Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-16
ONE HUNDRED YEARS
The PREs6YTERY or WINCHESTER
CELEBRATES ITS CENTENNIAL
Interesting Exercises In the Old Church ut
shepherdstowD-Dr Hoge's Eloquent
and Impressive Address.
corresnnndence Of the pIspatch.)


Der I2-This has been a memorable day
| among all the days OF the last hundred
| years to the Presbytery OF Winchester
and to the people of this vicinity.
The presbytery, which Is holding fts
session at Kearneysvile five miles as
tant, adjourned to celebrate It's centennial
| here.
IL commenced its session last night with
| twenty-one ministers and twenty elders
in attendance. with the venerable d.
| John A. Scott as moderator ana Kew
| A. s. Link and !. W. Harlan, Esq. clerks
| At 10 o'clock this morning the presbytery
met in Shepherdstown in the Presbyterian
| church. The building Is a large, old-fash-
| toned and very comfortable one, erected
in 1897. with capacious galleries running
around three of its sides. a large congre-
| CATION crowded the body of the church'
| running over into the galleries, when the
| moderator called the body to order. ms
| Is the second centennial celebration over
| which he has presided, he having seveth
| years ago been the moderator OF the
| Synod OF Virginia, which celebrated us
| hundredth anniversary at the Providence
| church. He Is the oldest member OF
| Winchester Presbytery with the exception
| of the Rev DR.. Graham, OF winchester,
! who has been connected with it forty
| three years
| The Rev. DR.. Moses ID. Hoge, OF East
| Hanover Presbytery, and the Rev. Dr.
George Norcross. OF Carlisle Presbytery'
were invited TO sit as corresponding MEM
| bers.
| Shortly after the exercises commenced
| Z. afarx Of
| Home Mission Committee and Dr. James
| i. Smith of the Central Presbyterian ar
| rived, and. by invitation. took their places
| as corresponding members OF the Presby-
| terry.
WELCOMED.
The Rev. Charles Shesein, pastor Of the
| church, IN few hearty and well-chosel
words, welcomed the prcsbytery and It's
visitors as guests. and the Rev. DR.. Gra-
ham, the honored moderator Of the Cen
eral Assembly OF the Southern Presbyte-
rian Church, was introduced, and read an
historical address filed with valuable in
formation and sketches Of the eminent
men who had been the founders Of Pres
byterian churches from the earliest set
tlement Of this part Of the country and
held the fixed attention Of the audience
for nearly two hours.
DR.. Scott. the moderator then intro
duced DR.. Hoge. IN a very graceful and
feeling manner After acknowledging the
kindness Of the introduction, DR.. Hoge
remarked that as the congregation had
been occupied and interested by the adj
| mlrable historic address Of DR.. Graham
ana other exercises for nearly two hours,
that IL would be probably more agreeable
10 the presbytery and the congregation If
he were to deliver his centennial discourse
Mt night, instead OF the sermon, which
he had been announced 70 preach at 1870
o'clock. 4 number at once arose. and
moved that DR.. Ioge be requested TO
proceed at the present time That seem
ing 10 be the unanimous wish of the
presbytcry and Of the audience, the Mode
rdtor asked the distinguished divine 10
proceed at once with his discourse.
DR.. HOGES ADDRESS.
Asserting TO this arrangement Or.
HOge commenced by thanking the presby-
terry for its courtesy. and remarked that
if the great and good men whose nam :
and services had been referred TO in Dr.
Graham's narrative were TO return to us
from the higher sphere. 10 which they had
long ago been translated. they would find
themselves, in some respects in n new
and unfamiliar world, by reason Of our
changed customs. and new modes of
travel and the application OF science 20
so many Of the uses and comforts OF
modern life but they would. neverthe- |
less, find the best things still unchanged. !
The natural scenery would still exhibit !
its old aspect and charms, with its hills |
and valleys and sparkling streams In ~ |
part Of the world more picturesque and |
beautiful than in the Valley OF the Sus- |
quehannah They would nnl the social |
life, as Of old, full Of nclghDVrly kindness |
and generous hospitality and. best Of all. |
no g1H
dear TO the people now as it had been In |
their day.
THE SAME FAITH
Other changes had occurred but other |
things became obsolete or supplanted. but |
the faith once delivered to the saints |
was stil the like precious faith 10 the |
members Of this presbytery and 10 the |
people here present representing SO many |
churches, as IL had been a hundred years |
ago. because OF their loyalty TO their |
creeds and confessions. and above all %
the great head OF the Church who never
changes. but is the same yesterday, to-
day. and forever Then taking his text
from the first verse of tn forty-fourth |
Psalm, we have heard with our ears |
ana our fathers have told US, .. God. |
what work Thou didst in their days, IN |
the times OF old" Or. Hoge discussed
his theme impressively. emitting. no
doubt. some points he would have pre-
scented. but for the lateness Of the hour
In the conclusion Of his discourse he
alluded to the fact that after the
Reformation Of the sixteenth century
all the reformed churches Of Europe
adopted the doctrinal system and form Of
government Of the Presbyterian Church.
with the exception Of the Anglican and |
scandinavian churches; that the tr.-
annual council held in last September In
the city Of Toronto was composed Of dele
gates from more than twenty different
countries from every part Of the world.
and that while all were not Presbyterian
In name, they were all Presbyterian in
faith and pOity and that the Church
thus represented was the largest evangeli-
cal body In the world. with the exception.
perhaps, Of the Lutheran Church. lie
added that while mere members do not
prove orthodoxy. IL was pleasant To find
that the doctrine We hold and our form Of
church government have been embraced
by such large proportion OF Protestant
Christians all over the earth. but SIN
more pleasant to remember that those
who differ from us on the points that
seperate believers into different denomina-
tons. yet are one with US in loyalty 10
Church. the Great Head Of the Church.
and united with Us in the bonds Of sin
cere Christian love.
In the afternoon another large audience
assembled. the presbytery being presided
over at this service by the Hon. Felix u.
Welton.
PRINCIPLES.
Rev. II. VI. White. Of Winchester. then
made an address. which was both eio-
quent and learned on the distinctive prin-
cipies of Presbyterianism He was fol-
lowed by Rev Or. N0rcross, of the Pres
bytcry OF Carlyle. bringing warm fra
tcrnal greetings from that body, and de-
lighting the audience by his most apprO- |
pirate and admirably-eXpressed address.
by invitation the Rev. DR.. James J..
Smith of the Central Presbyterian. and
stated clerk of the Synod Of Virginia.
made a concise and well-received speech.
giving many interesting Incidents In con ,
nection with meetings OF the synod ana
memories OF by-gOne days. ,
THANKS.
Resolutions of thanks 10 the different
speakers Of the day were then adopted
with great heartiness.
- IL. - I