The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-08-13
NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES,

OH Cunudy morning, auSusV ~ 10" ANoN' '7'
P. Smith, pastor of this church, delivered very
interesting and instructive decade sermon" com
memorative of the tenth anniversary of his pas
torate His text was from Samuel VII: II He
gave succinct narration of the origin of the
church organization in 1908, under Rev. DIR.
Samuel B. Wilson afterwards Professor of The
ologv in Union Seminary whose pastorate COW
cred period of thirty -fveyears. Then followed
in succession. Geo. w. McPhail, A. A. Hodge
(now the successor of his distinguished father
DR.. Charles Hodge, in Princeton Seminary and
Thomas Walker Gilmer. Mr.. Smith became the
pastor in 1869. During the ten years of his resi-
dence, singular vicissitudes had been experienced
and MANY officers and members had been re-
moved by death This period had been one Of
great financial trouble and depression through
out our land, in which ouI-old and battle-scarred
city had borne her full share. Nevertheless our
church has been upheld by her Divine Master in
a matter calling for constant gratitude. Her
money obligations have been met so punctually
that no debt now rests upon her. The church
property has been well preserved, and lately
much improved. The Sunday School has pros
pered, and has never been=in better condition
than now During the ten years, the congrega-
ton have given for pastoral support and general
church purposes about $4,000, and for benevo-
lent causes about $1,000. AT the beginning Of
this decade there were on the roll l3O members.
During it, 80 have been received on certificate
and 134 on profession of their faith So that af-
ter deducting all lost by removal or death, the
membership is still larger than ever before Sew
eral seasons Of special religious service have been
observed, during which the Word has been
preached with fervor and power to large congre-
cations by Drs Stuart Robinson, Lefevre, Hoge
Armstrong, Murkland, Rev. Messrs. Dinwiddie
Campbell, and other ministers, the fruits of whose
labors have been visibly manifested The pecu-
liar and somewhat heterogeneous character Of
the congregation has made the pastoral labor and
visiting greater than world otherwise have been
necessary. On the whole, from the close of this
decade, we have come to look backward with
gratitude and forward with hope.
LocH Notwithstanding services were
held in this church Sabbath August Sd, Rev
DR.. E. D. Junkin assisted the pastor, Rev. A. S.
Moffett 1t was refreshing season to the
church. and there were seven additions to the
membership
On the same Sabbath, Rev DR.. B. NJ. Smith,
of Union Theological Seminary, assisted Rev. J..
w Rosebro at Messy Geek church; and Rev.
DR.. F. P. Mullally, of Lexington, assisted Rev.
F. H. Gaines at Hebron, There were five addi-
tons to the churck by cohesion, and the con
gregaton one Of the lS27ept ever assembled at
that church.
At meeting of the Sesss nand Deacons of the
Presbyterian church in Iewisburg, w. Va, on
the 3rd inst, they determined to retain the ser
vices of the Rev VIM. !. Wilhelm for twelve
months This will be acceptable to the people
of Lewisburg as well as the other communities
where he has been preaching so acceptably for
the past few months as the assistant Of Rev. NJ.
L. Lacy.
For the first time, the people of Due West had
the pleasure, last Saturday of seeing the vener-
able DR.. Adger, of Pendleton, in their midst
Many of us have known the Doctor for many
years, but somehow he has not been in our town
At the request of Rev. W. T. Pearson, pastor Of
a Presbyterian church. few miles in the cOun-
try, DR.. Adger was assisting him at a meeting
and he spent his nights in town. 1t was pleas
ant to see one who has so long been prominent
in the Church-who spent thirteen years in
Greece as foreign missieaary-who was for a
long while Professor in the Theological Semi
nary at Columbia-and who has made for him
self name that is SO Justly honored, not only III
the Presbyterian Church, but among all Chris
tians in the land-we say, it was pleasure to
see such man in our town. 1t was especially
pleasant to see him in the pulpit, and to hear
him preach, as he did Sabbath night, in our vii
lage church. eformed Presbyterian.
The First Presbyterian church of n Orleans
Rev. DR.. Palmer, pastor, has organized a church
among the colored people. J.
Calvary Presbyterian church, San Francisco
was formed by Dr. W. A. Scott in 1854. 1t OBJ
served its twenty fifth anniversary on the 23d OF
July. Fifteen persons have lately been added
to the church
A missionary of the Presbyterian Church in
Kansas reports that he went in search Of a va
cant field of labor" and found one that was quite
sufficiently vacant: no farms opened-no towns
Only on pdper-no minister-no churches-nC
people, Tor very few YETI but plenty to come
this fall and next spring. But he staid, and will
meet the incoming ~sITsiigsFatTcn, and probably
will preach in sod school-house' which the
people will put up. He deserves to succeed.
new Presbyterian church was dedicated al
Otoe, Nebraska, on Sunday, July goth. 1t is
well situated, where there is likely to be growth
as the country is filling up rapidly. The church
is paid for.
CREsToY.-Another Dedieation-A Work O.
Faith-We have Just dedicateS-another church
the tenth in Nebraska since last October; this
time at Creston country church organized 8
year ago last February, with eleven members
all new settlers Just starting in on Western
homesteads. But though poor in the things O
this world, these eleven Presbyterians are "ricl
in faith, and feeling the necessity of a churcf
home, they were constrained to arise and build
Rev. G. W Musgrave, D D., President of the
Presbyterian Alliance and Presbyterian Hospi
tal Philadelphia, who has already presented
Musgrave Chapel of the First church Bethlehem
Pa, with nearly $4,000 in money, has purchased
and presented to the church two lots adjoining
their chapel valued at 81 400.
CAsTILE.-At thela communion when eight
united with the church, practical application
was made Of the deliverance Of the General AS
sembly upon the question Of Romish Baptism
of the six who united by profession Of theil
faith, two We're young ladies' one had been bap
tized in the Episcopal Church I 1 the other il
the ROmiSh CLur.h But a. q hpf these excel