The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-25
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.
FOURTH DAY.
Reported for che Dispatch

q II
synod met at o. o'clock, Rev. DR.. Alex
ander In the chair.
After prayer and the reading OF the min.
utes, the appointments for preaching In the
several churches were read by Rev. DR..
Armstrong. 5
DR.. Alexander Martin, 0f the Committee on |
the Minutes OF General Assembly, reported, |
calling attention OF the presbyteries to the
order in regard to overtures to the As
sembly.
Rev. DR.. Riddle then read the narrative
OF the state Of religion. This was very en-
couraeins, showing advance in al the de- |
partments OF the Church work.
The Committee on Finance reported that
the treasurer's accounts were correct. They
called attention to the arrears in the assess
mont OF Greenbrier and Montgomery.
The Committee on Synod's Records re-
ported that they were correct.
I. The Committees on Records OF West
Hanover and Winchester Presbyteries re-
ported recommending their approval.
: Rev. I. N. Naff read tue report on syste-
matte beneyolence. This report shows
commendable progress, especially in the
number OF collections that have been taken
up by the several churches.
The Committee on Leave OF Absence re-
ported large number Of members who had
been excused from the exercises OF Synod:
20 DR.. PRYOR. resolutions (already published
in the Dispatch) commencing the Central
!, Presbfersan, Of Richmond, to the patron,
age OF the Presbyterians OF the Synod, We're
taken up.
he said he did not mean to be uncharita-
bile towards any other paper, but merely
wanted this Synod to do what other synods
had already done for other papers within.
1o 10 OLDEST
members Of this Synod, and read many OF
the papers Of the day; but he thought very
decidedly that the Central PTeSby-
tsria1s was the ablest-conducted or
them ALL He thought that the splr-
itual condition of any congregation was
materially improved by reading some rell-
gious paper; and he thought that the re.
Communication OF this venerable court might
be OF service in inducing many to take one.
One OF his reasons for commencing this
paper was that it was the only Presbyterian
Journal published within our bounds. he
did not intend to commit the Synod to all
the views Of the editor Of the Central, but
merely to give the appreciation OF this court
to the general work Of this journal.
Rev. Mr.. Crawford called the attention OF
Synod to the Young Tirginian, monthly
paper published by Rev. w. I. Prler, OF
the Valley. He did not make an amend
nent to that effect, but hoped the paper
would be sustained.
The Rev. T. E. Peck, D. D., expressed
his high estimate OF the ability OF the Cen
tral Presbyterian, especially in upholding
the position of the Southern Presbyterian
Church. He had no difficulty rs regards
the editor or the character OF the paper,
! both of which lie could commend In the
highest terms. He, however objected to
hpponSn fhp
SYNOD had no authority to take cognizance
:. OF matter Of this kind This journal was
not under its control, but was private pro-
perty.. However great his confidence in the
stability OF its editor, it was in the nature
Of things possible that his opinions might
materially change before another year, and
what corrective could the Synod have? In
the next place the Christian Observer and
other papers circulated among the people OF
our Synod, and it was ineXpedient to make
discrimination. II there is to be any en-
dorsement it should come from the Presby-
terry within which it is conducted.
EDUCATION.
This discussion was suspended at this
point, and the order Of the day-the subject
OF education--was taken up. Rev. DR.. B.
NJ. Smith said he stood here ut the request
OF DR.. Waddell, the chairman OF the Edu-
cation Committee. DR.. Waddell states that
the financial condition OF the committee was
much better than it was at the adjournment
OF the Assembly. DR.. Smith then intro
duced o series OF resolutions commencing
the cause Of education to all the churches
OF the Synod. DR.. Smith sustained his reso-
lutions in speech OF some length. He
thought the subject Of entering the minis
try ought not to be unduly pressed on
young men, but should be laid before them
/ for their consideration. The most OF the
young men looking to the ministry are poor,
and should be aided. Hereferred Synod to
an able report on the subject by DR.. STRAIT
ton, printed in the appendix to the Minutes
Of the General Assembly. A central COM
=mittee on education is the last and the most
successful in conducting this department Of
the Clurch's work. All efforts at separate
presbyterial management and the system of
loans have failed, and our present plan is
best. There are objections to this plan, as
to- all human plans. First. 1t is objected
that 1t is beneficiary, and hence will ener-'
-yate young men. DR.. Smith said that all
the colleges Of the State, university, insti-
tute, &C., have benefciaries from the State,
and it has not eneryated the men thus aided.
Every student at an endowed institution is
a beneficiary. Again, it is objected that
many receive the money OF the Church
and do not meet its expectation. DR.. Smith
said for thirty years he had known all the
men who had gone forth from Union Semi
nary, and it was his conviction that whilst
there were men who had been aided by the
Church that had not met the expectation Of
the Church, he thought there were more
who had failed to meet that expectation who
had paid their own money. 1t was so all
through the Church. There have been
black sheep in the fold, but not because
they were benefciaries. The difficulty
is in the: pGesbyteries opening the
doors to such men. The presbyteries
should be more strict in their examination
Young men should not be received at the
same session at which they apply. At the
close OF the war and up to the time Of the
establishing the committee the young men
had been helped by private contributions
from individuals. A gentleman in Ken
lucky, not member OF the church, has
given 5000 year for ten years, in order to
help the South to educate young men
to preach; but not a cent for reading ser
mons. The Seminary, besides, has scholar
ships that bring in twelve or fifteen hun.
dred dollars annually. He thought the Sy-
nod had reason to take courage on this sub
ject OF education. Twenty-Five years agoiI
the Synod met in this church in Norfolk
and passed resolutions on this subject,
which have brought forth good fruit. Then
the endowment Of the Seminary was in
round numbers $780, 900; now it is S240, 900.
Then there were but q small number OF |