The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-30
Third Daylight Session.
lRcportcd for the Dispatch.1
pr,rrpcp,.pc h,>@,! 90

| w hen the report OF yesterdays proceed
ings OF Presbytery was closed the exami
nation OF witnesses in the case OF Rev. DIR
Baird had Just been concluded, and the ar
gument was about to commence. The so
| lcmnity that characterized the proceedings
plainly cyinced the deep and painful feel
ings OF members OF the Presbytery IN re-
gard to the action about to be taken. The
occasion was perhaps rendered the more
solemn by the fact that this was the frs,
case of the kind that had ever occurred in
this venerable body, so distinguished FOL
its intelligence, its worth, and its great re.
spectability and influence. Members felt il
as stain upon the body, upon the Church
they represented, and upon the religion
they had sought so faithfully to uphold and
advance. ........ s.
Lieutenant Governor John L. Marye, who
was appointed on behalf Of PreSbytcry to
conduct the prosecution, conducted the
case with signal ability and delicacy. He
confined the examination OF witnesses to a
very narrow compass, but brought out facts
that resulted in the unanimous vote to sus-
| tain the charges against DR.. Baird. lie not
| only proved embeZZlement, but, as was
afterwards proclaimed by members, he
clearly established falsehood on the part OF
DR.. Baird. Governor Marye briefly argued
the case. After referring to the deep distress
he felt because of the great wrong that had
been committed and the great atlliction q
member OF the body had brought upon re-
licion and the Presbyterian family. the
fact OF guilt, he declared, was disclosed by
DR.. Balrd's own confessions, rs well as
bv the evidence OF witnesses. The
law declares the taking OF money belonging
to Il corporation and appropriating it to
private uses to be a felony. And here was
a case where money belonging to religious
corporation. which had been contributed
for and solemnly laid aside to be sacrcdly
devoted to a certain purpose. which had
been miSapplied and misappropriated, TO
the manifest injury Of the Church's useful
ness. Under these circumstances the Pres-
bvtcry. for the protection OF its own honor
and the honor and purity OF the Churcn,
could not do otherwise than depoSe Or.
Bard from the ministry.
Messrs. George 2. Haw and Willis j.
Dance conducted the defence by appoint
ment OF the Presbytery. Their defence was
an admirable one under the dlsadyantagcous
circumstances they had to contend against,
and their appeals for merciful and charlta-
bic Judgment Oh the part OF the court were
both eloquent and earnest. They argued
that DR.. Baird was led into his course lgno-
ranty and innocently, and that there was
no criminal intent in his conduct.
By the rules Of the Church, members VINO
plead for a brother in 4 case OF this KIND are
excluded from voting in the case; hence
| when the roll was called Messrs. Haw and
Dance did not vote.
Each member, as bis name was called,
voted to sustain the charges against Dr.
| Baird, and explained his reasons for so
a1l
brief: but many OF them were affecting,
particularly those of DR.. Pryor, DR.. Hoge,
| Or. Preston, DR.. Read, and Judge Chris
tan. But probably the most touching
address was chat of Mr.. W. j. Leake, the
elder from the Ashland church, who stated
that he had been in daily communication
| with DR.. Baird for several years, and bad
learned to love and honor him beyond eX-
preston. Thrice had DR.. Baird attended
at the diving bed OF his children, and three
OF his children had he laid in the grave.
Mr.. Leake completely broke down during
these remarks, and many were shedding
tears around him. He summoned breath to
saw, however, that all this feeling must DC
laid aside under the firm conviction he felt
OF DR.. Baird's guilt and the necessity fol-
bis deposition.
Presbytery then unanimously voted to
depose Rev. i. II. Baird, d. d., from inc
ministry, and suspend him from the com
munion OF the Church.
Bv request, Rev. Dr. Pryor lead in prayer
offering an earnest appeal for Divine grace
in behalf OF DR.. Baird and his atalcteC
family.
The whole proceeding was one OF extra
ordinary solemnlty.
Fourth Day.
Prcsbytpry met this morning at 81 O'Clock
and was opened with prayer by Rev. DR.
Armstrong.
The minutes of Fridays session were
read and approved. ..
Rev. DR.. Armstrong, chairman, submitted
the report of the Committee on Sesslona
Records. Report adopted.
The report OF the Committee on the Book
Of Church Order, which was presented ant
discussed at the session OF Friday, and ther
laid on the table, was calledup and adopted
NARRATIVE OF THE STATE OF RELIGION.
Rev. DR.. Witherspoon submitted the fol
lowing report on the Narrative OF He'll
gion
The year which has just come to close
has been one OF patient sowing, OF encour
aging fruitage, though not OF abundan
harvest. 49,
In few OF our churches extended season!
Of religious interest have been enjoyed, lr
which Christians have been greatly re
freshed, renewed vitality has been impaired
to all Church work, and increasing numbers
have been led to make public confession O.
Christ. In several churches in which M
such season of special interest IS reported
there is the equally encouraging statemen
that there have been constant evidence:
| Of
force OF the Holy Spirit, quickening ant
reviving the graces OF Gods people ant
encouraging their hearts by frequent acces
sions to the roll Of COMMITMENTS. In mos
of our churches the report is that although
there is not such gratifying evidence 0
growth and prosperity as could pc desired
there is nevertheless great room for thank
fulness as to the past and encouragement a.
to the future. a..'s !.
A commendable degree of zeal and &C
tiyitv seems 10 have characterized the mem
| bers of most Of our churches, especially TIT
female members, several instances appear
ing in the reports in which there. is mos
J gratifying evidence OF the results which
may be secured even in these times OF Imam
cial depression by the warm hearts and ready
hands of our noble and 'self-sacrlicine
Christian women. a., l.. T..
- The year has been one OF great pecunlary
! trial TO all our churches. In most OF TIT
churches contributions to benevolent. OBJ
Fleets have for this reason fallen below the
| average Of former years. Some, doubtless
have done less than could be expected even
under these trying circumstances but we
are not without many gratifying instances
in which the contributions OF churches to
benevolent purposes have risen above those
even OF more prosperous times.