The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-09
1.-THE Church: and therefore it is recon-

mended that new trial be awarded.
l The committee asked that the report bt
the first order for tomorrow, but no action
was taken on this subject, and the order OF
the day followed, which was the subject Of
education.
DR.. Waddell said that ON this question
Virginia was the bulwark. .
Out OF sixty-four Presbyteries in the
General Assembly tifty-fFe cooperate with
the committee. one OF the largest Presby.
teries-a Presbytery OF South Carolina
was moved to separate from the Assembly's
committee. The next syear they unani-
mously returned to cooperation. The re-
suit. OF their operations during that year
was that whereas they asked previously for
81 200, received $500, and gave us $500. In
that independent year they received only
$400. Well they might. come back to US.
IN CONCLUDING
| he said: In the providence OF God we have
been enabled to fall back upon 4 resource
which may be devoted to pay an old debt.
The General Assembly gave us the power to
use the legacy of the Lusk estate. Only
$4,000 is left, and we shall not get it all this
winter, but expect to pay it all. 1t made US
happy last May-oh, how happy Ito meet
out OF The contributions OF the churches all
the wants Of students. We shall probably
have as many candidates asking aid this year
as last, and we respectfully ask your liberal
| contributions. 49,. ..-..
| Elevate, bescech you, fathers; elevate this
cause 1t is fundamental. Lift it up to its
proper place. Tell the people you cannot
have ministers, nor missionaries, nor teach
ers, nor authors in the fields OF sacred lite
| rature. +-# ......
Afternoon Session.
The unfinished business OF the morning
session-the report on the religious condi-
ton and wants of the colored lpeople-was
taken up, and the Rev. DR.. Preston said he
would claim the attention Of the Synod
only a few minutes in advocating the re-
port. He thought the paper presented in
concise form the duty OF the Presbyterian
Church to do what was in its power for the
evangelization OF these people. We should
endeavor to bring them, if possible, into
our Church, and so the report advised: but
in case this could not be done, yet to labor
for their conversion. whatever Church con-
nection they might favor. He admitted that
they would not press into the Presbyterian
Church, but they would attend upon Sab
bath schools when we open them for their
| instruction. We owe them duty. We did
not when they were slaves do the full mea-
sure 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 heatben at distance. He
thought the Synod should enjoin upon the
ministers and churches the duty OF under
taking the great work for which we now
have such fine opening. How can we
answer to the Judge OF All il we fail to
look after these people, who arc at our very
doors? 1t would not be labor in vain. Ef-
forts made, as he could testify, were fruit
full in hopeful results. In reply to the OBJ
lection that their not coming into our
Church was an excuse for ncglectinS this
work, ne 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. T. Hall, DR.. Dabncy, DR.. Pryor,
Colonel Preston, and Rev. DIR. Smith also
spoke on the subject.
The motion to recommit was passed.
Rev. DR.. E. D. Junkin, chairman Of q
committee appointed at the last meeting Of
the Synod on the subject of
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION,
read q report. The committee recommend
spent in the course of preparation for the
ministry, and endorsed the "".;c~ "a -, IL
last General Assembly on this subject The
report did not endorse the present sys-
tenn Of short sessions and long yaca-
ions at the Seminary.~~W must choose
between "hort vacations simply for rest,
and longer sessions; or vacations long
enough for remunerative work and shorter
sessions than the present. The report ad-
tol tho rlnf, an1 cI1pppStp0 two
sessions OF nine and half months for the
Junior and middle classes, and one OF five
months for the senior class. On the ques-
tion Of what the Seminary may be able to
do in aiding Presbyteries to judge OF the
fitness of candidates for the ministry Tor
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 system Of seminary work, but
only the lengthening Of the session from
eight to nine and half months. These
sessions would not be too long for study
and the vacations would be sufficient fol
rest, to which they should be devoted. He
would have these months Of vacation free
from care and labor, and spent in refresh
ing sports, such as fishing and hunting
He would not have them solemnized tc
death by keeping up the seminary.
| Rev. B. W. Moseley moved the reference
OF the report to the Board Of Directors o
the Seminary.
DR.. Dabney thought it not wise to refel
this paper to the directors without lnstruc
tions.
The motion to refer was withdrawn, ant
the paper placed on the docket.
TUCKEHoE.