Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-20
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BELLE HAVEN, Acc0MAcK Co.,
September Is, 1885.
The Rev. william Chinn signided
his acceptance ofthe call to the churches
in Accomack placed in his hands at the
last meeting and . committee, con-
sistipe of Rev. DR.. Armstrong, Rev.
r. d. Stimson, and Rev. J. G.. Ander-
son, was appointed to install him on the
third Sabbath of November.
A communication was received from
the Rev. Walter II. Robertson tender
ing his resignation Of the pastoral
charge Of Gloucester church, accompa-
MED by the action Of the church con.
curing in his request. The pastoral
relation was thereupon dissolved, and
Mr.. Robertson was dismissed to Chesa-
peake Presbytery to take charge oil
Warrenton church. to which ne re-
Gently received call. =.
The sum of 81 800 was apportioned
among the churches Of the Presbytery
to be raised for sustentation, and
$4,000 for foreign missions.
The time for the spring meeting, to
be held in Park-AveBue church, Nor
folk, was fixed for Tuesday, May 4,
1886, at 8 p. NJ.
The Presbytery took up the Revised
Directory for Worship, sent down by
the General Assembly for criticism,
and recommended the omission Of the
preliminary chapter, and also the para
graph setting forth the manner of adj
hitting those baptized in infancy to
public profession Of faith. A few
other minor criticisms were also
adopted.
The Committee on the Minutes OF the
General Assembly presented a report,
which was adopted, containing the fol-
lowing important items:
4. The chairmen of the permanent
Committees on Domestic Missions, on
Foreign Missions, on Education, and on
Publication we're instructed to commu-
nicate with the vacant churches pre-
vious 10 the times of the collections for
their respective causes, and urge that
the collections be not neglected. And
the Presbytery enjoined upon pastors
and sessions to carry out proper mea-
sures to secure regular contributions,
as far as practicable, from all the MEN,
bers of their churches.
2. 1t was recommended that ministers
preach upon Sabbath observance, and
that sessions take notice Of the viola
ton of the Sabbath by members Of the
Church, and admonish and reprove them
in the name Of Christ, and if they per-
sist in their attractions of the fourth
commandment, that it be regarded as an
offence justifying suspension.
3. 1t was recommended that sessions
use our own Sabbath-school literature
in their Sabbath schools, and when
other literature is needed that they
purchase through our own Committee
Of Publication at Richmond.
The Presbytery took action on seve-
raj constitutional amendments sent
down by the General Assembly for the
concurrence of the presbyteries
/. The Presbytery declined by ma
.ority Of one to concur in the proposed
amendment which would provide that
the clause pertaining to the mode Of
altering the Confession of Faith aud
Catechism should itself be altered only
by the concurrence of three fourths Of
the presbyteries.
2. The Presbytery also declined to
concur in the amendments proposed on
page 424 Of the Minutes of the General
Assembly, designed to give presbyte-
ries the right Of exercising jurisdiction
over private members Of the Church in
cases III which the sessions cannot act.
The ground of the refusal to concur
was that this authority is already con-
veyed by the constitution, and the pro-
posed amendments are therefore not
called for.
3. The Presbytery also declined to
concur in the amendment pertaining to
the powers Of an evangelist in the
foreign field.
4. The amendment providing that
ruling elder may become a moderator
Of Presbytery, Synod, or General
was cOncurred in.
There were two sermons preached
each day during the sessions of the
Presbytery. These sermons were clear,
forcible, and earnest presentations of
the gospel, and seem to produce deep
upon the congregations that
crowded the house at every service.
After pleasant and busy session of
three days, during which much bust
ness was transacted, the Presbytery adj
journed to meet at Mizpah church, in
Henrico, on October 18th, at O'Clock
p. NJ.
All the members of the Presbytery
will testify that the hospitable East
ern Shore is delightful section of the
country in which tn hold an eccles;ast;