Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-27
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.
SECOND DAY OF THE f05TH ANNUAL
SESSION AT PETERSBURG.
Heaithfui Growth and Gratifying IN
provemept In the Churches--Synodicai
Evangelistic k--ResoIutions.
Especial telegram to the Dispatch.l

PETERSBURG, Va, October 20.-Afier the synod
had spent the first hsn hour Of tho morning
session in devotional exercises, the Moderator,
DR.. Hooper, announced the standing commit
tees
Rev. A. p. Saunders presented the commune
cation from the Fredericksburg church asking
the synod to take under Its charge their orphan
asylum, with It's substantial building and s10-
600 invested endowment, and make OF II
school and home for orphans Of ministers, mis-
sionarles and worthy lsymen. The subject was
referred 70 q committee to report at the pre-
sent meeting.
On motion OF DR.. Pitzer, n resolution was
passed expressing sympathy with the Rev. b. j.
Lacy, ID. D., formerly q member OF this synod,
now lnid aside from active work by bodily infir-
nifty, and tho synod was led In prayer in his be-
hnlf by DR.. Armstrong.
Tho narratives from tho presbyteries, the
reading Of which occupied long time, show
heslthiul growth and gratifying improvement In
nearly all the churches OF the synod.
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE.
The Rev. J. X. Haven. ID. D., In clear nn1
iorcible address presented the claims OF the
Committee Of Publication, whose work Ia con-
Quoted in tho city Of Richmond. lie FIRST directed
attention TO "seiected List Of Sabbath. School
Books, issued by the committee. which embraces
books from various publishing-hOuses, and is
designed 20 help the schools In securing the best
books for their libraries. Books having erro-
able social views, Of which character many are
published, are carefully excluded from this list.
Attention was called 70 the new Sabbath
school hymn-book, "Songs OF the Covenant"
The committee has published more books and
tracts this year than in any previous year. and
the business department Is on O better footing
than ever before. There Is, however, said DR..
Hazeu, this discouraglng fact, tina. whilst the
contributions 10 both home and foreign missions
have greatly increased of late years, there has
been no increase Ia what has been gwen this
committee 10 carry on c0lDortage. He gave CO.
gent reasons for enlarging this work OF dissent
mating sound religious literature among the peo-
pie.
DIR. w. T. Richardson In an interesting and
forcible speech supported the same cause. and
offered resolutions which were referred.
EyANGELsTIC WORK.
The consideration OF the synodcal evangelstic
work occupied much OF the time Of the morning,
and showed a deep conviction on the part OF the
members Of its great Importance and wish
70 see IT prosecuted with vigor The report on
this subject was read by the Rev. DR.. j. W. Rose
bro, chairman Of the committee which directs
the work. II contained n brief statement OF the
WORK done by the evangollsis, j. =: smith, d. d.,
II. II. HAYES, ID. d., Rev. L. A. Mclean, Rev f.
j. Brooke, Rev. A. A. Little, and Rev. 5. l.. Will
son.
A a result Of their indefatigable Iabors, o
churches have been organized, church build
ings erected, 1,7Sl visits made 1,090 profess
sioDs Of faith. 760 additions TO The Presbyterian
Church. Sermons preached, l,264; adults bap-
tized, 76; infants, 100.
The report shows that the support OF this
synodical work has not diminished the gifts of
the Cnlrch Tor the evangelistic work conducted
by the General hssembly's committee outside OF
this synod; but, on the other hand, that com-
mittee has had from the churches OF the - nod
S3,3IS more for its work during the pc two
years than II had for the two years before the
synOdical work was undertaken. There has also
been n like Increase In the gifts 10 sustentatiOn
and foreign missions. Tho work has been sup
ported both by individual subscriptions aud
church collections The report recommends the
adoption OF the following resolutions:
RESOLUTIONS.
/. That the synod VIII prosecute this work
with renewed vigOr next year and urge its
churches TO contribute to this cause at least
$4,000.
q Synod directs It's Committee on Synodical
Evangelization 10 apportlon this amount among
its different churches and suggests that collec-
ton for this object be taken on the third sabbath
in November.
3. synod returns its thanks for the liberal In
diyidual gu descriptions which have enabled this
committee TO prosecute this work 20 the present
time and hopes that God will both bless tho self
sacrifice required to meet these Obligations In
the past and enable a continuance OF such gils
10 this laudabe cause, and the committee ~
urged to endeavor diligently 70 obtain additional
contributions.
EARNEST SPEECHES.
The reading of the report was followed by earn
est fpeeches by Major Jei. Hotchkiss and Rev.
4. X. sampson, recently missionary 10 Greece,
urging the im portance Of the work. DR.. Rosebro
who next spoke, emphasized the fact that the
work as conducted by the committee look ed more
to careful foundatlon-laying and organization
than to immediate results In increasing church
rolls. He pressed the fact that the strong ore 1t
to the weak TO help them In their need that II Is
"a debt OF the most sacred character laid upon
them by our Lord.
Hon. James L. Tredway spoke OF the great
work that had been done IN the two years since
II was inaugurated, and gave facts showing the
pressing necessity for its prosecution,
Rev. L. ID. Stephenson said that 70 keep what
we have gained we must continue the eyange-
listic lab0rs.
Rev. II. c. Alexander, ID. D., also advocated
the report.
taken.