Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-21
THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.
An Interesting Review of the Work and
Plans of the Session.
CorTes0oHdeaes Of the Morning Neprs.

Plans of the Session.
C0rre1DOHdeHce Of the A0raing Felcs.
MACON, Nov. l9.-The Presbyterian synod
closed its business session on last Saturday
night about II o'clock. The larger portion Of
the ministerial members remained over until
this morning, when all took their departure
for home.
The leading features of the session have al
ready been telegraphed. but there are several
other matters which have not been touched
upon.
Presbyterians are conservative element
in the religious world. and hence are slow to
adopt new measures, or make departures
from the old order Of things. This explains
the opposition TO DIR. Adams resolution in
reference 10 the organization of a woman's
missionary society. 1t was not ODDOsition 10
missionary ehort-ior no church is more alive
10 inns grand work than this-but il was
against lsolaung the women from the other
members of the congregation. 1t was a de-
parture from the old methods. 1t is no new
experiment IN Christian enterprise. but an in
stItutlon which has received the blessing of
the Almighty in the great work of evanreiiz-
ing the world. The Synod and the church
are 10 be congratulated in this forward move
ment made by the Synod in adopting the
measure.
Among the important documents presented
Tor the consideration Of the Synod none was
OF more serious import than that which
came up from the Presbyterv of Athens ask
ing 4 definition OF the expression in the Book
Of Records, "EXtraOrdnary cases" The re-
port Of the Committee on Bills and Over
lures" did not meet the question squarelv.
DIR. Charles Lane. of Athens, presented a more
elaborate document, and sustained it with one
OF the most earnest and able speeches of the
entire session. He gave three instances of
what he termed "eXtraOrdinary cases."
/ man who was a graduate of some re-
spectacle college, but who had only taken the
irregular course, and who had omitted the
classics.
>. man who had acquired his literary
qualifications but had not passed through the
prescribed course in q theological seminary
,. \ man who had devoted his energies to
other business, and had a family, and, COnse-
Quently, had no time to secure the necessary
theological training
/ THESE MEN WHEN THEY MAKE APPLIC ALTON
Co the Presbytery for license to preach the
Gospel should. in his opinion. be received uu-
der the head OF extraordinary cases" OF
course, the spiritual qualifications and ant
ness to teach must be in addition to all these
In the discussion of this matter he brought
out the TACT OF a dcarth Of ministers in the
southern Presbyterian Church. DR.. Lane
said that the deficiency was alarming, and
not only so, but deplOrable. That there is a
/ dearth Of available and acceptable ministers
cannot DE doubted from the statistics. In
/ 1883 there were ~ hceutiates and ministers
/ less than there were in 1881. although there
/ were ll2 more churches, making the real dis
/ Crepaucy 90 less. The learned doctor thought
I the causes which have produced this sad
state Of things were growing in intensity and
scope from year to year, and 1t was time to
! sound the alarm. The more prominent causes
| assigned by Or. Lane were: First, the want
7 Of spirituality in the church and faith in the
means of grace ordained. Unless there were
manifest life and vitality in the church it is
I vain 10 expect the young men to turn their
/ thoughts and lives toward the pulpit. Second
I ly. he would not have the established stand
/ ara oi ministerial qualifications lowered.
et under the clause of 'eXtraordinary cases"
/ he would have the three classes of men ac-
ccpted before referred to.
IL,
ments OF 4 settled pastorate. He dwelt at
/ length upon this topic. and declared that these
/ We're the great causes OF the dearth of minis
l tcSs m ms church. His answers were adopted
t 10y the synod. and hence became the deliver
auces Of that body. do not claim to give DR..
/ Lswis' exact language, but only the spirit of
/ his address.
/ This question Is not only agitating the
/ southern Presbyterian Church, but many
other denominations are experiencing the
I same depiOrable state Of things | saw a
{ statement that in the Congregational Church
T i'm New England there are twenty vacant
churches which pay from S2,50O to $500. and
about twenty-five churches which pay about
$3.50 per aunum. There are alwaTs a class Of
ministers IN most al churches idle who are
I hunting place, and who have never been
1 settled and never ought to be: who are hope
I lessiy unacceptable To churches and really
T have no business TO be in the ministry. The
+ factis still patent that there are more vacant
churches than there are idle ministers.
THE ABSORBING QUESTION
before the synod was that of the complaint
Of Rev Mr.. Mckay, at the action of the Ma
! con Frvsh, tcIy- IL has already been stated
. ia the NEWS that MIR. Mckay was an English
man of very decided convictions, and that
+ his views in keeping with those of the Old
Z country were not against the use of railroad
trains on the sabbath, and he had used such
! trains without scruple. At the meeting of
( the Macon Presbytery, of which he was
+ member lu Fort Gaines in 1850, the folio wing
F resolution was passed:
'Eesolre5. That from this time this Presby-
tFrT VIII REGARD any oil sabbath railway
. trains % ON preaching appointments, or for
anV purpose or any other plea, as an IN
Z fraction of the fourth commandment
This Mr.. Mckay took as direct attack
upon his right OF private Judgment and free
dom OF conscience. IL deharred him the right
of using such trains even in eases OF necessity
I or mercy.
lie sent up complaint asking the Presby-
terry TO rcscind so sweeping declaration. The
Z PrcSbytery declined. and he appealed to the
/ synod Of Georgia, and then to the General
I Assembly. lt came back for fnal hearing,
I and has been ably argued. as before stated,
taking up over day Of the time OF the
f synod.
1t was developed during the discussion that
{ both parties had made serious mistakes. The
complainant in endeavoring to argue his own
case, was very unfortunate IN the use OF Ian
Cuage. The Prcshytery was equally unfor
O. nate in the use OF the Kings English. The
J PreShvterv made an absolute law without
any prOviso, when intending only an inter
probation of a commandment. The vote on
Z the question was reached about IL O'Clock on
saturday nlEnt. When = majority OF the delc-
gates had left the city. The vote stood l3
against sustaining the complaint and for
Z sustaining IL In part.
The complaint was dismissed. but the Synod
ordered the Presbytery OF Macon to so modify
their action as to except the works Of neces-
sitv and mercy.
Rev. George Z. GOetchius. the Moderator of
this session, Is comparatively a young man,
but nc presided with dignity and grace.
and dispatched business as a veteran in the
Chair. Only once was his rulings questioned,
and that by the Youngest member of the body,
but the Moderator was unanimously sus-
tanned. Both in the Chair and pulpit he won
the hearts and esteem of tire public.
JACK PLANE.