Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-11-08

\ IL Ut LIN Ill a
Presbyterian Synod of Virginia.
The Presbyterian Synod of Virginia
met last Tuesday night id the Tabb
Street Church in Petersburg, with about
$50 delegates present. The opening
sermon was preached by Rev. DR.. G. M.
White, of the Presbytery of Winches-
ter. Rev. DR.. A. G. Hopk ms, of Char
lesion, W.. Va, was elected moderator
for the ensuing year. Rev. w. N. Scott
and w. 8. P. Bryan were elected tenn.
porary clerks.
At the session Wednesday standing
committees were announced on records,
statistical reports, narratives Of religion,
ETC.. and reports on systematic benevo-
lence for several .presbyteries read.
These reports show an encouraging
state Of religion and good financial
condition of the churches. Committees
on memorials of deceased members were
appointed, and these reports made the
special order for Friday next. The
committee on minutes of the old Hano-
yer Presbytery. one Of the Oldest in the
country, reported that it is eminently
desirable to preserve these valuable and
interesting old records, and recommend
that they be printed to save them from
destruction or loss. The synod decided
to print them, leaving out such por.
tions of the record as are not of histori-
cal value
In the synod Thursday much time
was consu med in receiving and discus
sing the reports made from the differ
emit presbyteries. An overture from
East Hanover Presbytery was present.
ed asking for the appointment Of day
Of fasting and pray er, in view of the
email number of additions to the church
and candidates offering for the minis
try during the past year. A resolution
was adopted referring the subject of e.
tablishing an independent Presby
church among the colored people to .
committee for report at this session.
Several synods have taken. action on
this matter.
The subject of education of the candi-
dates for the ministry, and of adopting
measures to secure an increase In the
number of candidates ELECTED an inter e
esting discussion, which was particle
pated:in by Drs. Richardson, Dabney /.
Smith and Pryor. Resolutions to that
End were adopted.
DR.. Witherspoon submitted the report
Of the committee Oh the authority and
ca re of Presbyteries over candidate for
the ministry, declaring it the right and
duty of the Presbyteries to determine
when and under what conditions their
candidates shall prosecute their studies,
just as they determine where and under
what condition their min listers shall Ia
Dor, but in both cases this right and
duty should be exercised with great
wisdom and kindness. This report was
laid over for confederation the next
day.
In the Synod: Friday, impressive ser
vices were held:in memory of the eight
ministers, who died since the last meet
ing of the Synod. Memoirs of DR.. VIM.
8. Plumer and DR.. Stuart Robinson
were also presented. Several !hours
were spent in considering the foreign
missions and hearing addresses on that
subject.
The report on Sabbath schools. shows
2,8O7 teachers and ~, 048 scholars on the
rolls in the synod. The report on evan
gelistic labor gives the following statis-
tics: Number of the evangelists in the
synod, ia; church, 311 communicates
"a 500; ministers, go; contributions,
81, a3z. Fhs committee on systematic
benevolence reported the total contribu-
tons to the several objects ordered by
the General Assembly to be $43, 678,
being an increase on last.year of over
81, 900.
Charlestown. West Virginia. was Sc
flected as the next place Of meeting of
the synod.
The committee, to whom was referr-
ed, by the synod of 1879. certain ex-
cep, ion taken to the records of the
Presbytery Of Greenbrier, touching the
election of q ruling elder to the office Of
moderator, reported that such election
is now here prohibited. Yet upon re-
ference to many places in the rules Of
the government and discipline of the
church. it appears, by necessary conse-'
quence, that the office of moderator. in
all the church courts, except on extra
ordinary occasions, is to be filled by q
minister of the word, and that this view
is confirmed by immemorial Presbyte-
rian usage and by decision. The action
of the Presbytery of Greenbrier in elect.
ing ruling elder as moderator was not
q regular proceeding, and that the ex-
ception taken to that proceeding should
be sustained.
The Synod adjourned last Saturday
night to meet in Chariestown, w. Va,
on Tuesday evening. Oct 18th, 1882.
One hundred and sixty ministers and
ruling elders were in attendance during
the session. The body is an exceeding.
ly able one, embracing some of the best
men in pulpit and church in the three
States of Virginia, Maryland and West
Virginia.
One of the most interesting and i'm
pOrtant matters introduced du:i ing the
session was that of the eligibility of a
ruling to hold the Office of modera-
tor" which came up on the report of .
committee to whom it was referred by
the synod Of 1879
The COMMITTEES recommended that the
office of moderator is to be filled Except
In extraordinary cases) by minister of
the Word, and that this view is con-
firmed by immemorial Presbyterian
usage and by the decisions Of our Gen.
eral Assemblies of 1875 and 1873, and
therefore that The action of the Presby-
terry of Greenbrier in electing q ruling
elder as moderator was not regular
proceeding, whether judged by our
former or present constitution. The re-
| v.Ort vUaa f3ually oInnfoA The vrn<tov