Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-03-23
NOTES Or The CHURCHES

- ~heS VI inc denomination in
the southwestern part Of the State: ana
the Holston Synod, composed o.
churches in Eastern Tennessee, were
merged into one body, called the United
Lutheran Synod of Virginia, at a meet.
ing OF the three organizations held
in Roanoke last week. Ii is expected
that the Virginia Conference of the
North Carolina Synod, with a number
OF churches in the Valley counties.
will also come into the merger in the
near future. The three synods above
named met in Roanoke last week, both,
separately and in joint sessions, and
after extended debate the merger was
agreed upon by overwhelming major.
tiles. The question of merging has
been under consideration for some
years, but 1t was not possible before
10 come to full agreement. All diff
cuiueS, however, were finally smoothed
away and the consolidation has be
come an actual fact. AT an election
OF officers held Friday night, Rev. DR..
J. J. Scherer, of Richmond, presden,
OF the Synod Of Virginia, was chosen
president OF the new organization; DR..
A. b. Greiner, of Rural Retreat, of
the Southwest Virginia Synod, was
elected treasurer; and Rev. Geo. Fl.
Rhodes, Knoxville, of the Holston
Synod, secretary. The first annual
meeting of the new body is called for
September 6, 1922, in Roanoke, when
the final details of the merger and the
adoption of constitution will be con-
summated. There is general satisfaction
among churchmen that all Of the
| lutheran NbttrHhaS IN ;o;~
be united in one strong, vigorous
synod.
One decision of the synods interest
ed was to finally discontinue Elizabeth
College, a church school for girls be-
tween the cities of Roanoke and Salem,
whose buildings were totally destroyed
by fire during the recent holidays. II
was ordered that its affairs be liquidat-
ed. To re-establish the school would
involve the raising of about S25O,OO0,
and this did not seem possible. The
energies of the church, so far as its
educational policy is concerned, will
now be concentrated upon Roanoke Col
lege at Salem, though Marion College
for young women, at Marion, Va, will
be made standard junior college and
taken under the care of the church. 1t
is hoped that the usefulness and pros
perity OF Roanoke College will be
greatly enlarged. The new synod will
heartily back campaign to raise
fund for endowment and needed new
buildings and equipment. 1t is agreed
that the action of the Lutherans at
Roanoke last week is the most import
ant that the Virginia church has ex-
perienced in many years.
Rev. ]. H. Haley left Shepherdstown
Tuesday to attend the Baltimore An
nual Conference of the M. E. Church
South, which conveneS in Washington
today. Mr.. Haley carries with him a
splendid report from the charge for the
past years work. Some Of the in
teresting items contained in this re-
port are: First, that the membership
in the Sunday schools exceeds tho
membership of the church; that during
the year seventy-five members have
been received into the church, and the
church attendance has been especially
good. Rev. J. H. Haley rejoces in the
fact that the pastors salary, which
was increased $500 for the year, has
been overpaid and that all benevolent
vi SOIllSlCnSS SOiiSStlOlS law pSSh
paid in full. The percentage of pay
ments On the Centenary and Educa-
tional subscriptions will in all prob
ability put Shepherdstown charge in
the first place in the Baltimore Confer
ence. The total report on finances
will show that the charge has raised
S7,569 during the last twelve months.
AS Mr.. Haley is finishing his fourth
year on the charge, and will probably
be transferred to another field, some
statistics for the quadrennium may be
of interest. During these four years
III have been received into the church,
80 funerals have been conducted, %
couples married, Al infants baptized,
and the totals from the statistical
tables show S25,O15.OO raised and re-
ported to Conference. In addition to
this, Mr.. Haley has preached 700 SER
mons on the charge. No record has
been kept Of the pastoral visits made.
However, Mr.. Haley feels that his
laborS have been a great pleasure to
him, for they were labors Of love, and
the loving cooperation OF the people
lightened the burden; and best Of all,
was to feel that God was helping and
blessing all these endeavors.
Christ Reformed Church-Friday at
7.30 p. m, Lenten service, with sermon
on Investments that Pay" Saturday
at 2.30 p. m, catechetical class. Fourth
Sunday in Lent, at 10 a. m, Sunday
school; at 1 a. m, morning worship
with sermon. Kearneysville, at p.
m, Sunday school; at 3 p. m, cate
chetical class. Lenten service next
Wednesday at 7.30 p. NJ, with sermon
on "Religion in the Present Age"
At the present session Of the South
ern Methodist Conference in Washing
ton Rev c. Sudensfricker of Edin