Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-16

have never reached the conviction in my
heart of hearts that DR.. Baird ever sat III
the full light Of the moral aspects of these
transactions. But is that Il standard for
us. when, by some beguilements and sur
rOundingS, he for nine years continued
these transactions ? He tells us that the
moral bearing of the question never flash
ed upon him except when a chance remark
fell from Judge Wexford. That was the
ptnctus mlor,ua. He represen ed to the
Assembly that the affairs of the commit
tee were in prosperous condition; yet he
tells us that he trembled at the Nashville
Assembly with the fear of investigation,
because it would result in his financial
ruin.
REMARKS OF DIR. WIN. BROWN.
DR.. Brown made these points:
LIST. Was the sentence according to the
evidence? The accused claimed that he
was not conscious of crime.
He said he had no Sense Of wrong. This
l cannot understand. If there was no
seise of wrong DR.. Baird was devoid Of
understanding Or conscience.
9. DR.. Brown believed the s"ntenceju just
but he had told DR.. Baird that if there was
any new evidence he wished it to be con-
sidered.
DR.. Brown, abiding to Dr. Baird's state
I1tilU, Sdlu UildU llC OCllGNCu UlldG lOIIR Ut
fore the conversation with Judge Wexford
he heard the voice Of the Divine monitor.
DIR. SAMUEL j. BAIRD, BROTHER OF
THE APPELLANT
said there is much I might say, but pro-
pose to say but little [ might 90 over the
proceedings and show everything irregular
from the first to the last. He might ana
lyZe the motives that actuated the Presby-
terry but the case is not here. A case
made by the Ptesbytery-by witness of
their own choosing-was here.
He had known his brother from infancy,
as play-fellow, sehcol-boy, fellow crafts
man in a printing office. knew him as
my brother; had constantly delighted in
his growing, strengthening character and
influence, till he Stoud a Saul, head and
shoulders above his brethren and till saw
him hurled from high position and left a
wreck. know the inner history of this
case, and | hesitate not to say there sits
not a purer servant of Christ, or one more
worthy, thai the one who is now excluded
from the table of his Lord and Saviour.
He had confidence in the heads and hearts
of the brethren here; but the case is not
here. the proposal Of my brother that a
tribunal should be formed that could de-
yelOp the truth was Spurned from the Syn
cd. L have nothing left but to submit the
case to the Synod, and then we may pur-
sue such course as the result may make it
necessary for us to take.
Moderator: What does DR.. Baird mean
by saying his brothers proposal ''was
spurned from the house ?"
DR.. Baird thanked the Moderator. I
should have said ignored,
GEN ERAL OPINION.
The members of the synod were then
called in turn to pronounce their opinions
Oh the case, the time of each being limited
to five minutes.
Several hundred names were called. Some
did not respond. Over forty made brief
statements. The larger number of these
concurred in saying that in their opinion
the action of the presbytery had been hasty,
their proceedings unconstitutional and
their sentence severe in the extreme. A
few thought the action of the pres bytery
in deposing DR.. Baird and suspending him
from church communion unjust, one mem
Der declaring that s'if this thing was to go
on, no..ministers life, for his reputation was
his life, was safe" al that DR.. B. should
be sent back. restored to his membership
and his ministry. Another declared that
he had always had the fullest trust in DR..
B., and ''would just as soon trust him to-
night as ever" Many avowed that had
they been i'll the Presbytery of East Hano-
yer they would have acted as its members
had done, but on second thought and
further light would now be willing to modi-
fy their action. A few declared that DR..
b. had committed great crime, and that
the sentence Of the Presbytery was emf
nently just and proper vindicatlon Of the
honor of the Church. One member thought
that as long as DIR. B. held that he had
committed no crime he was to be held as
still impenitent. All concurred that the
forms of the book had not been observed
by the Presbytery in the trial, and that
the case should be Sent back; some favor
ing its reference to commission other
than East Hanover PIesbytery.
FINAL ACTION.
The roll being completed, Rev. DR.. Dab
ney offered a paper, which is in substance
as follows, and which was adopted with
few dissenting voices
l. The appeal is sustained, pro foTnl0, on
account of informalities in the process.
2. The Presbytery having acted accord
ing to the best OF their judgment and with
good intention, there is no censure upon
that court,
8. The case is sent back to PreSbytery
with a request to proceed regularly and to
make a thorough investigation at as early
a day as possible.
t. The sentence of the Presbytery on DR..
E. T. Baird to remain Professionally in
force till new trial is issued.
The new trial will commence in the First
Presbyterian church at Richmond on next
Friday, the 23d inst.
Among the arrivals at the Eutaw House
Baltimore, were Rev. r. Trout and his
bride, who are on their wedding tour. Mr..
Trout is 50, and quite feeble. His wife is
young and prepossessing lady.
W. w. Corcoran. of Washington, whose
ST. 900 watch was stolen at the Richmond
fair and for which he offered $500 reward,
has got it again. The thieves returned 1t
to the detectives.
The Lynchburg News has satisfa cto-
ry information that more than 900 doll
lars worth of Southwest Virginia beef,
was shipped fresh from New York to Liy-
erpool. during last month.
A sale of shorthorn Gait took place on
Oct. %, at Queen Victoria's Shaw Farm,
Windsor Castle. The sale comprised forty
shorthorn COWS and heifers, which realized
l ,304 guineas.
John Hartman, of Ottobine, Rockingham
CO.. has made IL e cr4 OK snot of the season
one shot, both barrels, two does and a
fawn.
Col. Myer Myers, an old and well known
citizen of Norfolk is dead, at the age of
IS years.
James E. Roller is appointed postmaster
at Mount Crawford, Rockingham county.
Va, vice John Foley, removed.