The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-09
Editorial Correspondence.
Synod Of Virginia.

elders representing the churches in the
bounds of the Synod of Virginia. If all
the ministers entitled to seat were pre-
sent and all the churches were repre-
sented there would be over five hundred
delegates. Such an assemblage to DELHI
crate on the various enterprises of the
Church cannot fail to be of interest.
Even if there was nothing but mere rou-
tine. business it would be worth while to
attend and three or four days, once in
a year, could hardly be more proftably
spent by any member of the body. But
there are always, at these annual sessions,
subjects of special interest-some new
work to be entered on, or some stimulus
to be given to enterprises already begun.
The work of the Synod extends over
great territory from Baltimore and Wash
ington on the north to Danville and
Abingdon on the south, and from Nor
folk and Accomac quite to the Ohio
River. Every laborer in any part of this
great field has the sympathy of all the
rest. The weak churches are encouraged
and strengthened by the. cooperation of
the strong; and it is worth while to come
together and see where help is needed
and how help can be secured.
The last meeting of Synod is always
the best, and this one at Petersburg is no
exception to the rule. Even the old men,
some of whom have been going to such
meetings half century, say they have
never seen a meeting give more promise
of happy results. There are some discour-
agements, especially from the facts that
the growth of the Church has not been
as rapid as in past years, and the number
of candidates for the ministry is, by no
means, sufficient for our needs, but many
of the enterprises of the Church are in a
better condition than ever before, and all
feel that the influence of this meeting will
be so felt as to give the best hopes for the
future.
There has not been as much preaching
as has been customary, especially when
the meetings have been held in the small
er towns, but never was better impress
sion made, and we may rejoice in the as
surance given that we have rising gen.
GRAFTON of preachers who will not be in
ferior to any who have gone before them.
The meeting in behalf of Home Missions
on Thursday night was somewhat inter
tered with by a pouring rain, but still
there was good attendance and the ad-
dresses were admirable. DIR. McIlwaine
gave full statement of the condition
and needs Of this work in the bounds of
our General Assembly. Of the 1000
churches in our connection 700, or one
third Of the whole, need some aid in Or
der to be supplied with regular preach
ing, and at least 100 small and growing
congregations must have help in order to
build suitable houses of worship. To
meet these wants not less than $4,000
will be required-.a much larger sum than
has ever been contributed for these OBJ
jects. The Moderator, Rev. A. @. Hop
klns, also spoke In behalf of the cause,
and Dr. Murkland made fine and efec-
tive address.
Intimately connected with this subject
was that Of Evangelistic labor. the report
on which was presented yesterday by
Rev. A. G. Hopkins. This report related
only to the work done by the Presbyte-
ries in the Synod Of Virginia. It showed
that in Virginia and w. Virginia, where
we have II evangelists employed, there
is call for at least as many more. Alb
ingdon Presbytery, which has only one,
ought to have not less than six, and Green
brier the same number. There is room for
the growth Of the Church and the enlarge
ment Of our work, not only in these Pres
byteries but in almost every section of
the Synod, and there is more than ever
desire and purpose in the Church to oc-
eupy all our territory. No subject what
ever should 50 occupy the minds Of our