Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-10-27
Notes on tn MARYLAND Synod.

SYNOD oil the Evangelical Lutheran Cnurcn,
which closed its sessions III st. Paul's
English Lutheran church, of this place,
Friday afternoon, the 18th inst by unan-
imous consent of the members present was
declared to have been one of the most enjoy
able meetings ever held by that body. Rare
ly is hospitality more genially, generally or
generously shown than was exhibited by our
townspeople in the entertainment of the
ministers and delegates who were their guests
for the time being; and rarely is appreciation
of hospitality more markedly and heartily
manifested than was evnced by these same
guests toward their hosts and hostesses who
so muniticently provided for their entertain
ment during their stay in the city on the
/ hill" On all sides nothing but expressions
of mutual esteem and regard were heard as
between hosts and guests, so that a condition
of affairs more congenial all around could
hardly be imagined.
The sessions of Synod began Tuesday even
| ing, 9th inst, according to announcement
previously made At the opening service
Rev. George w. Miller, ID. d., of Baltimore,
the retiring president, delivered the synoGical
sermon. After the conclusion of the sermon
| the synodiCal communion took place. In
this the ministers and delegates present par
ticipated, the solemnty and impressiveness
of the scene being very striking. Thus ended
| the religious service of the evening. and the
first session of the body. A notable fea-
tuIe of the service, however, was the singing
of solo by Miss Etfie Shaffer Immediately
after DR.. Miller's sermon, the selection being
not only appropriate to the occasion, but was
well rendered, and, moreover well received
by the large audience present Indeed, the
opening service of Synod passed oft most
pleasantly in every particular, and in spite of
the fact that it was necessarily protracted
seems to have been enjoyed by all.
Wednesday morning Synod proceeded to
effect an organization. Roll call elected the
fact that about 125 members were present.
Though quite number were absent, owing
to sickness and other unavoidable causes, the
lack of their presence did not in any manner
retard business. The machinery of the body
got into motion with but little friction, and
Rev. f. H. Delk, of Hagerstown, most &C
compished gentleman, was elected president
for the ensuing year. Rev. Victor Miller, of
Leitersburg, Md, for some years past the
faithful secretary of Synod, and VIM. HI.
James, of Baltimore, the efficient and worthy
treasurer, were elected to their respective
offices without the sign of demurrer. The
new president at once proceeded to the APP
pointment of the committees requisite for
| the speedy and successful transaction of bus
mess, and everything pertaining to the reg
ular day sessions went on according to the
established order, little of practical interest to
the public occurring to call for comment
here. The evening sessions were the points
where the main interest Of our citizens
centered. To them, therefore, we shall for
the most part contne our further remarks.
| The business sessions of Wednesday being
ended the service of Wednesday evening
was taken up with the discussion of the Ben
efciary Education and Home Mission
interests of the church, two timely and
practical dlscourses bearing on these subjects
being delivered respectively by Revs Charles
II. Butler, of Washington, ID. c., and d.
Frank Garland, of Baltimore. After these
addresses. both of which were brimful of
ideas calling for the attention of those par
ticularly appealed to; Nicholas T. Hooking, of
this place, very pleasantly rendered solo,
Miss Sallie c. Wright accompanying him on
the organ, after which the services of the
evening closed.
Thursday, as usual was devoted to bus
mess. The election of director to the
Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa, and
of delegates to the General Synod which con-
venes in st. Johns church, Hagerstown, Rev.
S. w. Owen, d. D., pastor, the meeting to be
held sometime in May, 1895, were the
special items that called forth interest during
the day. The evenings service was one of
the most impressive ever witnessed in the
town. 1t pertained directly to the setting
apart of number of young men to the work
of the gospel ministry. Rev. J. g. Butler,
ID. d., of Washington, a former chaplain of
the Senate of the United States, preached the
ordination sermon from Romans l, 1-"Sep-
arated unto the gospel of Cod After the
doctors charge to the young men, setting
before them what the step they were about
to take in devoting themselves to the work
they had chosen meant, four of them were
licensed to preach tho gospel for one year,
and four were permanently ordained to the
ministry of the word of life. The service
was concluded after the most impressive
scene of the young men taking their VOWS,
Messrs. George ID. and Nicholas T. Hooking
very appropriately rendering duet, Come,
Holy Spirit" the mnsic of which was excel
lent, and was composed, as was told the
writer, by the former of the two brothers.
Friday passed without anything of special
note arising except the departure for home of
a number of the ministers and delegates after
the adjournment of Synod about 3 p. M.
The religious service Friday evening was de-
voted to the subject of Foreign Missions"
Rev. August Pohlman, of Baltimore, who
had been ordained to the ministry the
night before, was the speaker of the occasion,
and deep interest attached to his words, be-
cause he goes, after completing his medical
course in the University of Maryland, as a
medical missionary to the west coast of
Africa His burning words will not soon be
forgotten by those who heard his appeal in
behalf of the work to which he proposes to
devote his life. thus closed the series of
services in connection with the 10Th annual
convention of Maryland Synod, a gathering
that will long be remembered in the annals
of Frostburg.
And now a word more as to the social fea-
Al,