The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-05-24
Ghe GateILlqenlea.
TnE srPPntsSIoN or INEIDELITY.
Discussion OF that and Other subjects
by MeetiaE OF Presbyterian klders
nj ~. ClaIFsville.
s.. cLAIRsvlLLE, Nay q.

Discussion OF that and Other subject
by aeetlnE Of Presbyterian klder
nj ST Clairsville. st
ST. cIAIRsvtELE, May 81.
Ediio1 1ntslligsneer;
According TO announcement 4 conyer
ton Of elders met in the Presbyterian
Church in this place on Thursday morn
ing at ten o'clock. Quite goodly nun
Der Of delegates were present, and a fe'
ladies were there to see, hear and profit
Revs. chaliant Of Martins Ferryj Prin
gle, Of Mt Pleasant; Alexander, Of 81
ClaiBVille, and Balph, Of the U. F
Church, were the only ministers in at
tendance.
Rev. Pringle opened the services with
sermon on the eEldership Of the Church.
It was a plain, practical, earnest discourse
SO worded and delivered as to impress th,
audience with the belief that they wer,
listening to a young man of more thai
average ability, and Of whom more viii
be heard in the future, II his life shall b
prolonged. He thought three things es
sential'to fit q man TO gil such an Office II
the church-knowledge, soundness o
doctrine and piety. The duty OF the eldel
Is 10 counsel, admonish and reprove. /
ignorant, OF what avail would be his coun
sci? and II not himself above reproach
how could he reprove others?
~ IL
lion was effected by electing Elder R. s
Clark, Of Morristown, TO the chair, and
John A, Grove as Secretary.
VIM. Chambers then delivered an earn.
est and eloquent address Of welcome,
This occupied the time until the hour Of
noon, when an adjournment for dinner
was voted. The delegates were entertain
ed by the congregation here.
After dinner the regular programme
was entered upon. The first subject for
discussion was: "What can the Eldership
dotowaId suppressing vice and inhdelity?"
This was opposed by K. s. Clark. A gem
eral discussion followed. Rev. Chaliant
thought the term inidelity was not well
enough understood. There was kind Of
intidelity that was like the measles or
chicken-pox, most young persons had to
have It sometime, and 1t was best TO let 1t
run It's course, administering no strong
medicines.
To enter into detailed account Of these
discussions would take too long for such
letter as mine, although they were Of
general interest, and many good things
were said.
The second topic was, "How can neg.
ectors OF religion be induced TO attend
the services Of the sanctuary" This was
opened by Elder Wallace, in one OF the
most carefully prepared and able essays
we ever heard, from one who was not q
professional essayist, He covered the
whole ground, and those who followed
could add nothing, but only emphasize
what he had said. At this point the pro-
CANINE was varied by the opening OF q
question drawer. Several questions were
propounded, but none seemed TO arouse
so much interest as one concerning the Is
suing OF certificates Of membership to per-
sons who had been absent from the
bounds and cogniEance Of the church for q
considerable length OF time. There was .
great diversity Of opinion on this. One
Young brother likened 1t to the issuing Of
a certificate OF stock, or oil deposit by, q
bank. He evidently forgot that while the
bank kept record where the amount oil
mans monied worth could be ssea 81
once, uo earthly record was kept oil the
moral worth OF q man by those who had
no cognizance OF his actions.
The third topic was, what is the res.
possibility Of the church session toward
the baptized youth OF the church," AS it
was getting late and many leaving, caused
much confusion, especially as every body
seemed to wear squesky shoes, this quss.
ton was not accorded its due amount OF
attention. One elder, however, came out
on behalf OF the children and deprecated
that strictness that would suppress smile
in child, because provoked by something
that was not TO Its parents cause Of mlrth,
At this point the Convention adjourned
for supper.
A much larger audience collected for the
evening service. The topics discussed
we're, "What can the session do to pro.
mote family religion in the congregational 2"
and "What oversight should the session
have in Sabbath school work."
These both being questions OF import
ance, brought forth considerable discus
sion, and many good thoughts. All seem.
ed to feel that this interchange Of opinions
on questions Of vital importance, was
calculated TO promote the interests of the
church. It was noticeable that only some
sir or seven took any part in the discus
sions, but It was US evident from the In.
terest with which the Others listened that
they were not silent from any lack OF de-
sire to know OF these things. ] am inform
ed this convention Is something new In
this locality, but venture TO predict that
such great good will arise from this one
that Others will follow. q.