Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-04-20
POWER OF PRESBYTERIANISM
THE STRENGTH OF THE
CHURCH.

GREAT GATHERING TO TAKE PLACE IN PHIL
ADELPHIA NEXT sUMAIER-vIRGINIA's SHARE
IN THE WORK.
On the oath of next May, an eventful con-
vention of Presbyterians is to assemble in
l. Philadelphia. 1t is to be meeting COM
memorating the hundredth anniversary of
the first general assembly of the Presbyte-
rian church in America.
At the close of tho war there were four
separate organizations of Presbyterians,
viz: The old school general assembly, the
new school general assembly, the general
assembly of the southern Presbyterians
and the assembly of the Cumberland Pres
byterians. In 1869 the two assemblies of
the north, the old and new schools, united
under the name of the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America" The Presbyterians in
the south took the name of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in
the United States" The Cumberland
presbYtery are still separate organiza-
ton.
The first named of these assemblies, the
northern is to hold its annual meeting in
Philadelphia in May, while the southern
Presbyterians are to NEST at the same time
in Baltimore. The Oath of May has been
fixed on as the day for a joint meeting,
which day will mark an impressive epoch
in the history of this inf ential denomi-
nation. The southern Presby terians will
adjourn from Baltimore and unite with
the northern wing in celebrating this an
niversary.
There will be three sessions on May IS
morning, afternoon and highland at
each session there will be different presid-
ing officers and speakers chosen from both
wings of the church.
The following presiding officers have
been chosen for that day: Justice William
Strong. of the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States Hon. A. M. Scales, Governor of
North Carolina; Hon. j. A. Beaver, Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania; Hon. John B, Cor
don, Governor of Georgia.
Among the speakers selected are the fol-
lowing from Virginia Rev. M. D. Hoge,
D. D., Richmond; Rev. w. F. Junk1n,
Lexington; Mr.. Thomas J. Kirkpatrick,
Lynchburg; Rev. W. W. Moore, y. D.,
Sidney, with many from the northern and
southern assemblies of most eloquent men
in these bodies, where so many are eloquent
and distinguished. such as Rev. b. M. Pal
mer, D. D.; Rev. T. D. Witherspoon, D. D.;
Rev. G. B. Stricken, D. D.; Rev. w. H.
Houston, d. D.; Hon. VIM. G. Brecken-
ridge, Hon. j. Randolph Tucker, Mr.. VIM.
Writ Henry, Gen. D. H Hill, from the
Southern church; and Drs. John Hall, T.
l.. Cuyler, Howard Crosby, Samuel j.
Nichols from the Northern church.
In connection with this subject it may
not prove undressing to say something
about the introduction of Presbyterianlsm
into the United States and to recall some
thing of their work in the establishment of
American independence The first foothold
of Presbyterianism in America was on the
eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia.
There seems good authority for surprising
that the first organization was what is now
the First church of Norfolk. In 1884, Reho-
both on the eastern shore of Maryland was
organized by Francis Mckenzie. The first
synods organized were those of New York
and Pennsylvania, in 1716, and In l7oS the
first general assembly was organized. The
increase o. the church was rapid and the
two assemblies, the northern and southern,
now number more than !, 900, 900 commu-
nicants. In the stirring times preceding the
American revolution Presbyterians took
very prominent part.
In Virginia DIR. Samuel Davies was the
father OF Presbyterianism and did much to
shape the policy of the State in the strug-
gle for independence. He made speech
before the House of Burgesses. at Williams
burg an eloquent address in advocacy OF
American independence. His sermon after
Braddocks defeat contained words almost
prophetic about Washington, as preserved
by Providence for great purposes. he with
the Presbytery of Hanover did more than
any other body to shape the opinion OF
Virginia. anG it was under Samuel Dawes
that Patrick Henry learned the true prln-
cipIes of liberty that found utterance III
his 1mpassiened speech.
1t is also we'll esta blished that the Pres
byterians of Mecklenburg, N. G., led the
way i'll making their declaration OF indie
pendence, which made them hornets
nest" to British authorities. And 1t was
DIR. Witherspoon's eloquence which decld-
ed the wayering congress III Philadelphia
to adopt the declaration of independence,
SO that this centennial meeting is most ap-
propriately held in Philadelphia.
Virginia has given many distinguished
men to the Presbyterian church, among
whom might be mentioned Rev. Archibald
Alexander the founder of Princeton Theo-
logical Seminary, who left in his dying
bequest his walking stick to DR.. Charles
Hodge, in which bequest there was no
DOUBT "a latent exhort.tion to whack every
student over the head who was inclined to
depart from the Calvinistic faith
Thers will be held in July, a still larger
gathering of Presbyterians in London,
composed of representatives of the church
throughout the whole world, representing
from IS, 100000 to 40, 900, 900 of adherents,
about one-third of the entire Protestant
body.
A committee composed of members from
each assembly, in the United States, North
and South, had conference in Louis
vile last November and will meet again
in Baltimore before May, so they can re-
port the result of their conference to each
body for its action.
We may expect, therefore, that this cen
tennial meeting well be fraught with much
interest.