The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-01
For the. Central Presbyterian.
New River Convention of Elders and
Deacoua
CHRIsrrANsBURe. VA. AUG.

CHRIsrrANsBURe, VA, Aug. 81.
The. New River Convention of Elders and
Deacons has just closed its third annual meet.
ing here. This convention was organized two
years ago by the Elders in the churches in Pu.
laski and Giles 1t grew out of felt want Of
closer communion and sympathy among. this
class of church officers, and a desire to overtako
more fully the work of the church. They telt
that there was power for good locked up in
the church, and they were anxious to find some
way of utilizing this power. Hence their meet
ings for conference and inquiry as to their pow
ers and duties.
The plan adopted has been to appoint some
one, minister or elder or deacon to open the dis
cussion of some topic previously designated, and
then let the members of the convention express
their views and opinions In this way, the
many points and sides of subject are brought
under review and duties are brought home to
the head and heart of each member. The con.
sentative spirit of Scotch Irish people is
good safeguard against radical views and
measures, while the active conscience of this
class of men is not apt to let duty be neglected
when it is once clearly apprehended. All are
awake to the fact that the thoughts and feelings
In the heads and hearts of their great-grand.
fathers, are not innate, and must be acquired bv
investigation de moro by each generation of
men. The old must be re-studed by each sue
ceeding age
" The office and duties of Ruling Elder" was
ably presented in sermon by Pastor Preston of
the Blacksburg church. and fully discussed by
the convention. By the way ministers are
members of the convention because they are
elders This discussion was not very consolato
ry to the drones in the Eldership. When Elder
Hudson, of Dublin, developed the Relation of
the Elder to the Evangelistic work of the
Church" we found that the Bible and the bool,
OF Church Government gave us abundant ma.
chinery for work {" in the regions beyond" if we
would use it. Why should not Elders be sent
by twos and threes into destitute places to read
and expound the word?
Dr. Hall, of Lynchburg set forth the "Ofice
and Duties of Deacon" in a lucid and logical
address, after which the difficulties of Deacons
In the discharge of these duties were very fully
discussed. There seemed to be lurking suspi-
cion that these difficulties were due to the want
OF clear apprehension of the relations to pro.
perty sustained by the membership of the church
II the subjects of the King could realize that not
only they, but all that they possess belong to
Him, the tax gatherers for the kingdom would
realize little difficulty in raising means for the
prosecution of the work of the Master Here
lies the trouble. But there are inefficient Dea.
cons as well as unfaithful stewards, and both
are likely to disappear together
Pastor Naff, of Bell Spring, preached well on
the subject of Family Worship" and an inter-
esting discussion followed. For want of time,
Sunday Schools" received but little attention,
and was postponed for future discussion by E.
der Tyler. Worldly Amusements" was left
untouched. The next convention is to be held
at Wytheville year hence.
The brethren who have been here are stirred
up, and good fruit of the meeting may be ex-
pected. en-