Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-20
FIRST PRESBYTERY.

The regular fall meeting of the First
Associate Reformed presbytery was
held at Smyrna this week, commence
ing Tuesday morning and completing
the work Of the session Wednesday
night. The attendance was good, and
lalthough the work Of the session was
confined mainly to the usual routine,
the proceedings were Of considerable
interest to those in attendance, and
the results generally were quite satis-
factory.
The opening sermon was preached
Tuesday morning by Rev. oliver john
son, d. D., the retiring moderator af-
ter which DR.. Johnson duly constitu-
ted the presbytery with prayer and
gave way to Rev. J. Meek Whit, who
had been elected at the previous meet
ing and who moderated the subsequent
proceedings.
A call was placed in the hands Of
1 Rev r. E. Hough from the Chalmers
Memorial church, Of Charlotte, which
church Mr.. Hough has been serving
during the past three years, under the
direction Of the home mission board.
Mr.. Hough took the call under consid-
Grafton, without giving any indication
Of his probable action.
A subject that occasioned consider
able earnest discussion was the best
method Of supplying certain weak
| churches that are now without pas
tors. The conclusion arrived at was
that so far as possible these churches
should be grouped together in such a
manner that they could be supplied
with as much convenience and as eco
| nomically as possible. Revs. J. M.
ed a commission to see what could be
done with the Villa Heights and
Groveton churches, and Revs. ]. l..
Oates and A. T. Lindsay were appoint
ed a commission to look into the prac-
ticability Of supplying Bessemer City
and Crowder's Creek under a satisfac-
tory union arrangement.
The financial reports generally
showed up very nicely except as to the
church extension fund, which is short,
and eighteen charges reported that the
salaries promised and paid to their
pastors was not sufficient for the
comfortable maintenance Of their pas
tors. After some discussion Of this
latter situation 1t was decided to place
the matter in the hands Of a commit
tee consisting of Messrs. S. N. Boyce.
E. w. Pressly and ]. S. Brice, with the
understanding that these gentlemen
would do what they could through the
I'church paper and otherwise to bring
about the indicated remedy.
On the question Of adopting the new
Psalm book the presbytery voted no.
80 to 26. The Psalm book referred to
Is the result Of a movement that was
put on foot through the representa-
tives Of eight Psalm singing denomi-
nations, which, about fifteen years ago
undertook to provide a new metrical
version of the Psalms that would con-
form more nearly to the requirements
of what Is designated as the modern
idea of poetry. The book has been
completed for several years and at its
last meeting the synod overturned the
subject down to the presbyteries. I'm
der the church law, the clerical mem
bers of presbytery vote their personal
judgment, while the elders vote as
representatives Of the respective ses-
sions to which they belong. On. this
question sixteen ministers voted for
the adoption Of the new book and
eleven voted no. Ten elders voted
yes and twenty one voted no. The
vote therefore indicates that while a
majority Of the ministers are in favor
Of the change the general member
ship is still quite firmly anchored to
the old book.
The statistical reports submitted
showed that taken altogether the pres
bytery Is in healthy, progressive con-
dition.
Before adjournment Rev. ]. L. Oates
was elected moderator Of the next
meeting Of presbytery, which will be
held at Pisgah, convening on Saturday
morning before the first Sabbath In
May.