The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-10-03
For the Central Presbyterian.
The Synod of Virginia.

The SYNOD OF Virginia.
The Synod of Virginia met on the eve
ming of September Sd, at Lewisburg, in
Greenbrier county, Virginia. 1t was the
privilege of the Corresponding Secretary OF
the Board of Publication to be present
during its sessions. The place of meeting
was thirty miles distant from the terminus
of the Virginia Central Railroad at Jack
sons river, and this distance was travelled
by stage. In its whole extent it lay through
a charming mountainous country, each bend
of the road bringing into view new beauties,
and oftentimes new magnifcence of scenery.
Lewisburg is pleasant and thriving village,
with population of about one thousand,
and is situated upon elevated table land,
oftentimes called here, "The Levels" There
is here one Presbyterian church, of which
the venerable DR.. McElhenny now is, and
has been for about fifty years, the pastor.
This aged servant of God has recently en-
ioyed the unspeakable satisfaction of seeing
his church watered with showers of heaven
ly blessing, by which over fifty souls were
within a few months added to the commu-
Mon of saints. During the stay Of the Sy-
nod in Lewisburg, the good people of the
place exhibited the most generous and
warm-hearted hospitality. For this, as well
as for the delightful Christian intercourse
had with them during n stay of nearly a
week, they will never be forgotten by their
recent guests.
The Synod was opened on Wednesday
evening with discourse from Rev. W. ID.
McGuffey, D. d., of the University of Vir-
GINA, and religious services we're hume
rously intermingled, as is the inyariable
practice of this Synod, throughout the ell
tire sessions of the body. The people seemed
to hunger for the word of life, and were
furnished with feast of fat things in the
form of excellent and evangelical discourses
from several members of the Synod. The
body adjourned on Saturday evening.
The Secretary of the Board of Publica-
ton, (Rev. W. E. Schenck,) was invited to
address the Synod in regard to the plans
and operations of that Board, on Friday
morning, the 9th inst. After hearing his
statements, an animated discussion arose,
in which Rev. DR.. Pryor Of Petersburg, Rev.
DR.. White Of Lexington, Rev. Peyton Har-
rson of Gainesville, Rev. B. NJ. Smith, D..
D., of the Union Seminary at Prince Ed
ward, and others participated. There was
diversity of opinion as to how much the
Synod had been doing to aid the work Of
colportage, in which the Board is engaged,
but all agreed that it had not done by any
means so much as it ought to aim to do, and
there seemed to be a strong desire that
greater things should be attempted and ac-
complished from this time. The whole SUBJ
ject was finally referred to committee, to
report some definite plan of action to the
Synod. On the same evening this Commit
tee reported the following resolutions, which
were adopted by the Synod with great una
nimity.
RESOLVED, 1. That. the Synod of Virginia
views with interest increasing every year,
the great work of colportage in which the
Presbyterian Church has engaged.
ii. That with the expectation of giving
greater efficiency to this work within our
bounds, this Synod does hereby commit it
into the hands of the Board of Publication,
to be prosecuted among us in the same way
as in other parts of the Church.
III. That the Presbyterial Committees
now existing shall be continued, and it shall
be their duty to cooperate with the Board
of Publication by promoting the cOntribu-
tons of the churches, and by seeking out
and recommending colporteurs to the Board,
and when funds are paid to these Commit
tees, they shall be RENTED to the Treasurer
of the Board at Philadelphia.
". That the Presbyterial Committees
are hereby instructed to make up and for
ward as promptly as possibly, to the Secre-
tary of the Board of Publication, full reports
of the moneys received and the work per-
formed in their respective Presbyteries du-
ring the year ending octgber l, 1857.
During the years past the Synod of Vir-
ginia has been engaged in managing the
work of colportage within its bounds through
the agency of Synodical and Presbyterial
Committees appointed by itself. 1t having
been found that this plan has not accom-
plished all that was hoped for from it, the
Synod has now returned, as will be seen by
the above resolutions, to the adoption of
the same method as is used in the great
majority of the Synods. We earnestly hope
that the ministers, elders, and churches of
the Synod will now seek to cooperate with
and sustain the Board in such efforts as it
may be enabled to put forth. There is no
State of our widespread Union which offers
a more inviting and important field for the
system of colportage, as prosecuted by the
Board, than does the noble State of Vir-
ginia. May the great Head of the Church
give wisdom and grace both to the Board
and to the Synod to improve Alright the in
viting opportunities there presented.
Churches or individuals within the bounds
of the Synod Of Virginia, hereafter making
contributions to the Colportage Fund Of the
Board Of Publication, will please forward
them directly to James Dunlap, Esq. Trea-
surer, No. S2l Chestnut St. Philadelphia.
Liberal Doaution-The Rochester De
nocrat states that Joseph Fulton, of Phelps,
of Ontario county, has piyen $4,000 to |