Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-11-09
Notes ON the Virginia Synod.

| on now.
Notes on the Virginia Synod.
Reported for the STANTON v1N"IcAToRl
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
October 3lst, 1883.
The Presbyterian Syn d OF Virginia met
in Charlottesville Tuesday night at 7:3C
O'Clock. The opening sermon was preach
ed by the Rev. Z. R. Vaughan, DID :. of
New Providence urch, Rncs bridge coan
ty. from the 3rd verse of Jude. and was
one of the most able disconrses ever deliv-
cred before this venerable body. He advo-
Gated the purity of the church and an edu-
Gated ministry and assailed ihfidelity in
all its ffarent forms. For one hour and
twenty five minutes he chained the close
attention of Gro odel house. At the
close of the sermon. the Moderator called
| Syn d to order, and upon the Call of roll
there we're found 1O4 ministers and SO Ell
ders present.
| The organization was then proceeded
| with and ur ministers placed in nOmlna-
ton After two votes we're taken, Pew
Dr. W, T. Hall, Of Lypchbnrg, was elect
ed Moderator. The following gentlemen
we're elected clerks, Rvs James H. Smith
Leesburg, A r. Cooke. Millb,ro. and
Elder s l.. Flournoy, Romney, W. Va.
At the morning session Wednesday,
after the Moderator had announced The
standing committees, the various reports
from Presbyteries on narrative of religion
systematic tenevOlence, &C.. we're read.
The report of the treasurer of Synod
showed that the finances we're healthy and
| no debts. Rev. VIM. E. Baker, of Staun-
ton. introduced a paper originating witt.
the Women's Christian Temperance Ua-
ion. asking Synod to take some action t."
discourage intemperance as calculated to
| Interfere with the attendance Of the pub
| lie on divine worship, witch was adopted
near the close of the session.
Lexington Presbytery, at a special meet
ing held during the SESSION of Synod Wed
nesday evening in the basem mt of the
Charlottesville Presbyterian church, and
received into It's membership, after thu
usuI tx mination, Rev. Colin Stokes,
from Amherst G. FL. church, and a cal
from ColerstDwn church, r 'ckhridge
county, Was plac d in his hands and &C
copied by him and he will very soon take
charge of this church.
The most interes' ing subject under con-
sideration during the session of Synod was
what is known as the eldership q lestion
the discussion of which occupied more
| than one day. The matter had hem up
before two Synods, and at the last session
at Charleston WAS referred to committee
consisting of Rev. b. M. Smith. d. D.. i,
Rev. w. T Rict Al dSon. ID. D.. R-v. VIM
| Brown u. D., Rev Il. R. Ho~ison. and
Elder Prof. Holiday. of Iainpden Sidney
The majority of the committee brought
in the following report:
RESOLVED. That the next General Assem-.
| hly be requested to send down the follow
ing overture tn the Preshs t-ries for con
sid~rati0n ard DECISION, w:
| That IT, the clause in the Book of Order
Chapter " Section III, Sub-sect n l!
stating that Ruling Elders Up ssess the
same authority in the Courts of IT,
Church as the Ministers of the Word .
| shall be added this sentence: ''When.
however. a Rnling Elder is Moderator of
| Preshvtery Synod or General Assembly
anv official duty devolv'ng on him. thu
performance of which requires the exercise
of the func ions PERTAINING Olly to the
Teaching Elder, shall be 1emitted by him
for execution to such Minister of thu
i Word, being a member of the Court. az
he may select, whusp acts. In the premises
l I,., 1o.AH O.SI6
Moderator"
Which was advocated by Rev. DR.. B
NJ. Smith, Rev. r. R. Howis n. Gen. r
D. Liley. DIR. j. j. Moor man, judge
Tredway. Judge Gregory. Rev. 4. T
Hoge aud Rev. DR.. T. E Peck, and op
pos-d by Rev. W. T. Richardson, D. D..
Rev. DR.. Read. Rev. DIR. Hopkins. Elk
Lieut.. Gov. J. L. Marye, Rev. W. A
Campbell, and Rev. DR.. Lefevre. The
vote was not taken until half OF the
DELEGATES had left, and resulted 81 fol
and 3S against. So the overture goes up
to the General Assembly. This was the
| fullest St ssion of Synod ever held, there
being POI delegates present; at Staunton
there were 1913 and at Richmond 200.
| MINISTERIAL.
On Sunday there were a number OF
ministers in Staunton returning from
Synod and t:le Presbyterian puIp'ts were
filed by them. Rev. ID. q. Irwin, of Rock
bridge. preached in the morning at the
First Church. and Rev. DR.. Vaughan, of
New Providence, at night. Rev w.
| Woods, of Newtown, Frederick county
| preached in the morning at the Second
Church, Rev. P. Fletcher. of Rocking
ham, and Rev, B. B. Covington. of Berry
Vile. Clarke county. also attended and
assisted in the services.
The vote of thanks which synod, by a
rising vote, rendered the hospltable citi
zens of Charlottesville and the several
copgrega' ions which had shown the BODY
courtesies, was but a feeble expression OF
the feeling with which each delegate took
leave If the hospitdble town and the
thOuphtful and courteous church people.