The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-11-03
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.

on the Goth ult., and continuing through the VICES,
was one of interest and profit. The attendance Vi
ministers and elders was not far from two hundred
in number and the number of visitors from sur.
rounding congregations aud from various psrts OF
Virginia and West Virginia. was quite large.
Our Moderator, the Rev. DR.. Bullock, Of Alex
audria, presided with dignity, and ease and pro
priety which gave entire satisfaction, and the usual
business was gone through with the care aud also
with the harmony which have SO long marked the
proceedings of the Synod. NOta word was spoken
to disturb the good feeling between the members
The preaching of the word was with clesrneSs
and earnestness, and it may be hoped not without
some good fruits
During the meeting the Synod accepted invita-
tons to exercises in the Deaf and Dumb Asylum
and in the Augusta Female Seminary. both OF
which were very entertaining.
There was no service which moved the hearts Of
all so much as the one held Saturday forenoon, as
memorial of deceased ministers There has
been happy change in the manner OF conducting
this part of our proceedings, Formerly very brief
obituary notices were brought In proniscuousiy
with other matters, with nothing to give them
marked solemnity, and often In connections almost
inconsistent with it. Now special time is SCI
apart for this service the obituary notice is more
full ; others who feel so disposed have opportunity
to speak of departed brethren; and the whole,
under the direction Of the Moderator is connected
with singing and prayer. lu Stanton we had
biographical sketch Of the Rev. DR.. Stiles, pre-.
sented b u 3 - i1lahe Rev. DR.. Gil
d 5,s;I 4 E 3 Of the Rev ',
the Rev. George W. Leyburn, by the Rev. Dr.
Houston. These were followed by remarks from
various brethren which deeply moved the whole
assembly During the progress OF the service and
at its close the whole Synod aud congregation SANG
with feeling inspired by tie touching reminis
cences to which they had listened. those precious
hymns:
elbow firm foundation
"Come, let US join our friends above"
The Rev. DR.. Pryor leading US also in Thanksgiving
for such eminent, faithful and and useful ministers
and prayer for blessing upon their bereavec
families. and upon their brethren who survive
1t was good to be there.
Considerable time was spent in perfecting Di
rectcry of Synodcal business which was reported
; by committee appointed last year. manual
this kind in the hands of each member, as it pre-
SCENTS in a systematized form the matters to b
taken I'D, will expedite the transaction of business
very much. This becomes the more important a
the Synod embraces ten Presbyteres, and grea
deal has to be crowded within the space Of abou
three days.
Able and earnest addresses were made by th'
Rev. DR.. McIlwaine on Sustentation and Foreign
Missions, in which discussions the Rev. Drs. Dab
ney, Houston and others participated.
The subject which elected more debate than am
other was on the action of the Ptesbytery of Lex
ington last year in divestiDg one of its members
his Office as minister and making him private
member of the church. This was done at his owl
REQUEST, and for the reason that from short time
after his ordination and more than twenty year
ago. he had been laid aside from public speaking
that there was no hope of his ever being agaiI
able to undertake enough of that labor to do TIT
work of preaching, and that he had been, and wa
still compelled to engage in occupations who'll!
secular.
The question was laid over from the Synod las
year to the meeting in Staunton. The vote wa
by very large majority (about to u to disap
prove Of the action Of the Presbytery. They diC
not, however, take any step towards reversing th
action of the Presbytery; so the person referred
to remains in the place assigned him, as private
member of the church. A full report of this cas-
and the discussions in the Synod concerning it, vii
be given next week. In the present issue will b.
found some of the most important papers adopted
at the late meeting.