Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1882 — LOGANSPORT PRESBYTERY. [ARTICLE]

LOGANSPORT PRESBYTERY.

The regular spring session of the Presbytery qf Logansport was held at the church, in Valparaiso, en Tuesday and Wednesday ot last wce«c. M nisteifiand Elders to the number of about twentyfive from the various churches were present, The session was opened Tuesday evening, by Rev. W. E. Loucks as Moderator, who also delivered the opening sermon. The sermon was an excellent one and well worth the close attention which It received. Rev. Koller, of South Bend, was chosen moderator, and Rev. McConnell, temporary merk, Rev. Kendall was afterward chosen permanent clerk. At 8:10a. m., on Wednesday, a goodly number assembled for prayer and praise. Some of the churches prav that’thegood seed sowtfifiiay spring up and bear fruit, but many offer praise that an abundant harvest has been gathere In. Several of the visiting ministers participated in the exercise and the hour was spent pleasantly and profitably by all. At this meeting Rev. Work stated that he had held a two week’s meeting at Mishawaka. and a great awakening has taken place. Twenty-five persons have been added to the church, and more will join at the next session. At 9:30, after a short intermission, the moderator opened the exceicises by offering prayer. The mt intes of the last meeting of the Presbytery I were read by the Stated Clerk, Bev. R. Beer, am , after a slight correction they were adopted. It will be remembered that the last meeting was held at Crawfordsville in October. The appointment of various committees on church work came next, and was soon disposed of satisfactorily. Under the head of “unfinished business.’’statistical reports of the Home Mission Society were turned over to the new committee. The case of Rev. S. Fleming, which has received considerable attention, was referred to the judiciary committee. As nearly as we can learn, the case stands as follows: Several years ago the presbyters gave a letter of dismissal to Rev. Fleming and addressed it to a certain Stated Presbytery. The brother, however, to until with some other Presbytery than the one named, but was denied admission as not holding a proper letter of dismissal. A disaffected feeling naturally sprang up, and the brother determined to w'ork independent ot ail Presbytecies. The question with the present session is “What record shall be made of the casei" The report of the committee, on Installations, recommending that Rev. George P. Keller bo installed as pastor at South Bend, Tuesday evening, May 16th, was adopted. Rev. E. H. Post was received as a member from the Crawfordville Presbytery. Rev. It. L. Adams was given a letter of dissmissal to the Indianapolis Presbytery.

Rev. Wiley K. Wright, from the Union Theclogical Seminary, was received into the care of the Presbytery. lie has been supplying the church at Sfishawaka and will be installed as its pastor in May. ‘ What is. the duty of a minister in refqjence. to an adult presented by a christain parent for baptism, such adult confessing laith in Christ, but not desiring to be received into the church J” This question was referred to the Committee on Bills and Overtures at the last session. The Committee reported that the minister should not perform the ceremony. The Committee on Education reported the collection of funds during the past year as beii g quite extensive. Remington was chosen as the ptlace for meeting of the Presbytery, and the Monday evening before the meeting of the Synod as the time. A call from the Broadway church at Logansport ; for Rev. Scott to become their pastor was accepted by him. Twelve o'clock having arrived, the Presbytery adjourned till 8 p. m. The hour from 2 to 3. was devoted to the hear, ing of writing reports from the various churches. The Valparaiso church reported many accessions. The members are cousideing the building of a new church more than ever before Rev. Crowe reported the Michigan City church as in good condition. The Logansport church is llourishing. The Remington Presbyterians have been working against many odds,.but faithful work has been done. The past year has not been an encouraging one at Plymouth. At West Union the attendance is good, and con sidersble interest is manifested. Rochester and Mt. Zion have made progress and done good work in the Master’s cause. South Bend (Ind.) has been without a pastor. Monticello has received fifteen accessions and many more have become interested. South Bend (Ist) has received into fellowship 60 persons. Rensselaer has made some progress, but the prospect is discouraging, Walkerton is a small church but the field is a hopeful one. Hebron has been supplied by a student from the Western Seminary Logansport (Broadway) met, with a great loss in the death of the pastor last spring. Rev. Scott has commenced work with good prospects of success. Logansport (Ist) is in good ron liction. Eight thousand dollars were raised to pay a sixty-four hundred dollar debt. Taking all in ail, tbe work in tlv churches of this Presbytery during the pas: winter has been quite successful, tn y a few ■ hurehes report little advancements while a majority report nun c - ous accessions. Apetition from life t- township. While Co., asking that a church be established there, wr s read and consideren. Action was deferred till the fall meeting.

The records of the various churches were appro ved by the examiners with a few unimportant ex' ceptions. “Should a minister perform a marriage sermo >y where one of the parties have been divorced for other than scriptural reasons?” The committee on Bills and Overtures reported negatively to the above question, and, after sonsiderablo discussion, tenir report was adopted. Revs, Little and Flood were chosen ns Commissioners, and Revs. Herr and Postas alternates, to the General Assembly to be held at Springfield, 111., in the near future. “Gastromony and Sociability” came next on the programme. The members of the Presbytery proceeded to the reside.hce of Mr. Joseph Gardner where they thoroughly enjoyed tlie “cold bite” that hac been prepared for them. At:3o the evening session was opened with singing and prayer. The topic for the evening was “A discussion of the best means of spreading the gospel within our bonds.” Rev. Smith rend the report of the Homo Missions. This was an interesting paper and contained many valuaflle suggesstions. The fietd of work for Home Mission is a very large one aud received much attention. Several interesting speeches were made, one of which bv Rev. Taylor, who had had experience in this line, completely brought down the house by its humor. A motion, was made aud carried that s committee be apppointed to inquire into the status of of the vacant churches and iniplov a home missionary if found practicable. A subscription was started for the support of such a missionary, which soon swelled to quite a large sum, thus making sure of the practicability viewed from a financial stand-point. Elder Drawns, of Tassinong, reported the church as vacant since last August and badly indeed of a pastor. Hebron has a membership of twenty.fiyc and they aru desirous of being supplied, being now without regular services. The thanks of the Presbytery were extended to Rev. Beer and the trustees and members of Valparaiso church for their hospitality, after which came adjourment. The colored brother has become an uncertainty in politics, and the able Republican leaders are curled up on the aux ious seat—Memphis Av d niche, Ind.