The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-19
A series of Historioal sketohes.

Synod Of VirginiG-Abingdon Presbvteru- Pr
tdskt County-Ls HistOry-Ls Churches.
Messrs. Editors,-The above caption will tell
you and your readers what it is the purpose of
these papers to accomplish. The plan is, to give
the present status of the churches in the Presbv
terry, so far as be done from notes taken at
the last meeting OF Presbytery, and then taking
them up county by county, give brief history
of each, commencing with the eastern and 60
ing westward, according to the order of histori
cal development. 1t is hoped that they may be
so reliable as to secure place on file, or in
scrap book, for future historical reference.
I. SYNOD OF VIRGINIA
From little book furnished us by that me-
thodical working man who failed so signallv at
least once in his life, that is at Staunton Va. in
1873, when he attempted to resign his position
as Stated Clerk; you will find these data 1886
Plan submitted for the division of the Synod of
New York and Philadelphia. 17SS-Plan
adopted and Synod of Virginia constituted, first
session \ New Providence, Va, Rev. VIM.
Graham, Moderator, no quorum Lexington Pres
bytery only present. 17S9-Met in Lexington.
Rev. John Todd, Moderator I7S9-1796-Rev
William Graham, Stated Clerk. 1SO2-Synod
of Virginia divided. Synods of Pittsburg and
Kentucky constituted. Synod of Virginia as
reconstructed, Lexington, Va, 1796-l8O2. Rev.
William Hill, D. D., Stated Clerk, was succeeded
by Samuel Houston, 1SO2-1SO9 In 1888 Svp
cd of Chesapeake was constituted, but dissolved
IN 1884. The New School Synod was consti
tuted in 1882 at Washington, D. c., which was
connected with the United Synod, 1858, at Ports.
mouth, Va. This latter was united with the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in
the Confederate States in 1864, and in the same
year, the New and Old School SYMBOLS of Vir-
ginia constituted the Synod of Virginia as it
now stands, at Lexington, Va, Rev c. H. Read,
d. D., Moderator, with Francis Mcfarland. D.
D.. Stated Clerk and L. H Blanton, assistant
Stated Clerk; succeeded by VIM Dinwiddie in
l86S-l87O, and ]. P. Smith in 1870
II, ABINGDON PREsBYrERY.
The Directory tells us that upon an overture
from the Presbytery of Montgomery, the Synod
In session at Norfolk, November 9th 1867 set
off the Presbytery of Abingdon with certain
boundary lines which were afterwards further
defined in session of Synod at Lynchburg, Octo
Der 10th, 1871. Standing at present as follows
Beginning at point on New River where the
dividing line between Fayette and Mercer coun-
ties touches said river; thence along the western
lines OF Mercer and Giles back to New River
thence up New River to the mouth of TittIa'
River; thence up Little River to the county line
OF Floyd; thence along the (west) county line of
Floyd to the top of the Blue Ridge thence
along the top of the Blue Ridge to the North
Carolina line thence along the North Carolina
and Tennessee lines west to the terminus of the
county lines between Scott and Lee: thence
along the western county lines of Scott and
Wise to the Kentucky line; thence along the
Kentucky line from the point where the BIG
Sandy crosses the kentucky line along the
north boundary of Mcdowell county to the Mer-
Ger county line"
The first report made to the General Assem-
bly, by Abingdon Presbytery, shows as follows.
Is ministers, licentiates % churches. LII
communicants $40 children in Sabbath Schools
and Bible classes. w. S. Lacy, Stated Clerk
The report sent to the General Assembly this
year Cl88O) shows; p ministers, 80 churches,
1895 communicates, 1861 persons in Sabbath
Schools and Bible classes, with Rev f. H. Bar
nett Stated Clerk
III. Pulaski County,
is on the eastern border, and with it we COM
mence our history of the churches of Abingdon
Presbytery, taking the facts from the Directory
of 1872
First, (6) stands New Dublin, organized prior
to 1913 Rev. Robert Gray, pastor, 1872.
Second ~ Diapers Valley, organized prior
70 1887. Known as Harmony church until
l848 Rev. 1. NJ Naf pastor.
Third, Q5) Bell Spring, August 18th 1874
Known first as White Gate church. Vacant
Q872)
Fourth, (22) Nowbern, April 25th. 1867
Known as Central church until April 9th.
1872. Rev. J. M. Kirkpatrick, pastor.
Fifth, ga Laurel Hill December 4tb 1870
Rev j. NJ. kirkpatrick, pastor
Sixth, (25) Dublin, not on the Directory or.
gained August 31st, 1873.
These churches are marked from two stand
points one in arabic, showing their order on the
roll OF Presbytery, the other to show their order
IN the county Of Pulaski, decided by date Of or
ganization
(ro BE CoETIEUEDO
What Women Can Do.
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