Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-11-13
YORKVlLLE, S. c..
MEETING OF SYNOD.


church, met in this place on Wednesday last. The
opening sermon was preached by Rev. Mr.. Gregg,
and the Synod was organized by the election of
Rev. Dr.. Palmer Moderator, and Rev. VIM.
Banks Clerk. From the Presbytery of Bethel
the following members have been in attendance
Rev. Mcssrs j. NJ. II. Adams, ]. NJ. Anderson,
J. S. r. Davies, ]. r. Gilland, w. Banks, j. X.
Baird, W. J. Mccormick, ]. G. Richards, J. L.
Savage, J. II. Sayc, A. a. James, S. L. Watson,
and ]. Z. White; and Elders, J. NJ. Ross, York
vile: James Siaril, Allison's Greek; W. L.
Brown, Bccrsheba; F. \. Erwin, Bethesda; J.
s. Barnett, Eoenczcr; Joseph Adams, Bethel;
W. White, Dullock's Creek; r. H. Crockett,
Waxhaw; E. R. Mills, Fishing Creek; D. G.
stinscn, Cedar Shoals Col. WV. Walkup, Six
Mile Creek; H. C. Brawlcy, Chester; and others
not to be mentioned
Thursday morning, the routine Of business was
suspended and the Synod joined large concourse
of citizens in performing funeral obsequies over
the remains of Maj. HENRY. There was much to
render this ceremony peculiarly solemn and i'm
pressive II was the first time that the Synod had
ever been called upon to attend such IN occasion
and their mingling with the retinue of mourners
was the more to be regarded, as Maj. HENRY had
for many years occupied the position ola member,
and was the chief er-sone of the church Of
whose kindly hospitalities they had come to par
take His death is to that church q severe afllic-
ton, and % lose such an exemplar Of the highest
virtues of the citizen and the Christian would be
rightly esteemed by any community public ca
lamity The services were performed by Rev.
DR.. Leland anu Re-. Mr.. Douglass.
Much the larger portion of the time has been
occupied by the Synod in determining the matter
Of Dr. Palmcr's removal to the LaFaycttc-square
Church, New Orleans Your readers will remem-
bcr that tho "cal'' Of the New Orleans Church
was submitted to the Synod at the last years
meeting, and rejected by an almost unanimous
vote. 1t was hoped that there the subject would
be at rest. Subsequently, however, the call was
renewed and more pcrtinaciously, with an increase
of material argument from $4,000 to $4,000, pay
able monthly. Dr. Palmer was disposed to en-
tcrtaiu the proposition, aud the Charleston Pres
hytcry, unwilling to take the responsibility of re-
fusing to cater into terms, referred the mat
ter to the Synod. The argument, by DR.. Thorn
we'll, DR.. Smythc and others against, and DR..
Leland, Mr. Bishop and others in behalf of the
Orleans Church, was very ably and forcibly dis
cussed; and was finally decided by a vote of G7
to 3d. directing the Prcsbytcry to place the call
in DR.. Palmcr's hands. To outsiders, the decision
was very strange one. Beyond the pertinacity
of the call, from which nothing reasonable could
be lcduced, there appeared to be no proper pre-
text for reversing the action of the last Synod
Every argument presented for such decision was
in palpable contravention of the principle which
gives the Church jurisdiction over such matters
and is one Of the essential features of Presbyter-
anisn, as we'll as the orthodox preccpt that men
should act in good faith one towards another. 1t
is unlcniablc that it was upon the faith of Dr..
Palmers continuance in the Faculty of the Semi
nary that DR.. Thornwell was induced to resign the
Presidency of the College, and undertake the
work rs his co-laborer and it was upon their faith
Jointly pledged, that the membership were induced
to contribute very liberal fund to the permanent
endowment of that institution. One Of the min
isters with an air strangely like that of special
pleading lawyer, let it out that DR.. Thornwcll and
DR.. Palmer were elected to their Professorship for
the purpose of giving brilliant promise to the
Seminary and thus securing the endowment; the
trick has been entirely succcssful ergo, let DR..
Palmer now go whithcrsocver his bent might direct
him. But it would be unjust to suppose that the
members of the Synod were controlled by such
very unworthy motives. The result is due rather
to the representations made by Dr.. Palmer him
self, who had been convinced by experience that
the duties Of the Professor were unsuited to his
capacities and uncongcnial to his tastes and who
conceived it to he his paramount and commanding
duty to enter again upon the work Of the ministry.
If Dr.. Palmer were vain man, hc might find in
the entire proceeding = most abundant consola-
ton. Wrung out most reluctantly, the result is
the very highest compliment that could be passed.
upon his rare virtues as man, and his transcen-
dant ability rs preacher. In accepting his res
ignation, the Synod and the Church certainly
make an extraordinary sacrifice.
The chair of Ecclesiastical History thus made
vacant, was supplied by the election of Rev. j.
B. Adgcr, D. D., by large majority, which was
subsequently declared unanimous. DR.. Adger is
a native of Charleston. For a long period he
served the Church as Missionary to Smyrna but
his health failing, lie was recalled and for several
years has been reSaining his tagging energies by
a residence in the old Pendeton District From
all that could lcarn the appointment is the best
that could have been made. He is regarded as
one of the ablest divines in the bounds of the Syn
cd, and, if we are to judge from the sermon de-
livercd on Friday evening, he is certainly an ex
ceent preacher.
In further providing for the well-being of the
Seminary, resolution was passed by the Synod
increasing the period of vacation, so that the ses-
sion shall begin the first Monday in October and
terminate on Friday after the first Monday in
June, in each year. The resolution was proposed
by DR.. Thornwcll, and advocated on the ground
that it is better for the student to apply himself
continuously and earnestly for even half the year,
and play through the remainder, than to drag
along heavily through the entire twelve month
There is not little wit in the familiar saying, that
"all work and no play makes Jack dull boy;"
and it might be made profitable to little boys and
girls, rs well as to the young preachers. The