Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-16
THE PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.
Proceedings of the Session Now In Pro.
gress at Macon.

MACON, Nov. 15.-The PRESBYTERIAN
Synod of Georgia met in this city last
night. The opening sermon was preach
ed by Rev. DR.. Boggs, of Atlanta, from
Mark, 18th chapter and 18th verse. There
were about 30 delegates present. The
Synod was organized by the election of
Rev. George T. Geothris, of Augusta, as
Moderator, and F. NJ. Stovall as Clerk,
and Rev. d. Mcqueen assistant. The at
tendance of citizens was good.
This morning the Synod convened at 8
O'Clock. Quite number of new dele
gates arrived, making the number about
hity. Others are yet to come.
BY resolution Hon. G. j. Orr, State
Sci'ool Commissioner, was invited to adj
dress the Synod on education.
The day has been devoted to the Secre-
taries Of the various boards. Rev. j. r.
Haynes, of the Board of Publication; DR.:
+. NJ. Richardson, of the Board of Educa-
ton; DIR. j. N. Craig, of the Committee
on Home Missions, and DR.. NJ. n.-HOus-
ton, on behalf of the Board of Foreign
Missions, seVerally addressed the Synod.
Marietta was chosen as tlMa place to
hold the next session of the Synod, in Oc-
tOber, 1884.
One Of the leading questions before
the Synod is the use of Sunday rail-
road trains as means of transportation to
church. The origin of the question came
about this wise: Rev William Mckay,
now Principal of the Macon Commercial
College, was employed by the Macon
Presbytery to supply several vacant Pres
byterian pulpits in Southwest Georgia
Being engaged at that time as an account
ant, he uniformly worked at his desk all
the week, and on Sunday morning
would take the train to reach
his appointments, and often times would
return on Sunday evening, in order to be
promptly at his desk Monday morning.
MIR. Mckay is an Englishman. He has
no scruples Of using Sunday trains to
reach Ills appointments. He brings with
him from the old country this sentiment,
and claims that he has done nothing
wrong. He is firm in his convictions, and
has stood by them.
However, this using of the Sunday
trains was an Otfense to some of his breth-
ren, holding that the Presbyterian Church,
by its practice and teachings, regarded
such conduct as violation of the Sab
bath-that he was not keeping it holy, ac-
cOrding to the commandment
At a meeting of the Macon Presbytery
year or two ago, Rev. A. w. CliSby
pastor of the Presbyterian Church in this
city, felt that it was but duty to make
complaint as to the course of conduct of
Rev. Mr.. Mckay in this matter. The
question was discussed at some length,
and finally sent up to the Synod of Geor-
gia, and from thence appealed to the
highest judicatory OF the church, the
General Assembly. After deliberation on
the subject the whole question was re-
manded back to the Synod of Georgia for
proper investigation, and no doubt will be
carried up TO the General Assembly again
for final hearing.
The Presbyterian record is against all
travelling on the Sabbath day, and while
their action is in relation to ministers
using Sunday trains, the discussion in
wolves all points connected with the gen.
eral question Of the desecration of the
sabbath by the running of railroad trains.
Rev. Mr.. Mckay is a most estimable
Christian gentleman, and while he con-
fronts his church organization on this
point, there is no feeling or bitterness eX-
isting between the cOntesting parties.
The discussion has been animated and
earnest.