The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-11-14
cHAIRMEN OF STANDING COMMITTEES.

~
Systematic Benevolence- Rev H. A B own.
Finance-Rev, j. d. Thomas
Records of SyuOd-Rev. 2. Price
Devotional Exercises-Dr j Bullock.
Leave of Absenee-Rav. A @. HOPKINS
Records OF Abingdon Presbytery-Dr Atkinson
Records of Chesapeake Presbytery-Df. Pryor.
Records Of East Hanover Presbytery-Dr. era
ham.
Records of West Hanover Presbytery-Dr. R.
Records of Greeubrier Presbytery-Rsv. W. N.
Records of Lexington Presbytery-Rev. G. NJ
Campbell
Records of MONTGOMERY Presbytery-ReV. j. A.
Scott.
Records of Roanoke Presbytery-Dr. s. R.
Records of Winchester Prosbytery--Rev. P.
fletcher
Until half-past Synod was engaged in receiving
the records and reports Of Presbyteries overtures,
and o'her communications, which we're severally
referred to the standing committees that were an
nounced by the Moderator, to special committees
when necessary.
THE APPEAL OF DIR E 7 BAIRD
from the action Of East Hanover Presbytery in his
case was read. Dr. Baird stated 10 his appeal that
he had been depOsed from the ministry and sus-
pended from the communion of tie Church, and
protested against the sentence on the following
grounds, which, having been previously published,
need not be mentioned at length:
l. That the court was composed OF persons who
were psrties to the trial.
, That his paper, address. ed to the Presbytery,
had been written by him in state OF great mental
distraction, and had been misunderstood and
misiDterpreted as to do him great injustice.
3. That the charges were ambiguous, misleading,
and insufficient.
4. Tue proceedings throughout were unconstitu-
tiOual
5. That the testimony of Vitues ca, coguiz1nt OF
important facts vas nos taken, and the evidence
was basrssy.
6. That the sentence was u lst and uncOnstitu-
tionsl
7. That long ministry in the Church, and his
devotion to It's service entitled him to relief from
| Judgment which tended to bis utter destruction.
Dr.. s. j. Baird rose in Synod and asked leave
TO withdraw his complaint 10 behalf OF Dr.. h L.
Baird. which had been presented to the General
Assembly and referred back TO this court de said
that the only purpose of that complaint was to pro-
tect Dr. y L Baird case 10 his absence, and that
as Dr. + T. Baird was now present it was desired
that bis case should be presented to the Synod on
/ his appeal only.
Leave was granted to Withdraw the complaint;
and then the appeal was referred to the judicial
! Committee, which is constituted as follows: Rev.
| j. A Lefevre, d D., Rev. w. I. Hall, d d /;
Judge + n. Watkins, Fsrmvile; Hon. Isaac
Jones, of Baltimore ID A. Sinclair, of Wythevile.
Tue Presbytery. OF Chesapeake, through DIR.
Murkland ask leave to retain its records and Its
narrative until to morrow which was sraned
The stated clerk of Montgomery Presbytery pre-
seuted the overture Of that court for division OF
| Synod which was read
Rev. A. W. Pizer recommended the reference
of this overture to committee OF one from each
| Presbytery with Rev d w Sbanks as chairman.
The Moderator inquired if there we're oVerturss
| from other Presbyterles on ttis subject.
Rev. + II. Barnett read an overture from Alb
ipgdon Presbytery asking that Synod be divided
into two or three SyI0dS, and expressing prefer
cree for three.
Rev. Jacob d. Lewis presented a paper from
Greenbrler Presbytery asking SYNOD to refer this
subject to q committee of two from each Presby-
terry, to consider whether division is necessary
and. if so, that it be contaminated without regard
to Preshvterial bounds.
| Rev. Fl. A Brown stated that Roanoke Presby.
| terry had so far eOncurred IN the overture from
Montgomery as to ask that Synod consider it.
The Moderator ruled that this action should be
presented in written form.
The question nov came 40 on the reference OF
these psNers.
Rev B. w Moselsy moved, according to the
recommendation # Greenbrer. that the committee
consist Of two from eeeh Presbytery.
! Dr. Brown moved reference to the SynOd's reg
ular committee to whom ell overtures naturally 20
viz the Committee OF Bills and D 7ertures
Rev. ] D. Thomas asked that the names of the
| Committee on Bills and D 'ertures be read, and
then said This committee IS composed of as good
brethren as are upon this lor, but the Presbyte
ries which are most deeply interested IN this sub
ject are not represented 10 1t.
Dr. Leievre said the Committee on Bills and
0vertures could ask for a special committee.
Synod then by rising vote of IA to 65 refused
to refer to a committee of two from each Presby-
tery.
The Moderator ruled that the question pow came
up on the reference to the Committee on Bills and
Overtures on which Dr.. Armstrong renewed Mr..
Pl zer's motion to refer to committee of one from
each Presbytery, and this was carried by vote OF
"A to 65
Mr. Shauks being uomjnateA as chairman of the
committee on account of bis eff rts in behalf of d
vision, sa'd that bis prominence was accidental
aud be preferred that some other brother should
be appointed. He was not excused, aud the com
mitlee was coustitut, as follows
Montgomery Presbytery-D. w. Shanks, chair
man.
Abiugdon-William V Wilson.
Chesapeske--W William Dinwiddie.
East Hqnover-Robert o aid, elder
West Hanover-A Grianan, elder
LEXINGTON james Murray
Roanoke-W @ Friend, elder.
Winchester-LlOyd Logan, elder.
Greenbrier-Dr s r Houston.
The following ministers were Invited to sit as cor
responding members; DR.. n. Waddel Synod
of Memphis v Thomas NJ. Niven, Presbytery
of Westchester New York; Dfs Wills B ttinger,
Chester. and Rev. L retz) Westcott, Presbytery
OF Washington City (Northern Church
Ogder was taken for hearing discussions of Sus
tentsticu. Education, and Foreign Missions.
A communication was received from the Presby
tery Of the Chesapeake complaining that the assess
meot of Synod on said Presbytery was too large,
aud not in proportion to the assessments on other
Presbyteries of larger membership, Referred to
the Committee Oh Finance
Narratives we're read from the various Presby-
teries-ten 10 number. They we're heard with az
teution and interest by the Synod ADD congregation,
and embodied meny interesting facts IN regard to
the progress of religion in the bounds of Synod
showing steady and hopeful increase in member
ship aud activity among the churches; that new
congregations had been frmed in many places
and that much success had attended pastoral aOd
evsugelistie sborers In destitute places and among
vacant congregations. Among the dNk features
presented 10 these papers there appeared lamenta
tiOns over wOrldhness and drunkenness, and over
wide fields Of spiritual desOlstlO for which there
are no sborers aud over the lack Of zeal and ibt
rslity which binders the progress OF the truth In
many p'sees. 0ae narrative came from the dis
tant Presbytery Of Sac PaulO, in Braz'. i men
toned, as the general characteristic of the peOpe
Of that country, loss of regard for the R mish
Church 90 account of the oorruptons Of the priest
hood ard deplorable ignorance as to all religious
truth TIE narrative mentioned i've churches I
snail peulb ership hut all had received additions
during the yesr. TIE largest at Csmpinss, con
tributsd as much as 81 $50 5uIirg the year, to va
riou eli cts and the others showed proportional
lberslity, The regular Sabbath Of ripg' being in
some GASES as high a. 81 so AL OF the churches
have Portuguese names. bu one Popewell, which |
is composed If settlers from The United States -
Among the memb ers OF all these churches there