Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-23
A. r. Presbyterian Church.
-Presbytery and Synod
OLD PROVIDENCE.

| The Presbytery of Virginia embracing the two
| virginias and the Synod of the Associate Re
| formed Presbyterian church. embracing Vir-
ginia and West Virginia, the Carolinas and
other Southern States, held their annual ses.
sions at Old Providence Church in the South.
ern part of Augusta county last week.
PREsBYTERY.
The Presbytery assembled Wednesday. the
18th Instant and was called to o der By the
Moderator Rev. j. Fl. Simpson, of West Va,
Mr. James II Callson, of Old Providence. stat
ed clerk Rev. 8. w. Haddon. pastor at Old
Providence conducted the opening services.
Rev. John T. Chalmers. of South Carolina, be-
ing present, was invited to take a seat as cor
responding member.
The roll was called and NJ nutes of last session
read, when the following committees were APP
pointed: On congregational reports, Rev. R.
NJ. Stevenson and Elder ] II. Crawford. To
prepare report t. synod, Rev. s w. Haddon
and Elder ]. q. Dixon.
Reports froin the churches were then present.
ed and read.
Rev John T. Chalmers Agent of the Synod
in raising an eadowmen Fund for the Theolog-
ical Seminary, located at Due West, South
Carolina, being present and desiring to address
the assemblage, the usual services of the first
day were dispensed with. but NJ. Chalmers,
discourse abounded in ali the features OF a SER
mon, basing it on I Chronicles, % chapter and
part of The verse: "And who then is nilllng to
consecrate his vice this day unto the Lord ?"
He commenced by referring 10 the eeuca-
tional institutions of the church, giving their
location in South Carolina. and with other in
formation, stated their financial condition. He
demonstrated the disadvantage under which
4l,o ol,r, hal Ion lah FIJI Of
seminary to prepare their young men for the
ministry TO be wholly dependent on such in
situations belonging to other churches caused
an annual loss of many young who, if
trained at our own seats of learning, would re-
main with the church under whose influences
they were moved tOenter the ministry. Whilst
they had q college. and n prosperous one, yet
that did not fill the place of a pm ely TheolOgi-
cal Seminary which all denominations had
found to be indisrep>ihiy associated with their
prosperity. Under ugh eircim. tances and so
impressed, the syno! determined TO conif:ie nee
the work of building. outfit for which $780,.
900 was required. The plans had all been ma
tured and the foundations OF the edi6ce were
already laid. 1t had been allotted to him, in
the States to which he had been sent, to raise
$4,000. He was gratiied to say that 1913 900 had
been realized by his efforts; and he was here to-
day with the congregation of"Old Providence
to give them an opportunity to share in the
glorious work, and he knew that it was only
necessary for that to show how fnIly they
would respond. His message was to every
member and friend of the church. Their MEM
bership was not large and scattered over a wide
extent of territory in several States, yet they
had demonstrated their ability to rear and
equip splendid college, and it was determined
that the seminary should be placed on a first
class basis. They did not intend to allow the
church and its institutions to wane, but to
move on to grand destiny, accomplishing all
the founders had desired when consecrating
their efforts to those purposes. Only a few
points of the discourse referred to. which
are not designed IS report, but merely to give
the tenor Of the remarks. Mr.. Chalmers is a
young minister and already prominent in the
deliberations of his church as well as rendering
great services in behalf fits educational insti-
buttons. The people were more than pleased
with him and responded literally to the cause
he represents. The contribution from the Old
Providence membership amounted to s36O.0O.-
There are but few churches in the Virginia
Presbytery. he stated, from which ST. 500 90 would
be realized.
After the transaction of other business of rou-
tine nature the Presbytery adjourned to meet
next year at Broad Creek Church, Rockbridge
county.