Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-05-20
Lexington Presbytery.

IsM-CALLs-sTATEDS UPPLIES-LEGIs-
LATIoN RECOMMENDED AGAINST RAIL
ROADS DESIGNATING THE SABBATH.
&C., &c, sc.
RoCKBRIDGE BATHS, May 10, 1881.
Owing to the late hour at which the re-
port of Lexington Presbytery came to hand
last week we were only able to give the or
ganization and an abstract of Col. Pres
toms report upon the old records. We
give below summary of the proceedings
as furnished by our reporter.
The body met a. Bethesda church near
Rockbridge Baths on Tuesday and re-
manned in session until Saturday after
noon.
The church in which the venerable body
met is handsome and comparatively new
brick building, neatly finished with paint
and paper and carpeted. 1t Is just 10 years
last fall since this body met here in the old
church now removed during the passionate
of the late Rev. r. j. Taylor. Rev. VIM.
M. McElwee has been supplying the pull
pit for the past year and call to the pas
torate was placed in his hands Wednesday
and he was installed Saturday in the pres
ence of large congregation, Drs. Strick-
Ter, kirkpatrick and Mullaly officiating in
the impressive services.
Rev. James Bolton of New York,
member Of the General Synod of the Re-
formed church being present, was invited
to sit as corresponding member.
Mr.. W. r. Laird, a candidate for the
ministry, was examined for licensure and
preached his trial sermon Thursday, a fine
effort which was sustained as satisfactory.
Rev. VIM. E. Baker, the Treasurer of
Presbytery, reported 10 churches in arrears
on account Of the per cent. added in re-
cent years to Presbyterial assessment, and
7churches in arrears for last years regu-
lar assessment.
Rev. F. P. Mutually, D. D., and Rev. P.
Fletcher, with Elders David Bell and
Maj. W. NJ. Tate were chosen commits
sioners to the General Assembly.
Most of the second day was occupied in
hearing reports on seasonal records, get
ting in the reports on reciprocal duties of
pastor and people and debate on the latter
subject.
Besides the call to Bethesda church, one
for fourth Of his time at the new Wal
ker's Creek church was placed in the hands
of Rev. W. M. McElwee and accepted by
him.
Mr.. AlonZo r. Cooke, a licentiate from
Mon tgomery Presbytery, was received as
a member of Lexington Presbytery and
call from Windy Cove church in Bath
county placed in his hands and accepted by
him. He was examined and will be Or
damned and installed at Windy Cove in
June by a commission.
Rev. D. G. Irwin resigned his pastoral
charge of Timber Ridge church on &C
count of ill health, accepted.
The committee appointed in 1879, by
the Presbytery, when it met at Church
vile. consisting of J. L. Kirkpatrick, D.
D., J. T. L Preston, F. P. Mutually, D.
D., J. White and G. VIM. White on the
preservation of the records of Lexington
Presbvtery made a very intesesting report
through Col. Preston. The report stated
that the committee had had the records
from September, 1886 to February, 1880,
copied in neat and legible hand by Chas.
McCorkle and securely stitched in 10 vols,
which were presented to the body, arrang-
ed in substantial walnut box, ready to
be transferred to the library of U. T. Sem
inary according to the instructions of
iPresbytery. The original MSS. covered
4,l54 pages, which made in the transcript
1851 pages and the total cost was s176,25
There was great deal more of this in
teresting subject presented by Col. Pres
ton, which elected the earnest attention
of all present and there was a general wish
expressed that the whole paper should be
published.
The consideration of the Revised Direc-
tory occupied large portion of the time
and attention of the body. A printed re-
port was presented by the committee con-
sisting of DR.. j. L. Kirkpatrick, DR.. F. P.
Mutually, Col. J. T. L. Preston, Rev. D
A Penick and Prof J. J. White, embody-
ing the changes proposed in the General
Assembly S report, and the lengthy docu-
ment was considered seratim. The longest
and most earnest discussion was elected
by the clause which recommended the use
of the Lords Prayer and the reading of
the Decalogue at each Sabbath morning
service and, if the minister saw fit, the rec
itation Of the Beatitudes and the Apostles
Creed, the congregation joining with him
by audible response or otherwise.
To this innovation there was vehement
opposition on account Of alleged ritualistic
+ondopou ond notu;th ctandinp cnoaohac
except by the chairman, we're limited to five
minutes, nearly a whole day was consum-
ed on this part of the report. DR.. Kirk
patrick advocated with much ability his
position and was strongly supported by
Col. Preston, DR.. Bowman and Rev. W.
T. Price. Among those who resisted the
encroachment on the plan of worship of
the fathers were Revs. Watkins, Brooke,
Gaines, Preston, Fletcher, Baker, Bryan,
McCutchan and others. 1t was matter
of congratulation by the majority, the
'anti-ritualists' as they laughingly though
with some reason called themselves. that,
after everything was said that could be
said 10y the able committee in favor of the
innovation, when the vote was taken they
only mad 6 to 80 on the substitute which
asked only for the use of the Lords Prayer
and Decalogue. On the final vote on the
whole IN. BIZ clause there we're to Al,
the committee having carried with them
only one minister and one elder.
During the prayer Of invocation, the
"'short prayer as it generally called, Pres
bytery by majority vote, recommended