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of the evening was Rev. Lacy I. M off en.
on the subject of Life and Leadership.
This address was a fitting climax for
the Conference, as it brought out so
forcibly just the things that we were
striving to impress all through the Conference,
that a man in order to possess
n life of leadership must, first, have a
vision; second, he must be fearless of
man; third, he must be unselBsh. 31 r.
Murtett shoved how that China had
been brought from her superstition and
beatheuis-m by one leader possessed of
just such characteristics. As he told
about the revolution of China and how
a few Christian men were willing to
suffer und by doing so brought China
cut of ner lost condition into a republic
with a constitution similar to ours with
religious liberty, any one who heard him
tell how it was done would be hound
to acknowledge that God was in it all.
Then we saw in the face of this noble
servant of (iod that he possessed these
same characteristics of which he spoke.
Because he caught a vision of China,
he went to her shores fearless of man,
and he has been serving her unselfishly
for eight years.
After expressions from the delegates
of the spiritual feast they had enjoyed
on the occasion and wishing that this
would not be the last conference to
be held, we adjourned feeling that it
was indeed good to have been there.
vim; i ma.
Richmond: The Presbyterians of this
city had a great feast on last Sunday,
and knowing a good thing royally enJoyed
it. Dr. Burrell, "the representative
Presbyterian of the world," who is
delivering the James Sprunt lectures at
Mie Seminary, preached twice, in the
morning in the Ginier Park church, and
in the evening in the First church.
Most of the Presbyterian pastors of the
city closed their churches and came
cu masse with their congregations to
unite in this service. The houM was
, packed with a most appreciative audi/
cnce, and the great preacher rose to
the occasion as he held up most eloquently
and persuasively "the old time
religion." The choir aided much by
its admirable selections sDendidly ren
dered.
?Westminster: The new auditorium
of Westminster Presbyterian church
was used yesterday morning for the
first time, the congregation, since abandoning
its former bonding on Grove
Avenue, having used tho Sunday school
rooms of the new church, which is located
at the intersection of Park and
Davis Avenues. The new building is of
classic architecture, the main auditorium
having a seating capacity of about
COO. The interior is finished entirely
in white. The pulpit furniture is the
gift of the Westminster Workers, one
of the societies of the congregation, and
is of solid mahogany, and is said to
be one of the handsomest of Its kind in
the city, Special study was made by
the architect of both the natural and
electric lighting.
At yesteray morning's service Haddon
S. Walkins sang "Open Wide the i
Gates of the Temple.'" The pastor.
Rev. James Y. Fair, D. D., referred i
briefly to several special gifts made I
both by those in and outsld > of the I
congregation, including a handsome <
silver water service, a pulpit Bible, and i
a silver flower vasej the latter present- i
ed by a member of the Grace Street
church, of which Dr. Fair was once :
pastor.
S)nodical: Lince publishing the tentative
schedule of dates for Virginia
PreObytertals, we have received letters i
from all of Che Presbyterial Presidents, I
which were read this morning before
the Executive Committee of the Synodleal.
After thorough consideration the
Committee decided that a letter be writ- 1
tea to the Presidents, releasing them
THE PKESBYTERli
from the dates of meetings as arranged
by the Committee and which appeared iu
t.?e church papers.
The Synodical la an organlzatlou
primarily for the furthering of the best
interests of the Presbyterlals, and no
action should be taken by the Executive
Committee of the Svuodical which m?v
in any way, fail to commend itself to the
Presbyterial. This action was deemed
advisable for the following reasons:
1. In several, the dales could not be
made to conform to those of the Presbyter
ials.
2. Tne long distance between the
meeting of the Presbyterials would Increase
rather than decrease the expense
of securing speakers.
3. The majority of Presbyterials expressed
a decided proference for certam
speakers, and in no two cases were the
speakers the same.
4. Several of the Presbyterials being
in agricultural districts, tlnd it iuipossi
hip! Irt mppt in oorlf
M.wwv .u vu.ij 01/11115, auu kuus
fall iu line with Presbyterials holding
their meetings in city churches.
5. We have not been able to get into
communication with the Secretaries at
Nashville, consequently have been unable
to arrange for any speakers.
Jane M. Rutherfoord,
Corresponding Secretary of Virginia
Sy nodical.
Union Theological Seminary covets
earnestly the best gifts?and generally
gets them. It has in past years had the
usual experience of theological seminaries
in the matter of the teaching of
the art of public speaking by specialists,
but now it seems to have lound the
ideal teacher. Prof. Geo. AI. Sleeth, of
Pittsbuigh, has electrified the entire
body of students and has put the whole
matter of the delivery of sermons on a
new plane. He is a master workman.
