The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-18
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA WILL
Be in SESSION THIS WEEK
VIII Convene in 127th Annual Meet.
ing in Lynchburs on
Tuesday.
REV. JAMES d. PAXTON is HOST
All Services VIII BE Held in First
Presbyterian Church-Large At
tendance Is EXpected-Will Con-
tinue Until Friday.
pecial to The Times-Dispatch. !

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
LYNCHBURG, October lit was on
Mnrch 20, 1915, that the First PresbS
terian Church, at Lynchburg. was or
ganized and with this church as host,
the Synod of Virginia will convene In
its 127th annual session on Tuesday
evening. October 20.
Rev. James D. Paxton, -. D., has been
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
for more than ten years and during his
pastoratc, Presbyteranism has made
rapid and substantial growth in Lynch
burg. There are four other Presbyter-
ian churches In Lynchburg. all of them
having been colonies from the First
church. and In addition to these church
es, there are two chapels. the work
OF which, is operated by active members
of,the parent church. Row. IL. l.. Cathcy
is assistant pastor to DIR. Paxton.
CHURCH ERECTED DURING
PASTORATE OF DIR. MFADEN
The immediate predecessor of DR..
Paxton, was Rev. +. 4. McFaden, u. D.,
now pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church, Richmond, and 1t was during
the pastorate of DR.. McFaden that the
handsome church building in which the
congregation of the First Presbyterian
Church at Lynchburg, now worships.
This strong church, with 4 member
ship Of 500. has grown from the small
beginning of fourteen members, with
which the church was organized In the
Masons' Hall almost century ago. The
minister who organized this church was
Rev. William S. Reid, ID. D., who was
engaged in educational work ut Lynch
burg and who fonDI frH
terians there when he came to the town
in 1906, the number Increasing to four
teen between that time and 1915, when
the church was organized.
EIGHT MINISTER'S
IN CHURCH'S HISTORY
Eight ministers have served this
church as pastor. and tho present
house of worship is the third church
building the congregation has erected.
The following figures speak much
for this church, and show 1t TO be one
of the strong churches of the gem
eral assembly. The elders of the
church number eight, the deacons
thirteen. Last year twenty-onc men,
bers were added to the church on cx-
animation and twcnty-siX were added
on certificate, six adults were baptized
and seven Infants. The total enroll
ment OF the Sunday school Is about
500, including officers and teachers.
This church gave 10 foreign missions
last year sl,5t9; TO assembly's home
missions. Si0T; TO local home missions,
81 ,S93: to Christian education and min
isterial relief, S657; to Sabbath school
extension and publication, SEQ; to Bible
cause, SIS; to orphans home, Si33; To
pastors salaries. $4,000; to all incidental
expenses, S3.iS6; to miscellane
causes. $780,
The synod of Virginia will convene
on Tuesday evening. and after the SER
mon by the retiring moderator, the
moderator and temporary clerks for
this session viii be elected. The ses-
sions of the synod will continue until
Friday evening, and. i'm addition 10
the regular causes Of the general as
sembly and other regular business to
come before the body, u number OF inn
portant special Items of business are
to he considered.