The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-04-20
The Presbytery of Chesapeake

The Presbytery of Chesapeake
Met in stated meeting at Greenwich church, Va,
ON Wednesday, April 18th, at II A. M, and
was opened with a sermon by Rev. R. B. White,
D. D.
Present.-Ministers- W. Pitzer R. B.
White, William Dinwiddie L. B. Turnbull, II.
Branch, j. A. Scott
Elders-W. A. Moore, W. A. Shields j. D.
Tulloss, B. G. D. Moxley
Rev. William Dinwiddie was elected Moder-
ator, and W. A. Shields temporary Clerk.
Culpeper and Rapidan churches presented a
call for the pastoral services of Rev. j. P Strder,
whose health is restored, and who accepts
Rev. t. P. Epes was received upon certificate
from West Hanover, and call from Greenwich
church was placed in his hands, which he &C
cepts. Presbytery took order for his installation
on the second Lords day in May next. Messrs.
Branch, Turnbull, and Scott were appointed to
conduct the services. His charge embraces the
churches at Litchfeld and Rappahannock also.
Calls from Grove and HARDWOOD churches for
the pastoral services of licentiate VIM. Chinn
were accepted. Presbytery examined him upon
experimental religion, Philosophy, Theology,
Ecclesiastical History sustained the examina
tion-heard his trial sermon, and ordained him
to the work of the gospel ministry. 1t being
impracticable to meet at either of these churches
at this time, Revs. Dinwiddie, Scott, and Strider
were appointed to install brother Chinn.
Excepting Leesburg, all the churches of this
Presbytery are now supplied with preaching,
giving the Presbytery a brighter outlook for the
future than heretofore.
Foreign Missions were fully considered and
discussed upon the report of the committee. The
churches were urged to increased efforts to cir
culate the Missionary to form Ladies' Aid So
cieties, to enlist the interest of the children in
the cause, and observe the Monthly Concert of
Prayer. Contributions were reported amount
ing to $685. an average Of nearly one dollar per
member.
Presbytery overturned the Assembly to appoint
committee to confer with a similar committee
of the Northern Assembly, if appointed by that
body, to confer as to cooperation by the two
Assemblies in the work of Foreign Missions, and
report results of said conference to future AS
sembly.
The report of the Committee to whom the
Revised Directory was referred, reported, criti-
clsing the Directory-report approved The
Revised Directory was not approved, and the
Assembly was overturned to postpone this sub
ject indefinitely.
Retrenchment and Reform.-Presbytery re-
solved that no radical change in our methods of
Church work is needed, and that the principles
of executive agency is indispensable to the pro-
per efficiency of the Church in the prosecution
of her work.
Presbytery elected the following delegates to
the General Assembly Rev. L. B. Turnbuil.
with Theo. 7. Epes, alternate; Elder George
Wise, with Oscar Braden, alternate.
Leesburg was selected as the place of the next
meeting of Presbytery, on the first Tuesday in
October, at IL M.
The usual routine business was transacted
The sessions were pleasant and profitable.
The narrative elected considerable debate
While the additions to the church had not been
many, there was a general feeling of our urgent
need of the presence and power of the Holy
Ghost.
Exceptions were taken to nearly all the re-
cords of church Sessions-in that they had failed
to require the deacons to comply with the re-
quirements of the Revised Book of Church
Order
The reports on Sabbath Schools end Systematic
Benehcence received due consideration. The
schools are generally under Seasonal control
and Presbytery exercises strict scrutiny over the
churches in the matter of systematic contribu-
tions to the cause Of Christ.
The people of Greenwich received the hearty
thanks of Presbytery for their hospitality.
A. W. PITzER, Stated Clerk.