His piercing insight, his unfailing detection
of the particular defect in each
students way of speaking, his immediate
suggestion and illustration of
the practical remedy, his volcanic
energy, his patience, kindness, cheeriuess
and beaming helpfulness, have introduced
a new era in this line of the
Soxdnary's work. The improvement in
the speaking of the students is already
manifest.
The reception given in Richmond
Hall last week in honor of Mr. and Mrs.
Slceth was a pleasant occasion, very
largely attended and enlivened by excellent
music, a couple of recitations by
i'ror. Sloeth limself and a couple of addresses
on behalf of the facutly and
students expressing their appreciation
of his work.
Rev. Dr. John N. Mills, recently home
from a two years' tour of the world,
made the address to the Society of
Missionary Inquiry at their regular
meeting on the night of February 2nd,
setting forth the remarkable opportunity
offered to Christianity by the
present conditions in China.
Rev. Dr. D. J. Burrell, of New York,
began his James Sprunt Lectures on
February 6th, at 8 P. M. They are to
run till February 14th, at the same hour
every evening.
Mr. John 1* Alexander, formerly -with
the Boy Scouts of America, who comes
lo Richmond for the purpose of attending
the rally and conference of the
Covenanter Boys of the city, addressed
ihe students of the Seminary on Friday
nfternoon.
The twenty-five volunteers in the
Seminary for the Foreign Field were
iddressed Sunday morning by Rev. J.
M. Sleg of our Congo Mission and Mr.
Hiilhouse. Mr. and Mrs. Sleg have been
R'/W<rng the w'nler In Rij'itr.ond ?n<l
lKcy r?art again for Africa with Mr.
linlhotiBe on Thursday.
Alexandria: A beautiful bronze tablet
will be ready to be placed in our new
building. It is in memory of Mr. Ed*
ward Witmer, for many years an elder
K N OF THK SOUTH
and for 25 year* the superintendent oi
the Sunday school. This tablet is presented
by Mr. Henry Hunter, who, even
as a boy grew to admire and love his
superintendent.
i'ulubki: The Preabytorlsn churches
uf Morinn on.l T? ?* no 1 Ha..?-* ? ? *
uv fiuiivM mill ivu i ui lWCl?Cfl l| IVII1CU
hare .o.-med a pasty.-v 3 for some years
rave dissolved pastoral relations. The
church at 'Marion will support a minister
independent of the other congr^j
gation, while the church at Rural Retreat
will have the services of a pastor
one-half of the time, the remaining
time to be given to the home mission
committee of the church.
Bristol: Dr. Tilden Scherer, president
of King College, thiB city, has arranged
lor u conference of prominent educators
of the l'resibyteriau Church in this city
ou February 23-and 24, at which time he
hopes 10 inaugurate plane for the cooperation
of all schools and colleger
conducted by the Presbyterians in the
Appalachian region. Dr. Sciherer has
conceived the idea t,hat upon a ibasis o;
equitable co-operation, these institutions
will derive liberal ibenellts which
none of them now enjoy. He has interested
several prominent educators and
among those wiio are expected here for
ihe conference are President Henry
Louis Smith, of Washington and Lee
i niversity, and Dr. Thounas S. Clyce,
president of Austin College, of Sherman,
Texas. Dr. Clyce is a graduate of
King College. He was in Bristol last
spring as moderator of the Presbyterian
uenerai Assembly. While here he participated
in the ceremonies incident to
the laying of the corner-stone of the
Alumni and Old Students' Building,
which is now nearing completion at a
cost of $20,000.
Burton Memorial Church: A church
was organized Sunday night, February
2nd, at Scboolfield, a suburb of Danville.
Va., 'by a commission of Roanoke
Presbytery, consisting of Rev. W. R.
Laird, D. D., Rev. W. T. Doggett, and
Rev. .Michaux ltaine, with Ruling Elder
J. O. Magruder, all of Danville.
Rev. W. T. Doggett preached a most
excellent sermon from Ps. 127:1: "Except
the Lord build the home, they labour
in vain that build it; except the
Lord keep the city, the watchman wak
eth tout In vain."
Dr. Laird presided and propounded
the constitutional questions.
Messrs. O. R. Fuller, Sam Smith, and
.,'no. Roberts were elected ruling eldeis,
and Messrs. W. M. Nabors, C. N. Harris,
and W. C. Mc.Mann were elected deacons,
after which they were duly ordained
and installed with the exception
of Mr. Fuller, wfto was not ordained,
having been an edder in the First
church.
