The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-07
NEWS FROM THE CHURCHES
Southern Presbyterian.
Looh Willow Church, Lexington Pres


bytery.-An interesting and profitable meet
ing has been recently held in this church. Rev.
c. L. Hogue preached acceptably each night for
week. There was manifest interest in the
congregation, but the continued rain arrested
the progress Of the meeting. The pastor, Rev.
A. s. Moffett, preached on Friday and Saturday
preceding the communion on Sabbath, 29th ult.
There were fourteen additions to the church,
five by certificate and nine by profession OF
faith. OF the latter four were baptized, and
five were members Of the Bible classes of the
Sabbath School. The membership of this church
is now lis, of whom 30 have been added dur
ing this year.
Bethel Church, Lexington Presbytery.
From correspondent we learn that during the
ecclesiastical year just ended, twenty-seven per-
sons were added to this church by examination
and FIVE by certificate. He says, The congre-
CATION is in more prosperous condition than it
has been for many years. 1t owes only small
debt of $50 or $60 which will be paid before the
report is made to Presbytery this month. Only
twice in over fifty years has the church been
delinquent-and then only in small sum-in
reporting to Presbytery the payment of the pas
tors salary in full The church is 1O3 years
old, was organized in 1777, when the first pas
tor, Rev. Archibald Scott, commenced his la
bors. The late Rev. DIR. F. Mcfarland was
pastor for 'fortytwo years-frst for twelve
years, beginning in 1928, and then after five
years service as Secretary of the Board of Edu-
cation, returning to his congregation and con-
tinuing till his death. For the first twelve years
of his ministry there was an average increase of
forty members per year to the church Two
other churches, Shemeriah and Mt. Carmel, have
been formed in large measure from Bethel
The church now has 211 members, and is pros
pering in eeery way under the pastorate of the
present minister Rev. James Murray"
Halifax, Va.-There is only one Presbyte-
rian pastor in Halifax county-Rev. ] H.
Davis having Spring Hill, South Boston, and
Mount Carmel churches under his care His
churches constantly congratulate themselves at
the kind Providence which favOrs them with a
preacher thoroughly earnest and conscientious.
and daily exemplifying his precepts by his life.
South Boston church is a new one but rapidly
increasing IN members. 1t has a large and in
terestlng Sunday School. The village from
which the church is named, is becoming con
splcuous for its tobacco trade and the number of
its new buildings Mount Carmel is in the midst
OF Methodist and Baptist community, and has
few members. Spring Hill has some age the
membership increasing regularly as the children
of the Sunday School become of proper age.
During the Seminary vacation the minister
hopes to be assisted at some needy places by one
OF the students, member of this church, r.
Samuel Wilson, grandson of old DIR. o. Wilson.
Colportage in Lexington Presbytery.
MIR. Frank W. Pitman, student of Union The
illogical Seminary, has been engaged as colpor-
teur by the Committee of Publication in Licking
ton Presbytery, and will enter upon his work
Immediately after the close of the session.
Raleigh, N. C.-During the past two or
three months at Peace Institute, Raleigh series
OF meetings has been held, with the gracious re-
suits recorded below with other facts in the let
ter of an esteemed correspondent:
Mr.. Editor,--Last Sabbath the Sacrament Of
our Lords Supper was celebrated in the First
Presbyterian church of this city. It was a sea-
son of unusual interest Rev. ]. S. Watkins
the beloved pastor of this church, preached a
sermon ofgreat power from the words But God
forbid that I.should glory save in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ" Gal. vi: ID.
There were twelve persons to come forward
and connect themselves with the church-eigbt
by profession of faith in Christ and four by Ger
tihcate. Rev. Mr.. Watkins has been blessed in
the providence of God in very remarkable de.
gree since he was installed pastor of this church
which was about eighteen months ago. Since
that time we have had accessions to our church
on every communion occasion, making in all
seventy who have joined this church under his
ministry. Recently a most glorious work of
grace has been in progress at Peace Institute
which has so far resulted in the hopeful conver.
sion OF twelve of the young ladies Of this school
This church is now free from debt. Tt gave Iast
year $3.50 to Foreign Missions, $3.50 to the vii
son church, and has now already subscribed 80
900 for contemplated imProvements.-W.. in NJ
O. Presbyterian.
Presbyterianism in Texas.-We take the
following from a letter Of Rev. S. F. Tennev in
the South-Western PfesJyterian.
The first Presbyterian vine planted in Texas
was at San Augustine, in 1888, by Rev. Hugh
Wilson. This church was constituted at first
mostly by Presbyterans from Tennessee. includ.
ing large family of the Folks (related to James
K. Polk,) and their relatives. Several Of the
members still survive, among them the widow Of