proyi.
dence OF God may direct, We trust that he
may lind abundant opportunities to advance
The cause OF Christ, though no longer an
authorized minister OF the gospel.
Mr. Wilson preached bis trial sermon.
which was unanimously sustained as salts
factory part of trial.
Rev. Mr.. Penick and Elder Gilmore ap-
peared, were excused for hardness, and on
rolled.
The regular reports from sessions on min |
lsterial labor and reciprocal duties were
read, aud such as. are usually referred to |
received that destination.
A call from New Monmouth was present.
ID for the ministerial services of Rev, Mr..
'enick; which was placed in bis hands and
ccepted by him. "A committee aas M
0Iated ~ arrange for TIE installation.