Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-07-04

tors. Only first class pastors could call
out all the activities of the church and
would be likely to receive the full support
which the pastoral Office demands.
Rev. B. S. Jones, (colored) Of Waynes-
boro, Va, followed in a very creditable
address setting forth the high obligations
and arduous duties of pastor and the
consequent obligation Of the Church to
support him by their prayers, sympathies,
cooperation and contributions.
Rev. T. 7. Jackson (col.) Of Lexington,
Va. said there can be only two classes of
pastors, the faithful and the unfaithful.
The duty of the church to the unfaithful
pastor is to get rid of him as soon as pos
sible. The faithful pastor should be hear
tily saskatchewan by the ''Deacon
Board.;'
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Friday morning the meeting assembled
at Ebenezer church, and the discussion of
the first subject, 'Relation of the pastor
to the church, was opened by Rev. 6. B.
Howard (col.), Of Harrisonburg. His de-
livery was very good and his points well
set forth. Rev. J. II. Taylor, of Laurel
Hill, Augusta, followed, and the discus
sion was closed by Rev. DR.. Sears, who
gave his auditors plain advice, delivered
with characteristic originality.
| During the morning session Rev. w.
| S. Perry, of Bridgewater, thinking pos
sibly his remarks of the night before as to
the grades OF ministers had been missap-
pretended, stated his position more fully
to be, that while there might be grades of
usefulness, every minister of Christ was
one in Christ.
Rev. T. T.. Jackson (col.) said he was
| glad of the explanation, as some of ''our
people, who you know are rather sehsi-
tive,'' had mistaken Mr.. Perry's position.
He fully recognized that there were grades
| of ministers in usefulness; in fact some
might be called lazy ministers (laughter).
Rev. R. H. Porter (col)-Don't say lazy
brother Jackson why not say tired :?
Qaughter.)
The next subject discussed was ''Qdali-
fications and duties of deacons," and it
was taken up at the afternoon session
which was opened with bible reading by
Rev. S. P. Huff, of Albemarle, and pray
er by Rev. B. S. Jones (col.) of Waynes-
borO, in which he thanked God for the
spirit that had made these meetings posi-
BILE. The speakers appointed were Rev. c..
H. Payne, (col.,) and Rev. T. 7. Jackson,
(col..) the latter in place of Rev. MIR.
Whitescarver, who was absent. Mr.. Payne
viewed the office of deacon as wholly secu-
lar and not clerical.
Rev. B. A. Franklin, (col.,) commended
that deacon's qualifications should be
those of a Christian, a gentleman and a
business man and no man should have the
Office who sought for it. He opposed the
idea that men should be made deacons on
trial. 1t would not be hard for man on
trial for the deaconship to hide his real
character until he had secured the place
DR.. Charles Manly gave clear idea of
the light in which the Baptist church re-
CARDS the Office of deacon and the sort of
man to fill it. They were not to be put on
trial for fitness for the Office, but their fit
ness should be judged from the character
they had already established.
Rev. Mr.. Jones, (col.) called for an ex-
PLANTATION of the passage ''a deacon shall
be the husband of one wife,
DIR. Manly was going on to explain that
it grew out of the crude condition of the
membership of the church of early days
when he was called away by message tc
attend the bedside of dying person.
Rev. S. P. Huff congratulated the col
ored ministers present upon the great
progress they had made, and the manner
, it had been evinced in this meeting. HI
then related some incidents of the conflicts
which sometimes arose between deacon,
and ministers through mistaken notions
of authority, and gave an instance where
: the deacons of colored church tool
. twenty five converts into a room and lock
cd the pastor out refusing 10 let him SET
, them.
Rev. W. Simpson said he had deacons
in this church not yet ordained.
Rev. P. Swan thought any private mem.
Der of church in whom the congregation
had confidence, could officiate in handling
the elements of the sacrament as well as
one who was ordained.
Rev. e. B. Howard (col) thought dea.
cons ought to be ordained and could see
no authority for deacons pro tenn.
The Moderator thought that there was
, nothing by authority fixing the number oil
deacons.
Friday night the body spent short time
in devotional exercises and then proceeded
to discuss ''Scriptural church discipline d
The discussion was opened by Rev. R. H
Porter, (col.) Of this place, and hediscussed
two aspects of the subject; formation
church discipline and correction church
discipline. This paper showed close study
careful preparation and gave evidence of
his having been we'll trained in his recent
school life at Wasla Seminary, Wash
ington City. He was followed 10y DIR.
Chas. Manly. Several gu sstions were
asked by colored ministers aud were an
swered by Rev. S. 2. Huff and Rev. J. NJ.
Pitcher and the discussion was closed by
Rev. G. B. Howard, (col.) Of Harrison
burg.
SATURDAY,.
Saturday the SUI bject was "How to study
the bible," DR.. Sears and DR.. Manly
leading the debate. DR.. Sears gave some
admirable advice in general way as to the
method OF study. DR.. Manly entered more
into details. He advised the ministers to
have but one bible, wear that one out study
ing it, and then have it rebound. Having
the same book Was great aid in finding
passages in the book. Their locality be-
came familiar. DR.. M. showed small
bible which he had been using for twenty
three years and which he had had re-
bound. The margins of the pages we're