Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-05-16
Lexington rresbytery.

A GAvEL AND TABLET FOR THE MODERA
L TOR-sOCIETIES WITHIN AND WITHOU
L THE CHURCH-PERSONALM MINISTERIAL
L Neutrality-suspicious. OF WORSHIP RE
$ SECTED.
L &C, &C.. &C.
At the session of Lexington Presbyter
at Hebron church last week, Mr.. William
l.. Lushbaugh of Staunton, presented tn
l PreSbytery with a handsome gavel, and MI
Wesley S. Kerr of Staunton, with a small mai
ble tablet for the Moderator's use. Thoug
over one hundred years old, the Presbyter
never before had gavel, and it was ex
planned that the presentation Of one at thi
time was not intended as reflection on th,
Hebron church people.
Rev. W. E. Hamilton, D. D., was receiv
ed by Presbytery from Pennsylvania Pres
bytery, Synod of Kentucky of the Northern
Presbyterian church.
The following Commissioners to Genera
Assembly which met May 18th, at Ashe
vile, N. c., were elected-Revs. A. H
Hamilton and D. A. Penick, and Elders
A. A. McCurdy of Bethesda, and James E
Beard of Bethel.
The Presbytery declined to adopt the Di
rectory of Worship, handed down from AS
sembly, but asked it's further consideration
The committee appointed to install the
Rev. J. W. Lafferty as pastor of Timber
Ridge and Fairfield churches the 4th OF
April, reported that owing to his protrac.
ted illness at his home in North Carolina
the work was not done. The com nittee
was continued, the installation to take
place at time agreed upon by MI. Latter
ty and the churches.
! DEMAND FOR MINISTER'S.
The Committee of Home Missions re-
ported the condition of the mission fields.
the most of which are in prosperous con-
dition. Five new church buildings were
erected during the past year. and three
more ministers are needed for new work.
Here, it says, is our great trouble, we have
ten vacant charges, and not minister in
sight for one of them.
AS TO SOCIETIES.
AS to voluntary societies scithSn the
Church the following resolutions were adop-
ted, after discussion by DIS. Vaughan
and Murray:
| /. That all existing societies in our churches
be counselled to form relation to the church
by coming under its government, and thus
avoid censure and hindrance to their useful
ness, arising from their anomalous relation.
| 2 That the formation of these societies be-
yOnd the bounds of particular congregations
be discouraged, as tending to the develop
ment of body unknown to the constitution
OF the church.
An appropriation from the church cleo
ton fund Of $3.50 was recommended for a
new church at Basic City,
The organization of a church at Buena
Vista of thirty three members the 9th of
March last, was reported and the name of
the church was enrolled.
The subject of Sabbath observance was
carefully considered, and action was taken
to secure more regard for the Sabbath on
the part of our people.
IMPORTANT ACTION.
The following action was taken on the
overture of the assembly:
1. AS to societies outside of the Church. the
Presbytery decides that the Church should
endorse such societies as the American Bible
Society, whose design is to spread the pure
Word of God, but not other societies by any
formal acts OF her courts.
[NoTE-Among the religious societies exist
ing outside of the church are The American
Bible Society, The American Tract Society,
The Sunday School Union, The Young Mems
Christian Association, The Kings Daughters
and Temperance SOcieties.-EGSt0r.
Ar{ 10 +lo44 II.
| miss the proposition to establish the 1.-THE sys-
TEN in the Church as without any basis in the
Scriptures apart from the Levitical law, eth
er as positive law Or an obligatory stand
ard; as unjust in its requirements, demanding
too much OF some and too little Of others; as
difficult of construction; as complicated in its
| administration, and as tending to confusion
and mischievous results in the Church.
The report of the committee on Sabbath
schools indicates steady growth in this de-
partment of work. There are on the rolls
of the schools 1913 teachers, and 1872 schol-
ars, an increase in five years;of $50 teachers
and 2,052 scholars.
The Rev. F. P. Sydenstricker will labor
at Buckhannon church, West Virginia,
| (Northern.i one half of his time for one
year.
Calls were presented from Beverly and
Leading Greek churches, both of which he
now serves, for the Rev. J. n. Van Devan-
ter, each for the whole of his time. He ac-
cepted the call to Beverly.
OTHER CHURCH AFFAIRS.
The Rev. DR.. James Murray resigned the
Craftsmanship of Home Missions and the
Rev. A. 81. Hamilton was elected in his
place.
Rev. A. H. Hamilton then resigned the
Craftsmanship Of the Sabbath School Com
mittee. Rev. J. E. Booker was elected in
his stead.
Mr.. A. M. Smith of Collierstown church,
and Mr.. G. D. Gilkeson of Thinking Spring,
were received as candidates for the minis
try. Mr.. Gilkeson was also licensed to
preach the Gospel.
Rev. G. W. Spiggle, Of the Lutheran
church, and Rev. J. III. Shuford, German
Reformed, were invited to sit as
visiting brethren; Rev. E. W. McCorkle.
of Montgomery Presbytery as correspond
ing member.
The narrative ON the state of religion re-
ports the churches generally in good condi-
ton. There were added to them on pro
fession 533, on certificate, 1T; total mem
bership in the Presbytery, 1856.
Calls from huntsville and Sutton church
es, West Virginia, for Rev. F. L. McCue's
services were placed in his hands and held
by him for consideration.
The above report is made up from the
correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
from Lexington Presbytery.