Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-11-10
Synod OF VIRGINIA.

AFTERNOON sESsION-YESTERDAI.
The Synod was called to order yesterday
afternoon at half past three clock by the Mod
orator.
The order of the day was suspended, aud the
report of the Committee Oh Finance 'eas pre-
s,nted aud adopted.
Reports of Committees Oh records o! pfeSby,
| teries were presented and adopted
The report cf the Committee % the Minutes
Of the General Assembly was presented aud
adopted.
The report Of the committee on the manner
of receiving corresponding members, recon,
| mending that all ministers OF good standing DC
entitled to sit as corresponding members, was
presented by DIR. Brown and adopted.
| The Presbyterian Church at Abingdon was
selected as the place. aud Tuesday, the first day
Of October. as the tune, for the meeting ct the
| next Synod.
| The consideration Of the order Of the day
| the case Of Rcv. Dr.. f. T.. BaIrl-being r.
sumed,
Rev. Dr. Pryor defended The action Of the
| East Hanover Preshytery, AMI said thai it the
| Synod after hearing the case. could see their
way clear TO relieve Dr. Baird Of the Judgment
passed upon him, every memb@r OF that Pres
| bycry would gladly give him the right hand OF
| fellowship.
Rev. DR.. +. r. Bairl said that while
| he was not outside Of the United States, when
he was, tried by the Prrshyterg. he WAS, b.
advice, where he could easily put himself
outside Of it's jurisdiction ii it was necessary.
| lie objected to his case being referred back to
the East Hanover Preshytery. because he be-
icved that that Presbylery was rriudicca
against HIN, aud not cempatsut to sll in judg
ment on his case. He submitted the following
| paper as "a a counter proposition to that Of pr.
Hoge -
| In rela: ion to the proposition Cf DR.. ll1gn |
have to say that the Prcsbytery OF East HaEo'
yer has been aware for six months Of my Just
grounds Ct exception to tho unconstitutional
and disoIderly course pursued against me that
| the remedy was in It's own power, irrespective
of any proceedings tf mine; ard they have
| taken no steps to rcctIy tho wrong; that tho
| Preshytery itstl has boc1ma 50 fatally involved
in party relation to the Cause as 10 lie forever
| disaualiia I'd from sitting or tho case rs an I'M
partial Judge; that my desire is not 4 technical
| defence, but a thorough Investigation and just
decision on tho merits Of tho case, for the vindl.
cation Ct my integrity As y Christian mAn and
| miaister; that | San we'll aware OF the cmbar
| rassments by which the Case as il ncW stands Is
| surrounded and, therefore, venture To suggest
| ~ n counter proposition that oil Dr. Hogo that
| this Synod do now appoint q Commission of It's
| members, with authority, nj an early day TO sit
| in trial Of the case upon its merits, allowing
each party to bring in such testimony rs i. may
| 500 it. subject to tha p:ovlaiGD5 OF tho cuDStltu
| ton AS TO the notice to b. given tho nppc l.rt !;
| and lh 1t the judgment of ssd commission be
subject to appeal by either party to the General
| Assembly; ard If m appeal ha taken, It Eha'l
| stand As final.
| The paper to proceed with the trial Of d.!
! Baird judicay was then adopted, AMI that
! proposed by Dr.. Il. II. Baird dropped.
Rev. p. Is. Price said that asa resolution had
been offered, impcact hing DR.. ), j. Baird, he
| moved that that gentleman he allowed to make
statement, 30 that hh would n' stand cEI
| barrasoed before the Synod.
Dr.. s. J. Baird said he waived any right 70
| make al exploitation, on the ground that he
! did not wish 10 cucumber the ras' before the
Synod by any statement, and sail that he was
willing to stand on his integrity ~ ~ Christian
| ministers.
The Moderator then explained The aase Us
| it stood, and solcmHlg charged the Synod that
| they We're to sit 10 judgment, rs 4 court Of the
! lord Jesus Christ, on the case ct R:v pI 4.
II. Baird.
The statement Of Dr.. Baird, thc testimony
| presented at the trial, and the records Of the
| Presbytery that tried him, We're then rad by
the stated clerk Rev J. =. Smith
After the reading Of til" papers, all orders of
the day were suspended, and the Synod recess,
Cd till seven clock at night, to 90 on with tic
trial or DR.. Baird.
NIGHT SESSION.
The Synod WIS called to order last night b.
the Moderator at seven clock, when The Co.'S
sideration Of the case Of R:v. ID. Baird WAS
the order for the night, but
Rev. Dr.. Hopkins moved thai tic order be
suspended for thirty minutes to hear Rev. Dr..
Wilson on the subject Of foreign Missions.
which was adopted, and
Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, d. D., Secretary
of the committee on foreign MISSIONS Of tie
Southern Presbyterian Church, and who, after
speeding thirty years as missionary il the IL
terror of Africa, returned 10 this couatr7 TO
press upon the attention Of lis brethren the
importance Of this great work of sending the
knowledge Of Christ Jesus TO those who are 10
darkness, cime forward and addressed the Sy-
nod, urging the members ~ arouse themselves
ADD their people TO greater eXcTloDs In this,
the great work Ct the church.
Rev. Mr.. Smtil, the stated celk, moved
that collection be taken W for the cause Of
tOrciea missions, which was done, and a large
mount raised.
Synod then proceeded with the case Of DR..
Baird.
Dr. +. +. Baird said that he was sorry that,
after having considered The high theme OF Tor.
cign missions the Synod had TO descend TO
judicial trial, involving the character and good
name of poor wJrm OF the dust. lie thanked
God that after six mouths OF flashing and slau
der, and after standing his trial ia the civil
court, he now stood before this venerable court
of the Lord Jesus Christ and had for the first
time the opportunity to answer for hins,if.-
lie dcucd that he rushed with alac.i'y to the
secrctaryship If the cummittcr of publication,
but that he had been urged TO accept it, lie
explained how the committee stood with the
Northern houses and said that the committee
had no credit. and il snrnG arrangement had
not been made the committee would have gone
into bankruptcy. The people waited books
and the committee had no press to print them
with, and after having urged the committee to
procure one, and they not doing SD, be purch
ascd one for himself, and this was his rulu.-
He risked all to save all, which he confessed
was foolish, imprudaDt and wrong lie ex.