Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-04-23
WINCHESTER PREseYTERY.

Winchester Presbytery met in the
Presbyterian Church of Martinsburg
Tuesday evening, April l4th, and was
opened by DR.. C. n Campbell, presl-
dent of Stephenson Female Seminary,
Charlestown, W. Va, with a sermon
from the text, 2 Cor. 6: II, IS; after
which Presbytery was organized by
the election of Rev. R. Ashlin White
Moderator, and Rev. A. c. Hopkins,
Jr., and Elder H. Clay Krebs, tempo
rary clerks.
Rev. J. Nee. Duckwall was received
from Montgomery Presbytery. He is
the agent in the Presbytery for the
proposed Elkins Presbyterian College,
which is to cost 100000.
Twenty-Five ministers and about
seventeen ruling elders were present.
A public meeting in the interest of
Foreign Missions was held Wednesday
night, at which addresses were made
by Rev. G. a. Grillbortzer, who spent
some time as a foreign missionary in
Brazil, and by Rev. Charles Ghlselln.
The report of the committee showed
that 10 of the 46 churches contributed
to Foreign Missions, and though there
was a slight decrease in the amount
contributed, interest in the cause isln-
dicated by the increasing circulation
of missionary literature
Thursday night the Presbyterial com
munlon services were conducted by
Drs. A. C. Hopkins and P. D. Steph-
enson and were enjoyed by large
congregation of COMMITMENTS.
a Sabbath school convention was
held Friday afternoon, conducted by
Rev. J. f. Tnplett. Instructive and
stirring addresses on Sabbath school
work were made by Reys. DR.. Steph-
enson and S. NJ. Engle, and elder J..
W. Kennedy.
Friday night meeting to promote
the observance of the Sabbath was held.
The question whether the Assembly
shall elect general secretary for Sab
bath schools was answered in the neg
ative
Rev. R. B Woodwork, formerly pas
tor of the Presbyterian Church at Duff
fields, was at his own request dlvested,
without censure, of the Office Of the
ministry. Mr.. Woodwork is now en-
gagged in civil engineering. His broth
en- Mr. NJ. G. Woodwork, having Pur-
sued his theological course at the SEM
mary, was examined by Presbytery on
theology, church history, the sacra-
ments. and Church Government, be-
sides his studies in secular learning,
and, having passed satisfactory exam
nations on these and other parts Of
trial, he was licensed by Presbytery
as a probationer for the gospel minis
try. He goes to Campbell county, Va.
1t was ordered that enough advance
subscriptions be secured, if possible,
to enable the committee to publish the
revised Manual of Presbytery,
Rev. S. NJ. Engle and Elder J. w.
Kennedy were elected commissioners,
with Rev r W. Carter and Elder John
Pancake alternates, to attend the Cen
eral Assembly,, that meets in Memphis,
Tennessee, MAY Dist, 1896
The subject that called forth the
most animated discussion was the "lay
evangelist. 1t gained additional IN
terest from the fact that one Of them
is within the bounds Of Presbytery at
this time, and in several places where
he has held his meetings, Presbyter-
ian ministers have co-operated.
DR.. George White introduced a
strong paper, that was adopted by
the Presbytery, in which the action Of
the General Assembly and ofthe Synod
on the subject was cited, attention was
called to the obedience due by Pres
bvtery and by ministers to the action
of superior courts, and pastors were
atIectionately urged not to cooperate
in any way with these lay evangeists.
This course was advocated by DR.. F.
NJ. Woods, who in strong speech pre-
sented the Scriptural argument against
these unlicensed men who usmp the
functions of the REGULARLY ordained
ministry by publicly preaching.
DR.. Hokins in an interesting way
described the storm thatraged around
his head a few years ago when he de-
clined to cooperate with one Of them,
and clearly showed the evils Of their
methods.
Some of the ministers were disposed
to uphold the lay evangelists on ac-
count Of the good they do; but most
of them thought that the lack of per-
manence in the result Of such work,
the strife and divisions in churches
and the loss of respect for the regular
worship and methods, caused by the
lay eyangelists, more than balance any
supposed good they may do.
Presbytery adjourned last Saturday
morning to meet in adjourned meeting
at Charlestown, May Goth, and IN
stated fall meeting at Romney, August
10Th.
Presbytery has 81 ministers, 5 hcen-
tiates, 46 churches, 800 commune
cants, and contributed the past year
$4,000. The hospitable people of
Martinsburg and the charming wealth
er made this meeting of Presbytery
one to be long remembered with pleas
ure. u.
How's This
We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward