1. On Spiritual condition of the Church, while we have cause for thankfulness to God for His continued goodness and mercy as individuals and as a Church, yet we regret to say that the Spiritual condition of the Church is not in as high a condition as we desire it should be.  There has been, however, several addition to the Church during the last six months, and there appears to be rather an increased desire on behalf of the people to hear the Gospel preached.  Our congregations on the Sabbath have somewhat increased and are now very good.

2. The weekly prayer meetings are very well attended.

3. The interest in the Sabbath School has somewhat increased and the school almost doubled in members.

4. We would again call the attention of Presbytery to the importance of the field in which our beloved Pastor is called to labor.  Although he is very zealous and persevering, yet the extent of the field is so great, it is impossible for him to give it the attention which it requires.  And effort is being made on behalf of the Leesburg and Catoctin Churches to secure the services of a Pastor at each, but for the churches to support a Pastor independent of each other is at present impossible.  We believe that the desired object can be accomplished if Presbytery would lend a helping hand to each.  And we further believe that the Churches will become self-sustaining and in a condition to render aid to the more feeble Churches.  As an evidence of this fact and as a reason why Presbytery should aid us, we find that by reference to the records of the Church that it has more than tripled its membership in the last four years.

Following is a report in regard to the Sabbath School:

Total number of teachers	9
Average attendance	7
Total number of scholars	53
Average attendance	41

There has been two additions to the Church from the school, one teacher and one scholar.

There has been collected and expended for Library the sum of $30.

The school to a great extend is composed of Scholars, whose parents are members of other denominations.

Dec. 9th, the Clerk of the Session is ordered to inform the Treasurer of the Presbytery that the Leesburg and Catoctin Churches have perfected their arrangements of r a separation to take effect on the 1st day of January 1872, and that this Church will want the aid promised by Presbytery at its fall meeting 1871.

- 1872 -

April 22nd, the following report was ordered to be made to the Presbytery; on the 1st of January last, the separation of the Leesburg and Catoctin Churches took effect.  Since which time our Pastor Rev. J.W. Lupton has given the whole of his time and labor to this Church, having regular morning and evening services on the Sabbath, with prayer meeting during the week.  The Church is in better condition (spiritually and temporally) than it has been for years.

We have adopted the envelope systems for all purposes of the Church except for repairs and find that it works well, thereby enabling us to be prompt in the payment of salary and all other Church expenses.  We raise more money in this way than by any other plan heretofore adopted.

Our congregations are good and increasing .  The Sabbath School in connection with the Church is under the control of the Session and has assumed more definite form, although small, we hope that it will be the means in the hand of God of doing good.

August 4th, the Session was called and the Moderator informed the Session that he had accepted a call recently tendered to him from the Presbyterian Church in Clarksville, Tennessee and requested that a congregational meeting be called to unity with him in a request of Presbytery to dissolve the Pastoral relation existing between himself and this church.

August 5th, a Congregational meeting was held and Rev. Lupton laid before the meeting the following paper.

To the members of the Leesburg Church, my well beloved people. After long and prayerful consideration, I am led - so far as I am able to know the will of the Great Shepherd to conclude that He calls me to tend another part of his flock, distant from you but no less dear to Him. And the only path of safety for you and for me is the path of duty.

I therefore tender you my resignation and ask you to unity with me in requesting the Presbytery of the Chesapeake to dissolve the Pastoral relation, which for nearly six year has existed between us.

This change has not been sough by me, except in so far as to express a willingness in accordance with my ordination vows to serve the Lord wherever He in His providence might call me. An unwillingness to do this much would have violated the spirit of the commission I received - to do more than this would have been unworthy the kindness and love which you have always shown me. And I desire here, as I have always done, to bear testimony that neither by looks, nor words, nor actions toward me or mine, have you as a Church, or any one of you as individuals, made our lives uncomfortable among you. You have borne with my weakness and many failures and have manifested charity towards my family in such a way as will cause every one of us to love you while life lasts.

These evidences of love, while they make the parting more severe, will ever be an evidence that we have endeavored to live together as becometh Members of the Household of Faith; and that will cause me to look back through life upon this place as one of the greenest spots in all memories field, and I trust the same feeling will still lead you to follow us with your prayers and so far as it is lawful, with you hearts best affections.

I know that you are my friends and you that I am your truly and affectionately.

Your Pastor J.W. Lupton.

- 1873 -

January 27th, a congregational meeting was held to proceed to the election of a pastor for this church.  The salary was fixed at $1000 per year.  It was also resolved that in case the call be to an unmarried man and he shall accept the call, the Trustees of the Manse property be required to rent out the Manse reserving the Ice House, sell the ice and collect the rents.  The monies to be applied first to the payment of any deficiency in the salary that may exist, and secondly the balance, if any, pay to the Catoctin congregation to discharge the interest of said congregation in the Manse property.

March 23rd, a congregational meeting was held to nominate Mr. John F. Cannon, a student of the Union Theological Seminary (of the senior class) under the care of Mecklenberg Presbytery North Carolina to fill the Pastoral office in this Church.

March 31st, the following letter was ordered sent to Presbytery:

We are glad to say that we consider the Church here in very good condition.  Since we have been without a pastor since the first of September last it is in as good a condition, perhaps better than might have been expected.

The prayer meetings were kept up regularly weekly until during the month of January when it was though best to suspend them on account of the extreme weather we were then having.  It is now our intention to revive these meetings and to hold them regularly from this time forward.

We believe the prospect is now very good to build up the Church here and hope before many days to have a regular Pastor around whom we can all rally.

The Sabbath School has been regularly kept up during the whole time not missing one Sabbath unless the weather was so extremely bad as to prevent the children from attending.  The school is in only a tolerable condition.

The pulpit we have endeavored to have as regularly supplied as possible, and have missed by comparatively few Sabbaths in no having some one of the Brethren preach for us and are glad to say that the most, if not all of them, have expressed a willingness and have come to help us in this our time of need.

October 31st, the Rev. John F., Cannon was ordained to the full work of the Gospel Ministry and installed Pastor of this Church by Chesapeake Presbytery at Leesburg on this day.

- 1876 -

Session minutes contain information on meetings held regularly to evaluate and receive new members, on April 15th the following report was prepared and ordered to be certified to Presbytery of Chesapeake.

Dear Brethren,

Our Church has been open for public worship every Sunday excepting two since the last meeting of Presbytery.  The attendance has as a general rule been large and more encouraging.  The weekly prayer meeting has also been kept up with increasing interest and attendance.  In addition to these religious services, daily services were held for about two weeks during the winter in which we were favored by the ministry of our beloved brother Dr. Mitchell.  These meetings were attended, as we believe, by special manifestation of the Spirit's power.  God's people were greatly edified and refreshed and some were born into the Kingdom of His Dear Son.  A few have been added to the Church in profession of faith, other are indulging a hope in Christ, and have signified a desire to be members soon with His people, and still others seem to be under genuine conviction of sin and we trust will be brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.  We are encouraged be seeing some of our members more than usually interested in God's truth and striving after a closer walk with Him and more likeness of His image ... On the part of some, likewise here is a tender anxiety about unconverted friends, and an earnest spirit of intercession for them.  We thank our Lord for these tokens of His favor and are encouraged to hope for good results from them.  Family worship is generally, though not universally, observed by heads of families, and parental instruction is not neglected.

The Sunday School has been carried on with usual regularity and efficiency.  Collections have been taken up for the several causes of benevolences and to all of them the majority of the people have contributed with commendable liberality.

Our organization has been strengthened by election of two additional Deacons.  They are now doing their work more systematically than heretofore.  They are now doing their work more systematically than heretofore.  They hold regularly monthly meeting and make regular reports of their work to the Session.

The ladies of the Sewing Society have displayed a laudable activity and have been every ready to assist in any good work.

Our missionary enterprise at Farmwell station is making encouraging progress.  The building has begun and we hope to have it ready for occupancy early in the summer.  Our thanks are due to Franklin St. Church in Baltimore, Central Church in Washington and Second Church in Alexandria for contributions to the building fund.

