Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-29
Rev. Or. g. 3, strickler 10 go to At
lanta, Ga.
EARNEST DISCUSSION OVER IT IN
LEXINGTON PREsBYTERY.

LEXINGTON PRESBYTERY.
Lexington PresbyterY met in the Second
f'es'.. t+,ian church Wednesday morning,
I" Consider the expediency of dissolving
the pastoral relations of Rev. Il. b. Strick-
Ter D. D., with the congregation of Tink-
h"g sfring church, or discouraging the
W. calls MADE OH him to churches in At
ant>, Ga, and Lexington, Va. Rev. J. E.
Booker was the Moderator and Rev. R. G.
Walker, Clerk. "he subject wholly
or partially, had been the matter of dis
cussion at the previous Clarksburg, W. Va
session of Presbytery.
There were present Wednesday morning
the following ministers: Revs. D. G. L.
vine, j. Rice Bowman. D. D., VIM. E. Ba-
ker, 6. B. Stricken, D. d.. C. L. Hogue.
Alex. Sprunt, James Murray, Frank Fl.
Gaines. j. E. Booker. A. j.. Laird, and
Frank McCutchan and Elders H. l..
Hoover, J. M. Lickliter. DR.. VIM. Bell
and Hugh W. Henry.
THE SPECIAL COMMISSIONERS.
The Central Presbyterian church of Au-
gusta, Ca, was represented by Col. j. M.
Patton, Il. a. Anderson and J. C. Kirk
patrick; the Lexington, Va, church by
Prof. A. J.. Nelson. and J. D. H. Ross,
and Thinking Spring church by Col. D. 5.
Bell, Capt. e. Benton Coiner. B. M. Ellis,
Samuel Life. John &. Slower, DR.. David
W. Hanger and VIM. Churchman.
THE DISCUSSION
Col. Patton, for the Atlanta church,
said the strong opposition shown in Pres
bytery to DR.. Strickler's leaving, only con-
irmed the Atlanta congregation in the
wisdom Of its choice. That new metrop-
oils of the South needed man to attract
the young men who were pouring into it,
and DR.. S. was that man. Even on the
street corners Of Atlanta, people were dis
cussing with anxious interest the proba-
BILE success of the unanimous call made on
him from that city.
Prof. Nelson, of Lexington, said the
church there, after three years of dissen-
sion, and months of anxious inquiry, had
at last become unanimous in their choice,
and that choice was DR.. Stricken. Out
of $50 students at Washington & Lee,
more than one half attended the Presbyte-
rian church, and DR.. Stricken had pecu-
liar qua lifications to interest and win them
to Christ.
Mr.. John G. Slower for the Thinking
Spring congregation read resolution
adopted by it earnestly protesting against
DR.. Stricken s. even considering a call to
another field. Under his ministry the con-
gregation had increased from 200 TO 500
and the Sabbath school from 100 to 300.-
Cutposts in the vicinity which had only had
congregations of SO now amounted to 800.
The number Of persons who heard DR.. s.
preach regularly was now fully 800. Col.
David s. Bell followed Mr.. Slower IN be-
half of the Thinking Spring church in one
of the most impressive and affecting
speeches we ever heard in Presbytery.
AT the close, DR.. Stricken himself was
heard. He was brief and to the point He
expressed the greatest regard for the Lex
ington church whose people he we'll knew,
and alluded with heartfelt earnestness to
his long and happy relations with the
Thinking Spring church. But it was Who'll
ly with him a matter of duty to God, as he
could see that duty. The salary at Tink-
ling Spring was as large if not larger than
at Atlanta, but the latter to him was he
thought the field of duty and he had so de-
cided.
DECIDED FOR ATLANTA.
PrnShVtpry then mt both calls in nr
Strickler's hands for his acceptance should