The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-21
HANOVER PRESBYTERY.
7BE FAIL SESSION TO BE HELD Ar
BLACKSTONE IN OCTOBER.
This Overture Recommended by Dr. Kerr IL
Adopted-rn'ercsting Statistical Re-
porte from Committees.

The ProSbytcry took up as the first
order the overture. recommended by Dr..
Kerr. 10 the General Assembly. request
INK that body TO send down to the Pres
byicr.cs for their adoption a proposal
20 change the wording Of the baptlsmal
formula as found in chapter NX. OF the
Revised Directory OF Worship. so as 10
have IL read Il haptize thee IN the name
etc.. instead OF into the name etc.
The overture is not TO be entertained
unless at the meeting Of the General
assembly IL shall appear that the rcvi-
sion containing the form objected TO has
been adopted by the requisite majority
of the Presbytcr.cs 10 make II a part OF
the constitution OF the Church. The
overture was adopted
Rev. +. 4. Epes made an interesting
report Of the affairs Of the proposed
Hose Academy at Blackstone.
ur. Hoge offered a rcsoiCt on. which was
alo2ted expressive OF the high regard in
which the Presbytery holds Rev L. y.
Iurnbull. who goes 10 the orange Presby-
terry In North Carolina. The resolution Is
l.sh tribute 10 Mr. Turnbull and com
mcnds him 10 the confidence and love OF
those with whom his lot IS now cast.
THE Mkt NETTING.
II was agreed that the fail sessions
az the Presbytery bc held at Blackstone
on Wednesday, October 10Th, at 1880 L.
81.
Reports Of the committees on Nara
tive, on Pastors Salaries. and OH Synodic
Evangclization. Education. Systematic
BcnevOence. and Statistics were read
and adopted.
The statistical report makes the fol-
loving exhibit: Ministers, %, churches,
CO.. Ncentiates. 3: candidates. g: elders. l25;
dcacons. 127. added on examination. 253,
ON certificate i57; total communicates,
400. adult baptisms. 81 infant bapusms
Ili. baptized non-communicants. 1917;
Sahbath-school teachers, 457; scholars,
1884. contributions TO sustentation S2i6l;
evangelistc, 1884: invalid fund. $50;
foreign missions. g. 098 education, Sl,7Sf;
publication. SIS: coiored evangelization.
$685. church erection. SOL; Bible Society.
Nu;Presbysterial. $317. pastors salaries.
{-lS4S; congregational. $3.50; miscela-
ueous. S3.c23
Rev. Or. George H. Ray was invited
10 a seat in the Presbytery
At his request. Rev. c. q. Christian
was given permission to labor for the
summer IN Missouri.
STATE OF THE CHURCH.
The Committee on Narrative reported
as follows.
Your committee would respectfully re-
port that the only churches which have
not sent narratives have been four weak
churches which are without pastors. The
state OF religion I'm our presbytery as
shown by the narratives is prosperous and
encouraging. There is almost unbrokcn
testimony 10 the fidelity Of ministers
and elders to their duties. II is true
THIS testimony comes from the officers
themselves. but your committee believes
this testimony % be substantially cor
rect and that there is an increasing de-
gree of fidelity on the part OF all our
church officers. The attendance on the
preaching IS generally reported as good
and increasing The exceptions are few
AS the result OF the faithfulness Of
church officers and Of the faithful attend
ance Of the people on the preaching Of
the Word. there has been a very gen
cral ard gratifying interestin our church
&C. and the additions compare most favor
ably with the last year. AS an addi-
tonal evidence Of this faithfulness we
may note gracious outpourings Of the |
f'y Spirit in several of our churches. |
lls report comes from Old Market. |
amelia. Third church OF Richmond. the |
Second church Of Petersburg. and Tabb- |
street church. The revival I'm Petersburg |
reported as the most wonderful in /
Tie history Of that city.
There seems 10 be an encouraging liber- |
atty among people. Notwithstanding the |
sfaitness Of the times. There has been /
@ railing of in the amounts contributed |
i' henevolence, yet this year Will com
pare favorably with the past when all
things are considered.
There is cause for gratitude that onl,
Four churches report any arrearape ON
AiAy OF their pastors. and with one OK
epuon the amounts due are small.
Ntbbath desecratlOn Is rare vet fhore
'fens IN some churches lowering of
ne Scriptural conception Of the sanctity
Pr Gods day, and parents are permitting
leir chilD.en TO depart from the Gus
oms or our fathers. While the Sabbath
nght TO be made the day OF an the weel,
ne best and happiest, yet that must be
by Keeping II holy. Another failure Of
aany parents seems TO be the NEGLECT TO
ram their children In the catechlsn and
% committing the Scriptures Many neg
ect TO order their children after them Nv
living home Instruction and in having the
amlIy altar. From nearly all your
hurches comes the mournful fact that
many OF our families neglect the precious
|
ION 10 this deserves 10 be noted with
'fatitude. The Bon Air church reports
hat every family whose head is a Chris
IAN has family worship. All honor 10
he Bon Air church. Does not our Church
'ase IT'S distinction on the family cove
lant with Abraham. and do not we point
ID the iamlly altar in his home as one
tose Tor the visits of the Angel of Cow
'dnt 10 ms tents? IT, then. there is no
anlily worship 10 creates q painful sus-
i'l'h OF tne lack OF earnest and vital
ieiy In The home. and our families
'ouid he earnestly warned against this
egleci. lest we lose what has been our
Tory IN The past-family instruction and
.ety. There 10 a gratifying break IN the
onotony of the reports as TO instruction a
coiored people in the excellent and I
couraging work done for them in the
'nswick and Bon AIR churches /
snail we send "a noble and gifted Laps- :
y TO die in Africa and then neglect the =
irlcan IN our homes? The difficulties are
eat in reaching them. but the faithful q
ID patient experiments In these two ;,
IDS show that the difficulties are not -
lperabie. The sessions report that this
itAipl work Is done by the pastors q.
o. Ia each church y
mere IS most gratifying freedom "
pa Woridlness, when we remember =
the world IS encroaching on the Il
Hch ard now many. especially In our :"
ies. have allowed the barriers TO he
broken down that IL is difficult 10 tell
.at does separate a protested follower
the Saviour from this world MAY -,
fe and undelled religion in our families j,
lw that the I'fesbyt cTian Church Is -
Ing not TO forget her Lords COM g