Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-10-17

DEAR BRRTBREN-We live in day of won
ders-a day when great efforts should be put |
forth for the glory of Christ in the extension
of his Kingdom: and yet, brethren, are not
the activities of the church crippled by apa-
thy, worldliness and general want of Chris |
tian growth? This, too, when we have all |
the needed appliances for growth-the altar
the wood, but where is the fire? And is it |
not true that many of the children of the |
church are perishing from moral pestilence ?
At this time we have the voice Of Gods
Providence calling to the church to enter 10 |
and take possession Of the world for Jesus. |
For many years the church has been praying |
for whole week, every year, for the CONVEX
sion of the world; and now these calls of
Providence are causing many of the church
to ask, what shall We do in this crisis p Do
we misinterpret when we suggest that these
things seem to indicate that the Head of the
church is now calling upon her to become the
instrument of answering her own prayers,
and is about to baptize her for this work.
Who will so grieve the Holy Ghost that we
shall fail of such baptism? We recommend
that each church spend a season of prayer,
each day of the Convention, so that while
many may be gathered together in the Con-
vention, the whole of our people may be in
concert with them in the churches and closets
at home. That this be published in the To-
cal papers throughout our bounds, all of
which is respectfully submitted.
t. 81. HASTINGS,
w. R. VINCENT,
II. D. EVANS, }Com.
VIM CASTOR,
d. JOHNSTON,
The Committee on the Records of st. Clairs
vile and Steubenville Presbyteries reported
in favor of approval-reports adopted. The
report of Committee on Standing Rules
was resumed-articles 2, 3, 4, and 5, were
adopted.
The order of the day was taken up, viz
judicial case No. l, being the appeal and
complaint of Rev. John F. Severance against
the PresbyterY of Cleveland. The Modera-
tor called upon the members of the Synod to
remember their high character as a court of
Jesus Christ.
Ruling Elder Truman Hastings, of Cleve.
land, was appointed as counsel for the ap.
pellant and complainant. and Rev. DIR. Nc.
Masters was appointed assistant counsel. Pro-
ceedngs In this case were in the order fol.
lowing 1st, The sentence appealed from
was read. I'd. The reasons assigned by appel.
liant for his appeal and which are on record
were read. Sd. The whole record of the iu-
ferior judicatory in the case, including all
testimony and the reasons of their decision
was read. Rev. J. B. Johnston, D. D., of
Ia toS ~ HOu vi OhiO y. CHuICI, UCluS pIOS-
cnt, and invited, took his seat as CORES
ponding member.
Pending the consideration OF the Judicial
case the order of the day was taken up, viz
An hour of prayer and conference on the
history Of past revivals. Brief and earnest
addresses were made by ]. n. Wilson, Ruling
Elder Truman Hastings, and the venerable
DR.. Beatty of Steubenville.
| Synod adjourned to meet at two o'clock
this afternoon-concluded with prayer by
Ruling Elder NJ L. Miller
MONDAY AFTERNOON
Synod met, according to adjournment, at
o'clock. The minutes of the morning session
were read and approved.
The order of the day was postponed to take
up judicial case No. 1. The complaint of
John F. Severance against the Presbytery of
Cleveland was read. One hour was given to
each of the original parties Rev. j. N Nc
Giffert and DR.. Elroy Curtis were recognized
as representative of the defense. Ruling
Elder Hastings was heard in part for appel
lant
Rev. j. McGiffert and DR.. Curtis was heard
for defense, and Elder McGiffert closed for
the defense; Elder Hastings was again heard
for the appellant, and Rev. DIR. McMaster
of Poland, Ohio, was heard In close for the
appellant.
Synod continued in session one half hour
longer, than hour of recess.
Revs. John A. Seymour and T. G. Stewart
! of the Presbytery Of Cleveland, were heard.
Speeches of other members of Synod were
limited to Is minutes. The roll was called
, and opportunity given to members to give
their views on the case.
! The vote being ordered, the action of the
Cleveland Presbytery, deposing Rev. Sever
ance was sustained by vote Of 40 to 10. A
committee was appointed to draft the entry
for the journal of the Synod.
2 EVENING SESSION.
Rev. DR.. s. ]. Jennings, of the Synod, of
, Pittsburgh, being present and invited, took
! his seat as corresponding member.
Report of committee on minutes of Gener-
al Assembly was received and adopted.
Friday after the second Tuesday of BOcto-
; Der, 1879, at o'clock P. NJ, was fixed as the
= time for the next stated meeting of Synod,
and the pastor and session of the Church of
Ashtabula appointed committee of arrange
ments.
Report of committee or standing rules for
, the government of Synod was received and
adopted.
, Committee on records of Presbytery of
Cleveland reported, and report was adopted.
The Stated Clerk was directed TO secure the
VI JHc lOT lle ldSI IWO
: years.
, Committee on bills and overture reported in
favor of the transfer of the church of West
: chester from the Presbytery of Steubenville
: to the Presbytery of st. Clairsville, said
: church being at this time supplied by min-
lister in connection with the latter Presbytery.
The committee appointed to bring in min
ute expressive of the views of Synod in the
case of John F. Severance reported. The re.
: port was accepted and adopted, and is as fol-
lows:
: ''The committee appointed to express the
reasons for the decision of the Synod in con-
=: firming the action of Cleveland Presbytery in
! !. the case of John F. Severance, beg leave to
I report-1st. That the complaint of the appel
> liant on the ground that the Presbytery re-
u fused to re open his case for the presentation
of new testimony, was not well founded, for
the reason that Presbytery satisfied itself that
: he had no new testimony to present. 2d.
That the reason for the appeal based on the
action of Presbytery in deposing him was not
. well founded, for the reason that Presbytery
: had given him time and opportunity to fur
nish evidence of repentance, and no such evil
/ dence being given by the appellant, the Pres
'' bytery had the constitutional right to proceed
to his deposition"
The standing committee on Foreign Mis-
Il sions reported, and the report was adopted.
The report concludes with the following res
olutions:
1st-''Preach the Word"-the truth as it is
in Jesus. The purity and vitality of doctrine
L promote the piety and activity of Gods people.
An evangelical church will be an eva1gelistic
church. Let the whole church be brought to
feel her duty in the light of Gods word and
His love, until every protesting Christian will
e know assuredly that if he is a child of God,
he is q steward Of the TOrd Oh That tha
Ii officers of each church so arrange that each
member can and will contribute to the Lords
} work as the Lord prospers: making it praise
worthy in the sight of men ast is in the sight
: of the LOrd-to give little where that little is
lall thai God reduires-sO that the widow and