After recess Presbytery met, when leave of absence was granted to Rev. G. M. Gibbs and W. H. Holmes.

On motion, Presbytery took a recess of five minutes to meet at the stand, for the purpose of spending half an hour in prayer to Almighty God for the Church and Country.

These exercises were conducted by the Moderator, and were truly solemn and affecting.

The Presbytery then returned to the Church, when the following resolution was read and unanimously adopted, viz:

Resolved, That this Presbytery do hereby express their earnest sympathy with our officers and soldiers now engaged in a struggle for the maintenance of the rights of the people of the Confederate States of America, and that we recommend that continued prayer be made by our people to Almighty God for His blessing upon them, and upon our rulers, and for the speedy establishment of an honorable peace.

The following Ruling Elders appeared, and their names were enrolled, viz: G. W. Bannerman, Black River Chapel; and W. K. Cromartie, South River Chapel.

On motion, the report of the select committee on Domestic Missions was taken up, and, after several interesting addresses, was adopted and is as follows, viz:

“The select committee to whom was referred the report of the Presbyterial Committee of Domestic Missions, have had the same under consideration, with the matters suggested therein, and ask leave to report as follows: The altered condition of our ecclesiastical affairs, which has followed and been connected with the great convulsion in the State has rendered necessary a change of our policy; and brings about a modification in some, and a total repeal of other resolutions which this Presbytery has heretofore adopted. By our action at this time we are discharged from our connection with the Board at Philadelphia, and must rely, upon some mode of management exclusively Presbyterial, unless, in the progress of events, a new Board shall be formed, which shall supply to the Confederate States, the place of that of Philadelphia. Your committee recommend that a committee be appointed whose office shall be in the town of Fayetteville, to consist of three Ministers and three Elders, and that said committee shall give commissions to missionaries and review their reports, give drafts upon the Treasury, and have the charge of the work of missions in our bounds, subject to such orders as Presbytery from time to time may make.

Your committee with a view of making the missionary work more extensive and effective also, recommend that all our ministers, whether Pastors, or Stated Supplies, shall give themselves in a proper degree to the cause. For this purpose it is recommended that our congregations not only allow, but shall encourage their ministers to engage in the work, as being now the best means of carrying Gospel light into many portions of our Presbytery, and of making our system aggressive to that degree which shall develop its highest capability, and its agency in enlarging the bounds of Zion.

Your committee recommend that the report and resolutions of the Committee on Missions be concurred in with these additions, that resolutions No 1, 2, and 4, of the series adopted at the spring sessions of 1858, at Buffalo, relative to Domestic Missions, be and and the same are hereby repealed.

The report of the Committee on Domestic Missions is as follows, viz:

Your Committee on Domestic Missions beg leave to submit the following report:

“During the past six months our whole Domestic Missionary work has been greatly embarrassed and almost paralyzed. We have not only felt the need of an Evangelist to superintend and to extend our field of labor, but our missionaries have been embarrassed by our present arrangements. At present, our missionaries are required not only to report to the Committee of Presbytery, but also to the general Board of Domestic Missions in Philadelphia; and from that Board they receive their commissions and drafts upon our Treasury. But all communication with Philadelphia being cut off, they have been unable to renew their commissions, or to obtain their drafts upon our Treasury. Hence, some of our missionaries have been laboring without commissions, and all have been unable to draw their pay. It is therefore necessary for Presbytery to authorize its missionaries to draw their back pay, and to make arrangements for their being commissioned and paid in the future.

We have five missionaries in the field, who devote the whole, or part of their time, to the missionary work. Rev. N. T. Bowden has been preaching for the last six months, with more than usual success to Ben-Salem, a small church in the Northwestern portion of Moore county. Rev. D. T. Towles has been preaching for the past five months to the small churches of Kieth, Lillington, Mt. Williams and Mt. Edwards.

