Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-04
THE PRESBYTERY ADJOURNS
FivC-Cent Contributions for Home
Missions Asked.
HOME TRAINING Is URGED
For the Young People and Ruling Elders Called
Into Service.
W0RKAT THE ORPHANS HOME COMMENCED
Motion to incorporate the Minutes of the La
dies Foreign Missionary Union Pre-
cipitates Lively Discussion.
The Motion Prevailed.
woRKAT THE ORPHANS HOME COMMENCED

The presbytery Of North Alabama re-
convened at o'clock yesterday morning,
and after devotional exercises heard a
report from the Ladies' Foreign Mis-
sionary society
The following report from the COM
mittee on the Orphans Home was read
and adopted:
Since the last stated meeting of the
presoytery nine children have been re-
ceived into the home and three have
been dismissed, leaving at present fifty
1ve. There are applications for the re-
ception of five more. Several of the chill
dren during the past six months have
been received into the church. One of
the boys recently dismissed is now study
ing for the gospel ministry as a candl-
date under the care of this presbytery
at Davidson college. He is one of the
first to offer himself for this grand
work, but We expect the example set by
him viii be followed by others.
The children usually are faithful in
their tasks, whether in the school for
five days of the week, or in domestic
work in the kitchen or field, and this
year they have raised an abundance OF
sorghum, potatoes, hay. etc.
Their moral and religious training
is carefully attended to, as Is evidenced
by the number who can recite the Shorter
Catechism perfectly; and nearly all of
them over 10 years of age are communi-
cants in the church, and some of these
desire to enter the ministry or to be
laborers of Christ among the heathens
In addition to the support of these
children, which of course is first in our
contributions, we greatly need a new
building for school room, with dormi-
tories for the bows
we recommend that this cause be
heartily recommended to the benevo-
lence of our people, and that all the
churches, and especially the Sabbath
on Orphans Home Day, which the synod
has fixed on the Sabbath Immediately
preceding Christmas day.
; w. l. SINNOT, Chairman"
The subject Ola general secretary for
Sabbath schools was discussed and the
following resolution. offered by Maj.
Joseph Hardie, adopted:
, In response to the overture of the
general assembly touching the appoint
ment of a. general secretary of Sabbath
schools. we express our Judgment that
the time has come for the appointment
of such an officer"
Rev. J.lP. Ward preached at IL o'clock
from the text: For as l passed by and
he held your devotions. found an altar
with this inscription, To the unknown
ship, him declare unto ou.'-Acts xvii,
23.
Afternoon Session.
Presbytery reassembled at 245, the
first half hour being devoted to presby-
terial prayer meeting.
A verbal report from the committee on
publication was heard and an hour de-
voted, to discussions of the same. Several
interetting talks were made.
On motion the thirty minutes following
DR.. Darnalfs sermon at the evening SER
vice were set aside for the consideration
Of home missions, to be conducted by
Maj. Joseph Hardie. DIR. Bryson was
requested to make fifteen minutes talk
on the subject.
Rev. F.E. Maddox, pastor OF the Sec
ond Presbyterian church, Birmingham,
was excused from attendance on the
presbytery, and the commission to install
him as pastor continued.
Rev, w. H. Richardson of the COM
mtttee on narratives submitted the fol-
lowing report. which was adopted:
The committee on the narratives would
respectively report that we find out of
sixty-nine churches in our presbytery
there are only sixteen written and few
verbal reports. From the reports made
we gather many encouraging facts. Pas
tors and officers have been faithful ex-
cept in the matter of family visitation
on the part of the ruling elders. The
attendance upon the regular services en-
couraging. Department of church mem
bers, In the main, praiseworthy. Whilst
no outpouring of the Holy Spirit is re-
ported, yet there have been ingatherings
in many fields and a consequent increase
of membership. Reports of Sabbath OBJ
servance are very encouraging, but fam
lily worship not such as 1t should be.
Worldly amusements are not so preva-
lent as they have been in the past. Most
encouraging reports are made in refer
ence to the work among the young peo-
pie, many of whom are being developed
and brought in sympathy and active CO.
operation with church work.
In view of the facts gathered from the
nara tives. submitted, presbytery would
send greeting of encouragement to the
churches and would urge:
l, The continuance of faithful la bors.
2, The sending of written narratives
by all the churches to both the fall and
spring meetings of presbytery according
to printed instructions.
8. That all churches give greater en-
phass to the work among the young peo-
pie. both through the home training, the
Sabbath schools and also the young peo-
pies societies.
4. That our ruling elders aid the
preachers in family visitations. and the
deacons endeavor to secure from the peo-
pie prompter and fuller payment of all
the financial obligations of the church.
s. That the members of our churches
shall be more faithful in reference to the |
training of their children and the erection
and maintenance of the family altar
w. H. RICHARDSON
Chairman
The following report was adopted Sc
latin:
The committee to whom was referred
the communication from the Woman's
Foreign Missionary union would recon- |
mend the following action:
1. That the presbytery has heard with
great pleasure of the very interesting and |
profitable meeting of the union just held
in this city. and recognizes the unusual
number Of churches represented and of
delegates present as an indication of a
widening and growing interest in the