Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-10-17
THIRD EDITION,
500 O'CLOCK.


| The Synod met after recess. Rev. Mr.. Shryock
OF the Synod of Harrisburg, was invited to sit as
a corresponding member.
| resolution was adopted earnestly commend
| ing the publications of the Board of Publication
to the patronage Of our congregations and Sab
| bath Schools.
The Report Of the Committee on Systematic
| Benefcence, after an animated discussion, was
adopted with it's preamble and overtures to the
| General Assembly.
The Synod took recess till ~ P. NJ
EVENING SESSION.
The Synod met at ~ o'clock, and united in
celebrating the Sacrament of the Lords Supper
The Moderator Of the Synod, Rev. G. L. More
presided at the table, The church was filled
with large and interested audience.
After the communion the Rev. ]. @. Lowrie,
D. D., of New York, Secretary Of the Board Of
Foreign Missions, made an able and highly in
teresting address on the work OF the church in
the spread OF the Gospel throughout the world
After this address, the Synod adjourned till
this morning at $3.50 A. NJ.
THURsDAY-MoRNING SESSION.
The Synod met at 81 A. NJ, and spent an
| half hour in devotional exercises.
The Committee, appointed on the matter of
securing full attendance Of the meetings OF
Synod made the following report.
At the morning session of the second day of
the meeting of the Synod of Baltimore, AZ min
listers were absent and 50 Of the churches were
| unrepresented by Elders.
| lY important that all our ministers and elders
| from all our churches should be present at its
| deliberations, both for the proper discharge of
its business and that the churches may be ac-
quainted with its doings. Therefore
Resoioed 1.-That the Prcsbyteries Of this Syn
cd be requested to call the special attention of
their ministers and churches to this subject and
to take such measures as may remedy the evil.
| and ensure prompt and full attendance of min
listers, aud elders atEhe meeting of Synod.
ReSolDed That this Committee be directed to
/ address 70 every Pastor and session, letter
| containing the substance Of this report, and
| calling their attention to the great Importance
of having all the churches fully represented in
| our Synods
The Standing Committee on Home Missions
made report which adopted after which
| the following papers was presented by Rev. Dr.
| Backus on Synod's Evangelistic Work.
sYNoDIoAL EVANGELIST OR SUPERINTENDENT.
Whereas, the territory within the bounds of
| this Synod presents wide field of usefulness, to
overlook which most efficiently economically and
| Judlcously, requires more constant and detailed
| examining into and experimenting, than the
| Synod and Presbyteries can well secure by mere
| committees, therefore
Resolved, first, that this Synod hereby ap-
points the Rev ]. Garland Hammer as an Evan
| gelist, with salary of $4,000 per annum, and ex-
| penses not toey" S500to superntend the Mis-
sionary and or an ri work Of the church in
| our entire terllt.. exploring the whole field so
| as to become acquainted with its spiritual wants,
ascertaining where churches ought to be planted
and guarding against unwse attempts, learning
| what can be done by those on the ground. what
| aid il neeeed from without, and how the coop
| Grafton of the stronger church and OF the Boards
can be best secured; looking after vacant and
| feeble churches, preaching to aiding and encour-
| aging them to get supplies, and adopt systematic
ways Of supporting the gospel as far as they can,
| persuading two or mole to unite together when
| desirable, seeking to have insufficient salaries
judiciously increased, giving information of
vacant fields to unemployed ministers, endeav-
oring to render the services Of such available to
the church, corresponding with ministers, sem
| naries and boards to secure supplies. And fur
| ther. bringing to the attention Of sessions the
various plans recommended by the General As
sembly for sustaining the Board and seeking to
| have some one adopted in every church. as well
as using all practical means to encourage and aid
| in securing mauses, ,cancelling Church debts, and
bringing forward candidates for the ministry,
making reports of the same at each meeting Of
| Synod and the Presbytery.
RGsolved, I'd. That all the churches in this
| Synod be assessed by committee appointed for
this purpose upon principles, which shall measure
| the ability of each, without too much burdening
of any-accordlng to the number of its MEMBERS
the amount OF salaries given to pastors and
| contribution made to benevolent objects-the
sums assessed, being taken, if necessary, from
their collections to the Board, each year.
Resolved, 3d. That each Presbytery shall ap
point committee of three on this missionary
and benevolent work of the Church and the
chairman of these Presbyterial Committees shall
constitute the Synodcal Committee to superin-
tend and cooperate with the Evangelist, while
the Synod and Presbyteiies a4e not in session,
and which shall appoint Treasurer, who shall
notify the church of the sums assessed on them,
and the times of thelf payment and also receive
the same and pay it over in quarterly INSTALL
ments to the Evangelist reporting annually to
Synod and Presbytery.
The Judicial Committee made report in the
case of Elder Jefferson Ramsey, which was
adopted, The Synod's action sustains the
n IL.
sey from the exercise of the office of the Elder
ship in the Port Deposit church.
The committee ON Foreign Missions made a
report which was adopted.
The Report Of Committee on Bills and Over
lures made report in regard to tho Rotary Ell
dership which was made the order Of the day
at p. NJ The report is as follows:
Rotary Eldership-lt is assumed that our CAL
vanistc doctrinal system necessitates Presby-
terian governmental system. That such govern
ment is a government by tribunals. That the
office bearers into whose hands the government
of the church is committed is the elder and that
the function of Ruling belongs alike to the
Teaching and Ruling Elder As contemplated
| by the Book it is also assumed that the function
OF rule in the case of the Teaching Elder or Min
lister is perpetual and he can relinquish or be de-
priyed Of such function only as prescribed for or
prescribed in the Book. Form OF government
Chap. XIV, XVI, and XVII Book Of Discipline
Chap. V. What is true of the Teaching Elder is
equally true of the Ruling Elder il is also per-
| petual, nor can he relinqulsh or be deprived or
the function Of rule serve prescribed or pre-
scribed in the Book. Form Of Gov. Chap. YIX.
Nil
II these assumptions be true then this Synod
asks the General Assembly to decide that a
Term SerUice elder has not the constitutional
right to sit in any court of the Presbyterian
Church. The Synod respectfully asks this for
three reasons % because the Assembly deci-
ded in Judicial case No. l, of the appeal Of DR..
Alfred Nevin and others. (2) Because perma-
nency Of the office of rule in the case alike Of the
teaching and ruling Elder is essential to our sys.
TEN. 90 Because the liberation of contrary
practice in the case Of the ruling Elder is not
only discrimination in favor of the teaching
Elder, to the prejudice of the ruling Elder but
a subversion Of our governmental system.
The following Resolutions on the Sabbath
presented by Rev. Prof. Nourse were adopted.
That the Synod of Baltimore observing with
deep solicitude the increasing inroad upon the
sacredness OF tle Sabbath now being made by
those who would willingly reject it's Divine au-
thority, desires earnestly to remind every chris
tian professor in the churches under its care,
of his privileged and perpetual obligation to
stand firm against every such inroad, open or
masked and to maintain the sacredness of the
day of holy rest in his individual acts in his
household aud in the community in which his
lot is cast.
Especially docs the Synod enjoin upon its
church membres to refrain from participation in
parades. professions and unnecessary appoint
ments for funerals on the Sabbath, and from
permitting within their household the reception