Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-28
THEPRESBYTERIANS.
THIRD DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE
SYNOD or VIRGINIA.
Rejection 81 The Oveftnre from the Chesa-
psake Preseytcry-Rcport on Evan.
gelisttc Labor piscussed--s fissionA
rspec,al telegram 70 me Dispatch.

tcpect1i tcseEran W tne Dispatcnsj
pxrxRsaURa, VA, October e7.--After my re-
port Of yesterdays proceedings closed, the Rev.
J. Y. Fair, d. D., presented areport on msniste-
rial education. and Rev. T. NJ. Richardson. y. d..
the aseemblys secretary OF education. address
cd the synod. An interesting discussion on tho
subject OF the report followed. The report and
discussion brought 20 Wow the feet that there
has been a large Increase IN the number OF can
didstes for tho ministry during the lasttcn years
IN the whole Church, though not in the Synod OF
on the report
Al night Rev. ). II. Moore. Of Yves, Virginia,
preached, anu after the sermon the synod Joined
In the solemn service Of the Lords supper.
MINISTERIAL QUALIFICATIONS.
After the opening exercises this morning Dr.
Sitzet called up a memorial 10 tho General A.
sembiy, which was laid over from last wear, on
the subject O. tho qualifications for the ministry
required by the constitution. In view OF ne tact
that the assembly last year bad made deliver
snce, taking essentially the position Of tho pro-
poeed overture, Dr. PI.zcr did not nov desire 10
send Il up. He proposed a paper "a this end.
which was objected 70 as committing the synod
10 tho position OF the overture OF Chesapeake
Presbytery. After tedious discussion DR.. Pit
ters paper was lost by vote OF 40 10 ~ ana
tie reply 10 the overture OF Chesapeake frosDy-
terry thai lay over from laet year was taken up
and adopted as follows: THAT the synod de-
ciines 20 sead to the General Assembly the over
ture OF Chesapeake Presbytery asking tcr an al
dstion 20 the Form OF Government authorizing tue
ordination Of mon without the present educa-
tsonal requirements This aston Is taken on The
ground that ample provision Is already made for
the discretion OF presbyterios tn such cases"
gvAsGELIsrs HEARD.
The report on evangelistic labor, unfinished
business OF yesterday, was takon up and the
Dr. j. Z. Smith gave account OF his WORK In
Chesapeake PresDytery and a part OF West Han
over. Its work was chiefly In vacant churches
and IN assisting certain ministers VINO nave eN-
tensiye mission neIds. But whilst his WORK was
largely to conserve feeble churches aud group
them into pastoral charges, his aggressive ei'
forts were not without fruit.
Dr. III. II. Halves said hts work was largely IN
the coal region of Southwest virginia IN Ap
ingdon Presbytery. The people Tor whom nc
had labored had come from every quarter. AZ
pocahontas and neighboring towns there were
many foreigners accessible 70 our preaching
As be had no plsco for preaching, DIR: Hawes
hsd devoted much attention ~ buiidIng churchos'
Rev. l. J. Brooke. who has labored In Lexing-
ton Presbyiery, spoke Of his field OF work In the
mountains Of Virginia and West Virginia, IN
counties where the Presbyterian ChuIcn hau
little or no footing The new railroads through
that section had led IN the last two years 70 the
building Of a number OF towns OF considerable
population that we're wholly without preachlns
by any denomination. He was the nrst 70 preacn
n sermon at several OF these points lie was
now working for the erection OF three chuTch
buildings that must be built.
Rev. A. A. Little has been employed IN evan
gelistic work for nine months IN ROANOKE RES
byte.y and part OF West Hanover. His first re-
mark was that more eyangelists are neeiel.
Tie field assigned each is too large. some OF
tho sections Of East Virginia from which PresDy-
teriaus have removed since the war are now
occupied by different class OF people, many OF
them wholly irrelgious, thousands OF adults IN
no church. We need an eyangelstc spirit IN
the churches, so that the stronger Will give
part OF the time OF their pastors to this work. rs
did the church OF Chatham. lie TURNER uiseu
the importance Of accompanying the evangei-
lists preaching with the distribution OF DOCKS
and tracts by a colporteur. HIS labors were
blessed in gathering many into the church.
THE SUBJECT GOES OVER.
The evangelists present having been all b card,
Rev. DIR. Fleming, member OF the committee
In charge OF this work, stated thst commune
ton OF individual subscriptions was essential 10
its success A gentleman who had formerly
given $500 had told him since the report was
read that be would next year give 5000, and "
necessary $1,000. The money must DO raised
or the work could not go on.
The subject went over as unfinished business,
the synod manifesting very great interest in II,
and the order Of the dsy-foreign missions-was
taken up.
Rev. J. X. Bridges read the report on that sub
tecf from which IL appears that the contriou-
lions OF the Southern Presbyterian Church have
exceeded those of any other year by at least
SLIGO, and that twenty new missionaries have
been sent out.
The report recommends: t1), That ministers
preach on this subject on the Sabbath OF the
May collection or the Sabbath preceding;
l2), That the childrens missionary-day be OBJ
served; (3), That the monthly concert OF prayer
for missions be observed; a., Tint missionary
societies be formed in all the churches (5), That
efforts be made 20 secure increased circulation
OF The Missionary.
Mr.. Bridges followed the reading Of the report
with a clear, judcious speech, In which he en-
forced the several recommendations.
The Rev. DIR. Jere. WitherspoOn, OF Nashville
was then introduced 20 the synod as the repre-
sentative OF the Executive Committee OF Foreign
Missions, In the absence OF the secretary. Dr.
Houston, who Is now IN Brazil
AN ABLE ADDRESS.
DIR. witherspoOn is pastor OF the largest OF the
Southern Presbyterian churches and although
visit 10 this synod was hailed with great plea
sure. With chaste and eloquent language and
In n pleasant and impressive manner he de-
lyered an able address on the foregn-inissi0n
work. He spoke words OF cheer and comfort In
view Of the constant progress OF the cause and
its fruitful results.
The next speaker was the Rev. Thornton X.
Sampson, lately a missionary 10 Greece. He
spoke OF the results accomplished by the mission
In that land, with which until recently he had
teen connected. Mr.. Sampson had also visited
India, and found there n deep and widespread
interest In Christian in sttutions among the ma
tives OF that land. He had also visited China,
and was most fayorably impressed with the
character Of that people as he saw them in their
own land. Good foundations had been laid for
eyangeliZing the vast population Of that great
empire.
Vt.oa nd fhnO fnak