Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-16
THE VIRGINIA PRessYTsRlANs.
Second Days Annual Session OF the
synod Reports of Committees.

ROANOKE, Va, October i5.-After the
synod had spent half an hour IN devo-
tlonal exercises, conducted by tho moderator
DIR. Roscbro, the minutes were read ana ten
additional members were enrolled during tno
day. Tho Moderator announced the standing
committees. After fosnc routine business Two
communications were received from Chesapeake
Presbytery and referred. the one asking Tue
transfer OF certain churches 10 that presDytery,
the other being an overture for constitutional
amendment giving wider discretion to prespy-
teries In putting men into the ministry. =,
Special prayer was offered for Rev. James NJ
Rawlings, chancellor OF tho Southwestern ftes-
byterian University, formerly member OF TINS
synod, whose extreme Illness was reported 10
the body.
Rev. DR.. Charles White read the report OF tho
directors nj the Union Theological seminary
The institution Is In prospering c0ndi,lOn.
SYSTEMATIC BBSEFIcgScE.
The Rev. DIR. j. C.. Barr read the report OF the
Ad Interim Committee on systematic boheu'
ccnce, Of which tho following Is summary
The Synod OF Virginia comprises ten presbyie-
ries, 39l churches with 32,71g members; 2y3
churches gave TO sustentation sl3,394, an ave
rage OF Al cents per member: 2iS TO evangens, =.
tic fund Sl2,JDJ, an average of 3S cents, -fo
10 invalid fund S3,1S2, an average OF ii cents
2ss to foreign missions t24,52l, an average OF
10 cents; 255 TO education S9,i3s, an average
OF % cents; 223 10 publication s2,10O, an ave
rage Of Z cents; 1SS TO colored evangeiistc
& ,j94, an average OF 3 cents; lob TO cnurch
| Bible cause $sl5, an average OF cents lo'ai'
| s75,795, an average OF s2.3l per member
THE REPORT DISCUSSED.
Tho Hon. 4. l.. Flournoy. OF Charleston. W.
Va. referring to the fact that many churches
failed TO make the collections asked for, SAID the
responsibility for the neglect rested chiefly with
| the church sessions.
Dr. W. L. Richardson would not apologize for
| any church that had neglected its duty, but the
neglect was for less than was sometimes sup
| posed. Our people, he said. are entitled to COM
| mendatlon aud encouragement rather than GEN.
sure. Statistics would show that no denomina-
| ton In our llni, aud perhaps none IN the world
except the MOraylan gave more IN proportion 10
its ability than the southern Presbyterian
| Church. Tho Northern Presbyterian and Con-
gregatiOnal churches gave more per member,
| but they are rich churches.
| Rev. A. r. Cooke gave some statistics Of the
| comparatlye contributions OF our own and other
| churches, corroboratlng Dr.. Richardson's posi-
ton.
Rev. DR.. II. NJ. White. whilst endorsing what
DR.. Richardson had sad thought thero was call
| for strcter Presbyterian oversight of the vacant
| churches in the matter OF collections
| EvANGELIsTIC WORK.
After several other speeches this subject gave
| way % that Of cyangesiic work, which awaken
ed the most enthusiastic interest, and engaged
| the synod during the greater part OF tho morn
| ing and all the afternoon se-sion Rev. Dr'
| ROsebro chairman lead the report Of the com
| mittee In charge OF this work, the work having
| been inaugurated at the synod only one yeai
ago. Itwas some timc before evangelis,s could
| be put In the nei, and several that were ap
| pointed declined the work. Four are no"
| at work, ali their labors are highly
| c0mmendable. Others will soon be put into The
| field. The committee was successful in raising
| money. They have in their treasury aOou
| $4,000 with good individual subscription o
~ 500 moro that will be paidas soon as needed
| After reading the report Dr. kosebro made ;
| short address, earnest. hopeful and stimulating
! He believed that the individual subscribers ant
| churches would sustain tho WORK next year III
they had done this.
| no sCoTCiI-IRIsH DEsERTERs.
lie had heard il remarked In n lecture recent
| ly delivered In n Baptist church that during tn'
| war there was not single desertcr among th'
| Scotch-lrish Fresbyteraus OF the valley oi if
ginia, AMI he looked for ike faiihiulness III TN
| work. Most interesting addresses. setting iOrti
| the work done and the needs OF the Held, wer'
| made by the following cvangelists. who are nov
| In this service: Rev :. l. Wilson, kev. l. =
| barclay, Rev. /. =. wilson, Rev. Dr. James J.
! smith, Rev. Frank Brooks, and Rev. John
| WcOi.
CONTINUE THE WORK.
The recommendations Of the report weri
| adopted that the synod continue It's work an'
| ASK the churches for $1,000 for the coming year
| That this be Appropriated by the ocmlnitte'
| among the churches, and II Is suggested that "a
| co.lcctiun be made On the third sunday in NJ
| ycmbcr; that tho synod express lts appre ,iatio
| Of the lihcreli;Y Of the unnamed individuals Wh
| appointed with the substitution Of DIR. ".
Campbell for DR.. X. Macilwaine, whose coileg
duties prevent him from attending the meeting
! OF the cOnlnttoe.
DR.. Rosebro, at the suggestion OF the sessio
| of his church asked 10 be relieved from IL
duties OF the craftsmanship OF the committee
aud the synod declined 10 grant the request, bu
| thanked his church for allowing their pastor I
| devote 40 much valuable time TO this service.
| was uroua.el 10 strike from tho roll Gf th
| SYNOD regulating this WORK the clauso thu
relates to the weak. vacant churches, and tn
strict ground, but the proposal Was voted doHi
There was a general expression OF opinlO
during the debate that there has been made
most hopeful beginning. aud as Rev. a.
Cooke expressed it, Will marx an era III the hl;
tory Of this synod.
Night Session.
After sermon by Or. r. =. Kerr. the synod II
sumed Business Tho committee on presbyterif
| boundaries reported through Dr. Smith. IA
chairman. The report WIS dOcketei and mad
the order Of the day for Tomorrow. IL propose
tnat the Synod OF Nashville be asked 10 uansf'
Lee county, Of Virginia. TO the Abingdon frcsb.
| terry: that portion OF Greenbrier PresDJter
be transferred u Lexington that Spottsylyani
county and Fredericksburg, from East lianOye
aud Culpeper and Rappahannock counties. moi
| ChcsaUeake. be transferred 10 W es; Hanover
| that Chesapeake and Maryland prcsbyterics
combined into pr9sbytery 10 be called Potona
EDUCATION.
The Rev. DR.. j. A. Quarles presented an alab'
rate report on the subject of education. The n
COMMUNICATIONS OF the report were adopted:
That ministers be directed to preach on n
subject OF ministerial education and call 10 Il
ministry; that suitable young men DO sougl
out and trained Tor the ministry; that socleti'
and churches be encouraged TO labor Tor IN
cause: that efforts be made 20 secure large col
tributions for this cause A discussion vi this II
port detained the synod to late hour