Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-25
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.
LAST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

Rev. Mr.. Rsmssy's Cnse-A HeavS Vets
Axsiwss Him Home Mtsslons-variou Re-
potts. Adjournment.
Especial Telegram to the Dispateh.1
LYNCHBURa, VA, October a.
At the night session Of Synod last
night there was large congregation to
hear addresses upon home missions.
After suitable devotional exercises DR..
A. G. Hopkins, the efficient chairman
of home missions, made brief address.
He was followed by Major Thomas j.
Kirkpatrick, who in an earnest speech
urged the importance Of the work from
a patriotic standpoint, inasmuch as
pure gospel is the hope of our land.
Captain r. B. Norman spoke next,
showing that each one should be mis-
sionsry according to his ability and OPP
portunity. The hymn " Saviour, Visit
Thy Plantation" was then sung.
DIR. w. N. MARYLAND, chairman OF
the Assembly's Committee Of Home
Missions, laid before the body the fact
that there was now crisis in the work.
He said that twelve months would de-
eide the fate Of this cause, and that I'M
less the Church came to its rescue it
would be =" blotted out" He stated
further that it was necessary for the
committee to have 5000, and that
within the next month.
Synod next proceeded to the issue Of
Mr.. Rsmsay's case by taking vote.
The vote on the complaint stood as fol-
lows: On the first speci6cation-To sus-
tain, 90; to sustain in part. 4; not to
sustain, 1l6. On the second specidcs-
tion-To sustain, g.; to sustain in part,
8; not to sustain, 1877.
The First church. Richmond, was
chosen as the next place Of meeting.
Yesterdays PROCEEDINGS.
The first matter Of general interest
taken up at the session this morning
was the narrative on the state Of reli-
gion. This indicated that there had
been considerable interest On the sub
ject of religion in many congregations.
1t lamented the failure on the part of
elders to discharge pastoral duty and
the growing neglect in the matter Of
family worship and in the matter of re-
ligious instruction in the family. The
report on benefcence showed that
the Synod had contributed to-
tai of s55,1S4 to the benevolent
work of the Church. Of this, slS, 1875
was contributed to sustentation, co.
to the evangelstic fund, "a, lis to the
invalid fund, sl6,82S to foreign mis-
sions, &c, $40 to education. S2,7ll to
publication, and s940 to the Colored
Institute at Tuscaloosa. The report
recommended that in view Of the pre-
sent crisis in the work Of home and
foreign missions the Synod urge its
churches to make up the deficiency in
their contributions. 1t was also recon-
mended in this connection that the
churches make house-to-house presen-
tation of these causes.
THE SYMBOLS CENTENNIAL.
Rev. DR.. Vaughan presented TO the
Synod an invitation from the New Pro-
violence congregation to celebrate its
centennial with them, October %, 1888.
1t was in this church that the Synod
was born, in 1888. Or. Vaughan urged
the propriety of choosing this place, and
stated the fact that the Synod could be
conveniently entertained, even though
New Providence is a country charge,
lie read extracts from the records Of
the first session of the Synod. The
Synod accepted the invitation. 1t pro-
yided for committee Of arrangements
to report at its next meeting.
Reading Of memorials next engaged
the body.
November Q, 1886, was fixed as the
time for the next meeting of the Synod.
DR.. w. T. Hall made the report for
the Committee on Evangelization of the
Colored People. In substance it stated
that the experiment of employing a col
ored evangelist hadproven unsuccessful,
owing in part to the failure Of the
health of the Rev. Mr.. Brooks, the
colored evangelist employed. 1t laid
before the Synod the difficulties in the
way of further prosecution Of this
work at this time. 1t recommended
that the effort be discontinued.
REPORT on SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
This report reveals the following
facts: Two hundred and sixty-seven
schools are reported. These represent
| 1888 teachers and 2l,725 scholars.
There were 900 additions to the church
from among these scholars. They con-
tributed SG.2ll.G2 for their own ex-
pense, and s4,0Sl.7S to other objects.
Forty-fve schools report special reli-
gious interest, and II others report ad-
ditions of from 5 to 30 to their respec-
tive churches.
Rev. P. D. Stephenson, Major I. j.
Kirkpatrick, and DR.. Armstrong were
appointed to represent the Synod be-
fore the General Assembly in case Mr..
Ramsay appealed or complained.
The Second church put on a new dress
to receive the Synod. Its members and
the people of this city generally have
laid themselves out to make the stay
Of the Synod pleasant one. The city
is prospecting, and may it prosper long.
After a vote of thanks the Synod ad-
| iourned.