The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-11-05
liar dee . or the cause of Christ.-.S. Louis
Other Churches.


October 18th. It's sessions were opened with
sermon by the retiring Moderator, Rev. ]. II.
Flanagan, on Eph. Vi l.: 10, and Rev. G. NJ. Spar
grove was chosen his successor in office. Synod
spent most of its time and strength on the great
schemes of Christian Benefcence so intimately
connected with the advancement of our Redeem
er's kingdom The reports on the various de-
partments of Christian work were Of unusual ex-
cellence and received more than passing notice
Pointing in the same general direction was the
conference on Saturday evening on 1.-The hope
ful indications of the triumph of Christianity"
Thoughtful and stirring addresses, adapted both
to instruct and stimulate Gods people in mis-
sion and other Christian work, were made by
Drs. Whiting and Wilson. ~
Special attention was called to the heavy bur:
den Of debt resting on the Foreign Board.
Many of the Synods had something to say on
the Sabbath question, and some of them passed
the sturdest kind of resolutions in favor of OBJ
serving the fourth commandment. The speech
es, we are told, in several quarters were very
earnest, both in denouncing current desecration
and demanding better practice on the part Of
Christians. 1t is felt by every thoroughly SYM
pathetic speaker that just here is our weak spot.
The Christian practice is not up to the profess
sion; more than this, that the past ten years
have brought relaxed kind of Sabbath observ-
ance which has greatly assisted the real enemy.
If we are to have the Lords day required by the
Scriptures, the beginning of it must be in the
homes and outside behavior of members of the
Church Talk and resolutions go for nothing SO
long as men and corporations point to ministers
and laymen, professors of religion, who use the
I>hallowed day for purposes of secular labor or
sensual pleasure. United Presbyterian.
The New York Synod, embracing the Presby-
terian churches of Orange, Sullivan, Rockland,
Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester counties, and
New York city and all New England, began iR
annual session at the First Presbyterian church,
Middletown on the 2lst inst. The sermon was
preached by the Rev. W. K. Hall, the retiring
Moderator The Rev. Charles C. Wallace, Of
Lake Mahopac was elected Moderator. The
number in attendance embraced about $50
churches and so elders. The narratives of the
churches show that the past year has been one
of growth The contributions to chnrch boards
the part year aggregate $685. 900, an excess of
SAL 900 over the preceding year. The New
York Presbytery gave upward of $4,000, or
about $13 member The average in the Synod
is S.. DR.. Roswell D. Hitchcock, of New York,
read report on the proposed change in the Pres
byterian form of government which should
make the Office of Evangelist distinct and per-
manent The committee finds no change neces-
sary DR.. Herrick Johnson, of the Auburn
Theological Seminary, and the Rev. H. Darling,
D. D., of Albany, presented project for the
adoption and endowment of Hamilton College
as Presbyterian University. The college with
its S650,O00 endowment, half in buildings and
half in productive investments, is offered to six
Presbyterian Synods of New York on condition
of adding 100000 to the endowment. mo-
tion offered by DR.. C. Robinson approving the
adoption Of and an endeavor to- endow Hamil-
ton College and calling for committee to for
ward the project was unanimously passed by the
Synod. The session closed on the 24th New
buryport was selected as the place for the next
stated meeting Christian at Work
The Presbyterian Synod of the Pacific closed
its annual meeting at Oakland last week, after
an interesting and harmonious meeting extend
ing over four days. The organization of nine
new churches were reported. The reports from
the different fields of Christian work were all
encouraging Some idea of the extent of the
field over which the jurisdiction of the Synod
extends may be gathered from the fact that the
distance travelled by the Rev. Mr.. Meyer from
Arizona in attending the Synod was over 1900
miles and that travelled by Rev. Mr.. Phelps of
Nevada l, 400 miles; so that the aggregate travel
Of those two members in going and returning
exceeded 5000 miles The Synod voted 10
meet next year in San Jose, on the first Tues
day in October.
The CASE OF DR.. TALMAGE.-The Presbyte-
rian Synod of Long Island meet in Jamaica,
October 21st, and elected the Rev j c. Nghtin-
gale Moderator Judge Armstrong read the re-
port of the judicial Committee on the appeal in
the Talmage case. Specifications l, ., I, 5, and
were stricken out, and the appeal is based on
specifications 3 and 6, which are as follows: 3.
Because testimony for the defense (viz the aff-
davit of General Howard was introduced in
open violence of the requirement of the Book of
Discipline, chap. 6, section 10, and atsuch stage
in the trial as necessary to preclude the prosecu
ton from all opportunity to cross examine the
witnesses. 6. Because the vote Of the majority
of the Presbytery acquitted DR.. Talmage Of
falsehood and deceit is in open conflict with the
recorded testimony in the case, and the grounds
upon which many of the majority based their
decision were irrelevant, inconsistent, and fitted
to bring religion and morality into contempt
After an animated dircussion the report was