About eight years ago Rev. A. H.
Clark, then a student at Union Seminary
and a son of the First church, started
a Sunday school in a tent, ably assisted
by some ten workers from the First
/?h 11IV*H OaH -rviit it Intn fha Vino rf of
an elect lady of the First church to build
a comfortable church and imanse. In
190C Rev. W. C. Flournoy -was called to
take charge of the work and there was
continued a faithful and successful
work for two years. In 1908 Rev.
Michaux Raine, also a son of the First
church, was called, and with the assistance
of the workers of the First church,
five of whom placed their memfberahip
with the new organization, the work
has steadily grown until the Session of
the First church recognized the fact
mai u would De to tne advantage or tne
mission that it should become a distinct
organization. There are 3,500 people
in our little town, many of whom are
without any church affiliation, and both
l>a#tor and people are greatly encouraged
to begin their work with seventy-five
members.
Salem: At our regular quarterly
communion service in January twenty
J
I February 12, 1913
utrw iae>iu't>er8 were received into the
church, five upon profession and fifteen
by letter. Our people have become interested
In the mountain mission
finhnnla whlWK l\1 AntcrAmort* l>eAo.Kw?A*?ti
n uivu .uvuv5VUiV! / JL ICJU/ iui J
has decided to establish in the neighboring
county of Floyd. One of oar
members whose business interests have
led him to travel a great deal in the
mountain section and who is consequently
unusually well acquainted with
the mountain people aud their needs,
has subscribed the sum of live hundred
dollars. The Men's Brotherhood has appointed
a committee to solicit subscriptions
for the schools among the men of
the church, and the Westminster League
at a recent meeting decided to devote
all of their benevolent contributions for
the coming year to this object.
Our church has recently joined the
number of those using the talent money
plan.
Suffolk: At the communion service
held last Sunday at the Suffolk Presbyterian
church the pastor. Rev. W. A.
Hall reported the reception by letter and
profession of faith, of eleven members
since the last communion.
The Sunday school, since the coming
of Rev. 'Mr. Hall, has 'been reorganized,
and more carefully graded. There is
now an average attendance of fifty-six
mtini la o n .1 ? Jnnnlmx.i
auu cib"C icav/ucio.
The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary
Society lias also reorganized
with Mrs. J. W. Womack as president,
.Miss Daisy Mooney, Vice-President;
Mrs. Asher Dale, Secretary, and Miss
(Irace Johnson, Treasurer.
Mr. and Mrs. Hall have made many
friends since their coming to the Suffolk
church in September, 1912. The congregations
at both church services have
increased and the Ladies' Aid Society is
one of the flourishing Institutions of the
church.
The Hanipton Church has had a wonderful
blessing in the special services,
held by our pastor, Rev. Charles Friend,
at our Mission Chapel in Phoebus?a
little town between Hampton and Old
Point Comfort. Here one of our elders,
Mr. LaCross, has conducted a Sabbath
school for a number of years, sowing
the seed faithfully, oft times under
difficulties, and with many discouragements
and now God has abundantly
blessed his work.
During two weeks of earnest preaching
by our pastor, about thirty-eight
professed faith in Christ and on Sabbath
night, January 26, thirty-two join
ed the Hampton church, eighteen of
these receiving the sacrament of baiptism.
One family, father mother and
baby being baptized. More than half o>f
those received were young soldiers
from Fort Monroe.
After the baptism of memibers, the
communion of the Lord's Supper was
administered. This is an evening that
will long be remembered and cherished
by pastor and people, when God rave
to ub, in this most solemn and impressive
scene, the manifestations of 'his
great love and special 'blessing.
Our church is making fine progress
under Mr. Friend, who has won the
hearts of all his people, and under
God's blessing we are expecting still
greater things at his hand.
South Boston: The board of directors
of the Sunnyside Home met in the
study of the presldedt, Rev. W. C. 'Maxwell,
February 8th. and after attending
to the routine business the following
,.v. ??UO 1TCID cictiCU lllflliuers UI Lit*3
board: Rev. W. R. Laird, D. D., and Mr.
D. A. Overby, both of Danville; Mr. H.
A. Allen, Jr., Lynchburg; Rev. A. T.
Graham, D. D., Lexington; Mr. W. R.
Miller, Richmond; Mr. W. E. Mcliwalne,
Petersburg. The hoard adjourned to
meet at Danville, Va., Friday, February
14th, at 5 o'clock P. M. The location
for the Home has not yet been decided
upon. G. H. Friend, 8ec.-Tr.