The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-10-28
CENTRAL PRESB T Err A n :.

The annual report of the Treasurer of
Synod was referred without reading to com
mittee consistin, of Rev William L. Richard
son and ruling dders w. d. Hart and L.. X.
Railey.
A communication was received from the
Rev Francis MFarland, d. D., rendering for
the second timehis resignation as stated clerk
of the Synod & Virginia, and thanking the
members of the body for continuing him in
office, so long afer he had been by old age in
eapacitated for he performance of It's duties
The resignation vas accepted, and committee
appointed to ex ress to the retiring clerk the
Synod S high appreciation OF his long and
faithful servicesln that capacity.
The Synod tlen went into the election of
stated clerk, thenominees being Rev Thomas
ID. Bell, Rev. M. Smith, d. d., Rev. vii.
liam Dnwiddie Rev. James p Smith, and
Rev. w. Il. Batter. The vote rusulted in the
choice of Rev. William Dinwiddie, Of Abe
marie.
Rev. j. w. sratt, OF the Synod of Alaba-
ma, pastor eleclof the church at Lexington,
was invited to 1t as corresponding member.
The same courtesy was extended to Rev. DR..
White of Alabama, and the Rev. Mr.. Gard
ner. of the Methodist Church.
The Moderator announced the following
STANDING COMMITTEES.
On Bills dnd Ooertures Rev. Messrs.
Hammer, Dabaey Read, McIlwaine, Ewing,
and w. V. Wilson. and ruling elders James
+ johnson, j b. Kirkpatrick, L. r. Railey,
and w d. HAT
judicial Cdsmautte MesSrs William
Brown, j. d. Mitchell, Alexander Martin, and
j. r. Graham, and ruling elders Grandson
Moseley, j. W Crawford, and n. q. Read
Nayrat,pe. Rev. Messrs. Handy, See, and
Whaley, andF. N Watkins, Esq
F;naace -Rev. Messrs. W. H. Ruffner and
III. A. Brow2, hnd Professor w. A, Campbell,
Decotioual fErevciscs Rev j. R. Bowman
and g. NJ Effnger.
The Synod then took recess until o'clock
p. NJ, during which divine service was held,
Rev. Thomas w Hooper, Of Christiansburg,
preaching from James v: 20.
UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
After recess, Rev. DIR. B. NJ. Smith submit
ted plan providing for the transfer OF the
Union Theological Seminary, In Prince Ed
ward comfy, from the control OF the Genera
Assembly to that of the Synods OF Virgins
and North Carolina, under certain restrictions
The paper was referred TO a committee con
sisting of Revs. j. j. Bullock, D. d., 5. K
Houston, Edgar Woods, j. w. Pugh, ID. w
Shanks and Messrs. r. +. Brooke, L. +
Bate, j. H. Brown, and Lloyd Logan.
DIVISION OF THE SYNOD.
Rev. Dir. Smith offered the following:
ResolUed That the interests of the church
es committed to its care would be promoted by
division of the Synod, and that it is now ex
pedient to take some measures looking to tina
result
The introduction of the subject caused sew
eral attempts to debate, motions to postpone
points of order, &c.
Rev DIR. Bocock, Moderator, wished thu
matter could be postponed five years.
Rev. DR.. Armstrong, of Norfolk, did no
want TO see this or any other question smoth
cred. His attachment to the old Synod o
Virginia was as great as anybOdy's, but he be
ieved that IL was growing too large. Nearly
400 names were now on the roll, while not more
than 100 members were generallyln attendance
If the Synod were divided there would proba
bly, be an equal number present at the sessions
OF each of the new bodies Not one third o
the members had been present for ten years
Rev. Mr.. Watkins thought that division
would not act so much like charm in bring
ing out larger attendance. This had no
been the case with West Hanover Presbytery
since its division.
Rev. Mr.. Richardson objected to the man
ner in which the measure had been introduced
As the politicians say it had not originated
with the people. There had been no overture
from any church on the subject, although
4 LII 90, =,
Rev Edward Martin thought this matte
ought to be decidedas one of the most impor
tant that has ever occupied the attention o
the Synod or Virginia. 1T was question o
duty now brought forward, and feeling anc
emotion should not interfere with its decision
He would regret as much as any brother tn,
breaking up of old associations, but must yielC
to his sense of duty to the Charch. He be
lieved that the usefulness of the Church II
Virginia would be enhanced by the division
and ventured to suggest line, giving to eacl
Of the new bodies an equal number of cities
wealth, ministers, and members. He pro
posed that one Synod should be composed o
the Presbyteries Of Patapsco, Rappahannock
Winchester, Greenbrier, and Lexington, ant
the other of the Presbyteries of East Hano
yer, West Hanover, Roanoke, Montgomery
and Abingdon.
Rev. Mr.. Mccoy was dead set agains
any change, believing it only another outcrop
ping of that despicable spirit of reform tina
is distracting the world in this nineteenth
century.
Rev. DIR. Smith brought to the notice of Sy
nod a suggestion of the venerable Dr. Wilson
that the present Synod be divided into three
lst Lexington, Winchester, and Greenbrie
Presbyteries y, East Hanover, West Hano
yer, Rappahannock and Patapsco. Sd. Roa
noke, Montgomery and Abingdon. He re
PEELED the insinuatiOn that the proposition ha,
been introduced otherwise than in accordance
with Presbyterian usage.
After an earnest speech from Rev. Dr. Foot
against the change, and some further discus
sion, on motion of Rev. Dr. Armstrong, tn
subject was referred to a committee of on
minister and one elder from each Presbytery
who were instructed to inquire into the expe
diency of division of the Synod and to propos
the lines of division
The Moderator appointed the following
gentlemen to constitute the committee:
Rev. d. B. Ewing, Charles II. Read, D. D.
Samuel r. Houston, Thomas d. Bell j. d
Mitchell, ID. D., B. M. Smith, d. D., j. j. Bul
lock, ~. ~, II. n. Drown, w. H. fOOUe, ~. ~.
J. w. Pugh, and Messrs. A. G. Matthews, R
F. Brooke G. d. Peyton, H. g. Guthrie, T.. L
Kirkpatrick, j. II. Brown, G. Mosely, j. 81
Collier, 6. D. Gray,
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
The report of the Board of Directors of tn
Union Theological Seminary was read and re
ferred to the appropriate committee. The re
port exhibits an encouraging state of affairs a
the Seminary. THE whole number of student
last year was twenty four, of which eight com
pleted the course of study. Eight student
are fitting themselves for life as foreign mis-
sionaries. There are five thousand five hun
bred volumes in the library, Of which fv
hundred and seventy have been added durin
the year last passed There are five complet
schOlarships-one having been constitute
since the last meeting by the late Miss Name
Reid, of Lexington The report favorabl
notices the condition of the buildings, grounds
ETC., of the Seminary; also the general az
rangements of the faculty.
COMMITTEES, ETC.