Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-10-25
PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.

The Proceedings Continued
The Historian HOwisOn's Case
DIR. Legbuins' SermOn-Dr.
Plummer Unconscious, But
Not Yet Dead.
Correspondence Of the Register.
MARrINsBURG. October %.
The high reputation and distinguished
ability OF many OF the members of the
religious assembly now in the city con-
tinue to attract visitors from abroad and
to fill the churches to overlooking. The
sermon ON yesterday morning was
preached by Rev. DR.. Campbell, of Man.
chester, Virginia, and gave great salts
faction to all who heard it.
A case of some interest is row before
the Synod, and has been the occasion
of much learned and interesting discus
sion. Howison, the author OF very
creditable history Of Virginia in two
octave volumes. commenced life as a
practitioner at law. In few years he
abandoned his profession, and after due
probation and proper examination, was
ordained as minister Of the gospel by
the Lexington Presbytery. He assumed
the performance of his clerical duties
with his characteristic ardour, but after
a while, became melancholy and de-
pressed in spirits under an impression
that he had mistaken his vocation,
and that his ministerial labors were not
acceptable to God. This feeling con.
tinued to grow upon him; he became
nervous, excitable and listless in the
performance of his clerical and pastoral
duties, and his friends began to have
great apprehensioRs for the sanity OF
his mind. BY their advice and upon
his own application he VS. Invested OF
his ministerial Office by the Lexington
Presbytery, but without blame, censure
or reproach Of any kind. He then re-
turned to the active prosecution OF his
legal profession in the city OF Richmond.
A wear ago he was again ordained a
member of the East Hanover Presby-
terry, and the question of his right to ex-
ercise the functions of his office nnder
the action OF the East Hanover Presby-
tery was brought before the Synod. 1t
seems 10 be a new question, without
precedent and without anything i'll the
law of the church bearing directly upon
the point. Two questions were elabo-
rately argued:
First-Whether the East Hanover
Presbytery mad jurisdiction to restore
Mr.. Howison's ministerial office, and
whether his application should not have
been made to the Lexington Presby-
terry, which had Invested him OF his
clerical functions?
Second, Assuming that it had jtris
diction, whether its further proceeding
were in accordance with the rules OF tie
church?
These points were ably, learnedly and
eloquently discussed, the principal
speakers being Dr. Brown, OF Fredericks-
burg, and Rev. VI. Woods, of Norfolk.
Major Kirkpatrick. OF Lynchburg, and
Col. Cavengton, of Richmond, the two
latter both able and eminent lawyers
and elders OF the church. No decision
has vet teen rendered in the cases.
knew Mr.. Hawison well during the
late civil war, ne then residing in Rich
mond as proclaimCr OF law ana ut
erary writer He is man OF decided
talents, of great industry and OF most
pleasant and agreeable manners. He
was at that time diligently gathering the
material for history OF our then pend
ing civil conflict.
The Rev. DIR. John Leyburn, OF Bal,i.
more, last evening delivered a sermon
upon the lie and character Of Jesus
Christ. He is one of the most distin-
guished and popular preachers in that
city, and his effort last evening was well
calculated to add to his already high
reputation. The church was crowded
to suffoca;ion. The music and singing
were unusually spirited and inspiring.
No telegram mas yet been received OF
the death OF that noble and veter; n
champion OF the Cross, DIR. Piummer,
vet it is announced that he lies in IN
unconscious state.
The Scotsman of this city publishes a
daily sketch OF the proceedings 0i the
Synod, which is well received and largely
circulated CALVIN.