The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-10-25

elder, as defined IN our BOOK OF UoVerh-
nent, affected this rule. And If the pro-
posed alteration were made, that would leave
Ihis matter, so far as the rule goes, entirely
untouched. If there was no SPECIFIC num-
Der mentioned of either class of rules their
relative power would DO untouched. lie OBJ
jected to binding the Synod beforehand by
An iron rule Tnere might cases occur where
It was best to have a majority of elders on
standing committee There might, for ex-
ample, be more elders than ministers deeply
interested in foreign MISSIONS, and therefore
better suited to constitute majority of the
committee. Let the Synod be free to avail
itself Of such an advantage should it occur.
A. R. Blakey, elder from Charlottesville,
thought the weak point in the practical
working of our system was the efficiency
Of the elders, If they were discharging
their duties as faithfully IS the ministers,
how much would be added to the power of
the Church? Why this Because they
have not been drilled to the work. If they
are 60 De made efficient they must be given
| something to do.
Rev. DR.. Pryor thought that the history
Of the Church would show that when the
Church was in danger of heresy it had been
saved By the elders. He believed the elders
we're as able as the ministers ; yet the fact
chat ministers devoted their time and labor
20 ecclesiastical matters more than elders
could do made them more familiar with the
affairs of the Church and that it was this
that led to their having more power in the
| Church courts.
The motion was carrierby vote of 63
in the affirmative to 4S iR y negative.
NIGHT SESSION.
| Rev. DR.. ]. L. Wilson addressed the Syn
cd on Foreign Missions, and was followed by
Rev. Drs. Murkland and Pryor, Rev. W. L.
Hall and Messrs. T. j. Kirkpatrick, and
Blakey.
| The following resolutions were adopted:
Resolced That the members of Synod here
present pledge themselves to make most earnest
effort to secure from the membership OF our re-
spective churches during the coming year contrl-
button of at least one dollar Tor each member TO
the cause of foreign missions
Resolved That the Synod do earnestly entreat
all the ministers absent from the present meeting,
and all the ruling elders in churches not represent
ed to unite in the effort here undertaken IN their
churches respectively.
Resolved, That the attention of the Chairmen OF
Presbyterial Committees of Foreign Missions and
of the Presbyteries severay be called to this mat
ter in order to the adoption by them OF such meas
ures as may serve to further and secure the accom-
plishment of what the Synod has thus solemnly un
dertaken.
THIRD DAY.
The following new members were enrolled
Major T. ]. kirkpatrick, Rev. P. ?. Flour
nov, and Rev. M L. Lacy.
Reports from Lexington Preebytery were
presented and read.
Reports of Presbyterial Records were ap
proved: Chesapeake, East Hanover, Green
brier, Roanoke, Lexington, Montgomery
and Abingdon.
The records of Sac Pau!o (the missionary
Presbytery) did not come to hand.
The committees on those Of Winchester
and West Hanover were not prepared to re
port.
The report on evangelistic labor, wal
taken up.
, The Row. G. W. Finley moved the adop
ton of the resolutions appended to the re
port; which are as follows:
1st. That the Synod expresses it's graft
/ tude to God for progress now reported il
evangelis,ic work.
"a That the great Importance of th
work to our Church requires, and the pro
gress already made ia it encourages all GU
Presbyteries to pursue it yet more vigorously
and to cultivate the spirit of evangelism
; among both our ministers and people till th'
, whole strength of our Church is brought int
action.
81. That as the responsibility of provid
ing men for this work rests upon the Presby
terry, Synod urges all its Presbyteries to re
coguize the cfice of evangelist as one spe
, cially ordained for church expansion, ant
, that whenever the funds or the nature o
: the field will permit Pfesbyteries are en-
Joined to call and set apart to the tffi;e an(
work of evspgslists, with the full dignity
f and powers of the Office, men thoroughly
, furnished unto all good works" BY faith
r knowledge, and prudence.
4th. And as the responsibility of support
, ing appointees rests upon the court appoint
ing them, Presbyteries are epjoned to spare
no diligence or rightfnl authority in seeing
that our people are taught, and have the op
{ portunity to contribute to this cause.
Rev. W. T. Price did not wish the reso
lutions to pass as mere formal commenda
ton of this cause without claiming that con
sideration which would give due force to the
action of the Synod. He alluded to tht
prevailing standard of Christian activity and
liberality in the Church to bring the world
to Christ We are far below the standard
: Christ has fixed for US. When we compare
: ourselves among ourselves, some may appear
active; but we should inquire whether We
are doing what Christ calls upon US to do
He gave statistics to show that if the world
was to be converted the evangelistic work
must be pressed with much more zeal and
efficiency than now characterizes the Church.
operations in this department of her work.
, He urged the prosecution of the work in the
mountains of Virginia and West Virginia,
where active, laborious men, who can zen.
dure hardness" are needed to prosecute mis-.
sionary enterprises.
Rev. W. V. Wilson spoke in favor of the
resolutions. He said we should neither
~r~--S III ~.~. s;os eys--sAo salvation oil
those near US and neglect the heather, nor
should We look only to the heather and ne
gleot the calls at our own doors. There is
great work needed in every one of our
Presbyteries. We have been too easily sat-
isfed merely to have our children grow up
to take their fathers places, and preserve the
churches as they have been, and simply sup
| ply these with the ministers of the gospel.
We should be engaged in evangelizing the
territory in which We have no churches. He
i hnnnnAd Akona l.