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were edified and greatly encouraged. Brother Murray came to us almost a stranger, but left us a warm personal friend. He will always have a place in our hoarts, and we hope to have him with us again. Columbus: There have been thir teen additions to the First church since the spring communion. The war work of week days has been and is very strenuous, and yet our congre gations havo been unusually good for the summer season. Our pastor. Dr. I. S. McElroy, will take his rest as usual at Virginia Beach. Ho always returns about the middle of Septem ber. During. his absence the Rev. G. H. Ellmore will supply for us three Sabbaths. He has charge of Holt Chapel and the Phenix City church, a very interesting work. He is also Scout Master of the troop that se cured the President's flag in the first Liberty Bond contost, when Mr. Clem moifs was their Scout Master. Cor. Commerce: The officers of this church have recently completed "an every-member canvass," and our peo ple are now rejoicing that they have "gone over Ihe top" by raising the largest subscription ever made by its members for the purpose of calling a pastor and to cover all other church expenses. In accordance with pre vious notice, a congregational meet ing was held la'st Sabbath morning for the purpose of calling a pastor, and a distinguished minister has been tendered the unanimous call to this pastorate. The pastor thus selected is well and favorably known all over this State, and it is to bo hoped that he will see his way clear to accept this call, coming as it does unani mously from this church. KENTUCKY. Harvey Browne Memorial Church, St. Matthews (near Louisville): Li centiate William T. McElroy was or dained to the full work of the gos pel ministry and installed as pastor of the Harvey Browne Memorial church, St. Matthews, on Sunday af ternoon, July 28th, by a commission of Louisville Presbytery. A large con gregation, the largest since the or ganization of the church two years ago, was present. The sermon was preached by Rev. Alfred A. Higglns. pastor of the Third church, Louis ville; the eharge to the pastor was delivered by Rev. William H. Hopper, pastor of the Woodland church; and the charge to the people was deliv ered by Rev. David M. Sweets, D. D., editor of the "Christian Observer," who also presided and propounded the constitutional questions. Ruling Elder Hugh L. Barrett, of the High land church, Louisville, completed the commission. Following the ordina tion, brief addresses were made by Rev. T. M. Hawes, D. D., Rev. C. N. Wharton, General Bennett H. Young and others of the Home Mission Com mittee of the Presbytery, congratu lating the people and the pastor on the progress of the work and point ing out the encouraging features for the future. Mr. McElroy has been in charge of the work in this field for nearly two years while pursuing -studies in the Presbyterian Theologi cal Seminary of Kentucky, and since he began his work here the member ship has more than doubled. The church was organized August 13, 1916, with twenty-six members. Mr. McElroy Is at present also preaching twice a week at the Berry Boulevard church, Louisville, which has been without a pastor for several months. Cor. LOUISIANA. New Orleans: The Westwego Sun day school children, their parents and friends had a very enjoyable time at their annual ice cream picnic in the Audubon Park. The school is now larger than for years, and there was a much larger number at the picnic. The church has now a pastor, who we believe will build up and strength en the church. It has been without a pastor for a long time, but the church services have been kept up, as we have had a preacher and a congregation to preach to regularly every Sunday until the present pas tor took charge. Tlios. Hayes. MISSISSIPPI. Unity: During the absence of tho pastor, Rev. P. E. McFadden, in Y. M. C. A. work for the army, Mr. V. L. Bryan is supplying the field. On tho fourth Sabbath of July Rev. W. A. Hall closed a meeting in the church. There were six additions on profession of faith. Oldenburg: The new pastor, Mr. A. O. Ingram, held a communion ser vice on tho fourth Sabbath in July. Dr. C. T. Thomson preached a few days before. There were two addi tions on profession of faith. Others were much interested. The Presby tery of Mississippi will meet in Brook haven on August 13th to license Mr. Ingram. Port Gibson: An active canvass for students at Chamberlain-Hunt Acad emy has been made. The President, Dr. C. T. Thomson, has been In Louis iana and was very much encouraged by the old students and the finding of new ones. Mr. O. M. Barry, the professor of English, has visited many towns in Mississippi. The outlook for a full school is good. MISSOURI. Kansas City, Kast minster Church: The resignation of our pastor. Dr. W. P. Neilson, was submitted to the congregation two weeks ago, his de sire being to spend the period of the war in Y. M. C. A. war work. The officers of the church, together with every organization in the church, pre sented resolutions of protest and re quest for the withdrawal of .his re signation, the congregation voting not to accept it. Dr. Neilson reconsid ered the question and one week later, much to the joy of the congregation, announced that he would remain with the church. He expects later, how ever, to spend some time in the can tonments with our men in the ser vice. A Daily Vacation Bible School was conducted in this church for two weeks in June, with very satisfactory results. We had twenty-one teachers with 127 pupils enrolled. Memory work in the 'Bible and catechisms, map construction, religious and pa triotic songs and exercises, Junior Red Cross work, etc., constituted the work done by the pupils. Bibles and Tes taments were awarded those most pro ficient in memory and hand work. The names of sixteen new members were announced at our July commu nion service as having been received since the last communion. We have on our Honor Roll the names of fifty young men in the country's service and one young woman in the Red Cross service. M. H. NORTH CAROLINA. Montreal: The Mountain Retreat Association is a stock company char tered under the laws of North Caro lina.