The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-10-29
SYNODICAL NOTES.
Editorial Correspondence.l

very good. Wytheville is near the
extreme south. western border of Synod,
but representatives were there from the
most distant points, as Baltimore and
Norfolk in the extreme east, and
Charlestown and Martinsburg on the
extreme northern boundary. During
the sessions $50 members were present
81 ministers and 40 ruling elders.
South western Virginia has many at
fractions, especially in the beautiful
autumnal weather, for those who re-
side in the low lands east of the noun
tains. 1t added much to the interest
of this meeting to have present two
members who are engaged in foreign
missionary work, Rev. Il. r. Sampson,
of Athens, Greece, and Rev. j. w. Dab
ney, of Campinas, Brazil. The ad-
dresses which they delivered at the
missionary meeting on Thursday night
were models for such an occasion.
They presented briefly the nature of
the work in which they were engaged
pointing out the difficulties and encour-
agements met with in the prosecution
Of it. DR.. NJ. I'll. Houston, Assistant
Secretary of Foreign Missions, followed
them in lucid survey of all the mis-
sonary fields of our Church. The AS
sembly has asked for 100000 for the
foreign missionary work for the cur
rent year, and the Synod resolved to
assume its quota of this, s25, 700, and
recommended plan to the Presbyte-
ries and Church for raising it.
The meeting for Home Missions was
no less interesting. Addresses were
made by Drs. Murkland and Preston
after which Rev. ]. P. Smith, who was
to follow, proposed that in lieu of the
speech which he was expected to make
ne would simply suggest that collec-
ton be made, as likely to do more good
All the speeches were ad rem, and so
was the collection.
An important step was taken at this
meeting in the matter of evangelistic
labor among the colored people. The
committee who have this matter in
charge reported that they had lately
been able to find suitable man for this
work, Mr.. w. F. Brooks, colored licen-
tiate, who came highly recommended.
The committee was authorised to Sc
cure his services and to take the over
sight and direction of his work as an
evangelist to the colored people. The
necessary amount for the purpose, 500,
was pledged by churches and individ-
uals at once. In this connection Rev.
b. T. Jones, Professor in Lincoln Uni.
versity, who was present as visitor,
was requested to address the Synod in
regard to the work which that institu-
ton is doing for the education and
training of colored young men for the
ministry. The institution is entirely
under the control of the Presbyterian
church-as much so as Princeton Sem
mary, he said, and it is conducted by
white men for the benefit of the colored
race. There are six professors and
twenty.one trustees, all white men.
cautiously selected with a view to their
competency, their orthodoxy, and con
servatism. There are now two hun
dred students, of whom one hundred
are candidates for the ministry, and of
these sixty are Presbyterians. Some
OF these students come from Africa
and will go back there to preach the
gospel. Mr.. Joness address was heard
with great interest, and the institution
could not have had better representa-
tive. IF there had been any doubts or
misgivings as to the importance of the
work the institution is doing, they
were all removed, and the Synod, by a
unanimous vote, expressed its gratifca
ton at hearing the statements made.
Perhaps no action of the Synod was
Of greater significance than its recon-
mendation to the churches and people
Of the enterprise which Hampden Sid
ney College has undertaken to erect a
Memorial Hall to furnish more accom-
modations for the students-especial
in the matter Of commodious lecture
rooms-rendered necessary by the in
creased number Of students. There
are now 10 students in the college