The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-29

| Richardson, Is. II. WalkeT. anu Ii"Ni =
George Kirkpatrick, II. v. Niemeyer, anu
J. II. Brown.
Leaue of Absence.-Revs. p. 7. Penick,
TT. n. Halves, A. G. Hopkins, and Elders
L. r. Railey and W. A. Bell. :,
Bills and Osertures.~ .Revs. il ID, Mitchell,
Fl. NJ. White, j. A. Lefevre, G. D. D., Arm
strong, J. G.. Brown, W. p. Baker, Inomas
Wharev, r. L. Dabney, D. d.. =: Martin,
! and Elders E. NJ. Armstrong. L: I. Ciapp,
G. D. Grey, p. r. Grattan, c. ]. Peyyt 1
J. T. L. Preston, W. W. Henry, +. N wat
kins, and James d. Armstrong.
Union Theological Seminary.-Revs. ). j..
Kirknafrick. c. s. NJ. See, W. A. Campbell,
r, RI. Cur1pstor1. :. y. Jones, J. w. Pratt,
aud Elders 7. J. Kirkpatrick, Robert How
ard. W. i, G. Gregory, and +. n. Watkins.
Pres5ueriul Records.-Abingdon Presby-
terv, Rev. R. T. Berry and Calvin Wilson !;
Fast Hanover, Rev. w. V. Wilson and @.
W. Eichelberger Greenbrier, Rev. j. j.
Bullock and Thomas S. Hogshead: LeXing-
ton, Rev. A. L. Hogshead and }. ID. Sprag,,
gins; Chesapeake, Rev. J. NJ. Wharev and
T. T. Treadway; Roanoke, Rev. +. Wnods
and G.. +. Anderson West Hanover. Rev.
n. e. Irwin and William Graves Winches-
ter. Rev. j. 4. Bowman and Jalhes Nj.
SpiIler. ~
Eyon1clstic Labor.-Reys. J. M. P. Akin
son, -, Junkin. r. W. Hooper. Elders
James Lynch and William WitheroW.
Minutes of the General mbly.-Eevs.
p. NJ. Smith, D. D., John Squier, George
w. White, Elders John Baker and Is. Il.
Wexford, Jr.
REPORTS READ AND REFERRED.
The narratives on the state Of religion III
the several Presbyteries were received from
the stated clerks, and referred without read
Ing to the Committee OH The Narrative
The statistical reports from the PresbyterieS
were then read.
The reports on eyan@ellStlc amor were
also read. showing that this subject has re-
ceiyed unusual attention, that the work has
been generally faithfully performed, ana
that much good has been accommodated IN
some cases by means Of Presbytcrial evan
gelistS, and also by prOtracted meetings
held in neighborhoods destitute OF regular
Presbyterian services.
The reDorts on systematic benevolence
show that the causes Of sustentation, foreign
missions, education, and publication, nave
each been contributed to. and that there Is
general willingness on the part OF conGre-
cations to respond as literally as possible.
In very many churches collections are
taken lip weekly, or as often as they meet
for public worship on the Sabbath, and this
system has been found very successful.
Several Presbvteries failed to send In re-
ports on this subject.
sUPEEASNUATED MINISTER'S.
Rev. DR.. Brown submitted Il series OF
resolutions expressing thesympathy OF the
SYNOD with the venerable and beloved
brethren who, by reason of age and intirml-
ties. are unable to attend the annual scS-
sions of the body. In support OF the reso-
lutions. DR.. Brown stated that sixteen men,
bers of the Synod of Virginia had passed
the age Of threeScore and ten, and only
four of these were present at this meeting.
He mentioned particularly the Rev. DR..
McIlhcnny. who is now trembling on the
verge of the age of ninety, who has not, by
reason of feebleness, for years attended the
synod. and who is not now able to appear
even in his own church. These aged
brethren would be cheered in their absence
by the adoption of the proposed resolll-
tons. and he felt assured that they would
be adopted with cordial unanimitv.
The resolutions were adopted, ana the
following committee was appointed to pre-
pare, on behalf of the Synod, a letter to the
venerable ministers referred to in the reso-
buttons: Reys. William Brown, d. D., 3.
Gilderslecve. D. D., j. G. Ramsey, ID. D.,
J. G.. Hammer, d. D., Elders DinWiddie,
J. r. L, Preston, and L. r. Railey.
CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.
Rev.J. S. Legree, and J. Leighton Wilson,
of South Carolina; j. D. 91cClintock, OF
the SYNOD of Kentucky: Jacob II. Smith,
J. Rumple, J. NJ. Atkinson, E. Hines, 5.
A. Stanfeld, and - Johnston, of the Synod
! of North Carolina J. NJ. Cochran, of Texas
| and J. L. Burrows, d. D., of the Baptist
Church, were invited to seats rs CORE
spending members.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE oS~sABDATH SCHOOLS.
Rev. DR.. Read, chairman of the Commit
tee on Sabbath Schools, appointed by the
last Synod at its meeting in Harrisonblrg,
made its report. The report assumes that
it has always been the solemn duty Of the
| Church of God to see to it that the children
and youth of her families and congre CATIONS
are instructed in the knowledge of God and
in the way of salvation, and that the fidelity
shown in this work indicates the standard
of true Christian piety in any particular
Church. 1t is the duty of the Church to CO.
operate with parents and guardians and
| the Sabbath school, in its legitimate agency,
for that work. 1t is the agency established
by st. John at Ephcsus, by st. Markat Alex
andria. and by Polycarp at Smyrna, and Is
an agency which it is the high and solemn
duty of the Church in this day to foster and
control. The committee submit that
| /. The design of the Sabbath school is III
|
salvation of souls, and education of minds
and hearts for the service Of Christ. 1t is
not substitute for parental fidelity; but
the faithful parent and the faithful teacher.
working in their different spheres, should
know and encourage each other.
/ ,. Sabbath schools connected with organ
lied churches should be under the imme-
diate control Of the pastor and session OF
the church. and he fostered by the member,
ship Of the church. The minister should
exercise general superintendent, consult
with the officers and teachers, and contract
4 close sympathy with the school. This is
due to the parents Of the children who at
tend there, who should be shown that their
confidence is not misplaced. Superintcnd-
ents and teachers should be worthy Of high
estimation, and the teachers should be
made to feel that their responsible position
and duties are warmly appreciated. The
superintendent (who it is desirable should
be member OF the session. should report
to the session the state of his school.
5. The libraries should be composed OF
strictly religious and evangelical books
adapted in language and style to the pre-
sentation of truth to the young. Much
care is necessary to prevent the introduce
ton of books which are positively PERM
cious. The responsibility of the author and
publishing-house is not always guarantee
of the quality of the books offered. 1t is
not sufficient to exclude the palpable errors
to be found in some so-called "Sunday-
school publications." but it must be seen
to by all the churches that books are used
containing only evangelical truth, and that
in style adapted to sanctify, elevate, and
invigorate, the mind and heart. In the haste
of repairing the waste of the war-period ii
is quite probable that portion OF the re-
cent supply was received with q too super
fetal examination. Some books haye been
found in Sunday-school libraries which
were only fit for the flames.
4. 1t is Objectionable that there should be