Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-29
W0RK0F THE ELDERS
THEY HOLD THREE SESSIONS AND
DISCUSS IMPORTANT SUBJECTS.
Large Attendance Upon the Convention.
and thu Proceedings Full of Interest
Close tho Exposition on Sunday.

N'' NV tsAFoeitfVb w ''c'"s'
Ninety-siJ delegates answered TO roll
call yesterday morning when the Conyen-
tion Of Presbyterian Elders reassembled,
and permanent organization was effected
by electing Hon. J. Hoge Tyler moderator
and Messrs. James Lyons, Of the Second
church, Richmond. and Luther shelton.
of the Second church. Norfolk. secretaries.
The personnel of the body is exceedingly
striking, and the proceedings of yesterday
showed that 1t contains an exceptional
number OF good takers
ne report 81 the Committee on Business re-
10 A. NJ. TO 2 p. W., $50 p. NJ. 10 Gao p. NJ. s
J. u. 10 10 7. NJ. aud also that the following
topics DO discussed In the order named:
!. In what special lines. 10 connection With the
pastor, can the ruling elder magnify his Office 50
es % promote his usefulness?
=. The elders relation 10 The Sunday school.
=. Tho elder and the prayer-mceting.
o. The standard OF education for the min
istry.
Tho eldership and foreign missions Their
opportunity ana efficiency In furthering ChrIsts
cause among the heather by % personal cODse-
Grafton as lay workers IN heather lands; (2) or
c1nizing ana quickcning the work OF the mis-
sionary societies At home
o. May a private member engage in home
mission work without being under the control OF
the session?
:. Whom without pastor what duty deyolyes
on tho ruling elder a. 20 his church and people
and a. to destitute fields adjacent to his own?
=. The relation OF the ruling elder to the dca-
con NJ defined in the BookOf Church order.
q. The place Of a ruling elder In the Presbyte-
rian system.
The committee further recommended
that voluntary topics should first be sub
United to them. and the two speakers first
discussing topic should be limited to
twenty minutes each and those following
TO ten minutes each.
MANY GOOD SPEECHES MADE.
The report Of the committee was adopt
ed, and blr. John ;. Muncie opened the
discussion on regular topic No. /. lie was
followed by Elders j. G. Byrd. G.. Wilson,
W. :. Summers, ID. Humphreys, I. G.
Morton, i. L. Barbour. and Charles +.
Collier.
On motion Of Ruling-Flder T. G. Morton.
all ministers Of the Synod OF Virginia pres
emit were invited 10 take part Ia the pro-
ceedings Of the convention.
The discussion OF topic No. 2. The
Elders Relation TO tho Sunday school,
was opened by Elder j. ID. X. Sleight. and
was continued by Elders George Watt, Jr..
}. HOge Tyler, Row. MIR. Belk, ana W. II.
Craig.
The morning session ended by the con-
yention singing "A Charge TO Keep l
Have"
In the discussion of both topics many
interesting and practical suggestions We're
made, and the speakers were not az all
backward in criticlsiug the SHORTCOMINGS
of elders IN general and their own short
cOmings IN particular.
Evening Session.
The evening session was opened with
devotional exercises. after which Captain
Morton offered the following, which was
adopted
Whereas, this convention has heard with plea
sure the discussions on Topics No. l and 2, and
whereas, We think 10 very important that recon-
mendaiiODs should go out 10 tho elders In the
synod
Rlso ~, That a committee Of three be APP
pointed NJ the close OF each topic 20 report con-
illusions on the discussions. The brother OPEN
ing the discussion Of each 20 be chairman Oi
each committee, said reports TO be prepared and
submitted at the convenience Of the committees
before the adjournment OF this body.
The discussion on The next topic, The
Elder and the Prayer Meeting was
opened by Elder II. l.. Hoover, who was
followed by Elders Il. b. Norman, w. >.
Summers, and j. II. Byrd.
EDUCATION FOR THE MINISTRY.
The discussion on the topic STANDARD
of Education for the Ministry" was
opened by Elders Waiter Blair and ID.
Humphreys, who held the floor until the
hour tor closing the evening session had
arrived.
4 notion was made TO lay the whole sub
iect on the table. Tho motion was OPP
posed. and after a lively discussion, run
ming late into the hour OF recess, indi-
eating that the large majority of the BODY
desired general discussion on what they
termed live ISSUE" il was decided that
the discussion should continue and the
body should mako an expression upon It.
Night Session.
The night session of the convention was
largely attended, and a number OF ladies'
were present.
The devotional exercises We're conducted
by Ruling Elder Z. =. Barbour, after
which the convention resumed It's regular
business.
On motion OF Ruling Elder James Lyons,
the order providing for the appointment OF
committees on topics was resclnded.
The following, offered by Rullng-Elder
Is. IL. Wexford, Jr.. was referred 10 the
Committee on Business
Whereas. II IS suggested that the Columbian
Exposition, 10 be held under the patronage OF the
Uuitcd states Government ia the city OF Chicago
during tho next year, should make departure
from hlnOred and Wel-csta blshed American
procedents in the opening OF the exhibition for
public resort uDOn the Sabbath-day; and where
as, such departure. In our judgment, Will be- pro-
duclvo OF evil and only evil In its proximaie and
remOtest results: therefore,
Hes0icej, That We earnestly Gnd most respect
fully request in the name and on behalf Of 20
600 communicates and their families III tins
synod, composed IN part Of three states Of the
nion, that the authorities in charge % the TX
position viii close It's gates against the public on
the sabbath.
And whereas, any contribution from the
United states Treasury must include In part
taxes paid for the support OF the government by
2O.OOO,O0O Of Christian people, OF whom tho
congregations We represent constitute part:
therefore,
Resolcca, That our senators and representa-
tives IN Congress be requested - withhold their
assent from any farther appropriation IN aid OF
tho Exposition untn assurance be gwen That II
viii not be opened for public visitation upon the
SaDbaih day.
TOPICS FURTHER DISCUSSED.
The convention then took up Topic No.
s." When without a pastor what duty
deyOlves on the ruling elder a. TO MS
church aud people and as 10 destitute
fields adjacent 10 his OWN"
The discussion was opened By Rev. Il.
A. Robinson, of the Colley-Memorial
church. and he was followed by Ruling.
Elders j. T.. Fitzgerald. j. III. Byrd. w. ii.
Holman, D.. Humphreys, X. b. Norman,
and Rogers.