The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-11
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.


the Richmond Dispatch. But many Of our
readers would like to have more full report Of
what was said and done in regard to these and
other topics of special interest. With a view TO
satisfy this demand we here endeavor to give 8
sketch of a number of such matters, taking each
continuously, and without always specially no.
ting the interruptions from other subjects which
sometimes intervened.
DIVISION OF THE SYNOD.
The Rev. B. NJ. Smith, D. D., offered the
following resolution on Thursday, the ID day
of the meeting:
"Resolued, That the interests Of the church.
es committed to its care would be promoted
by a division of the Synod, and that it is now
expedient to take some measures looking to
that result.
Upon submitting this resolution, DR.. Smith
moved that its consideration should be made
the special order for the next morning at 10
o'clock. After some desultory discussion,
during which the wish was strongly expressed
by some that the whole subject should be
passed by, the motion was lost, the preference
of the Synod being for an immediate consider.
alton of the general question on its merits.
Rev. DIR. ARMSTRONG, of Norfolk, led in the
discussion, and in favor of division. Two
points were presented.
|. The numbers now belonging to the Synod.
1t has now iS9 ministers and 246 churches
If all entitled to seats were present, we should
have on the floor at this meeting 435 members.
If one half were present, nearly the whole
church would be occupied by them. On many
accounts the size Of the body would be incon-
veniently large for the transaction OF so much
business in the short time they are together.
But in point of fact, the attendance which
we ought to have is never secured. Our ter
ritory of at least 400 miles, both North and
South, East and West, is so immense that we
hardly ever have one.third of the members at
any one meeting.
In connexion with this the item of expense
is with many very serious difficulty. Fifteen
or twenty dollars is not indeed large sum Of
money, but there are many brethren who know
their income is so scanty that they cannot afford
to spare even that much from their needy
families.
Q The size of this Synod gives it an undue
influence in the General Assembly. 1t is by
far the largest in our connexion, being in the
number of its ministers more than twice as
large as either of the Synods Of North Caro-
lima, South Carolina. Georgia, or Mississippi,
and about four times as large as any of the
others. Is it wise to keep such an undue pre-
ponderance of influence in any one Synod?
Rev. Dr. Foote, of Romney, West Va, re.
piled to DR.. Armstrong. (Dr. Foote is the
oldest member of Winchester Presbytery, and
the oldest member present in the Synod.) He
referred with much feeling to the time when
he first entered the Synod. (This was about
lS2l.) The number of its ministers then was
about forty, and its churches one hundred. 1t
now numbers more than 400 in ALL Does not
this show that it has had the blessing of God
upon it, and has prospered under the present
arrangement? And shall we not take expe-
rience as our best guide? Why, after this
proof that one Synod is most favorable to our
growth.
Rep S. W. Watkins, of Prince Edward
ton. He referred to the experiment made a
few years ago in dividing West Hanover Pres
bytery. When that question was so warmly
debated, it was urged in favor Of the measure
that the attendance upon the meetings would
be greatly increased, by organizing Roanoke
Presbytery. The event had not proved the
prediction correct. The very last meeting Of
West Hanover Presbytery had not more than
about one-third Of its members present.
Again, if the Synod exerts an influence too
controlling in the Church, how is that to be
prevented by division? The Synod, as such,
was not represented in the Assembly, but the
Presbyteries. These would remain, in their
elements, the same as they are now. When
you come to look at the distance to be travel
led and the expenses, they would not be much
diminished by division, and he denied that
brethren would feel any more responsibility
by being in a smaller body.
Rev. VIM. r. Richardson, of Waynesboro,
remarked that he had not opposed the motion
to make this resolution the order OF the day
for Friday morning with any view to smother
the discussion, but he did not wish the Synod
to go so far as to have the appearance of favor
ing the proposed measure, by even appointing
a time to consider it. He did not like its in
cipiency 1t did not originate with the peo.
pie. He then argued to show that little OF
nothing would be gained in the way of con-
venient attendance upon the meetings by any
division that could be made. Take the meet
ings at Charlestown and Salem, and it will be
found that the proportion of the members
from the Presbyteries West of the Blue Ridge
was greater than that East of it. He hac
never found any special difficulty in the way
of attending, and if division should be et
fected it would be more convenient for mem
bers in the Western part to attend at the
points Of meeting in the Eastern Synod than
in most Of the places within their own bounds.
Mr.. Richardson here urged a decided OBJ
lection to running line of division from
East to West,-that the Railroad connection
were too imperfect. He could not, for exam
pe, 20 to a meeting within the bounds o
Roanoke Presbytery, without going through
East and West Hanover The absence of one
third of the members of the Synod from it
meetings was not due to the fact that it wa
SO large, but that we have not complete line
of communication.
Reu Ed,oard Martin, of Hampshire Co.
West Va, seid he thought this matter which
the Synod should carefully, patiently deliber
ate upon, for it was certainly one Of the most
important that had ever occupied its attention
There were two forms into which opposition
had been thrown that should be considered.
l. AS question of feeling. Brethren dwel
upon the idea of this grand old Synod" ant
the harmony which had SO happily prevailed