Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-03-18
A New Presbytery.

ginia was held In Wheeling Mon
day afternoon. The most impor-
tant matter discussed was that of
the formation of new presbytery
In this portion of West Virginia,
with the ultimate object of a new
synod In the State. The movement
received the unqualified endorse
ment of all the ministers present
except one. and they present their
claims in the following concise,
plain and cogent reasons:
Reason 1. West Virginia Is de.
veloping faster commercially and
industrially, than any State of Its
size, east of the Mississippi. If
Presbyterianism Is to grow proper.
tionately, she must have local
state organization and not remain
mere appendage to Pennsylvania.
Reason 2. State pride and an In
terest In our beloved and needy
State. Everything, else Is organized
in this State but Presbyterianism:
business men, lawyers, doctors,
Christian Endeavors, Baptists,
Methodists and other religious
denominations, and even the liquor
men. But the Presbyterians are
scattered around over the State,
with no State organization.
Reason 3 We are lost In the big
Synod of Pennsylvania, which Is big
and unwieldy. We are like sickly
plant under the shadow of mighty
spreading elm. We will never grow
as we should until we stand out in
the light By ourselves.
Reason a Pennsylvania does
lot need the churches OF the Pan
/ Handle. West Virginia does need
us badly. The brethean In the
other portions of the State need
our cooperation, our undivided
sympathy and our means in
union there Is strength"
Reason S. The lack of unity
In our forces. Our Presbyterian
young people should be organized
for West Virginia. Our women
and our men should be organized for
West Virginia. Our great coal fields
timber lands. oil fields and man
ufacturi1g industries are bringing
thousands of people into this State
We need State organization with
a Synodicai Evangelist to 60 up
and down the State and organize
everywhere West Virginia Presby-
terians need to get together once
a year. -
Reason s A letter from the
Home Mission Board says that we
Hill receive aid from that Board
Just as any other Home Mission
Synod receives aid. This will
strengthen us financially for the
work of taking care of our veal
churches and of opening up new
fields. "Speak to the children OF
Israel that they go forward"
Reason 7 We have enough
Presbyterians In West Virginia to
form a very respectable Synod and
by no means the smallest In our
church. True 1t Is that there
would be only three Presbyteries
In the proposed Synod to begin
with, but there are now six Synods
In existence with but three Pres
byteries viz: Kentucky, Utah, New
NJ .xico, Montana, Texas and Bal
tlmore. The proposed Synod Of
West Virginia would have more
communicates than the following
six Synods: Indian Territory,
North Dakota, Utah, Texas, and
as many as Oregon and Tennessee.
AS to the proposed new Presby'
terry In northern West Virginia, we
now have eighty Presbyteries
smaller In communicates than 1t
would be fifty smaller than either
of the Presbyleries In the other
portion of the State.
Reason s. The time for the rev
Synod has come. Our opportuni-
ties In this State are now great and
we cannot neglect them without
guilt; we cannot afford to let every
thing else In the State get a lorg
start In the race. This would
cripple us In the future; we are
planning for Gods work and future
generations.
Reason 9. With the help of the
Home Board with State enthusi-
asm, with the warmth of being
brouqht Into close touch with each