The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19


Baptist church, the Rev. Mr.. Dodge.
The Rev. J. NJ. P. Atkinson, DID,,
was chosen Moderator, Rev. Chas. White
and Fred. Johnston, Esq, Clerks.
Such proceedings as are of general in
terest will be found below.
The committee appointed last year on
the State of the Church presented a re-
port which was approved and is as fol-
lows:
Report Of the Committee on the State of
the Church, presented to the Synod of
Virginia, October, 1865.
A Report on the Church would not,
ordinarily, Justify reference to the I'M
changeable conditions under which it has
always existed since the establishment of it
by its Divine Head. But that there has
come the first pause in the mighty storm,
which has either swept away or material
ly modified so many important institu-
tiOns, it is well to express our gratitude
to Almighty God, that the ark which
contains the hope of the world, is so con-
structed as to be safe in the midst of the
widest deluges.
In its principles, its powers, its duties,
and all its spiritual relations, the Church
is to-day what it was when the crucifed
Saviour said, at is finished" )" 1t is built
upon the foundation of the A postles and
Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief cornerstone. 1t has vouchsafed
unto it the Almighty power of the Holy
Ghost-and it has the promise that can
not fail of ultimate and universal domin-
ion. The Word of God is its charter,
and its sacraments are the seals, at once
of its commission and its privileges.
That in these respects it is indepen-
dent of earthly governments, has been
proved in many country and in many
an age, and now again, in our couptry, in
these days wherein we live.
We return our hearty thanks, there
fore, to God, that the true church in this
land, and the Synod of Virginia as part
of it, is in its essence unaffected by the
events of the last four years, which have
essentially affected almost everything
else in the country.
As the characteristics of the church
are Interchangeable, so its functions are
ever the same. "Go preach my Gospel"
was the single comprehensive command
given to the church by the risen Jesus
and she never has mad authority to do
more than this, and what is implied in it.
Again, we return thanks to God that
no earthly power has a right to prescribe
her duty to the church, and that this
day there is no impediment in the way of
the Synod of Virginia in discharging her
full share of this duty.
While these things are true, it is, never
theless, also true that the church sustains
varied and important relations to that
which is external to herself, and that in
the Providence of God, these relations
are frequently changed, now for the fur
therance, and now to the present disad-
vantage of, the Gospel. Several such
changes in the relations of the Synod of
Virginia, your committee deem it proper
to bring to the notice of the Synod.
GEOGRAPHICAL.
The Synod of Virginia, as at present
constituted, comprises the whole territory,
Except portion of the Northwest and
on the North Carolina border of what
was the undivided State of Virginia, and
in addition some churches in Maryland.
The erection of the State of West Vir-
ginia has raised in some minds the ques-
ton of new determination of the bound
aries of the Synod. But as our ecclesi-
astical are not determined at all by our
State lines, as one Synod may embrace
parts or the whole of two or more States,
and as no ecclesiastical interest demands
such division, but on the other hand, the
closest union and cooperation, that the
strong may assist the weak, the commit
tee would earnestly recommend that no
question of this kind be now raised, but
that our synodical lines remain as they
have been,-and that our name, too, as
being still the most appropriate, be un-
changed.
2.-C)LoRED POPULATION.
By the last census, there were in the
State of Virginia 491, ,020 slaves. Now
there is not one. This sudden change of
the status of so large a portion of the
population of the country affects every
important interest of society. The records
of this Synod, and of each of our Pres
byteries, bear testimony that in past years
it was tho constant effort of the Presby-
terian Church in Virginia to impress
upon masters and servants sense of their
reciprocal responsibilities and duties.-
These specific responsibilities and duties
no longer exist. But while the relation
between the races is changed, the law Of
love, as laid down in the Bible, exists
with undiminished requirement, As their
neighbors in the Gospel sense, we are tc
be liberal and self-denying in extending
to them our aid in improving their physi'