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

IA IH u IA IN
bly,, and referred to Dr. Samuel J. Baird's Digest
OF the Acts OF the Assembly, page $780, year 1914;
alec, Acts of lS49
DR.. Bdllock asked leave to introduce Rev DR..
Wills, who bore to the Synod the fraternal greet
Dgs of the Synod of Baltimore, of the Northern
Assembly.
Synod having agreed to receive DR.. Wills he
addressed the body:
" Moderator and Bretbrep,-The Synod of Bal
tlmore appointed DR.. Backus, Dr. Spotswood,
Judge Strong, and myself. to convey to this ven
cradle body Its fraternal greetings" DR.. Wills
said ne had waited here for the other members OF
the committee. Judge Strong is detained by his
duties on the Supreme bench; DR.. Spotswood has
not yet arrived; DR.. Backus cannot come, and
SENDS letter conveying his excuse and congratu-
lstlons lie writes that as director of the Theo-
logical Seminary at Princeton his relations to the
Institution require him at this time to be present
at the inauguration of DR.. A. A Hodge. Dr.
Backuss letter expresses his desire for the earliest
and closest traternal relations and his hope that
we may be aided and prospered in our mission OF
love. The times, continues DR.. Backus, require
closer relations, for, n the words of Patrick Hen
ry, unless we hang together we shall hang apart
Dr. Wills said that in the presence of this Synod
he felt as if he could sing Home, Sweet, Sweet
Home" Many OF these faces are familiar faces,
looked on in time of war. now looked on in time OF
peace Observing the faces Of brethren, he saw
no change in the Esau part except that they we're
little whittier. | extend to you our fraternal
greetiDgs-grace mercy, and peace-prosperlty
throughout all your borders. Our Synod not only
les contiguous to yours, but we interpeHetrate you
have churches in Maryland, and we have churches
in your territory. Whether frsternal relations
shall ever be established it is our fixed purpose to
cultivate brotherly love, which is far better than a
mere recognition of brotherhood. When you come
among us, brethren you will find the three P's-
the plate the pillow, and the pulpit We hope to
hear, in Washington, on Sabbath, the voices OF
some of you testying to the truth as 1t Is IN Je'
sus, which the Southern Church always has done
and always will do. In conclusion. DIR. Wills
wished that all of the members of the Synod might
erj1y the presence of the Holy Spirit in their
hearts, their homes. and their churches
| The Moderator, in reply, assured DR.. Wills that
his courtesy was appreciated very highly. de as
sured him that the Synod had heard his address
with pleasure. We cordially recprocate all the
| Christian love you bear. We have heard you with
| great satisfaction.
An animated discussion arose on the subject OF
the report of the Committee on Division, aud the
status in which that paper was left before recess
this morning. 1t was finally resolved that the re-
mort of the Judicial Committee on DR.. h. L.
Baird case be the first order OF the day to-mor'
row and the report of the Committee on Division
be the second order.
EVENING SESSION.
u P. NJ.
The address Of Rev. Dr. Wilson, on the subject
of F1rNgn VI -sl0ns, was postponed till tomorrow
st 1880 2. NJ, owing to the inclemency of the
YEA der.
A committee Was appointed to respond to the
addresses of the Secretaries of Sustentation and
! & iucs'ion.
The records Of Lexington, Greenbrer Roanoke,
and West Hanover PresbyterieS we're approved.
The committees on other records were not pre-.
pared to report
The Standing Committee on Systematic Benev-
olence presented report through the chairman,
Rev. H. A Brown. From this report it appears
that the 277 churches of the Synod have taken up
three tourths of the collections ordered by the AS
sem6y for the benevolent enterprises of the Church;
| l56 churches have each taken up all the annual
collections ordered, 30 to of them, 9 to 4. l9 to
| 3 IA to 2 Is to l. and 26 to pone-the last-named
are chief 2 vacant churches. In the number of COL
lectious there has been slight advance on last
year.
To the various causes of benevolence, not iuclud-
ing congregational expenses, the Presbyteries have
contributed as follows: Abingdon. $l.2l3; Ohes.
apeake $l3 1866; East Hanover, $l4 7l2; Green.
brer 81 l7S; Lexington. Sc 500 Montgomery,
| SO 275; Roanoke, 81 SO; West Hanover, 50.
| 100; Winchester, SO 64l-total, $40 053 Last
year the contributions amounted to $43 973. This
shows an increase of more than So 900
a resolution was adopted recommending that the
churches take mp the collection for lucation, now
| tx I'D for November, In October and November =
The object of the resolution as stated by its advo.
| Gates Was,that tho funds raised nigh: reach the
students aided earlier in their session.
The report on theological education was taken
from the docket DR.. Junkin, who prepared this
wen matured report read some statistics confirm.
ing the presented in this report. In response
to an inquiry of DR.. Ewing, DR.. Junkin said that
the senior class of each year would be graduated at
the expiration of five months from the beginning OF
the session. whilst the other classes would continue
to the end OF the session of nine and half months.
The Rev. w. V. Wilson asked whether the pre-.
sent length of the sessions eight months) appeared
from practical results to be suitable both for the
health and success Of the students.
Rev. j. D. Thomas made an inquiry as to the
origin OF the committee on this ject. These in-
quiries we're not responded to.
Rev DR.. B. NJ Smith said in this matter he was
a seeker after the best methods. The present plan
was an experiment Indeed, the system of Theo-
logical Seminares was an experiment of only about
sixty years He wished that system adopted which,
whilst it gave the mental and literary training need
ed would also give the practical common-sense
education that would fit them for their work. The
method of the fathers without the Seminaries had
succeeded in their day. Theological Seminaries
belonged only to America.
Dr.. Smith sa. d he had no views which he wished
the Synod to legslate; but he desired that the
Presbyteres should exercise proper care over their
candidates. and not turn over to the professors Of
the Seminary a responsibility properly their own
DR.. Smith continued his remarks at considerable
length on the duties of Presbyteres in this matter
and on the methods OF preaching and the training
of yourg men for the ministry.
At ~ p. NJ, Synod adj burned.