Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-12
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.
AFTERNOON sEssIoN-sATURDAY.

on the division of Synod was dockcte;i.
Rev r. ". Simpson was invited to s.: as &
corresponding member
Rev. DR.. Martin. OF Da0v:!l, pr@senel the
narrative Of the stale Of religion witbin the
bounds Of the Synod, showing decided i'm
provement 10 all branches ut til. Church wo,k.
Rev. H. w. Brown presented the report oil
the committee appointed TO prepare an address
in response to the addresses OF f,v. DIS Me
l!waiuc, WadelI. and Wilson, Oh sustehta''u
education and foreiGu missions, which was
adopted.
G.. u. Gray, esq, presented the minority r.
port of the committee on the DIVISION OF the
Synod, recommending that the Synod he not
divided, which was d0cketed.
The reports Of the committed 90 East Han
over Prcsbytery and Of the committee 90 thee
logical tralniog were also docketcd:
The report of the committee on Unlon Ehco-
logical Seminary Was docketcd.
The case of Rev. Dr. Baird being resumed,
Rev. De- Theodore Pryor, CT East Hanover
Presbytery, closed the argument on behalf Of the
com nissioness appointed 10 represent the Pres.
| bytery. lie said that ia consequence of the
| able speeches already made he would occupy
| the venerable curt for comparatively short
time, but hayiug been arpoiotcd to represent
East Hanover Pcesbytery, he would DO his du
| ty in upholdiag the dignity of that body. The
PresbyteEy stood before the Synod at sem. dis
advantage. 1t was part OF our nature TO
sympathize with the unt0rtunate and the very
presence of DR.. E. Il. Baird excited sylnpathy
| ia his behalf lie would not raise his v0lc1
against Dr. Baird were it not his duty to do s..
The Presbytcry which he represented had y
| high and responsible duty to perform, and they
performed that duty iu the fear OF God. The
good of the Church demanded it, public Upln
| ion, which should not altogether be disregard
ed, demanded it, and the book Of discipline De
msdcd it, 10 that it required than TO lock alter
| the private and official character Of the minis
try of the Church. While Dr. Baird never
| beard OF the rumor Of his deia!cltloa uaiii he
| read 10 the newspapers the ac;ljG OF the Pres
| bytery, he (Dr. Pryor heard OF it, and read Ii
| in the public print long before the Prcsbytc1y
met. When the very air was reakibg With DIT.
ialcation, extending to every branch 81 society,
the news was published to the coun,ry that .
prominent and trusted minister of The prtsby-
terrain Church WIS deautcr, aud every de-
partment of the Church wcrI; was st once para
l7zed and the cause of Jesus Christ suffered
great injury-w wounded 10 the house OF lis
friends Now, said Dr. Pryor, what was East
Hanover Pres5ytery to do? What would the
Synod of Virginia do under the same circum
stances 1t did simply what it Was It's duly
to do. He was astonlshed and surprised 10
hear DR.. Baird say that he Was not conscious
OF crime. What would be thought OF a young
man, who, desiring to visit New Ioik, put his
hands into the Golfers of his en- poyer aud ap
propriated to his own use the money OF an0'h
err? Would that DO. be crime? Ii aprTop1ia
lion of other peoples money to our Own private
use was not crime what on earth could be con
sldered crime Dr.. Bziid. D.. Pryor SAID,
spoke Of bis bis destruction. D!i The Pfesby
himself. The Prcsbytcry was changed with
being unjust, unrighe ous, and unme'c'n'. and
prciudced against DR.. Baird, whereas the
fore them that caused 50 much pain as he Trial
of DR.. Bird. and he did not known how the
other brethren Of that Presbytrry telt, but, as
for his part, he was willing to go direct To the
bar Of God with his record in me mater, and
answer for his action, poor, weak, sinful crea-
ture that he was If he ever loved a man In
his h;s, that man vas DR.. Baird, end it caused
him great pain and sorrow to east his vote
against him, but DC loved thu Lord Jesus
Christ more than he did any inan on earth. Not
ouly did his heart 60 forth ia sorrow 10 the
poor unfortunate mau, but the whole Prcsby.
terry was geief stricken at the action they we're
compelled to take DR.. Baird, he said, spoke
of throwing himself iuto the river at Toronto
committing the crime Of self destruction. II
be had the news OF such fate would ou!y have
added fresh sorrow to that already felt fer him
by the members of East Hanover pfesjytcry,
and he thabked God that he did not yield to
the temptation, and that he 0S'a live man to-
day, aud that his prayer was That GCd, by Ills
Spirit, would follow him throughout his Garth
ly pilgrimage, and at last bring him safe y lnto
the port OF everlasting peace, there to erJjy the
blessings Of Heaven, and sit down 10 glory With
all Gods redeemed.
Dr. Pryors address was not long onc, tut
any one that heard it could see, from the very
face Of the gentleman, that he felt, from the
bottom Of his heart, every word that he spokH,
and he succeeded 10 showing one thing, at least,
that there was no prejudic, in his mind against
DR.. Il. Il. Baird.
A motion to reconsider tic vote 10 meet at
half past nine o'clock Monday morning was
then adoptcd, and the Synod decided to hold q
night session.
DIR. Dabuey said that it was evident, from
the impatience OF the members, that they were
not in proper spirit to go on with judicial
business, and in view Of thecomnunion services
to morrow Sunday he thought it would he
cmincntiy appropriate to consider business of a
more peaceful character than the case Of Di.
Baird, and he would therefore move that the
Synod adjourn to meet at I o'clock, to hear the
memorials Of deceased ministers.
DIR. LefeVre said he and several other gentle
men, acting on the faith of the Synod, thinking
that it would adjourn till Monday morning, bad
tclegrsphed home that they would occupy their
pulpits 10 Baltimore as usual, and that if the
Synod proceeded with the trial OF Dr.. Baird at
the night session they would not be competent
to vote on the case, and therefore he would ask,
on behalf Of himself and other brethren. that
they be excused from voting when the case
came up for final action.
% motion, Rev. Drs. L,fvfc, MulkIaud,
Peck, Graham and PiIzar, aud Rev Messrs.
Branch, Umphries and Elder Gray were grant
ed leave Of absence.
After great many motions, amendments
and substitutes, and great deal OF parliament
IL n. hoL lo,t i