Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-06
rREsBYTERY OF WASHINGTON.
Fall Meeting of the Body Mt NeeIs-
VILE, Md.

The presbytery of Washington held its
fall session with the church at Neelsville,
Nd. The presbytery was opened with a
sermon by the retiring moderator, Rev. ].
Russell Verbrycke. Rev. DR.. Bittinger was
elected moderator.
There was an unusually large attendance
Of ministers and elders Rev. David W.
Montgomery was received from the pres
hytery of Hastings. and James A. Marshall
of the presbytery of Chester was invited t.
sit corresponding member.
Rev. French W. Fisher asked and was
granted leave to resign his pastorate of the
churches of Townsville and Vienna, Va,
The Rev. David W. Montgomery was an
pointed to declare the pulpits vacant, and
the Rev James S. Westcott was appointed
moderator of the sessions.
The following persons We're appointed
trustees of the presbytery to fill vacancies
Drs. Luccock and Fiske and Messrs. Sar-
gent and Bailey.
The committee on temperance reported
recommending that the members of our
churches not only abstain from the use of
intoxicants, but also foster and advance
all educational and legal measures having
for their object the abolition of intemper-
ance, which is recognized as the baneful
source of crime and misery. 1t also rec
commended that persevaring efforts be made
by pastors, superintendent of young peo-
pies societies and sabbath schools, to fur
ther this work of reform. Recommends
tions also were made that the members of
our congregations refuse to sign applica-
lions for license, and decline to rent prop
Crty for the sale of intoxicating drinks
church sessions and Sabbath school Of
fcials were also eXhorted to discounten-
ance, as far as possible. the patronizing, by
excursions of boats or places where liquor
is sold, so as to avoid bringing the young
into contact with vice. which we are
laboring to abolish.
1t Is authoritatively stated that the re-
port that professors in Princeton University
were denounced for requesting license for
"a saloon is without foundation in fact
No allusion, it is said, was made to them
III tie report or in any of the transactions
of presbytery.
There We're exhibited to preshvterv tho
contents of box found in the corner stone
OF the building recently occupied by the
hebrew congregation. The box contained
copy Of the Holy Bible and copies of civ
newspapers. 1t also contained a COPPER
plate designating May q, 1915, as the date
OF laying the corner stone of what was
then known as the Presbyterian Church of
the Northern Liberties. On the pIa1a was
inscribed the names of the President of the
United States, James K. Polk and mem
bers Of his cabinet trustees, together
with the name of the then mayor of the
city, John P. Van Ness.
The church afterward passed into tho
possession of the Southern Methodists by
whom it was sold to the Hebrew congrega-
ton, who occupied it until the time of its
demolition, preparatory to the erection of a
Jewish synagogue.
Presbytery ordered the articles thus found
to be deposited in the Presbyterian Hfstor-
ical Society, in Philadelphia
AT noon, for the accommodation of the
members of presbytery and invited guests.
a bountiful collation. was served by the
ladies', In large tent provided for the pur-
pose, when Maryland hospitality was dis
pensed with time-honored generosity and
gracefulness
Thus ended meeting of presbytery char
acteriZed by the utmost harmony and kind
1eel1ng, to meet again at the call of the
moderator during the session of synod in
Georgetown. d. c., October 70, 1897.