Owing to the absence of the Rev. M. B Grier, Rev. M. McQueen has not been able to extend his labors beyond the bounds of Wilmington for the last quarter.

From the Rev. G. M. Gibbs, who was appointed to labor part of his time in Magnolia, a growing village on the Wilmington and Weldon Rail Road, and the Rev. A. McMillan who was appointed to labor in the interior of Richmond county, we have received no reports.

At our last meeting, Presbytery instructed their Committee to appropriate $125, or if necessary $200, to the Presbyterian church in Lumberton, to aid said church in procuring the regular ministrations of the Word ; but that church has made no demand upon the Committee, neither has it submitted any report.

There have been no other calls upon the Committee for aid, or new appointments since the last meeting of Presbytery. Various causes have conspired to deprive many of our churches of the regular preaching of the Gospel, and we have reason, with God's ancient people, to mourn over the desolations of our Zion. Still, we must look forward to the future with faith and hope, fully confident that the Great Head of the Church, who has committed into His hands all power in heaven and earth, will deliver His Church from all her troubles, and that she shall yet come forth in her beautiful garments adorned as a bride for her husband.

Whereas, we have severed our connection with the Board of Domestic Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, therefore,

Resolved,That our Missionaries be required to make quarterly reports to the Committee of Presbytery, and that said Committee be authorized to commission Missionaries and also to give the drafts upon the Treasury of Presbytery.

The following persons were appointed the Committee on Domestic Missions, viz:

Rev. Messrs. John M. Sherwood, James H. McNeill, and Martin McQueen, with Ruling Elders, Dr. James H. Dickson, Hon. Jesse G. Shepherd and Mr. John Elliott.

Rev. M. B. Grier, by letter requested a dissolution of the pastoral connection between himself and the 1st Church, Wilmington, and the Church concurring therein, his request was granted, and Rev. M. McQueen was appointed to preach there, and declare said Church vacant.

Rev. M. B. Grier, through Rev. M. McQueen, presented a request to be dismissed to join the Presbytery of Philadelphia, which was granted, and the Stated Clerk, was directed to furnish Mr. Grier with the usual testimonials.

Mr. Daniel McRae, a member of Barbecue Church, was introduced to Presbytery as a candidate for the Gospel Ministry, and after a satisfactory examination on experimental Religion, and his motives in seeking the ministry, he was taken under our care, and recommended to the Committee on Education.

Rev. Archibald McQueen asked leave to return to Presbytery the call previously placed in his hands by Mt. Carmel Church; which was granted.

The Committees appointed to install Rev. N. T. Bowden Pastor of Pee Dee And Mineral Spring Churches, not having performed that duty, on motion the same Committees were continued.

The Committee appointed to install Rev. M. McNair co-pastor of Lumber Bridge Church, reported, that they discharged that duty on Saturday, the 23rd day of March, 1861.

The Committee appointed to install Rev. S. C. Alexander Pastor of Black River Chapel, reported that they discharged that duty on Saturday May 4th, 1861.

There being no report from the Committee appointed to visit Galatia Church, and the Pastor, Rev. J. C. Sinclair, having stated that there was now no necessity for such a Committee, they were discharged.

On motion, Presbytery took a recess to meet at the house of Mrs. Wooten, this evening at 7 o'clock.

After recess, Presbytery met and proceeded to business.

Supplies to vacant churches were called upon, when it was ascertained that none of the appointments had been filled, and for reasons that were deemed satisfactory.

The Committee appointed to visit Big Juniper made a verbal report; whereupon the following Committee was appointed to visit that neighborhood, and if the way be be clear, organize a Church there, viz: Rev. Messrs. J. C. Sinclair, G. A. Russell and David Fairley, and Col. A. Kelly, Ruling Elder.

