Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-29
LEXINGTON PRrSBYTERY.
(Correspondence of the SPECTATOR. !

Everything combined to make the opeil-
ing services pleasant and impressive. The
was one of the most balmy of the
season, and readily recalled these words as
very appropriate:
spring vita that nameless pathos in the air,
That dwells with all things fair.
spring with its golden sun and silver rain.
Is with US once ag un."
The opening exercises were conducted
by Rev. A. F. Laird, retiring Moderator,
and A. II. Hamilton. DR.. Species match
less hymn was sung:
.Blest Jesus when thy cross view.
Tnat my stery to the angelic host,
I gaze with grief and rapture too.
And all my souls in wonder lost"
In this staDza was the keynote of the
sermon that follow ed. preached by Modera-
all men INTO me''-John, 1899. This SER
mon was above the average pulpit efforts
of the day for JUNCTION and evangelical SEN
timent. The gospel of the Kingdom must
and will prevail, to the unspeakable ad-
vantage of now sinful and wretched
world.
Upon calling the roll, twenty Ministers
and eighteen Ruling Elders were found to
be present.
Rev. F J. Brooke. Central church,
Clarksburg, w. Va. was elected Modera-
tor. Rev. L. B. johnson and Elder J. S.
McNulty were appointed Temporary Clerks
Rev. A. Fl. Hamilton was elected Treas
urer, rice Rev. Frank McCutchen.
The name of Linville church, Rocking
ham county, was changed to Woodland.
Rev. G. J. Ralston was dismissed 10 the
Prachvferv nf Psducah Nv
Rev. E T. Huge, Presbytery of Mont
gomery, and Rev. DR.. Houston, Presbytery
of Louisville, were corresponding members.
Rev. Mr.. Gaver, of M. E. Church South,
was introduced as a visiting brother.
Rev. B. y Pendleton was received from
East Hanover Presbytery, and will supply
Beverly and Leading creek churches in
Randolph county. w Va.
Rev. d. A. Peuick presented a report ON
Foreign Missions, interesting and encour-
aging. exhibiting increased liberality on
the part Of the churches comprising the
Presbytery, in promoting course SO i'm
portant as the evangelization of the world.
Pending this excellent report, an impress
sive and instructive address was delivered
by DR.. Houston, Assistant Secretary of
Missions. AllusiOn was made to the un-
paralleled activities of the age in propa.
eating the tenets of Islamsm and Free
Thought on the part of their adherents and
the all-important duty of the friends of
Jesus Christ to be on the alert. Ten thou
sand students of the Koran, at Cairo sup
ported each at four cents per diem are
preparing by day and night for the defence
and extension of the Mnslem faith.
The D sciples of Rationalism are striv-
ing to forestaH the educated youth of ia
pan and Indi in favor of Skepticism and
Ma erialistn
The audience was led by Rev. P. Fetch
er in fervent and appropriate prayer in be-
half Of tie Assembly's work in foreign
lands.
Rev. Plum = Bryan interested large
and attentive audience by mastery SER
mon on the 42nd chapter of Isaiah, first
four verses. lie discussed this most re-
markable prophetic utterance on the theory
that the Prophet had in mind COMPLETE
IDEAL The head is Christ, of whom all
that is pei feet may be predicated, and of
the body which is the church that is i'm
peri, CT, or whatever is pc, feet IN modified
sense of peril ction may be predicated
Resolutions were offered pledging Pres
bytery t, aim ut larger results in evangel-
zing the verdi Pending their considera-
ton, stirring remarks were made by Messrs.
Johnson Penick, and DR.. Preston as to
the impoItance of conscientiously pressing
the claims of Il course SO important, upon
the attention Of Gods believing people.
One of the saddest acls of tn. Presby-
terry was the dissolution of the pastoral re-
lation between Rev. J. E. Booker and the
Second church of Staunton. Pertinent
and touching remarks were made by D..
Preston, Henry, Penick, Waddell, and
Bryan.
Mr.. Bv5k.l goes to Charleston, W. Va,
as co-pastor with Rev. ]. G. Barr.
Licentiats I.nbert F. Campbell accepted
calls ffotu Windy Cove and MILFORD
churches. P.esbytery will hold an adj
journed mecti::g at Millboro', June 18th,
to hear Mr.. Canpbell's trials for ordina ion;
on the day following. he will be ordained
and install. ed over Windy Cove; and the
next day aftei chat will be installed over
Millboro' c:.urch. Messrs. L. B. johnson,
A. r. Cooke snd ]. b. Smith, will conduct
the services a. both churches.
The next stated meeting will beat Windy
Cove, September 23rd, 1885.
Rev. Messrs. Penick and Bryan, with
Ruling Elders J. A. Walker and Osborn
Wilson were chosen commissioners to the
General Assembly, to meet at Houston,
Texas, May p IS.
Rev. E. t. H,ge, member Presbytery of
Montgomery, was received and enrolled a
member of this Presbytery.
Rev. VIM. McElwee declined the calls
from Oxford and High Bridge churches up
on learning it was the opinion of Presby-
terry he should remain pastor of Bethesda
and Walker creek churches.
Presbytery was led to this opinion by the
prot sts of commissioners from
those churches-Dr. Morrison, Mohler, and
Reed.
The death of Rev. ]. Crawford McClung
was announces, and suitable memorial
was read by Rev. J. Fl. Smith.
Rev. Mr.. Hamilton presented minu e
and carefully arranged Sabbath-schoOl re-
port, charac' cried by numerous cheering
featui es-lArge attendance, more CONVEX
versions, and increased beneficence. The
only exceptions where children do not at
tend church occlr in towns and villages
How to secure efficient teachers Is the
theme of discussion at the fall meeting.
Mr.. Cyrus G.. Brown, a member of New
Providence church, was received as CAN
dida'e for the ministry.
During the devotional exercises Friday,
ASCF d IL OItilblf, vi piCdCbCo
from Matthew, Al: MAN does not live by
bread alone The sermon sbounded in
pertinent remarks, illustrating the first
If our Lord in the wilderness
A model narrative on the State of Re
ligion was read by Mr.. Brown. of the
Warm Springs. In the main the paper was
a cheering presentation of facts illustrating
a General advance in the work of the
churches in our bounds. There has been
special religious interest in many of the
churches. Increased activity on the part
Of the laity in Christian effort is apparent.
1t was sad to observe the prevailing negli-
gence of family worship aud the extent to
which the Sabbath is desecrated by social
visit alton and secular affairs, while it was
pleasant to learn that intemperance and
worldly amnsements do not prevail among
of the church, so far as known
to Ministers and Ruling Elders
A resolution was adopted, admonishing
professors of religion, who are heads of
families and officers of the church to give
special attention to the CLAIMS of home re-
ligion by precept and example.
Rev r C. Walker presented statistical
report. showing gratifying progress in
most respects.
The changes in the ministry have been SO