The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-24
LOCALE J iAl.i:T'jIlT,ERs.. & A:'jIl,


it DIR. BAIRpssi GdsE: BEFsRE EasrHss6vEf
ffREsBYTERy.-sThis bUfy met itptbiseity on
Yesterday i'm prof sfe-ndtG session, FER the
etofi cohsider4ng thetqnesridni ef re;
IhoYing the sentence of suspension from
Epr. hi T. .Baiyd and restoring HIM tot the
ihsinistrys There were present fourteen
Ihinistersapd nine, Tlilibg setders, Dr. Arm.
strong (mod }tbehg intthe chair. q:
n The Rev iDr1 w ftHersp0on,s who, wish
pr4Armstrong, had beer appointed al the
ttastiIneetlug q committee TO uconfer with
gDr. Baird. reported from that committeefa
letter from DR. Baird; wiIieb was read to
the, Presbytery. ~ it5at J!it f,fitt a1Ea
DIR. Witherspoon s;alsor Tread Testimonials
lof condolences I'd DR.. Baird and expressions
yof wish for his restoration to the ministry
from ministers OF the Methodist and BaD-
|tisE churches, from bunk-ofieers, and from
elders and deacons Of the Presbyterian
Church. :2LIst
Dr.. Witherspoon thenltmoyed that, In
view Of the paper presented by DIR: Baifd
and other facts in the ease, that the Presby-
terry now restore him to: theIministry. Si.
b A. discussion OF this motion consumed the
morning session. Without attempting a
synopsis OF the clear and forcible speeches
made on both sides OF the question, we sim
ply state that, some Of the members Of the
Presbytry thought DR.. Baird's confession
adj that tbe Presby byteEy;oDgbt, uunder the
circumstances, to require OF d; him, whilst
others thought it quite deficient in the
acknowledgment OF moral wrong and the
specific charges upon, which his sentence
was based. '.'si ls.af'.l - 2 20
The attention Of the bePresbytery was called
by Judge Ould to passage in DR.. Baird's
published defence refiecting upon himself
which be had not seen till his attention was
called to ftlast night lie also directed at
tention to reflection upon the Presbytery
Itself in an Appendix to this published
speech. ".5@ 3"'Li, - - : - > n
At the close CT the morning session a
committee Of three elders-Maior Robert
Stiles, and Dtessrs. j.. r. Holt and John
Donnan-was appointed to confer with DR..
Baird on points Brought out in the discus
sion, and report to the Presbytery at its
evening session. 9Gi II hntac.,., III.
The Presbytery 'reassembied at r. M.
and heard the report OF this committee.
This report and the whole subject was fur
-ther discussed. From this discussion, al
though no vote was reached, ftappeared that
there were still difficulties in the minds OF
some Of the Presbytery in the way OF voting
for DR.. Baird's restoration, whilst on the
part OF all there was an earnest wish that
these difficulties might be removed.
DR.. Preston moved a reference to the Sy-
nod OF Virginia OF the case before the Pres
bytery for advice rs to whether the paper
presented by Dr.. Baird is 4 sufficient confes-
sion, and as to whether the sentiment of the
Christian public demands DR.. Baird's re-
storation to the ministry.
This motion elected some discussion and
was lost.
Judge Ould suggested a postDonement OF
the subject till the stated spring meeting OF
the Presbytery; but it was finally agreed
to adjourn till this morning, that members
of the Presbytery might have further time
for reflection and the opportunity Of farther
conference with Dr.. Baird.
The Presbytery meets this morning at
9:30. .,.s ..,. .....