West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-10-20
THE NEW PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD
IrIllen sneeIaIIr Lor Ihc Arrr.-

Written Specially Tor The Argus
The attention OF Prcsbytcriaus an over
the country is turned this week TO a very
important new departure in their church
In this State. by direction OF the national
body or General Assembly which met az
Buffalo. n. ", in May, a new synod OF
state organization was ordered tor West
Virginia presbytcrians Therefore tho
work in the state has been included under
the Synod OF Pennsylvania.
The Presbyterian form OF Church Gov.
ernment is republican or purely rcprcscn.
tativc, They believe that all differences
OF rank In the ministry ate unScripturaI.
they hold that all all ministers are. and
ought to be- equal. The work therefore rs
entirely in the hand OF the body of repre-.
sentatives The national body is called a
General Assembly the S tate bodies are
called Synods, and the next Subordinate
bodies are called prcsbytcrics These
PresbyterieS might bc said 20 correspond
In way TO Congressional districts. Not
that the Presbyterian church rs modelled
alter this republic but that the republic is
modelled after the Presbyterian form Of
Church Government, as is well known by
students OF history Many even of episco.
pally governed bodies are becoming year
by year more representative And congte.
gational sin which is the opposite extreme,
or pure democracy is urging tor more
power In their representative bodies. which
they call councils. This explanation will.
we trust, serve TO give better understand.
ing aud appreciation OF the church.
We have been asked, what is this new
movement taking place In Parkcrsburg2
IL is simply the transferring OF the 81 Pres.
byterian ministers in the State together
with their % churches and nearly go
communicates from the control of the
Synod OF Pennsylvania. to the control Of
the new Synod called the Synod Of West
Virginia. This nccessitatcs the ro.arrang.
ING OF the bounds OF the Prcsbytcrics Of
Pittsburg and Allegheny. It cuts the Pres
bytery OF Washington. Pa. in half al the
state line governing the new Presbytcry Of
Wheeling, with 20 minister's AZ churches
and nearly 1000 member to bc one of the
three Prosbyteres forming the new synod
This loss OF over 50 ministers aud nearly
5000 members from the Synod OF Ponnsyl-
wanna while II so much strengthens the
work IN West Virginia, is hardly felt i'm
Pennsylvania. There are over HOO mem.
bers and over 1000 churches aud nearly a
quarter OF million communicates lcf In
that State. As long as the work OF the
church in West Virginia was Ola mission.
airy character. II was a help to bc Joined
TO such strong body, but as the church In
this state is fast growing in influence and
members II has become great hindrlncc.
New churches are being organized and
new church buildings erected as good as
any In the country and the State dcuomna-
ton is fast winning that weight Of apprccia,
ton in which IL is held everywhere else for
solidity, sturdncss aud aggressiycncss OF
christian character. The Rev Dr.
Flanagan OF Grafton, reured. will be the
FIRST moderstor-The Rev. !. {. Ely. d. y.
Washington, Pa, comes into the state as
Superintendent Of missions lie Is we'll
known and admired in Kingwood. The
ladies also will meet and form a State As.
ISOLATION Tor various lines OF church work.
Men Of national reputation will be present
to address the Synod on lines OF work and
the whole movement will be under the
happiest auspices