Statistical reports as follows:

Number of Elders	2
Number of Deacons	4
Communicants added on Examination	7
Communicants added on Certificate	2
Total Communicants	70
Adults baptized	2
Infants baptized	6
Number baptized non-communicants	26
Number children in Sabbath School	55
Funds Contributed
- Sustentation	$22.24
- Evangelistic	$8.57
- Invalid Funds	$11.57
- Foreign Missions	$45.10
- Education	$9.38
- Publication	$9.41
- Presbyterial	$15.20
- Pastor's salary actually paid	$816.55
- Congregational	$482.31
- Miscellaneous	$80.25
Sabbath School
- Teachers	8
- Scholars	55
- Average Attendance	37

December 20th, a meeting was held and the Pastor, Rev. J. F. Cannon reported to the Session that he had examined the following persons belonging to the Farmwell congregation:  Mrs. Fannie Longacre, Miss Adelia Louisa Davis and Thomas Edgar Davis as to their religious experience, and that they made satisfactory profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and recommended that they be received to unite in the formation of a Presbyterian Church at Farmwell, Virginia.

- 1877 -

The Session resolved to meet regularly on Wednesday preceding the first Sabbath in each month.  they continued to meet in regular session to examine and receive members.  Other business was discussed on the meeting held August 1st, a committee was appointed to raise funds for Sunday School.  A resolution was made that two boxes be obtained and placed in each aisle of the Church to receive contributions by members of the congregation for the benefit of the poor of the Church.

September 4th, the narrative on the state of religion in the Church was adopted and ordered presented to the Presbytery of Chesapeake.  We rejoice to be able in grateful recognition of the continued favor and goodness of God to report a good degree of success and prosperity.  We have lost but two of our members by death while at each successive communion season we have had one or more additions making in all seventeen additions during the present synodical year.  Our organization has been strengthened by the ordination of two additional Elders and three Deacons.  Our congregations are good and show improvement in numbers and interest.  The Sabbath School is under the conduct of one of our Elders, efforts have recently been made and are now in progress to give it a greater degree of vigor and efficiency .  All the regular collections directly by the Church have been taken up and while we regret that they have not been larger, yet they do not exhibit and decreases of interest in the great object of Christian benevolence but are fully up to the present ability of our people.  We desire especially to record and commend the valuable aid we have received form the Ladies of the Church through the organized efforts of their Sewing Society.  In addition to their usual contributions to the cause of Foreign Missions, we have received from them funds sufficient to enable us to place in our Church edifice a new walnut pulpit with all its furnishings.

As part of the labor of our pastor in his own appointed field he has from time to time, as occasion and opportunity offered, preached and conducted services at Cool Spring Chapel, at the residence of Mrs. Lewis, at Farmwell and various other pints in the neighborhood.  At Farmwell there has been recently erected a handsome church building, the largest Presbyterian Church in the county, here the congregation very generally numbers from 200 to three hundred people.  There is yet no organized Church there, but w e cannot too earnestly call the attention of Presbytery to this field as one extremely uniting and promising and which ought at once to be occupied by an active and earnest working man.  There are but few members of the Presbyterian Church there at present, but a large element not specially attached to any particular denomination, which may not only be brought under the influence of the blesses Gospel, but may be gathered in Church relations and molded under the forms of our own cherished polity.

Our people are thoroughly united and harmonious.

October 4th, at the regular session meeting, the Moderator presented rules of proceedings or a series of formal questions to be asked and answered at the regular meeting of the Session:
 

Report of visits made in the congregation with any observations or results connected with them. Are there any sick persons in the congregation who require attention? Are there any who are serious on the subject of religion? Are there any children in the community who do not attend any Sabbath School? Are there any families or individuals who do not attend church? Have any strangers recently come amongst us who are inclined to our church? Are there any of our members who are negligent in their attendance upon public worship? Are there any of our members whose walk is not such that becometh the Gospel? Report of delegate to Presbytery or Synod. Report of the Board of Deacons. Any suggestions or recommendations looking to the promotion of our Church's interests.

November 29th, a committee of two members of the Session was appointed to take into consideration the subject of supplying the Church with new hymn books with power to act.

- 1878 -

April 8th, report to the Presbytery indicates the following:

Number of Elders	4
Number of Deacons	6
Total Number of Communicants	102

May 8th, whereas it is the unanimous opinion of the Session that a period of rest and recreation will be of service to our Pastor.  It was resolved that we tender him leave of absence during the month of June.

May 29th, the ladies of the Sewing Society have signified to the Session their desire to make some improvements to the Church edifice.  A committee was appointed to act in conjunction with the Ladies in making said improvements.