The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-11-14

had noticed in the woods that when hogs ate acorus
they never looked up to see where they came from
Colonel Preston described the il diligence and
good order and dispatch of business In colored
BAPTIST association which sat at Lex ngton.
Rev. J. R. Bowman said that during his minis,
try in Alabama the colored peope we're drilled
thoroughly in Jones Catechism, a. that his dith
GUILTY was not in inducing them to Join the Presey-
terian Church. but In restraining tbem from JOIN
ing before they we're ready.
Colonel Preston explained that Il Q language OF
the report was that We could not largely PresDyte-
riaOize them.
Dr. John Leyburn said history afforded no ex'
ample of people so peculiarly SIT, ted as the COL
ored people of this country. He had advocated
fraternsl relations Till Brown had shut his mouth;
He knew that if these relations were established
We could get the money to aid tn N. | wanted co
operation on this sui ,ct. Tt't was one great
moving thing in my mind i have aided Tusea'
loosa. As Que of the trustee of Princeton DR..
Leyburn had voice in estsf ishing large trust
fund for the benefit Of the &C ored people. Ii fra
ternal relations existed, this could have been d.
verted TO our Tuscaloosa Institute, but now it went
to the Hampton Institute, which is under congre-
gstional Influence. | men ion this fact merely to
show what we lose by our rosition. | do not blame
the General Assembly. When | speak to North
ern friends of our Institute at Tuscaloosa with only
six students they con ider it small sffiir
REPORT ON DIVISION OF SYNOD.
The report of the committee on the division oil
Synod was read-viz:
/. That divisionis expedient and desirable.
That the General Assembly be overturned to
liVide the synod as follows East Hanover, West
Hanover, Chesapeake, Roanoke, and Sac Paulo be
ne Synod, to be called the Synod of Virginia, and
bat A (, hria
con, ad Winchester, be another Synod, to be
,aed the Stsod OF -
THIS report was slgned by S. r Houston, w.
V Wilson, William Dinwiddie, ID. w. Shsnks,
and w. G. Friend
A minority report will be offered by Judge Rob
ert Ould DR. Grinnan, and Mr.. Lloyd L gan.
REPORT OF THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE ON DR.
BAIRD S CASE,
was then presented by Dr. Lefevre It pronounces
the appeal regular, and proceeds to qlote from
Dr. Baird letter, sent to the PresbyLery in his
absence, in which he declared that he was hope.
lessly insovent, had been guilty OF great wrong
doing, had seriously injured the Committees at
fairs, but not deliberately and Intentionally, aud IL
which he cor fessed with humiliation his self rei
auoe and folly submitted his case to Presbytery
for admOnition aRd censure, as they deemed need
ful waving all forms and technicalites
Ga this letter the Presbytery had found charges
of appropriation of the Committee funds by trans
actions running through several years, and OF em'
poyment of the name and credit of the Commit
tee, entailiug losses on them OF not less than $40
900. o. these charges the Presbytery did not
furnish DR.. Baird copies, aud did not furnish
names of witnesses and give notice OF ten days, as
required by our form of government.
Presbytery also proceeded in his absence to ex-
anime witnesses, and then pronounced the sent
euce of deposition from the ministry and suspen
sion from the communion Of the Church snc
therefore it is recommended that new trial BE-
awarded.
The committee asked that the report be the first
order for to morrow, but DO action was taken on
this subject, and the order Of the day followed
which was the subject Of Education.
DR.. Wsddel said that on this question Virginia
was the bulwark
Olt OF sixty four Presbyteries in the neral AS
sembly fity-hVe @, Jerate with the OoMmittee. -
Ooe of the largest Pres0yteries-a Presbytery Of
South Oarvllna-was moved to separate from the
Assembly's Committee The next year they unau
imousy returned to O. oJerstion. The result Of
their operations during Iuat year was, that whereas
they asked previously for 81 200 they receivCd
$500 and cave US $500 In that mdeDendait ell
they reeeiJeh only $500 Well they might come
back to US.
IN CONCLUSlON
he said In the providence of God we have been
enabled to fall back upon resource which may be
devoted 10 pay an old debt. The General Assem-
bly, gave Us the power to use the legacy OF the Lusk
estate. Oly 81 $40 is left, and we shall not get
il all this winter, but expect to pay it all 1t made
us happy last March-oh, how happy Ito meet
out OF Ihe contri6utigns Of the churches all the
wants otjstudents We Saail probably have as
many Candidates asking aid this year as last, and
we respectfully ask your liberal contributions.
Elevate, beseech you, fathers elevate this
cause. Ii is fundamental l. fit up to It's proper
place. Tell the people withoutit you cannot have
ministers, nor missionaries, nor teachers nor au-
thors in the fields OF sacred literature,
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The unfinished business Of the morning session
the report on the religious condition and wants
of the colored people-was taken up, and the Rev.
DR.. Preston said he would claim the attention OF
the Synod only few minutes in advocating the
report BE thought the paper presented 10 con
else form the duty of the Presbyterian Church to
do what was in its power for the evsngelzltion Of
these colored people. We should endeavor tU bring
them ii possible, into our Church, and so the re
port advised but in case this could not be done,
yet to labor TOR their conversion whatever Church
connection they might favor He admitted that
they would not press into the Presbyterian Church,
but they would attend upon Sabbath schools when
We open them for their instruction. We owe them
a duty We did not when they were slaves do the
full measure of our duty to them. But failure in
the past is no reason for apathy at present. Their
proximity to US makes the obligation to instruct
them stronger than to send the gospel to the
heather at distance, He thought the Synod
should euj Din upon the ministers and churches the
duty of undertaking the great work for which we
now have such fac opening, How can we an
swer 10 the Judge Of all If we fail to look after
these people, who are at our very doorsH Ii would
aot be labor IN vain. Efforts made, rs ne could
testify, were fruitful in hopeful RESULTS. ln reply
to the objection that their not coming into our
Church Was an excuse for neglecting this work, he
thought that their not being able to appreciate the
elevated system Of truth which we present is no
reason why We should not descend to them in the
earnest effort for their elevation
Rev. w. L Hall, Dr. Dabney, DR.. Pryor, Col
ouel Preston, and Rev. DR.. Smith also spoke on
the sui jsct.
The motion to recommit was passed.
Rev. DR.. E. d. Junkln chairman of a commit
tee appointed at the last meeting of the Synod on
the subject OF
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION,
read q report The committee recommend no
GlaDg6 aS " VIC VI years III Dt spGuU III
the course OF preparation for the ministry and en-
dorsed the action of the last General Assembly on
this subject The report did not endorse the pre-
sent system Of short sessions and long vacations at
the Seminary. We must choose between short
vacations simply for rest, and longer sessions; OF
vacations long enough for remunerative work and
shorter sessions than the present. The report ad-
vooated the former plan, and suggested two SEES
siops of nine and half months for the junior and
middle class. Ga the question of what che Sem
mary may be able to do in aiding Pressyteries to
Judge OF the f:ness of candidates for tBEsninistry
for that Office the report endorsed the action Of the
General Assembly.
Colonel Preston advocated the approval of the
report. 1t proposed no radical change in the sys.
.en of Seminary work, but only the engthening of
the session from eight to nine and half months
These sessions would not be too long for study, and
he vacations would be sufficient for rest, to which
hey should be devoted. He would have these