The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-05-19
The General Assembly.
fhEsBYTERIANs IN ooUNCIL-A LARGE DELE
GATION-wHERE THE DELEGATES ARE EN-
TERTAINED

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States will meet in this
city, at the First Presbyterian Church, to-day
al IL clock. AT that hour sermon will be
preached by the Moderator of the last Assem-
bly, Rev. DR.. T. A. Hoyt, of Nashville Tenn,
after which the roll will be called and officers
elected What other business may be trans
acted during the day cannot, of course, be fore
told. 1t all will, however, be interesting and
important The attendance of delegates is
expected to be quite full. Many have al
ready arrived, embracing some of the most
distinguished theologians and pulpit orators
in the Union
Until the year 1888, the great majority of
the Presbyterians in this country were united
IN one ecclesiastical organization. There were
however, smaller district organizations, such
as the Associate Reformed" the Dutch Re
formed" German Reformed" Cumberland
Presbyterians" &c. In 1888, the great Pres
byterian church was divided into two bodies,
known respectively as "Old School, and New
school, The controversy which resulted III
The division was not sectional in its character,
and both organizations embraced churches in
every part of the country although the New
School was comparatively small in the South
ern States Some years before the war of Sc
cession arose, the Southern sNew School,
ministers and churches separated from their
Northern brethren, and organized themselves
as an Independent body. Thus the original
Presbyterian church was divided into three
parts, the "Old School," extending over the
whole country, and the Northern New
| School, and Southern New School" So |
matters stood at the beginning of the war. |
| Then, because of the spirit exhibited in the
| "Old School, General Assembly, in May, 1861,
| the Southern adherents of that organization
| seeded and formed the present Southern |
Presbyterian church, as it is popularity known, |
| although its corporate title is '"The Presby- |
| terrain Church in the United States" Before |
the close of the war, this body consummated |
a union with the Southern "New School" |
church, and soon after the war the Northern |
"Old School, and New School, united |
| Therefore, at present, we have Northern and |
Southern Presbyterian church, both, how
ever, claiming to be national. The Southern |
branch has some organizations in Northern |
States, and the Northern branch (much the
| larger and more wealthy of the two) has con-
gregations and Presbyteries in the Southern
States.
The General Assembly of the Southern
Presbyterian church, so called meets in Staun-
ton to-day, the 10Th, and will continue in ses-
sion ten days or more. This boGy meets an
nually, and is composed of delegates appoint
ed by the Presbyteries. As general rule each
Presbytery appoints two delegates, one minis
ter and one elder; although few Of the
larger Presbyteries appoint two OF each class
OF delegates.
The Assembly is the highest tribunal or
court of last resort, in the church. At each
meeting presiding officer, or Moderator"
is elected The last Moderator, who will pre-
side at the ensuing meeting until his successor
shall be elected, is the Rev. T. A. Hoyt, d. D.,
of Nashville, Tenn. This gentleman was at
one time President of the Gold Board, in New
York city, and presided there on the famous
'Black Friday" He commands great respect
on account of his ability and personal charac-
ter.
The Southern Presbyterian church embraces
the States of Maryland, Virginia, West Vr-
ginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkan-
sas, Louisiana Texas Mississippi, Alabama,
Florida Georgia, South Carolina, North Caro-
lima, and the Indian Territory, west of Ar
kansas, and has churches in the District of
Columbia, the State of Ohio and possibly else
where. 1t has 10 Synods, and 81 Presby-
teries, including the Presbytery of San Paulo,
in Brazil South America. The statistics of ;
the last General Assembly show that the num-
Der of ordained ministers, in May, 1890 was
1860 licentiates 49, candidates for ministry
145. The number of churches was 1923, and
communicates 120,02S. The amount ofmoney
contributed during the year ending April 1,
1880, was 81 ,062 1888. The church is conduct
ing missionary work in China, Greece, Italy,
Mexico, Brazil, and in the Indian Territory. +
1t has two Theological Seminaries, one in
Prince Edward county, Va, and the other at
Columbia, S. G. 1t also sustains an Institu-
ton for the education of young colored men,
at Tuscaloosa, Ala The largest synod in the
church is the Synod of Virginia, which contains
eleven Presbyteries, including San Paulo; and
Lexington is the largest Presbytery, embracing
the counties OF Augusta, Rockbridge, sc.
The following is the list of delegates and
residences to which they have been assigned
PREsBYTER1Es
Abingdon, ya.-Rev Nar, DR. R Craig, at VIM
Arkansas.-Revs W Davies, D D, at Thos A Bled-
s9e's; Mr. H Henderson, at DR. Robert
Athens, Ga.-Rev Jno Morton and wife, at Thos
Atlanta Ga.-Rev Bradshaw, Mr. Il ID Frierson,
Augusta, Ga.-Rev Q Fitzsimmons, Mr. Robert
Adams, at Jas H Biaekley's.
Bethel, S. Grey H Pratt Rev Trenholm,
Messrs. J Withers and H Withrow, at
Brazos, Tez.-Rev Sexton and wife, at Mrs
Perrys.
Central Mss-RevJ ]. Alexander, at D Pecks;
MrD Young, at David Young's.
Central Tex.-Rey NJ Tuttle Mr. Thos c Smith,at
A S Lara's
Charleston, S. C.-Rev Jno R Dow, at Mrs Baylys
Holiday Co.'S DR. F. NJ Robertson, at Va
Cherokee Ga.-Rev Arson, at A Seminary;
Mr.. J Owen, at VIM Buffers. Ii
Chickasaw Miss.-Rev W Savage, at D Pecks;
DIE Cox, at DR. N Wayt's
chesapeake va.-Rev Turnbul, Mr. George {
Wise, at R Somerville's
Columbia Tenn-Rev D L Wilson, at NJ Cart
melSs; DR. fowler at Jos TaHnehill,s.
Mr. H Hamilton, at Mrs Paris's u E Guy)
Dallas Tex.-Rev L B CLANCY, at Mrs Bayly's (B B
Eskridge) Prof c M Lyon, at T S Doyle's
Qnstituton.)
East Aabama.-Rev G Maxson Maj M Buford,
at DR. ] Alex. Waddells.
Ebenezer Ky-Rev NJ Lewis, at Bayly'S "a H
FultzO; Mr. Armstrong, at Mrs James
Mayses.
East Hanover Va.-Rev Theodorick Pryor, D, at
Va Hotel (G Cochran jr); Rev George
Armstrong, D, at VIM Fraziers; Mr. Thos
Flournoy, at MAJ. T Elders; Geo Haw, at
Mozart "a Gomez
East TeX.-Rey S M Luckett and wife, at Kalorama
(Wm F Ast; Mr. W Bryant, at f M
Youngs.
Enoree, 5. C.-Rev L Holmes, DR. J Boozer at
James Morrsons.
Fayetteville S. C.-Rev D Mcbride, M S
Mcqueen, at VIM Wellers. /
Florida.-Rev 3 Baker, at Vim Fraz1er's; Col j B
Brown, at Templeton's
Greenbrier W. Va-Rev D Sydenstricker at
Mrs Jas Mayse's; Mr. Clark, at NJ Young's.
Harmony S. C.-Rev J Leighton Wilson, D D. at
Va Hotel Gen Echols); Rev Jno Law, at
Jas Burdett's; Mr. j James, Mrs Peyton
Baylor 4 Wayt; Mr. jerome Chase, at Mr. {
Euritt's QnstitutionD
Hoston Tenn, Rev Wilson, Mr. Rogan, at
Jacob Hangers.
Indian Ter
Knoxville Tenn.-Rev D Munroe, Mr. Gaines,at
oric p trthn