Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-05-27
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FRIDAY MORNING. MAY. 27, 1881.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOSou
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
PERSONAL SKETCHES OF COMMISSIONERS
-RETRENCRMENT AND REFORM
CHANGES VOTED DOwN-sTUART ROB-
INsoN ON "PARvENU ECCLESIASTICAL
THEoR1sTs''-THE REVISION OF THE
BIBLE.
&C., &C., &c.
The organization of the General Assem-
bly, of the Presbyterian Church (South)
now in session in this city, with the pro-
ceedings of the first day. Thursday. was
given in our issue of last week.
The body has been in session continual
ly every day since and is working body,
devoting hours each day, from 9 A. M.
to P. M. to the regular work before it.
the afternoon to committee and session
work and the nights to religious services,
missionary meetings and extra sessions.
This highest court of the Presbyterian
church in the Southern States may, with
out the use of the term by courtesy. be
called q, venerable body as large proper
ton of the commissioners representing its
sixty-six presbyteries present, have grown
grey in the service of their beloved church
while many have reached and passed their
three score and ten and some even four
score years, though they still preserve the
vigor of intellect, strength of conviction
and tenacity of purpose which character
ICES men who have spent long and virtu-
Gus lives in the service of Him whose yoke
is easy.
The debates on questions of vital i'm
port have brought strong men to the front
and have shown that the body is able as
we'll as venerable and that the ability is
not altogether confined to the venerable
members of it. Discussion has at times
waxed warm and repartee may have par
taken somewhat of acrimony, members in
the heat of debate perhaps encroaching a
little upon the line that, reflection showed
to be the right one. But apology and ex-
PLANTATION would. follow and Christian har-
mony prevail before many hours had
passed.
INTERESTING PERSONAL SKETCHES OF
SOME OF THE OFFICERS AND COMMITS
sIONEkS OF ASSEMBLY.
There are in this body number Of men
prominent on account of their age and
services to the church. Some notice of a
few of these will be- interesting. The re-
firing and present Moderators having been
mentioned last week, it is appropriate to
mention next the officer oldest in the SER
vice of this court. Rev. Jos. r. W ilson
D. D., pastor of the 1st church Whining
ton, N. g., was member Of the first Cen
eral Assembly of the Southern Church at
its session in A ugusta, Ga, after its sepa-
ration from the North ern body. He was
active in its organization and was elected
Permanent Clerk He filled this Office
with satisfaction for tive years when he
was elected Stated Clerk. The duties of
this Office he has discharged with courtesy
and fidelity for the last Is years, having
thus been an officer of this high church
court ever since it's separate organization
in 1861. He has never missed an assembly
meeting, this being the Goth session of the
body he has attended, and be doubtless is
more familiar with the rules and records
of the body and is acquainted with more
ministers and laymen in the church than
any other man in il.
Rev. VIM. Brown, D. D., the venerable
Permanent Clerk of the body was elected
in 1865 and has held the position ever
since. Holding this prominent position
and as editor of the Central Presbyteri-
an" for so many years he has come to be
one of the best known and most highly es-
teemed men in the church. An Assembly
which did not number his familiar form
among it's members would hardly seem to
be thoroughly organized and equipped
high court of the Presbyterian church in
the United States.
Rev. &. A. Stillman, another venerable
member, is the Secretary of the Tuscaloosa
Institute where the colored students are
prepared for the ministry. He is pastor of
the Presbyterian church at that city and
is held in high esteem in the church.
Rev. Theodorick Pryor, of Nottoway c.
H., is the Oldest minister IN the body be-
ing in his 77th year. His opinions are al
ways received with Difference and he is enc
Of the most popular and genial members
of the body. He was nominated modera-
tor and would have been most formida-
BILE opponent of DR.. Farris had he not de-
clined.
Elder j.. J. Norman, M. D., of Salem,
Va, is probably the oldest commissioner
in the Assembly being in his sOth year.
He is perhaps as we'll known to the church
as faithful layman, as to suffering hu-
mainly for humane and sklllful physi-
clan, and his characteristic, pointed and
sensible speech on the question of sending
greeting to the. Northern Assembly the
other day, showed that four-score years
had not impaired bis intellectual vigor.
Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, D. D., the
Secretary of Foreign Missions, comes as a
Commissioner from Harmony Presbytery,
S. c., to which he belongs, though for the
convenience of his work he makes his res
idence in Baltimore. He has just passed his
three-score and ten, though DR.. Stuart
Robinson in his complimentary reference
to him in the letter read by Rev. J. P.
Molloy in the body, Monday, has him ap-
preaching four-score. DR.. Wilson was fifty
by Stuart Robinson as the
Glorious Missionary Leader of the Church.
He spent at the outset of his ministry
twenty years among the heather of Africa.
On his return home he was made one of
the secretaries at New York, of Foreign
Missions under the old Assembly. At
The outbreak of the war he came south and
has been the main stay of the board of the |