Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-05-27

ponent, always carry weight with them.
The name Of DR.. George Armstrong, Of
Norfolk, Commissioner from East Hano-
yer Presbytery will not be forgotten as long
as devotion to duty and sympathy for suf-
fering humanity can touch a chord in the
heart. He was professor at Washington
College before taking charge Of the Nor
folk church and is a gentleman Of acknowl-
edged ability and influence in the Assem-
bly,.
DR.. B. M. Palmer. of New Orleans. is
perhaps younger than any of these gen
tlemen, but bis fame as sound theologi-
an, skillful debater and pulpit orator is
more than national. He has the full con-
fidence of his brethren in the ministry and
out of it and his popularity and reputa-
tion precede him wherever he goes and
pack the churches with expectant crowds.
DR.. Palmer has the largest church IN the
communion, 74O members, and his church
edifice is the largest in the South. He has
recently been elected to the chair of pas
toral theology in Columbia Seminary. 1t
is thought he will accept. People specu-
late on the probability, and say it will make
Columbia, but what will become of New
| Orleans?
Elder W. r. Lyman, one of the COM
missioners from New Orleans Presbytery,
is not unknown IN this Valley, having
fought over the ground many times as
Captain of Confederate battery of artil-
lery. He is one of. the most prominent
men in the financial and commercial affairs
of New Orleans, was for long time, and
is now we think, President of the New
Orleans Stock Exchange. He was the
| Chairman of the committee of arrange
ments for the recent unwilling of the
| Jackson statue there and much Of the
grand success Of that occasion was attrlb-
uted to his efforts. Though so prominent
a man in the Southern metropolis he ap-
pears to be not more than forty years old.
| He is brother OF the poetess, Mrs. Viz
| ginia Townsend. whose poems have long
held high place in American literature
Among the most enjoyable commissioners
to talk to is that venerable, but still hardy,
! minister, Rev. w. T. Savage, from Chick
asaw Presbytery OF Mississippi. He is past
sixty and his recollections of the growth
Of the Presbyterian church in America and
his familiarity with the history OF its
prominent Southern ministers. with many
of whom he was educated, make an inter
estlng theme.
Rev. S. Taylor Martin, commissioner
from Mecklenburg N. c., Presbytery, is
another ex-Confederate artillery Captain.
He is one of three brothers all Presbyteri-
an ministers-Revs. Alex. s.. Roger H.
and S. T. Martin. They are the SONS OF
an artist Of distinction who was one of DIR.
Plumer's elders in the First Presbyteri-
an church of Richmond, and by whom in
that day half the portraits of Virginia
families were painted. Mr.. Martin is a
fine speaker and has bold and vigorous
method of placing his views before the AS.
sembly.
Rev. J. A. Lefevre, D. D., of Baltimore
is pastor of the Franklin street church, il
popular preacher, an accomplished schol-
ar and an influential member of the body
He belongs to the executive committee OF
both Home and Foreign Missions, and all
his influence is exercised in opposition to
the proposed changes in the boards of the
church with whose effective operations,
scarcely any one is better acquainted than
he.
Rev. John A. Scott, of West Va, while
not yet classed among the venerable faith
ers of the church, is father of more
churchmen than any other minister in
the body. He has three sons active and
useful ministers in the Presbyterian
church, one located at Richmond. a second
at Warrenton and another at Suffolk. Mr..
Scott is man of fine personal appearance,
a superior preacher and always speaks to
the point when he is on the floor of the
| Assembly.
There is another Commissioner of the
body who has three sons in the ministry
of the church, Elder VIM. B. Morton, of
Roanoke Presbytery. He is one of the
oldest laymen in the body having passed
his three score and ten years, and has been
a ruling elder for As years. One of his sons
is in Augusta Presbytery, Ga, another in
Paducah, KY; third, Rev. John B.
Morton, represents the Presbytery of Ath-
ems, Ca, in this Assembly.
Rev. G. A. Trenholm, of S. c., the read
ing clerk has fine voice and reads well
He is nephew of the late distinguished
Treasurer of the Confederate States.
Rev. A. c. Hopkins, of Charlestown,
W. Va, as Chairman of the Assembly
Committee on Retrenchment and Reform
has made a reputation as debater in his
successful management of this much agi-
tated question. His father, the late H on.
Henry Hopkins, of Powhatan, was for ma
ny years Speaker of the Virginia Legis-
lature and was regarded as one of the
ablest debaters on the Democratic side in
the State.
Rev. u. o. Davies, of Hudson, KY, is
among the experienced members of this
body. Perhaps no member of the body of
his age, as he is comparatively a young
man, has sat so often in the highest court
of the church, as this is the fourth assem-
bly, he has attended. Mr.. Davies always
commands the attention of the body when
on the floor.
Among the distinguished and prominent
lawyers who are members of this church
court and whose legal opinions have been
valuable in arriving at the law in judicial
cases, are Judge W. G. Bullock. KY, Maj.
j. M. Buford, Ala. Geo. p. Haw, ESQ,