The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-15

The Synod of Virginia is here. The
city is full of ministers and elders rep-
resenting churches all over the State,
and many in West Virginia, Maryland
and the District of Columbia.
A number of the visitors arrived the
night before and some ON the carly
trains yesterday forenoon. But the
bulk of the Synod arrived at O'clock
yesterday evening from the East and
North. They were met at tho depot by
the committee on entertainment and ty
the various hosts to whom they were
assigned, and driven to comfortable
homes in different parts of the city.
The weather was fine and Roanoke ap-
peared at her best to greet the visitors.
AT 10 o'clock yesterday morning the
committee on the boundaries of the
Synod met at tho mansc, and prepared
their report, which will probably be
submitted to tho Synod today. Rev.
DR.. j. p. Smith, of Fredericksburg,
presided as chairman. No radical
u.
Before 8 o'clock last evening the
Presbyterian Church was crowded with
tho towns-people. Later q strepm be-
gan to pour through the DOES, and
many failed to find seats. on the pull.
pit sat Rcv. M. l.. Lacy, ID. d., who was
to preach the opening sermon. On his
right sat the celebrated DIR. Hoge, of
Richmond, and on his left Rev. Il. w.
Hooper, ID. d., of Christiansburg.
Rev. DIR. Lacy, opened the session by CIV
ing out the 1005th hymn, "How Beaute-
GUS are Their Feet Who Stand on lions
HILL" which, being sung by the
congregation, the preacher road por.
ton of the Sth chapter of deuteronomy.
Rev. DR.. Hooper then led in prayer,
and after singing hymn 115t, "Glo-
rious Things of Thee are Spoken"
Rev. DR.. Lacy arose ard stated his
text from III Kings, second chapter and
18th and 14th verses: "And He took up
also the mantle of El jah which had fall
en- from him and won't and stood by the
bank, of Jordan, "the text in brief being,
"Where is tho Lord God of Elisha?"
DIR. Lacy is q refined talkcr, and
handles his subject we'll. He talks
right along and does not raise his voice
above one pitch. He began by saying:
"There is no character in the world
that stands out moro than Elijah. He
was great roformer in his days and
was sent by God to cleanse and re-
model the kingdom of Israel. He stood
among tho people of his day and charged
them with wanton wickedness, over
threw the rotten state of affairs, planted
his foot on the banks of 10 don, seeing
his work incomplete, and rode to heaven
In chariot of fire.
when such men as these are taken
from the earth it becomes tho wonder
whether or not their places can BIO
hlle5. Yet his mantle, as he assembled,
fell upon ono we'll worthy to take the
work which he left to be completed. 1t
was Elisha, and Elijah's last work was
first
He then spoke of Elijah's character
as man, his bold and fearless denun-
Citations OF crime and how he was next
seen fleeing from the wrath of his
enemies and taking refuge in the wilder
ness, praying God that he might die.
1t was at this point that God tuaght
him the great lesson of power, that
through the spirit of God all great work
must be accomplished, and told him to
return to Jerusalem, change his plans
OF work and operate with the spirit of
God in his heart.
Moses was another example OF Gods
plan of work Ho stood as high as any
reformer in the Bible, but God chose
him first to be leader and then a law
giver. His work was only preparation
in the first, but in the second it was to
stand till God Himself made a change.
He did not lead the Children of Israel
into Canaan. This work was reserved
for another.
The preacher then spoke of the great
opportunn ties laid before men, and the
condition in which they labored. When
Moses IVES sent to deliver the children
OF Israel from bondage;the circumstance
was ripe for the achievement of success
and Moses work was in the hands of
God. Bat with tho advent of Christ
there was a.change, and the Jews still
looking for the miracles taught them of
old. were not prepared to receive the
message of love-.
He then spoke of the Day of Pente-
cost, nddescribed it as emblematic of
the second advent of Christ, of the DAYS
OF reformation when those assiduous
workers seized the opportunity and
rushed into the breach, standing like
giants between the dark ages and the
light of Christianity,
he dwel6 ON the opportunities of tho
church today, spoke of the develop
ment of wealth under Christian infin-
ence, and the possibilities of the chur: n
in he fields before it.
The sermon was replete with doc.
trinal facts. and was listened to with
snuch interest
DR.. Hoge, of Richmond, closed the de.
sectional exercises with an earnest
prayer, after which DIR. Lacy took his
seat as moderator and announced that