Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-10
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.
EIEETY.EIxTH ANNUAL SESSION OF
THIS PRESBYTERIAN BODY. 4
Opening Sermon BY Rev. james P. Smith
Dr.. Preston Chosen Moderator
To-DEy's Programme.

The synod Of Virginia embraces ten
presbyieTies, covering all OF Virginia snd
parts Of West Virgin ia and Maryland. il
consists Of al the ministers belonging 10
ihee presbyieries and one ruling elder
from each church. Afull attendance would
give 100 ministers and $50 ruling e.ders
bot the largest attendance at any meeting Of
The , ody WIS 9l5 at Lynebburg last year
judging from the number pres at the
onenirr. there will be an unusually large
attendance at the pres nj meeting.
The synod lasi met in this city in 1869.
Il then Numbered on IT. roll 49, ministers
aud Dos churches. and has since grown 10
the numbers given above.
The prCsen, is the ninety-nlnth annual
.esslOn ~ this body, which organized Ut
New Providence church, in.AuTusta coun-
IS. in 118s.
EEv. MI. SMITHS SERMON.
The Svond began IT, sessions last night ai
s O'Clock in the FIrsi Presbyterian church
q thu city-Rcv. L. J. Kerr pastor.
The OpeuinC sermon was preached by
Rev. Jamcs Z. smith, the moderator who
presided AZ The last session, on John xiv,
. \ ia E4FHtfi " NFAt AAit@sA AtAN7N En@'i
le do because 20 unto Ny Father
The sermon was 8 clear and iorclble Grcu-
fuert 20 show that the Christian religion, in
T. influence IN reccneratinc and eleyating
fallen mgn, h9s done q greater work Than
Any Oi the miracles wrought within tbt
sphore Of material action. The eject oi
religion on mans intellectual. social, ank
moral being was shown % he Of mos
striking character. Besides what has been
evidenced through sges. illustrations OF the
general truth were drawn from the marked
changes wrought ~ Chrstiauitv in III
sandwich Islands, Madagascar, Polynesia,
Indis. and portions % Africa. The once
rannibal FIJI Islanders now gather Tor
wor.bip in nine hundred Christian
churches, and in mHny degraded land
hole peoples. lately sayage.. have beer
transformed and bumsnized hy this mighty
power.
IN this service The venerable DR.. Pryor
offered PRAYER. and pr. Preston, the former
pasiur Of the church in wbics the synod
meets. fetd the scriptures.
After tbe sermon the synod was cunstl-
tu,ed with prayer by the Rev. James 7.
smith, moderator.
The roll was then read. showing that
here had been enrolled up to tbs point one
hundred ministers and tiiy-nine ruling
,lders-the largest number ever present n
the opening session.
rR. PEEsT0S CHOSEN MODERATOR.
The moderator announced that the first
business was the election u a moderator.
The Rev. pr. PRYOR nominated The Rev.
Thoua. /. Preston. T. D.. aud stated that.
IN addition 70 his personal qualifications
Tor the ofIic,. il would Dee most gratifying
% tlis corgr, gation 70 have Their former
- eened pastor preside over The session
% iht synod.
Tie Rev. II. Hoge heartily seconded
Denomination, which !. was his purpose
% make llmeeN had not Dr. Pryor been
600 quick for hin.
Iir. 3. NJ. smith also supported tbe nomi
nation ard lJr. Preston Was then cbost n
moderator ty amation.
W0EDs OF wEICoKE.
NJ. smith. The retiring moderator, wei
r1med Ur. Preston 10 the chair 30 & nsai
little speech. % which Or. Preston made an
apprCpribit rfl y.
RuluC-El0Cs :. J.. Ti0urDoy. - Bsm-
uey. and =. ]. Iitz-frs!d. O. ! armvilc.
we're chosen temporary clerks.
To-DAY's FEOGEAKrE.
i WAS ordCcd hat for to-dsr there DO
BOT oHc session @. The eyuo1-trom ..3o a
n. t02.30 ?. -, The frs; hsf hour g. hr
spent in devotional exercises. There All
ac preaching ~ ?. n.
TAt Eev. p-. T.. N. Richardson, - G me
Thi.. secretary o. Lducation. viii ho heard
io-0ay al ~ hour - be fixed 10y tAe Com
uittcc OF Devotional Exercises.
rrrt1CN MISSIONS.
IN ihe absence q THE Secretary ~ ! ~.
Ccu Missions. Dr. NJ. II. Houston. who Is
in Gtteudsuce upon synods further Nou,t.
Ur. Murllsu3. Of Baltimore. chairman 1'
ile Committee ~ Foreign MiaI1ns, vii
-eI,re-en, that cause h''ore the synod. and
= meeting for that purpose was a7ps utcd
% De- beid Oh Thursday night al : O'Clock
APPOINTING COMMITTEES.
General Eohsr j. LiNey moved 20 To-
s,ruct the moderator. 10 appointing thf
standing cou mIilccs, o. appoint on then
alternately three ministers and two elders
ana three elders and TWO ministers. Thi.
ied a. lrid animated discussion, a'ter
which the motion was i0si hv o nearly
unaE m cus vote.
The synod Then adjourned TIL $3.50 A. n.
e