“The Committee to whom was referred the subject of Foreign Missions, beg leave to report the following minute for the adoption of the Presbytery, viz:

WHEREAS, In severing their connection with the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and renouncing the jurisdiction of the General Assembly of that Church, Presbytery has ceased to have any connection or co-operation with the Board of Foreign Missions in New York; and

Whereas, In the view of the Presbytery, the subject of Foreign Missions has lost none of its interest and importance, in consequence of these changes in their ecclesiastical relations; but, on the contrary, its claims are felt to be more than ever immediate and imperative, particularly, in connection with the Missions among the Indians occupying the Territories of the Confederate States, and in the case of such brethren as may have gone out from among us, and are now laboring in distant parts of the world, identified in interest and feeling with our Southern Zion, and looking to her for that sympathy and support without which their missions cannot long survive: Therefore,

Resolved, 1st. That Presbytery earnestly recommend to all the Churches under their care, that they take up collections, as formerly, at least once a year, for the cause of Foreign Missions, and that in their contributions, it be remembered by the people of God, that our Lord's last great command was, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

Resolved, 2nd. That Presbytery approve of the course adopted by the Brethren in Columbia, S. C., in forming the committee on Foreign Missions, of which Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, D. D., is Secretary, to take charge of the interests connected with this subject, until the complete organization of the Church in these Confederate States.

Resolved, 3rd. That the Treasurer of Presbytery, until otherwise notified, is hereby authorized and requested to remit the funds now in his hands, and such as may hereafter reach him, for the cause of Foreign Missions, to the Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, D. D., at Columbia, S. C., to be used by him, under the direction of the committee, in furthering this cause.”

This report was accepted and adopted.

The Committee on the Narrative submitted their report, which was accepted and adopted, and a copy was ordered to be forwarded to Synod, and also to the General Assembly— it is as follows, viz;

“Your Committee on the Narrative to Synod, beg leave to submit the following report;

That owing to the facts that the subject of free conversation on the State of Religion within our bounds came up so early in the Sessions of Presbytery, several of the members had not arrived, and consequently the materials for making out a full report are necessarily limited.

But from the facts reported from the various churches, and from all the information obtained, there are many things to cheer and comfort the hearts of God's people; while, on the other hand, we regret to say, there are some things which call for mourning, humiliation and prayer. The excited spirit of the times has affected all ranks and conditions of men—has been felt in every department of business, and has even spread its blighting and withering influence upon our beloved Zion.

Pious young men have felt it to be their duty to exchange the privileges of the sanctuary for the battle-field. Congregations have been weakened, Sabbath Schools are dwindling away, and Bible classes have been given up, while in some instances, the word preached seems to have fallen powerless upon the hearts and consciences of inattentive hearers.

Nor should we fail to record the fact that owing to our necessary separation from the various Boards of the Church, and the necessary money crisis, the contributions to the various benevolent enterprises of our church have been greatly diminished.

But notwithstanding these depressing and discouraging facts, there has been the usual, or more than usual, number received into the membership in the different churches.

The Spirit of God seems still to move upon the hearts of His people for the accomplishment of His own glorious purposes; and some of the Brethren are reported to have enjoyed spiritual visitations of His grace, and many souls have been brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ.

A Committee, consisting of Rev. Messrs. Hector McLean, J. C. Sinclair, and H. A. Monroe, was appointed to confer with our Licentiates, and report at our regular Spring sessions.

Rev. John M. Sherwood was elected a Trustee of Davidson College in place of Rev. Adam Gilchrist, deceased; and Rev. Martin McQueen in place of Rev. M. B. Grier, removed beyond her bounds.

On motion, the election of all Evangelist was indefinitely postponed.

On motion, the Stated Clerk was ordered to publish, in pamphlet form, 600 copies of the Minutes of our present sessions

On motion, it was Resolved, That the Churches be requested to contribute, during the month of November next, one half of their usual assessment to the Commissioners' Fund, and that the same be forwarded immediately to the Treasurer, Maj. Archibald McLean; and that he be directed to pay to each of our Commissioners to the General Assembly the sum of $30, if there be so much in the Treasury.