Birmingham age-herald., 1895-10-02
NORTH ALA. PRESBYTERY
MET IN THIRD CHURCH LAST NIGHT
Outline of the Opening Sermon by the Retir ing Moderator-RolI of Delegates
 Caed-Genera Business.

The north Alabama presbytery met in the Third Presbyterian church, corner Avenue F and Twenty-seeond street, last night, and was called to order by the moderator, Rev. William Flynn of Bes- semer.
 song and prayer service was com ducted by Rev. J. A. Bryan, pastor of the Third Presbyterian church.
 The retiring moderator, Rev. William Flynn. preached the opening sermon from the text: "The former1reatise have I made, O. TheophiIus, of all the Jesus began both to do and teach. Acts, i, 1.
 He said: The church is the body of Christ it is the great organ through which he teaches. The purpose Jesus Christ had in view in organization of the church was to manifest God, to manifest Divinity to the world. The manifesta- ton of Christ as the agent of God It is from these we get the true idea of the church There are great many false conceptions of the church. 1t is some times recognized as society. It is a society but the greatest society ever or ganized. The church is the home Of God. It is a fold, an asylum. But it is a great deal more than either. It Is greater than a mere help.
 Some havefan idea that when the forms have been gone through with, the songs have been sung and the prayers uttered, that alls done. But it means much more than this. The church is the organ of Christ through which the doctrines of Jesus Christ are taught.
 In the church is taught the Gospel of Christ and it is through this promulga- tion that God is made manifest to the world.
 Looking to Acts again we find that Christ came Into the world to save sin ners Then the supreme work of the church is the salvation of souls. Thus the church may gauge herself and see if she is fulfilling her grea work Each member of this church must have a part in this work. New members are received into the church to add to it's power for saving souls Every organ of the human body has a function to fill and so with every member of the church. From this We see that the object of the church is not to maintain a form or to maintain the most perfect society that can be formed, but~to. carry on the great work 1ef,Christ- Christ then must be the light, the mind, the soul the power of that church.
 Are we willing to do this work. God grant that we shall have the faith and courage to do this work.
 At the conclusion of the sermon a short prayer was offered by the modera- tor. after which he declared the presby- tery open for the transaction of business and ordered the roll called. The following ministers and delegates answered:
 Birmingham Central church-Rev. L. s. Handley. F. V. Evans.
 Columbiana-ReV. w. I. Sinnot, J. $. Leeper.
 HuntsviIle-Rev. J. H. Bryson.
 Birmingham Third church-Rev. J. A Bryan, C. H. Reid.
 Bessemer-Rev. H. w. Flynn.
 Gadsden-Rey. w. H. Richardson. w. R. Dortch.
 Pleasant Grove--Rev. NJ N Warren.
 Avondale-Rev. J. G. Snedecor, II. D. Wilson.
 Oxford-Rev. R. T. Lston.
 Birmingham South Highlands-Rev. John Barbour, ]. Hardie. s":
 Florence-G. H. Smith
 Birmingham First church-Rev. A. B. Curry, Rev. c. c. Epperson. George L. Thomas
 Carmel-Rev. D. NJ Armentrout.
 East Lake-Rev w. E. McIlwain.
 Birmingham Second church-S. G. Wood.
 Talladega-w. N. Boynton.
 Midway--J M. Pickens
 Rev. A, 5. Curry, pastor of the First church, Birmingham. was elected moder- ator and Rev. R. T. Liston of Oxford temporary secretary.
 Rev. MT. McIlwain was granted a letter of dismissal, he having removed to Lou isville, Ky.
 Revs. MT. Byrd of the Savannah pres bytery and James Lapsley of the Meek ieiDuiS PfesDylery were elected to seats In the presbytery as advisory members
 On motion Dr. J. II. Bryson of Hunts Vile was selected to preach at II o'clock this morning and Rev. w. H. Richard son of Gadsden at 7:30 this evening. There will be no prayer services at the other Presbyterian churches in the city this evening in order that the members f1ay be able to attend the services at the Third church.
 It was announced that everybody is invited to attend the sessions of the pres bytery.
 on motion the presbytery adjourned until o'clock this morning.