Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-10-30
II. SYNOD Of N,ro,a,u-omsr Church Notes.

1888. 1t includes at present all the
PRESBYTERIAN churches in Virginia
except two, and all those in West
Virginia, Maryland and the District
of Columbia that are connected with
the Southern Assembly. 1t contains
10 presbyteries, nearly 400 churches,
nearly $50 ministers, over $4,000 COM
municants, and over $4,000 Sunday
school scholars. These churches con-
tributed last year $4,000 for the gen
eral work Of the church, and more
than a quarter of million dollars for
their own expenses.
The 104th annual meeting was held
in the First Presbyterian Church OF
Roanoke. Ten years ago the con
gIegation was weak, numbering only
about sixty members, but under the
pastorate of the genial and indefati-
gable DR.. w. G.. Campbell it has be-
come strong and vigorous, with a
membership of 500, and it is throwing
out branches in every direction. y
new house OF worship has recently
been built in the modern style OF ar
chitecture. The audience room seats
about 500 persons, and is one o! tie
brightest, most attractive, comfortable
and convenient TO be found III the
State.
Synod was opened with a sermon
by Dr. NJ. l.. Lacy, from the text,
Where is the Lord God Of Elijah p
Dr. J. W. Rosebro, OF Petersburg, Va,
was chosen Moderator, and Revs. j.
&. Vance and p. G. Clark temporary
clerks. The attendance was larger
than usual. over 900 members were
present, and more than half OF them
were ruling elders.
The subject that occupied most
! time and attention was Synodlcal
CHARACTERIZATION This work has been
carried on among vacant and weak
churches and in destitute regions.
Six evangelists have been employed
during parts OF the year. They visit
ed about one hundred places, and as
a result Of their preaching and pas
toral visiting several old churches
! have been revived, a few new ones
have been organized, and about 200
members have been added 10 the
churches. For carrying on this work
81, 600 was contributed by the churches
Of Synod, and $4,000 by individuals;
! $4,000 more was pledged and will be
paid, if it is needed, 10y the first Of
January. Interesting addresses were
made by the evangelists, giving ac-
counts of their work, which has been
| principally along the lines of the Nir-
ginia Midland, Richmond u Danville,
! Norfolk & Western, and Chesapeake y
Ohio railroads. The committee was
continued with DR.. Rosebro as chair
man, and the churches of Synod are
called upon to contribute on the
| third Sunday in November the same
amount that was called for from the
churches last year, $4,000. Three of
the presbyteries have also employed
evangelists during the past year, who
have laboured with much success;
and some of these it is proposed to
make synodical evangelists for next
year Four of the presbyteries have
also had colporteurs at work in their
territory.
Another subject that excited con
siderable interest was the proposed
changes in the boundary lines of the
presbyteries. These presbyteries
were formed before the days OF rail
roads. and now it is often found in
convenient to reach one church
from another in the same presbytery
bv rail. Some Of the members of Lex
ington Presbytery had to travel 800
miles in attending their meeting this
fall. 1t is proposed now to transfer
some churches from one presoytery
| to another, so as to make the boundary
! lines more regular and the presby-
teries more compact, and thus faclIl-
tate travel from one point to another
1t is also proposed to unite Chesa-
peake and Maryland pr"sbyteries in
to one. TO be called the Presbytery Of
Potomac. All these changes, how
ever, were referred to the presbyteries
for their consideration, and the mat
ter will not be finally settled until
next year.
An overture to the General As
sembly was proposed, which would
change our Form of Government so
as to allow men to be ordained to the
work of the gospel ministry who are
we'll versed in the English Bible and
the Standards of the Presbyterian
| Church. without the usual educational
requirements but this matter, too,
was postponed for consideration at
| the next meeting.
Reports were received, aud ad-
dresses made, on the general work OF
the church. DR.. Craig, of Atlanta,
Secretary OF Home Missions, and DR..
Richardson, of Memphis, Secretary OF
Education, presented by their respect
i've causes. Foreign Missions was pre-
sented by Dr. Bryson, OF Huntsville,
Alabama, representing the committee
at Nashville.
Two of our missionaries to China,
Reys. II. NJ Woods and Absalom Sy-
denstricker, made addresses on the
work in that vast empire. Our
/ southern church has 1913 missionaries
in foreign lands, and 46 of these came
from the Synod of Virginia-nearly
half
The most telling address was made
Of Inns l. "a lnnSA