Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-05-15
Meeting of Lexington Presbytery at
Messy Crrek.
PROCEEDINGS SPECIALLY REPORTED FOR THE
SPECTATOR.
PLEASANT AND HARMONIOUS SESSIONS.

PROCEEDINGS SPECIALLY REPORTED FOR TIKI
SPECTATOR.
PLEASANT AND HARMONIOUS SESSIONS.
Lexington Presbytery met at Messy Greer
church on last Wednesday. This PresoyUei5
consists of 81 ministers, IS churches, 2lo huiins
Elders. It's Deacons, and 5.35l members y
whom S45 were added during the past year.
give the proceedings as clearly, though prleny
reported for this paper by an 1nteingeh' I'LL
lister of th at body. as follows:- -.
Messy CREEK, VA, May llth, 1861
Presbvtery met under very favorable aus
pices. at Messy Creek, Wednesday morning
May 9th.
The sessions have been harmonious ant
much business ira nsacted.
The opening sermon. of marked power, WA
preached by Rev, J. E. Booker. from Heb. IL
l-2
Rev. j. A. Preston was chosen Moderator
Ruling elders. VIM. NJ. McAllister, ESQ.,, anc
DIR. VIM, b. Davis, were appointed temporary
Clerks.
Rev, A. f. Laird received call from MI
Horeb church.
Rev. A. R. Cooke, accepted call to Mlllooro
church, half of his time.
Rev. F. 6. Rally, accepted the call to Moss'
Greek church.
Mr.. George Buckle native of England, wa
received as candidate for the ministry iron
the Presbytery of St Louis, Mo-, and after du'
examination was licensed to preach the gospei
He gives much promise for usefulness, ant
will spend a few months in Highland county
Quite number of young gentlemen OF decio
ed promise were received under care OF Fres
bytery, as candidates for the ministry as Ioi-
lows.-Mr. James NJ. Vandeverter OF Mary
land; Mr.. Robt F. Campbell, Lexington, va
Mr. VIM. h. Miley. New Providence; Mr.. j. +
Bear, of Loeb Willow; and s. M. Paul, OF I1nk
ling Spring.
Leave was granted Rev. Mr.. futile, of Cen
trail Presbyt-ry of Texas, to supply Unior
church, until next meeting of Presby terry.
The greatly loved and venerated Rev. Sam
uel Brown vas not present. and we neve
know or feel go much his worth until he Is alb
sent.
Rev. DIR. McIlwaine, of Baltimore. was invi
ted to seat as corresponding member.
There were present twenty-si Ministers ant
twenty seven Elders.
twas deemed wisest not to place the call Q
Stony Run church in the hands of Rev. G.
Brown, but recommend that he be allowed t.
remain in his present charge, and Stony Run
seek a relation with Beulah and Mountain
Grove.
Rev. R. G. Walker submitted very satisfac
tory report detailing the operations of Mission
aries and Evangelists under the direction o
the Presbyterial Committee of Home Evangli
cation. The outlook is in every way encour-
aging, and much is hoped for from the efforts
put forth.
A most interesting address was delivered by
Rev. DR.. McIlwaine Secretary of Home Mis-
sions, which was well received, and deer
impression made upon the large audience pres
ent.
Col Preston read an interesting paper or
ministerial education as a report Of committee
of Ruling Elders, in response to inquiries o
General Assembly. The port disapproves O
any lowering of the standard of ministerial
qualification.
Revs James Murray and F. Il. Gaines were
chosen Commissioners to General Assembly
at Lexington, Kentucky, with Ruling Elders
Hon. ]. ]. Davis and Samuel Forrer, Esq.
Preaching service every day at the church
in the evening, similar services were held al
Bridgewater, Mt. Scion, Sangersville. Moscow
ard Centreville.
The next meeting OF Presbytery will be al
Fairfield, Rockbridge county. September 9Th
1883.
The hospitality of the people was elegant
open-hearted, to the highest degree.
The young Pastor Ralley and his accom-
plished lady, endeared themselves very much
to the Presbytery by their thoughtful consid
GRAFTON, for the personal comfort of the broth
rem and friends.
The new church and its appointments WERE
generally admired by the members of Presby
terry.
So many have been the changes, that i
oIy h to- &c
sonnet. Yours. as ever,
s. G. RIBBLER.
ADDITIONAL AND FULLER REPORT.
Through the kindness of a friend and popu
lar minister, we are enabled to furnish fulIe
report than the above OF the proceedings of tn
last two days of the session as follows:-
Messy CREEK, May 18th, 1888
THIRD DAY-FRIDAY.
Presbytery met this morning at o'clock
opened with prayer by Rev. P. Fletcher.
The discussion ON the Concord overture, be
gun yesterday, was resumed this morning. 4
word of explanation to what this overtur
is, may be desirable. The Presbytery of Con
cord, Synod of n. c., sent up an overture t
the General Assembly some time ago, asKin
the Assembly to eliminate from the Comics
al m of Faith, the following words: ''The mai
NAV. not marry any of his wife's kindred
nearer in blood than his own nor the woman
other h, islands kindred nearer in blood thai
her own. -. Conf. Of Faith, chap. "a, seed Ii
answer TO tn is overture, the General Assembly
sent down to ,the Presbyteries. the question a
toswhether the whole sentence should o
should not be eliminated? The answer of thi
Presbvterv is as fol- ows: Resolved, that tn
Presbytery concur with the Presbytery OF Con
cord in regard to the des irableness of expung
ing this clause from the Confession of Faith
and would overture the Assembly tn meet il
Lexington, KY, in May, 1888. to take the step
necesa ~ for eliminating this clause from oul
book"
Rev. G. w. Stinespring of the United Broth
rem Conference, was invited to sit as visiting
brother.
Rev. R. McIiwaine, D. D., Secretary of HON
Missions in the Southern Presbyterian Church
was present, and invited to sit as a correspond
ing member.
The report of the Committee of Domesti
Missions was presented by the chairman. Thi
report covers the year ending April LIST. an
gives summary of the state of the work II
the large missionary field in the bounds of TIL
Presbytery. From this report 1t appears tina
there are seven ministers laborlng In mission
airy fields under the care Of this Presbytery.-
counties of Randolph, Barbour, Tucker, Har
rison, and Pendleton; two are laboring il
Rockingham county, aud one in Bath county
Va. The labors of these ministers have beer
blessed to an encouraging degree.
After the reading of the report, the Presby
terry had great pleasure in listening to an ad
dress from Rev. DR.. McIlwaine, on the subjec
of Home Missions.
Messrs. S. H. Paul, of Thinking Spring church
and ]. E. Bear, of Loeb Willow church. were
received under care ofPTesbytery as candidate.
for the ministry.
The following action touching the retiring
of DR.. McIlwaine from the Secretaryship O
Home Missions, was taken: -
whereas, this Presbytery has learned with
profound regret. that Rev. DR.. McIlwaine has
decided to accept the Presidency of Hampder
Sidney College; and whereas we recognize hi,
decided fitness, and rare qualifications for hi.
present position and the great satisfaction he
has given to the church at large; therefore, be
1t resolved
1. That the Presbytery of Lexington urgent
ly requests DR.. McIlwaine to reconsider hi
decision and to continue in his present posi-
tion.
. That this Presbytery overture the General
Assembly to meet at Lexington, Ky, to us,
in bai tn I,;,