The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-08

than S50,VUO iaSt year. VIC uafe on' 80
out one missionary in three years. W nave
lost one third Of men. To-day many OF our
young men are ready, but we can't sena
them out.
The Doctor closed with thrilling appeal
to all to rouse to duty-to give more anu
do more for Jesus.
A committee was appointed to respond
TO this address. DR.. Pryor, George Fin
lev, and John DinwiGdie were appointed.
A collection was also taken up amounting
to S134.43.
DaoyiIle was selected rs the place and
Tuesday night before the last Sabbath IN
October the time for the next meeting Oh
Synod, at u O'Clock.
The question Of division came up. Or.
Armstrong favored. Dr.. Atkinson opposed.
DR.. Bullock also followed on the same SIDE.
SYNOD adjourned to meet tomorrow
morning at 81 O'Clock. Closed with prayer
by Rev. Dr.. Atkinson.
50 O'CLOCK.
The Synod met again and was opened
with prayer by Rev. Or. Martin. Tue COM
mittee to report on what papers were TO De
recorded on presbytcrial records-J. L.
Smith, J. r. Graham, and Z. II. barnett.
The time for the meeting OF SYNOD was
changed from that at first chosen, simply 10
IL O'Clock Of the day following. The Com
mlttec on Leave Of Absence reported. MI.
Whiting and Mr.. Beard were audcd 10 Tie
Committee OF Finance.
The question of division, the long agony,
was again taken up. Rev. George Finley
opencd the discussion. He said il convinced
that the cause OF Christ would be advanced
BY division he would yield all preference
and vote for the measure. Hitherto neither
nor heart were convinced.
Convinced that ii this Synod were to divide
it would not carry the judgment Of The PEG.
pie. Several presbyteries had spoken, ana
spoken against it. Now, is it fair TO take
advantage OF this mcagre representation 10
do what will he very unsatisfactory TO the
majority of our people! The preSbyteries
are the only bodies where fair expression
OF sentiment can be obtained. The harmo-
nv Of our S, stem will be disturbed Ivy diyi-
sion, Just as tie harmony OF the heavenly
hosts would be disturbed by blotting out
some of the orbs from their spheres. 1t Is
important that there be commlnglins OF
men from the mountains and men from the
sea. He refuted the idea that the oppo-
nents OF division were influenced solely by
sentiment. He said that his Judgment and
his sentiment were at one in this case.
Sentiment was not to be disreSardcd. 1t
originated the crusades, that grand episode
in European history. He closed with an
earnest appeal to keep together.
DR.. Pitzer moved that debate be limited
to ten minutes. Carried.
DIR. Pitzer said that ii the thing be sub
mi!ted to presbyteres there would not be Il
fair expression Of opinion; for some pres
bytcries 81 so much larger than others that
if we are governed by the majority we can
come no nearer than now in getting cor
rect estimate OF the sentiments of the peo-
ple. Besides. it was known that this cues
ton was to come up, and every one ought
TO have been here. He illustrated the i'm
portancc OF division by the growth OF GER
tain presbytcrics.
Dr.. Armstrong moved that tue General
Assembly be overturned to divide the Synod
into two or three synods, according to the
plan already mooted. Then we are to take
the opinion OF the presbyteries as to which
OF the two we are to adopt.
Dr.. Read expressed qualification that we
now had something concrete. lie still OBJ
posed division.
DR.. Pryor then took the floor, recapitu-
lating the substance OF his former: speech.
lie replied to Dr.. Armstrong; position that
no expansion could take place without dl-
vision. We had grown from three to eleven
presbyteries. Now, is not that expansion:
He said that the opponents OF division were
afraid of submitting this matter to the pres
bytcries. The eIdership had often saved
the Church, and he believed they would
negative this movement now.
DR.. Brown said he did not intend to de-
bate the question in full. Every one cor
coded that division must take place at no
very remote future. When that time comes,
now will not all the sentiment be still as
strong? Other synods had divided, and
they had wonderfully grown by more
closely cultivatinS the ground under their
care. In replying 10 DR.. Atkinson, he said
that il any theological seminary stood in
the way Of the progress OF the Church, then
let the theological seminary go. He did not
believe that any harm would follow TO the
seminary.
DR.. Alexander followed in opposition to
division. he said that the sole reason for
division was that the Synod was too large.
Now. this depends on the standard Of COM
palison. II it was to create new Synod,
then he would oppose: but to erect and
then TO tear down are different things. II
he were going TO build house he might
not be willing to build large house, but il
he had large house he might not be will
ing to pull it down to accommodate neigh
Dor. We arc still representative OF the
whole, even when we are small BODY, by
reason CT meeting in remote districts. DE
sides, we are an appellate court, ana 1t Is
often important to have large court. II
we have small appellate court we would
not fee! the force Of any decision pro or
con.
The memorials were now read in relation
to the death OF Rev. Mr.. Berry, DR.. Handy,
DR.. Balch, and r. &. Graham.
These memorials were followed by ad-
dresses from Drs. Brown, Bullock, Ewing,
and Atkinson, bearing testimony to the
worth OF these noble men, who had now
gone to their rest.
The Committee on Devotional exercises
made a report: Rev. j. P. Smith to address
the Sunday school; Drs. Alexander and
Martin in the Presbyterian church; DR..
Read, Episcopal church; DR.. Stricken,
Methodist Episcopal church; w. V. Will
son, Methodist Protestant church; DR..
Ewing, colored Baptist church; commu-
Mon. Drs. Brown and Pryor.
Rev. DR.. Graham, OF Winchester, re-
sumed the discussion on division. He re-
butted the idea thai we were too large to
meet in small towns. Now we are accom-
modated in Abingdon, and there is room
for even more. Too large for business.
Why, If we!l-moderated the size OF BODY
is no objection. He is not opposed to
colonization. II any three contiguous pres
byterics want to go of we will not object.
Rev. Dir. Carson next took the foor, and
said we have now mower, gained by union
and cultivation. We ought not to lose our
power. Division is disintegration. Union
is strength.