The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-08
) VOL. 16---NO. 6.

churches. There were six ministers present
DR.. Smith, Of New Orleans, DR.. Raymond of
Marion, Ala, DR.. Bardwell of Meridian, Rev.
Messrs. Burkley, Moseey, and Colt of Mississip-
pi; all men of talent and ability, who worked
faithfully all through the meeting. I have
never listened to more faithful, pungent preach
ing, and God bless the labors of his servants
abundantly to the rejoicing and saving of many
souls.
Northern Presbyterian.
Rev. w. c. Matthews, D. D.-The Pres.
byterian Church has lost minister widely
known, highly respected and of most lovely
spirit in the death of Rev. William C. Matth ews,
D. D., which occurred at La Grange Ky, Tues
day evening, August "a. He was born in Gran
vile County, North Carolina, Sept %, 1905.
Two years afterwards his father, Rev John
Matthews, removed to Shepherdstown, Virginia,
where he grew up and received his primary
education. In 1927 he and his brother, Rev.
John D. Matthews, D. D.. graduated at Jefferson
College, Pa. in a class of which Prof Jacob
Coon of Franklin College, Ohio; Judge William
McCaleb, of Maryland; the late Rev. John w.
Scott D. D., Rev. David Sterrett, and Rev Joel
Stoneroad were members His theological
studies were pursued at Princeton.
In the meantime his father had been pastor
at Martinsburg Virginia, but removed to Han
over, Indiana in 1929, where he had been APP
pointed professor of theology. The son, Rev.
w G. Matthews was called to succeed his father
at Martinsburg, where he continued to be pastor
until 1885, when he removed to the West hav-
ing accepted call to Madison, Indiana. In
1881 he married Miss Mary S. Hunter, daughter
of Col. Hunter of Martinsburg. In 1912 he
went to Winchester, Clarke Co., Ky, where he
labored until 1847, when he accepted call to
the church in Shelbyville, Ky, and was its pas
tor for twenty-three years. In 1870 he took
charge of the Fourth Presbyterian church of
Louisville and served it for nine years when he
retired from the active duties of the ministry
because of increasing infrmities, after fifty years
of faithful service.-Rres6yteria Banner.
The First Presbyterian church Chicago,
Ill, was organized in June 1888, and held its
first communion in a log house. Since,that time
it has admitted 5000 members, and at present
has S67 on its rolls. Last year, ending April l,
1880, it contributed $2S, ,S56.63 to church work,
of which SIS ,620.39 was to Home Missions 1t
was burned out in the great fire. but at once
new church was built and paid for, house of
worship which is a credit to the denomination
and to Chicago.
Other Churches.
Methodist.-Gre preparations are in pro-
gress for the Ecumenical Methodist Conference.
This body will assemble in the City Road
Chapel London, in September, 1881, and will
be composed of four hundred members-two
hundred from Great Gritain, and two hun
dred from the United States and Canada
one-half ministers and one-half laymen The
English section will include representatives
from the Wesleyan Methodist and affiliated
conferences, the Primitive Methodists, the
Methodist New Connection, the United Meth
odist Free Churches the Wesleyan Reform
Union and Bible Christian Conferences From
the United States and Canada there will be
representatives of sixteen Methodist bodies.
Invitations have already been issued to all the
Methodist bodies in Great Britain to send dele
gates to preliminary council, which is to as
semble in the Wesleyan Centenary Hall, Bish-
oPsgate Street, London, at date to be hereaf-
ter fixed. The invitation has been accepted.
The conference like the great Presbyterian
Council soon to meet in Philadelphia will have
no legislative or administrative functions, but
Its object will be to promote union and to
stimulate to more jealous Christian effort.
Home Mission work.-The National
Baptist gives some suggestive facts and figures
in the course of a comprehensive review of
Baptist Home Mission work. During its last
fiscal year the American Baptist Home Mis-.
sion airy Society engaged the labors of 1853 mis-
sionaries among Americans, SO among Germans
Is among Scandinavians, among French, 8
among Indians, Is among Freedmen and 2
among Chinese, besides 38 teachers in the
Freedmen schools AS result of this labor
2O762 sermons were preached at S36 stations
1,16o persons were baptized upon profession
Of their faith, and 81 churches were organized.
There were 416 Sunday Schools under the care
Of the missionaries, with an aggregate at
tendance Of 27O31 scholars. All this work was
accomplished with the expenditure Of 1854.
75257.
From this review it appears that there are
646,974 colored Baptists in the South. In the
Indian Territory the Society has 1S missionaries
and teachers, with 5823 church members, out
Of the 10000 Indians Among the Germans in
the United States there are 12O Baptist church
es, with 1866 members The Scandinavians in
this country are said to number 100000 The