The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-18

The Presbyterian Synod pitched into
the business Of the last day of tho meet
ing with a lively discussion OF the lit
erary, scholastic and spiritual qualifica-
tions Of the ministry. After devotional
exercises by Rev. j. C. Painter, in the
chair as moderator, the committee on
bills and overtures reported unfavor-
ably on the overture from Chesapeake
Presbytery asking for an addition to the
Book of Government, providing for the
licensing of ministers without the re-
quired educational attainments, provid-
ing the ministers were called of God.
DR.. Pitzer advocated ying over the
report until the meeting OF the next
Synod in order to give the members
more time to study ON the subject.
DR.. Graham said he did not know of
single PresbYter that would hesitate for
q moment to license preacher who was
called of God to preach the gospel.
Rev. S. ]. Vance did not know whether
this was just what was wanted or not,
but something was evidently needed.
There was not q single provision for
ordaining ministers under extraordi-
nary cases.
Rev. DR.. McIlwaine, of Hampden-
Sidney said the laying of this matter
over would be a quasi approval of it.
The whole thing was provided for, and
he believed the report of the committee
should be approved.
DR.. Pitzer again took the floor in
favor of the overture. He attacked the
chapter No. 6 in the book of govern
ment, and said it was the worst con-
structed piece of work he ever saw in a
book of divinity. He advocated moro
attention to spiritual qualification than
scholastic attainments. If tho sixth
chapter of this book had been applied
to the apostles all of them would have
been debarred from the ministry. Had
it been applied to Spurgeon, the great
est living preacher, he, too, would have
been kept out of the ministry.
Capt. t. G. Morton, ruling elder,
Staunton, said he was disappointed in
the report Of the committee. He wanted
full consideration OF the matter. He
wanted to get out of the old ruts and
overtake the times on the necessities of
the work
The report was then received, and Dr.
Pitzer moved to lay the matter over till
next session. On being put to vote
tho proposition was carried by vote of
SIS to so.
TIE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE,
Ruling Elder Il. C. Morton, of Staunton,
chairman, reported that they had exam
ined the accounts of the chairman and
found them correct and in good condi-
tion. There was balance of $3.50. So on
hand. The Synod owed nothing and the
books are all in good condition. The
report was received and approved.
DR.. Hall, of Lynchburg, moved that
the Synod petition the committee on
colored evanGelization to grant $50 of
the collection to be taken up on Friday
night to the Central Presbyterian Church
of Lynchburg. The recommends ton
was adopted.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The moderator announced that the
hour had arrived to take up the I'M
finished business on foreign missions,
and said Revs. Mr.. Woods and Synden-
stricken were present, who would make
addresses.
At this point Rev. DR.. j. H. Bryson
came forward and read dispatch in the
New York Herald speaking Of threat
ened outbreaks in China, and suggested
that the prayers of the Synod be offered
to those missionaries.
On motion the Synod entered into
services of petition for the protection
of the missionaries. Prayer was offered
by DR.. Hoge and others.
Rev. fl. Ii. Woods, of Chin Kiang,
China, addressed tho Synod on the mis-
sion work in China. He told how the
work was carried on in the tea shops.
How the missionaries had to pass
through tho most trying ordt ais to catch
the ear Of tho heather.
lie spoke of the opium-eating prac-
tice, and told how it had become a curse
upon tho land. England, said he, had
forced opium on China at the cannon's
mouth, but that q noble emperor had
refused to derive revenue from the
misery OF his people. The responsibility
for this curse was often cast into the
teeth or the missionaries. They say if
Christ can save, pray him to save us
from opium.
lie spoke of Confuciusism and said it
was blank despair. Buddhism was an
illusion which failed to give happiness
All these heathen religions are worse
than nothing We read so often in the
newspapers about the high ideas and
good laws of Buddhism. There is not
word of it true. These people are in
darkness, and they want help to show
them the light. These religions merely
drug the poor 1rother to. fatal sleep
from which he wakes up in hell.
He tn, n spoke of the progress of
Christianity in China. Last year was a
memorable one. There were better at.
tendances at the meetings., and many
We're being gathered into the Church.
There had been many stations estab-
lished, and one little church just out
q Al In al 1,aA