The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-10-27
SYNOD OF BALTIMORE.
Its Meeting at West Nottingham
Presbyterian Church.

Connected with the Synod there are IA:
ministers. 1872 churches, 40 ruling elders
173 deacons, 1858 communicates ant
81, 800 Sunday scholars. Originally thu
home territory of the synod was EN-
braced in the Synod of Philadelphia, bu
in 1884 the General Assembly constituted
the first Synod of Baltimore of the Pres
byteries of Baltimore, Eastern Shore
Carlisle and Winchester. The first STATED
meeting was held in the +. Street Church
Washington city, and was opened witt
sermon by Rev. DR.. Harrison, of Alex
andria. The last meeting before the
In 1870, in reconstructing the synods
of the reunited church Gold School anC
new School) the present geographical
bonds were assigned the Synod of Balti
more. By this arrangement the SYNOD
retained of the Presbytery of Garlic
only the ministers and churches in West
ern Maryland, but gained in addition the
part OF the (Old SCHOOL, Presbytery OF
| New Castle. south of Mason and Dixon
line with the (New SchooD Presbyteries
of Wilmington, District OF Columbia and
Rio de Jane o. The first meeting was
held at Wilmint .son, Del.
BY the original constitution of the
| Presbyterian Church, the synod was COM
| posed of all the churches belonging to
the constituent presbyteries and was the
intermediate court of review and control
between the Iresby teries and General
Assembly. But in 1881 an amendment
to the constitution was adopted by which
any synod, with the consent of its Pres
byteries. might become a delegated body,
and which arrested all judicial proceed
ings at the synod, as the court of final
adjudication, except in cases which in.
volve question of the constitution and
in the trial of a minister, in which cases,
as formerly, an appeal may be carried to
the assembly.
The Synod of Baltimore. met for the
first time as delegated body, under the
amended constitution, in Baltimore, in
1882. The present is therefore its second
session in that capacity.
The body was welcomed by Rev. Mir.
Gayley, at six o clock =. NJ, and after the
usual devotional exercises. the sermon
was preached by Rev. r. H. Howe, the
retiring moderator After the sermon a
business meeting for the election of a
moderator. to succeed the retiring off :
cial, &c, was held. The Rev. J. T. Left
witch, ID. d., of Baltimore. was unani.
mously chosen for that position. and
Rev. NJ. \. Brownson. of Washington
and Elder +. 3. DalrympIe, of the same
city, were elected temporary clerks. The
stated clerk, Rev John L. Carter holds
over. The programme for Saturday,
Sunday and Monday was then announced
after which the assignment of the various
members of the body to places Of enter
tainment was made. and the meeting ad-
journed.
Rev. John E. Howell, was the only
representative from tie Presbytery Of
Rio de .Janerio, South America. present,
and this is the first time that Presbytery
has been represented in the Synod since
1876.
The Synod met on Saturday at Q o'clock
A. NJ. The first half hour was occupied
in devotional exercises. in which much
interest was exhibited. After which a
large portion of the session was consum-
ed in appointing committees on the ex-
animation of ministers of the different
Presbyteries and on other duties. The
Synod will celebrate the centennial of its
existence in 1856, and the selection of a
place of meeting at that time, called
forth good deal Of discussion. Balti-
more city was finally fixed upon. Fred
erick City. Md, was chosen as the place
of the next meeting of the Synod, in
1884.
In the afternoon, Rev. 3. T. Jones of
the Synod of Pennsylvania. professor of
homoletcs in the Lincoln University,
ttit tIliLuS VI lIiab lliNtltul lpll
in an able address.
Rev. J. II. Nixon, d. d. of New
Castle Presbytery was appointed to
preach the sermon on Foreign missions
at the next meeting of the synod, with
Rev. J. T. Umpstead, of the same Pres
bytery as alternate.
The following reports of presbyteries
were submitted:
/. Baltimore-Forty-s six churches, G.
096 communicates, 9,091 Sabbath schol-
ars, licentiate, ) candidates; contribu-
tions SIT, 459.
?. Presbytery of New Castle-Fifty
ministers fifty-one churches two candi-
dates. 5,372 communicates, 5,111 Sabbath
scholars: contributions SOB, 25S.
8. Presbytery of Rio de Janciro-
Fifteen ministers, twcnty-four churches,
two candidates, JAG communicates;
352 Sabbath scholars; contributions ST.
449.
The evening was occupied in a confer
ence upon the spiritual needs of the
church within the bounds of the Synod
There were only three or fonr new arrivals
on Saturday, so thai out of the one hun
dred and fifty-two churches in the synod
only some thirty odd were represented
On Sunday large congregation in addi-
ton to the members of the body was
present. Rev. r. s. Childs of Washing
ton, preached an able sermon in the morn
ing which was followed by the admins
tration of the Sacrament of the Lord S
Supper. In the evening the sermon was
by the Rev. DR.. Leftwich, the newly
elected Moderator. and Rev. Mr.. Van
Dorm and Rev. Dr. J. G. Lowry, secretary
of the Board of Foreign Missions, delv-
cred addresses.
On Monday the Committee on Temper
ance made their report in lengthy paper
setting forth the many obstacles to be
overcome in the suppression of the evil
of intemperance, and recommending
methods for the advancement of the cause.
| The recommendation calling upon the
Presbyterries to give the subject promi
nence at their sessions by arranging fol
public meetings, Sc, called forth oppo
siton and lengthy debate. Dir. Gaylcy
opposed the plan because the members
could not remain to take part in the
meetings. lie did not want to see the
church carried into fanaticism. Rev
|