The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-13
From our Special Reporter.
Synod of Virginia.
THIRD DAY-EYENING SESSION.
NORFOLK, November 9, 1866

NORFOLK, November y, 1866.
The SYNOD met according to adjourn.
men. al o'clock, and was called to order
by the moderator. The report of the
Committee on Bills and Ovcrtures was
taken up, and that portion Of it relating tc
the change of boundary between the Pres
bytery OF Roanoke and Montgomery was
confirmed.
The overture of West Hanover PreSby-
terry in regard 10 ministerial support was
then taken up, and a motion was made 10
refer il TO u special committee, to report at
the next annual meeting Of the Synod.
Rev. Mr.. Fitzgerald, in support OF the
overture, said that it was not his desire to
produce strife in the Church, but it was his
earnest wish 10 devise some system by
which a change Gf dcsirable) Should be
made. He had no temper, and no desire
TO inlct speech upon, or TO make HIM
self disagrccable to, the Synod; hut 1t
was apparent that thrcc-fourthS Of the per-
SONS who contributed to the support Of the
pastor did il as an act of pure CHARITY
Rev. Mr.. Berry said that it seemed 10
him that the root of all this difficulty was
lcond Of Jain both on the part OF the peo
pie and the ministry. Until the people arc
the Gospel should live OF the Gospel this
state Of things will not be amended. The
support Of the pastors was as much an or
Ginance OF Gods word as any other. Tn
til We can bring the people and the minis
Try 10 realizing sense of these truths we
cannot hope for greater support in the 1n-
ture. In the present distracted state of
the Church and the country, il is demon
stratcd fact that some change should be
made. Many ministers have been COM
PEELED TO spend at least two-thirdS of their
time in secular pursuits to enable them 10
exc out a scanty support. The Church
cannot thrive upon any such principle.
We should give ourselves up wholly to the
work.
Mr.. Holt, of Lynchburg, said that if the
ministers would come ont and make such
speeches to their congregations as the bro
Their has Just presented TO the Synod, the
whole difficulty would be overcome. Let
the churches know that they must support
their pastors or dispense with their SER
vices, and they would receive money
enough.
Rev. r. l.. Dabney, d. D., of Union The
illogical Seminary, considered this the pre-
eminent question, and hence asked per-
mission to trespass on the time of the
Synod. He feared the extinction OF half
the churches from the cause indicated in
this paper. Decedence, not progress, is
marked in our history for the year past.
We have enough ministerial efficiency to
remedy these disasters if it is put forth.
The efficiency Of the ministers is not en-
ployed. They are secularized by neccs-
sity. He did not speak Of himself. Pro
violence had dealt more kindly with him
than with some Of his brethren. Two-thirds
of the ministers have their efficiency suS-
pended. If they were released, Zion
would arise and blossom like Sharon.
Where ministers are permitted TO devote
themselves exclusively to their work, fruits
always follow. Let man make it his
daily business to study and preach and
teach from house TO house. Churches
thus supplied always grew. A minister
had no more right to employ his time in
secular pursuits than an oycrseer had to
engage in his own business, or the bank
clerk neglect his duties during office hours.
His time was employed by Presbytery and
the congregation for specific purpose.
He is TO preach and labor as pastor, and
to be furnished with bread. This is the
true theory. The theory that prevails al
lows the minister to toll in secular pursuits
for a support, and devote to the prepare
tion of his sermons, &C., fragments of eve.
nings and Saturdays. The sermon thus
prepared is delivered with divided heart
For thorough preparation and prayer, for
pastoral visitation, for the Bible class, fol
perusing the congregation, that he may dis.
cover where the spirit may have awakened
the first whispers Of conviction, he has no
time. All this is admitted perJorce.
DR.. Dabney had heard many reasons as
signed. 1t is said that ministers are too
skittish. They are afraid to make their
wants known. But they have been COM
PEELED to reveal their sufferings; and the
case is not mended. We have had discus
sion heretofore. Brethren will remember
the able speeches at our last Synod, when
distinguished laymen so earnestly took up
the subject, and the covert remark of Bro
Their Stephenson to his ow-clergymen
At the close Of that debate, Brethren,
comfort one another with these words"
and cords they were.
If you 60 back to the root Of this diff.
Guilty, it is in the fall Of Adam. Men are
sinners earth-bound, sensual, devilish; and
pastors are partially reformed sinners
CHRISTIANS, SO much moved by things tenn.
porai, aud so little by things unseen and
eternal. There is no radical remedy blu,
grace.
Among the partial causes is this: o def.
c,ens estimate among the people of thei,
own pastoral wants. They do not know
oy experience what are the advantages Of
sMmso.0ugn ana efficient ministerial labor
Incy receive rom their pastors such ar
from no other employee. Accordina ~ ~.
true theory Of this subject, deacon sbonlt
reprove his minister when he found hin
secularly employed, as he would reprov,
post of duty; but to make the rcproof vail,
be should ut once relieve the minister 0
tho necessity for such engagements. Thu
churches must learn that they need man.
time, and thst they cannot require his tim.
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