The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-13
consideration Of the Judicial case WINS re.

InC SOUlullttet Ob ra-Es :. Z.
( BILLS AND ovERTUREs
reported In favor OF acknowledging in pro
rer terms The Invitation OF President Pat.
ton to visit Howard University, and that II
was inexpedient to appoint committee
Members would visit the University private
". Adopted. The report Of the Committee
on the Standing Committees eyangelistie
report was adopted.
Ordered, that the reports OF the majority
and minority on division OF Synod be pub
lishcd in the appendix TO the minutes.
Rev. r. S. Walker explained why the re.
port OF Lexington Presbytery on Sabbath
| schools had not-been sent to the standing
committee, whose report, as read, was In
| complete for that reason.
Thanks were voted to the citizens Of
Alexandria for their hos pitality, to churches
for their pulpits on The Sabbath, and to rail
road and steamboat companies FOR courte
| sizes. .'1. >-''s7'r.' fTs't ~. s'1'.
Your reporter gratefully inscribes hi:
| thanks to the kind people OF Alexandra
and to the chief officers and conductors o.
the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio, Midland
and Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac railroads. '.
The minutes OF East Hanover were ap
proved, with one or two minor exceptions.
Synod adjourned at q late hour Saturday
night. Tss
on SABBATH
ministers OF the Synod were distributed in
Alexandria, Washington, and Baltimore,
occupying pulpits OF both the Northern and
Southern connections. - ! .lsrT
Note.-The speeches reported on the pa.
per referring 10 colored people were ne.
Il r., hSpr no
OF the speakers who approved the report 1t
should have been stated that Drs. Atkinson
and Dabnev and Hall opposed the feature
OF the report which seemed to concede that
the colored people could not be induced to
Join the Presbyterian Church, and it was
modified in accordance with their view.
Further Proceedings In DIR. Bniri's
....... Case. Sod .-..
Rev. Dr. r. Pryor was heard in behalf OF
East Hanover Presbytery.
Dr.. PRYOR said he could be brief, because
those who had spoken before him had
60 ably presented the case. He felt that as
! committee the dignity and interests OF
presbytery were committed TO them.
DR.. Pryor said the appellant had the ali.
vantage Oh account OF the sympathy excited
bv his venerable appearance and his Attic
lions, and lie would not diminish aught OF
this sympathy. The Presbytery's position
was an abstract one. We are not objects OF
sympathy but we have been charged with
violation OF our obligations as court OF
the Lord, and with giving an unrighteous
judgment.
Or. Pryor wished the Synod to under
stand the circumstances under which the
Presbvtery acted. He read from the Book
Of Discipline to show the care which the
Presbytery is bound to exercise over it.
members. ..-...
1t has been said there were no rumors-
no common fame. lie had read in the news
papers, before the semi-anrual meeting oil
! Presbytery, m account OF DR.. Baird'S detail
| cation. Here was public rumor. His writ
ten statement We referred to an able and re-
sponsi5le committee, who presented re-
port charging these crimes. as l consider
them. True, DR.. Baird was not there. We
knew not where he was: even the police
could not find him., The land was at this
time full of statements and rumors OF deial
cations in Government circles and in other
| places.
Confronted by all
| THESE PAINFUL FACTS,
what was the Pres5ytery. | ask this yener.
able court, to do? The Church was suffer-
! ing. This defalcation was affecting all the
| benevolent enterprises OF the Church. We
had the honor Of our ministry and the sacred
and high trust Of the good name Of our
Church to protect. ..,. .
DR.. Baird could not be reached. We sent
for men Of piety and truthfulness who could
explain TO as the facts mentioned in DR..
Baird's paper, seeking all the light we
could get. Moreover, we prayed for gui-
dance. What could the PreSbytery, charged
with the solemn responsibility growing out
of this situation, do, but what we did!
I affirm that we based our action OIL DR..
Baird's paper. DIR. Pryor here read from
the rules Of discipline to show that it was
the duty Of, the PresDytery under such Cir
cumstances to act without delay. Yet there
was no haste. !.
Moderator, have been in solemn scenes,
but when one after another was called upon
to express his opinion in the case it was
touchinsly solemn, as one and another,
bathed in tears, gave expression to his
views.ygW neither DR.. Baird appreciated il
or not, be-was dealt with in tenderness.
Dr..Prvor was proud now that Dr. Baird
allegedthat he was not conscious ofHcrime.
The speaker thought that ninety-nine men
out of hundred would regard these acts as
criminal As to his having 1heccharactero i
his conduct revealed byyI.a casual remark Of
Judge Wexford, suspect that he, received
/ some information as to the change OF statute
law in Virginia by which a breach Of trust
is made a felony. - -
It was .-. - -rfr<;.rI.s,r
DUTY DEvOLvING UPON THE PREsBYTERI
to see that the sacred funds OF the Church
should not be misapproprlated without
censure. o'~ ....
Dr.. Baird complains OF the severity Of
the sentence that he is accommodated
The Presbytery deposed him from the min
istry and suspended him from the com
munion, but did not excummun icate him
| Were we to send him forth as member in
good standing? The book OF discipline re-
| quires suspension sometimes, even when
the accused Is penitent.
DR.. Baird complains that the Presbytery
ruined him. Alas he ruined himself. He
was shocked, he says, when, away up at
Niagara, he heard through the public prints
OF the action OF PresbyIery. The shock
ouqht to hare come sooner. We sympa
thize with him; yet, as fallen brother, We
hone he will repent. But how can he re-
pent il he is not conscious OF crime!
REMARKS OF DIR. BROWN.
Dr..Brown made these points:
1st. Was the sentence according to tls
evidence? The accused claimed that be
was not conscious OF crime. He woulo
concede that when he took the money o.
the committee he meant to put it back
Then came a time when it was in his
power to put his hands on the money OF tht
Church. What was bis motive? In thai
act he committed sin, and that sin was sac
Inf in hundreds OF trans.