Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-05-09

cudgel in defence of the theological writer
in the Review who he said, was misun-
derstood and resting under an injurious i'm
putation, and that he was Talvinist of the
strlctest blue. The vote being then taken
on the book resulted in its adoption by
vote of 40 to 7, only two elders voting
against it.
DIVISION OF THE SYNOD.
The question of the division Of Synod
was then called up out of order. Mr.. Rich
ardson said, if the plan was carried out
then he would indeed be cut off from his
old associates of Lexington Presbytery.
He opposed it atrongly. Rev. VIM. E.
Baker said that Presbytery was in much
danger of being divided by Synod and the
best way to stop it was for them to divide
Synod. After some further discussion by DR.
Junkin, Mr.. Fletcher and others tho vote
was taken and stood % for and 10 against
division. The vote whether the division
should be two-fold or three-fold was 81 to
s, in favor of the two-fold division. The
line indicated leaves Greenbrier, Le1ing-
ton, Winchester, Chesapeake, Maryland
Sac Paulo Presbyteries in one synod, and
East Hanover, West Hanover, Montgom-
cry, Abingdon and Roanoke IN the other.
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
The subject OF Sabbath Schools coming
up, Rev. G. s. NJ. See, the chairman OF the
committee, read report recommending
"that Pfesbytery commend to pastors and
elders and people under its care, to have
such conferences on the subject OF Sunday
schools a. may eliminate errors aud defects
both in aim aud method and may intro
duce whatever is wise and useful, and in
each special case practicable, by way OF
improvement"
In support of the resolutions and his
own views in the Sunday school work MIR.
See made An earnest and lengthy address.
BY such conferences a. he advocA ted could
alone the questions OF interest Ill Sabbath
schools 10 settled. Presbyterita could not
| settle them. He had found such confer.
ences in Highland, where they had four Of
them, very instructive and interesting and
they had given new interest and meth
| cd to the work. He objected to much
speaking in the schools and pronounced
| Sabbath school takers as q general thing
| to be nuisances. Pastors should take
special interest in tho work ana always if
possible be with the school. Ii they kept
aloof from them the children would come
! TO regard the Sabbath school az their
church. He noticed in Baltimore, the
children went home by hundreds after the
school. That was all they had Of service
that day. Rather than this idea should
prevail he would wipe Sabbath schools out
of existence. The Sabbath school was an
arm of the church and not separate
body.
Elder Charles Grattan expressed his in
tersst in the subject, which had grown the
longer he had been associated with Sab
bath Schools He discussed the best
methods of Interesting the children in the
work, criticised many Of the books circu-
lated, and thought judicious Sabbath
School talker was desirable. The lessons
must be made interesting in order to at
tract children to their schools.
Rev. Mr.. Flemming, of Winchester
Presbytery, being invited. delivered an in
teresting address on the subject. The
church, he said, was just beginning to
wake up to the Importance Of the work.
The Presbyterian Church could not fulfil
it's mission unless it worked among the
children. The obligation was upon US to
| gather in the baptized children, and then
all others that could be gotten. If We did
any good in our day we must build foun.
dalton broad and deep in the Sabbath
School.
| Rev. Mr.. Watkins did not regard the
Sabbath School as in any way substitute
for parental instruction. Referring to the
| difficulties about suitable books. he re
commended those published by the Board
of Publication. He was entirely willing to
trust to their judgement, and had never
known an Objectionable book to be issued
by it. The report of the committee was
then adopted unanimously.
THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
reported, recommending that 500 be ap-
propriated towards aiding Mr.. w. Z.
Flemming in the prosecution of his theo-
logical studies. Adopted.
THE COMMITTEE ON RECIPROCAL DUTIES
reported that q churches had paid their
pastors salaries in full, and 10 had not
paid in full, but the deficiency in the ag
gregate was small. Elder J. I. L. Pres
ton moved that the stated clerk be direct
cd to write to the sessions of such
churches that are deficient as much as SO,
and urge them to make it up az soon a.
possible. Adopted.
INSTALLATION.
The calls to the churches Of Beverly,
Tygart's Valley and Aingo Flats were
placed in the hands of Rev. Plumer
Bryan and he signiied his acceptance Of
the Same. The following arrangements
were then made for his installation by
presbytery, on June 9Th, at Beverly, West
Va. Beverly church, DR.. Stricken was
appointed rs pastor to preside and propose
the constitutional questions, DR.. Junkin,
alternate; Rev. ". S. Plumer. d. D.,
was requested to preach the sermon, Or.
Strickler. alternate; Rev. J. W. Rosebro,
to charge tho people; Rev. G. W. Humph-
reys, alternate; Rev. S. McCune, to de-
liver the charge to the pastor, Rev. P.
Fletcher, alternate.
The installation services at Tygarts Val
ley church were set for June 18th. DR..
Stricken to preside, preach and prepare
the constitutional questions; DR.. Junkin
to deliver the charge to the people and
Rev. J. W. Rosebro to the pastor. That
Mingo Flats church should be required to
send commission to Tygarts Valley on
June the 18th, to representtheir church in
the installation services.
MEMORIAL