Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-05-14
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contributed for benevolent purposes, S275.2s.
INSTALLATION.
Rev. A. S. Moffett, Rev. James Murray. an,
Rev. G. B. Strickler were appointed to conduc
the installation services of Rev. F. H. Gaines
as Pastor of Hebron church, on the second Sat
urday in August.
| NEXT PLACE OF MEETING.
The next session of the Presbytery will b
held at Collierstown on the 2lst day of August
TRIAL SERMON.
| AT IL o'clock Mr. John A. Preston, of Lexing
ton, preached his trial sermon before crowded
house. 1t was very highly spoken of by all
and greatly commended by the ministers il
their remarks upon it, praising 1t for its fresh
ness, originality, distinctness of thought, ant
directness of expression. 1t was passed as {
satisfactory part of his trial.
| COLPORTAGE.
The standing committee on coportage was
directed to inquire into the expediency of UNI
dertaking the work of colportage. within the
bounds of this Presbytery.
BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER.
The greater part Of the day was taken up in
discussing the Book of Church Order, sem
down by the General Assembly to the Presby
teres for their adoption or rejection. On sew
eral parts of the Book the Presbyteries are di
rected to take a separate and distinct vote
The article in the Form of Government (ch
v, sec. iv, art. iD providing that ministers moi
engaged in an authorized ministerial calling
under the authority of the Presbytery, unless
| they are excused by the Presbytery on account
of age or other infirmity, may deliberate in its
proceedings, but not vote, was adopted.
| That Och. v, sec. iv, art. W requiring that
ministers seeking admission to a Presbytery
shall be examined on experimental religion
and also touching their views on theology and
church government, was rejected. This was
afterwards reconsidered and adopted.
The section (ch. v, sec. viD on ecclesiastical
| commissions was adopted.
OF the three forms (ch vi, sec. ill., art. iv) sub
m1tted to Presbytery concerning the election
OF officers of the church, after long and earn
est discussion, was adopted, which provides
that all communicating members Of the church,
In good and regular standing, but n o others, are
entitled to vote in the election of Pastors Ruling
Elders and Deacons.
OF the two definitions of offence given in the
Book of Discipline, (ch. iii, art. i,) the first
after much discussion, was adopted by a
vote of Al to 2. 1t says that an offence, the
proper object of judicial process, is anything in
| the principles or practice of church member
protesting faith in Christ, which is contrary to
| the word Of God.
The other definition says an offence Is any
thing in the principles or practice OF a church
member which is contrary to the word of God,
or which, if it be not in it's own nature sinful,
| may tempt others to sin, or mar the ir spiritual
| edification.
The article (ch. viii art Ky concerning the
discipline of ministers, who habitually fail to
no i,,t
fetal functions, and that ch. xii, art. y provid-
ing for a trial without the usual process, when
the party makes his offence known to the
court, were unanimously adopted.
The article (ch, xii, art. liz concerning the
treatment Of members who confess an unre-
generate heart was adopted by vote OF A to
| That (ch. xii, art. iii concerning the DISPOSE
ton OF a minister, who is fully satisfied in his
own mind that God has not called him to the
ministry, was unanimously adopted.
| After considerable general discussion, the
Book of Order, as above modified, was adopted
as whole by vote Of 80 to 8.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
On motion, Rev. w. T. Richardson and Rev.
j. w. Rosebro, together with the stated clerk,
were appointed a committee to review and re-
arrange the standing committees and report at
the next meeting of the Presbytery.
STATISTICAL REPORT.
| The chairman on the statistics of the church
reported that the Lexington Presbytery con-
sists of Il ministers, and has under its care as
churches, licentiates, and 5 candidates. The
number of elders is 1876, deacons, $50; added on
examination 2l0 added on certificate, 100; to-
tai of communicates, 1922; baptized adults, TO-
infants, $50; number of baptized non-commu-
nieants, 200; children in Sabbath schools and
Bible classes, 3l25.
| FUNDS COLLECTED.
| Sustentation, $500; Evanselstic Fund, 500:
Invalid Fund, $500; Foreign Missions, $3.50;
Education, POO; Publication, $3.50; Presby-
terial, 500; Pastors salaries actually paid,
| $4,000; congregational, $3.50; miscellaneous,
$50.
AMENDMENT TO BOOK OF ORDER.
| Rev. c. S. NJ. See moved an amendmant to
| the clause in reference to trial by commission
CHAP v, sec. vii, art. ii to strike out the words
| with the consent of the parties," SO that it
| shall read, 1.-THE synod and General Assembly
may commit any case of trial coming before
| them on appeal to the judgment of a commits
sion,' sc. Adopted.
| REVISION.
| The Presbytery, by resolution, requested the
General Assembly in case they do not adopt
the present Book of Church Order, to continue
| the revision and send down the revision to the
Presbyteries.
| A motion to send down the revision to the
sessions was defeated.
| DR.. Bowman offered the following
RESOLUTION
| Resolued. That the Presbytery of Lexing-
| ton, having voted to adopt the Book of Order as
far as it has been presented to their cOnsidera-
| ton, do now overture the General Assembly
to complete the Book by appointing commit
| tee to revise the Directory of Worship.
| DIR. Bowman, in support Of his resolution
thought it was advisable that there should be a
form for baptism, marriage, funerals, and COM
munion, so that there should not be such a di-
versity in the administration of these offices as
now exists. After considerable discussion, par
ticipated in by DR.. Bowman, Col. Preston, Dr.
Kirkpatrick and Rev. r. P. Fletcher, the reso-
luton was adopted.
FOURTH DAY.
The records Of Bethel, Collierstown, New
Providence, and Mingo Flats, were approved as
| far as written.
| RECIPROCAL DUTIES.
The report on Reciprocal Duties stated that
nearly all the churches, under charge of Pres
| bytery, are supplied with ministers, and the
| relations between pastors and churches are
| pleasant The Pastors and stated supplies,
| without single exception, are represented, by
| the reports of the church sessions, as having
been diligently, ithfully, and most acceptably
devoted to their work in their respective con-
!, gregaticns, during the year.
In a majority CO ..ses the ministers also re-
port that the churches have fully discharged
their pecuniary obligatio MS to them.
The following churches have paid the salary
in full: Bethel Messy Creek, Mt. Carmel, Lex
ington, Mcdowell, New Monmouth, Rehobeth,
Staunton First church, Stony River, Loeb Will
low, Tinker Hidge, Thinking Spring, Beverley,
Waynesboro', Warm Splilgs, Windy Cove,
Leading reek, Holly Meadows, and Phillippi
Kerrs Greek has overpaid the salary prom
ised.
| The following churches have not paid up in
full and are reported delinquent in sums rang
ing from five TO two hundred dollars: Rock
Spring, Broadway, Bethesda. Lebanon, Massa-
nutten, Williamsvile New Providence Harri-
sonburg, Greenwood, Cooks Creek, Mountain
Grove, Tygart's Valley, Mingo Flats, and Pts
gah.
| PETITION FROM MT. PISGAH.
The pQrtion Of the congregation of Mt. Pts
l,1l~,,~ al