* It is owned and controlled by the Presbyterian Church in the United States. The charter provides for a municipal government and incorpor ates about 3,500 acres whose alti tude ranges from 2,500 to 5,600 feet. Two miles from the Southern Rail road, eighteen from Asheville and about the same from Mt. Mitchell, whose altitude is 6,711 feet, the high est peak east of the Rockies. Fif teen miles away is the famous Bilt more estate, and five miles is Blue Ridge, where is located the Robert E. Lee Hall, the national gathering place of the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. The general policy of the Mountain Retreat Association is Hot simply to have a summer resort and resting place, but a model Christian community for families and individ uals, a place of physical, moral and spiritual development, and an annual meeting place for educational and church conferences. They have hero all the modern conveniences ? electric lights, water supply and sewerage sys tem. I have been spending ten days here by invitation of our General As sembly's Committee, and through the courtesy of the Evangelistic Commit tee of North Alabama Prcsbytory, to attend our Sunday School Conference, which was under the leadership of Drs. McKinney, Erdman, Gilmorc, Linglo, Glass and Magill; also Mrs. Edmonson, Mrs. Askew, Miss Shields. Miss Binford and Miss Rankin, with the music under the leadership of the Ackley brothers. A week of plea sure and great inspiration; many old friendships renewed and new ones formed. Our thoughts went out to all of our Sunday school workers with the wish that they could have been there. The conference will always be a delightful memory to all who were there. Near Montreat are many places of interest, of easy access, where out ings of a half or a whole day may be made. Wm. II. Richardson. Townsville: The people of this community decided this summer to have a union meeting of all the de nominations in this immediate sec tion, instead of having a week's meet ing for each of the four denomina tions. An executive committee com posed of representative men from the Tabernacle Methodist, tho Rock Springs Baptist, the Nutbush Presby terian and the Holy Trinity and St. Luke's Episcopal churches asked the pastors of these churches to select a preacher at the second conference of the pastors of these churches. After careful and prayerful consideration, Rev. W. H. Miley, D. D., was chosen. Dr. Miley came to us and closed a two weeks meeting last Sunday night. The warehouse in which the meeting was held was filled at almost every service. People of all denominations were exceedingly complimentary in their expressions about Dr. Miley *s sermons. He does not use any "clap trap" or "high pressure" methods, but preaches the gospel clearly and forci bly. Mr. W. Furman Betts, musical director for some time with Rev. John W. Haws, lead the singing at these services. His solos and leadership aided very much to the success of the meeting. The visible results of the meeting were one hundred and fifteen professions and something over twenty-five reconsecrations. Nine have already joined Nutbush Presbyterian church. The other churches of the community have not as yet given the people an opportunity of joining their churches. A free will offering amount ing to $221.66 was given to Dr. Miley. The meeting was such a success in every way that the people are already talking about a similar meeting for next summer. Harold Shields, Pastor. SOUTH CAROLINA. Columbia Seminary: The Rev. James O. Reavia, D. D., LL. D., pro fessor of missions in the Columbia Theological Seminary, Is now travel ing in Japan and Korea visiting the missions of tho Christian Church in those great countries. Dr. Reavis is doing this at his own expense in or der to equip himself more perfectly for his work as professor of missions in the Columbia Seminary. He has already visited missions in Mexico, Brazil and Africa, and is therefore acquainted at ilrst-hand with the mis sion fields in thoso countries. Ho now adds to this equipment missions in Japan and Korea. Ultimately, he will add China, India and still other countries. TENNESSEE. Columbia Presbytery met in called session at the Frierson Memorial church, Columbia, Monday, July 29, 1918. The pastoral relation between tho Rev. R. L. Benn and the Mt. Plea s?*nt church was dissolved, and he was granted leave to labor without tho bounds of Presbytery until the next regular meeting. Mr. Benn is engaged with the Army Y. M. C. A. at Camp Forest, Ga. Clyde Johnson, S. C. Memphis, Westminster: The Ses sion has released its pastor, Rev. Dr. C. W. Sommerville, for war work, and will supply the pulpit for the time. Two persons were received into the church July 28th, and their infant daughter was baptized. TEXAS. Fort Worth Presbytery: In a called meeting on May '14th, Rev. W. J. Eakens was dismissed to the Presby tery of Durant. Mr. Eakens left the Bridgeport group of churches to take the work at Marietta, Okla. Presby tery held an adjourned meeting on June 18th. The commission appoint ed to install Rev. Stonewall J. Mc Murry at Weatherford reported the duty performed on May 2 2d. Mr. John A. McMurry was received under care of Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry by transfer from Durant Presbytery. Mr. F. R. Young, a can didate under the care of Ouachita Presbytery, was received by transfer, and licensed to preach the gospel. He accepted a call from the Thurber church, and in view of his experience and the urgency of case, he was or dained, and a commission was ap pointed to install him on July 23d. Rev. C. M. Dellinger was received from the Presbytery of Mangum and put in charge of the Bridgeport group of churches. In a called meeting held at Abilene on July 2d, Rev. Gaines B. Hafl was dismissed to the PreSby tery of Dallas. He resigned the An son church to become pastor at Ver non, Tex. Rev. C. A. Engle was elect ed Chairman of Home Missions and Rev. T. M. Cunningham Chairman of Christian Education and Ministerial Relief, until tho fall meeting of Pres bytery. C. L. Altfather, S. C. Fort Worth : College Avenue church, at the beginning of the present pas torate, Ave years ago, incurred a debt of several thousand dollars for the remodeling and enlarging of the church building. The beginning of the sixth year of the pastorate was marked by the payment of the bal ance of this debt. This was done by one of the elders of the church, who, on condition that his name be not published, gave to the church all of a special fund that he had been accu mulating for some time, amounting to $2,000. This paid the balance of the debt and left $200 in the church trea sury. During the past Ave years the* church has grown In membership slowly hut steadily. The membership has increased about two-thirda, de spite many removals. It has increased the pastor's salary. Its equipment has been improved from time to time. (Continued on page 12)