The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-12

BETHANY CHURCH, CHARLES CITY,l
October G, 1875.
Last eight Rev. J. NJ. Rose, of Portsmouth,
preached. .,
IA O'Clock, and spent the morning session in
cvomining iicenliate +. W. Lewis on the
u.n,l branche; Of udy with view to his
ordination. These examinations were qn'te
satisfactory. showing familiarity on the part
or the Young brother with view 10 his or
dination. His tria, sermon, preached ~ il
NJ. was also proof OF Weli'tra'neu mnu,
giving profisc Of great usefulness IN nls
ministry. His trials being completed Win
satisfaction 10 the PfeSbytery, order was
taken for his ordination to-morro" AZ IL.
The first order OF the day for the afternoon
vas the =: State of Religion in the Churches"
This subject being taken up, narratives were
read and oral statements were made from
Ashland. Fredericksburg, Grace.Street, Be
fhany, HARDWOOD, Manchester; First and Sc
cond churches, Norfolk Holmes, Nottoway.
O,iyct Second, Petersburg; Portsmouth;
Second and Third, Richmond; Samuel Di-
yies. and Tabb. Street. These report gave
quite an encouraging view of the churches OF
the Prcsbytery. Nearly all report gratifying
progress during the past year and good pros
pects for the future. A few special statements
will be Of interest to the readers OF the DIS
match : The two churches Of Petersburg.
Third church (Richmond), Nottoway,
Manchester, and Holmes, report seasons
of special religious interest and more
than the usual number OF addltions TO
the churches. The additions TO the &C.
cord church, Richmond, have been very
large. The Grace.Street church reports gooa
results in the spiritual state CT the cuu!c"
Of
held about the time of the spring mectlnS OF
Presbytcry. The Fredericksburg church
contempla,es similar meetings. The pros
nerous state of the two Petersburg churcnes
Is attributed in good measure to their har'
mopious cooperation in their protracted ser
vices. The Second church, Petersburg, mas
partially relieved itself o! heavy debt, ana Is
in a fair way to become entirely Tree from q
burden that they have long had TO Dear
Portsmouth church reports an increase IN
the liberality of its people.
Several of the churches reported that many
members babitually neglected public "or-
ship. This led to the appointment o, acorn
mittcc, consisting Of Rev. W'lism Brown,
DID,. and Rev. James p. Smith, to prepare
minute giving instruction TO the SESSIONS
as to discipline in such cases.
During the consideration Of this SUBJECT
the Rev. G, ID. Armstrong, d. d., Rev. II. NJ.
Anderson, and Mr.. X. Frank Vaughan, OF
Norfolk, appeared in Presbytery and gave
excuses for tardinc.s.
The second order Of the day-tbe su1Dccs
Of Domestic MlssionS-waS taken up, ana &C.
cun;ed the last hour OF to.day'S session.
The Rev. William N. Scott preached at
night.
THIRD DAY-oCToBER 7.
Rev. Mr.. Woods. of the committee ap
nointed to re0rganzo the church at vii.
IIamshurg, reported that he had organized
chnrch of fifteen COMMITMENTS and two
RIDING elders. The city Of Williamsburg has
g,yen the congregation lot on which to
cree, Il church members Of the congrcga.
ton ard friends OF the cause have given most
OF the material necessary for the building !;
AID part Of the money needed for its cree
lion naS been subscribed. About six hun.
dred dollars are yet needed; aud the little
congregation at this old capitol of the State
must appeal for aid to friends elsewhere.
was
R.soived. That in the opinion OF the Pres
bytcry the speedy completion of the churcG
in the city of Williamsburg is matter OF
peculiar importance. The proper evapee!i
Zetion OF this peninsula seems To depend
upon occupying at once this objective poAt,
and PrcSbytery THEREFOR recommends that
church to the liberal consideration Of the
public and of the Sustcntation Committee.
The committee to organize church At
Suffolk reported through the chairman,
Rev. Mr. Rose, that they had Effected par
tial organization, aud asked to be continued
in order to perfect the organization.
The missionary supplies, so far US present,
reported substantial compliance with the
order of PreSbylery
The Presbytcry took action on several
suhcc,s reported OH by the Committee on
Minutes of the General Assembly.
i. Enrolment Of baptized Non Communal
cd,tts. The sessions were instructed TO make
tie enrolment according to the directions
given by the Assembly on page ID Of the
Minutes. and report the exact number en-.
rolled in their report at the spring meeting.
.. Euangel,stic Labor. The carues. at
teutiou OF the churches is called 10 the large
districts within the bounds OF the Presby-
tery, embracing many entire COUNTIES, that
are not only entirely destitute Of Prcsbytc.
rian preaching, but also very largely Of
evangelical preaching; and men Of means
among Us are urged to consider whether
they cannot. Of their abundance, do some.
thing to relieve these great destitutlons.
8. ErangelizatiOn of The COl0red People.
subject at the last meeting, and had at an
adjourned meeting licensed two colored
preachers, it was not thought necessary now
10 tuke further action.
/. CONTINGENT and Commissioners Fund.
The Presbytery declined TO adopt the plan
for raising this fund, proposed by the As.
scmbly, and directed the treasurer 10 pay the
assessment of SO to the treasury OF the Gen.
eral Assembly.
5. Foreign Observation-Disclosures were
urged to organize women's and girls mis-
sionary societies, to conduct monthly con-
cert Tor prayer In behalf OF this, and
in every proper way TO enlist the Christian
sympathy and liberality Of every church.
member in sending the gospel 10 the heather.
6. Systematic Beneoolence.-T The sessions
Of the churches are instructed to present in
their spring narratives u statement as TO
whether any Of the six collections ordered
by the Assembly have been neglected, aud i
SO, the reasons therefor, the Pfesbytery to
pass upon the validity Of such reasons.
The death Of Licentiate John D. Puker,or
was announced to the Presbytery, and two
of his former classmates In the Seminary
j. c. Painter aud William N. Scott-wert
appointed committee to draft suitable
minute. This committee afterwards pre-
sented the following:
Res01oed, That it is with deep sorrow thai
Presbytery has heard Of the death Of oul
brother John D. Pinkertou, licentiate I'M
der the care OF this PIesbytery, who wa:
called to his reward on the = day of July
last.
2. That in his death we are called to
mourn one whose deep piety, constant dill.
gence, and full conservation to his work
gave promise Of abundant usefulness and sue.
cess.
3. That in the death of Brother Pinkerton