Evening star., 1895-10-18
WANT MORE yIGOR SHOWN.
The Baltimore Synod ON the PrOtec-
tfon of Americans Abroad.

The Presbyterian synod of Baltimore
closed its sessions in Baltimore yesterday
afternoon at 5 O'Clock. with prayer by the
Rev. DIR. w. U. Murkland, a visitor from
the Maryland presbytery. 1t adjourned to
meet next year in the West Church, Will
mington, Del.
The principal feature of the days work
was the adoption of a resolution asking the
State Department at Washington to grant
better protection to Christian missionaries
in foreign lands, asking that protection
not as to a class, but as a treaty right due
to citizens of the United States. The mat
ter was brought before the synod by the
Rev. Dr. T s. Hamlin, pastor of the Church
of the Covenant. this city, who. having
suggested that such resolution be
adopted, was appointed by the SYNOD. on
motion by the Rev. DIR. Marks, to draft
such a resolution.
DR.. Hamlin said: There is a general feel
ing that our foreign Office is not quite alert
enough in regard to protecting citizens OF
the United States in pagan lands This has
been emphasized in my mind from the fact
that I, being a Washington pastor, have
been called upon to protest against such
lack of alertness. and when have sought
to lay the matter before the State Depart
ment, I have found II exceedingly difficult
to reach that department, and more diffi-
cult to reach President Cleveland in regard
to such matters Possibly ii would be well
to ask DR.. Brown of the foreign board to
give his opinion in regard to the advisable
ity of adopting such a resolution before do
ing So"
Dr. Brown. "The foreign board will un-
doubtedly appreciate such a resolution, and
1t is well to pass it, but let II be distinctly
made plain to the Department of State that
We do not ask protection for our mission
aries as religious class. but solely on the
ground OF their citizenship and our treaty
rights to protection, the same as is due to
all American, citizens. 1t is fact that
missionaries lately in parts of Turkey, in
parts of Persia and in China 1 think such
declaration by such a dignifed body as
the synod onBaltimore will have weight
with our State Department"
The clerk was instructed to send copies
of DR.. Hamlin's resolution to President
Cleveland and to the Department of State.
The Rev. L. E. Weaver of Ridgeiy Street
Church offered resolution, which was
unanimously adopted. ipstructing the for
eign mission committee to call a mass meet
ing some time in December to consider the
question of the duty of the government to
protect its citizens in foreign lands. and to
protest against the persecution of Chris
tions in Mohammedan and pagan lands
Mr.: Weaver, in support of his resolution.
called attention to such action lately
taken by the Ohio Presbyterian synod
saying the Baltimore synod should also act
in regard to so great and important a mat
ter as that Of the protection of American
citizenship.
Rev. Oliver Hemstreet presented the re-
pert on Sabbath observance. and it was ap-
proved. The report recommends pastors
and church sessions to do what they can
toward Sabbath observance, and that they
cooperate with the Sabbath Observance
Association of Maryland. The report re-
grets that Congress has violated the Sab
bath day. 1t calls for meeting in the in
terest of Sabbath observance on October 30.
mass meeting was held at the First
Presbyterian Church last night in the in
terest of home and foreign missions. Rev.
DR.. L f. Brown, secretary of the foreign
beard, delivered address in the interest
of foreign missions. Rev. DIR. Wallace Rad
| cliffe of the New York Avenue Church of
this city delivered an address in behalf Of
home missions. taking the basis of his
talk the great Importance of preserving
| this as a Christian country, 1t being Chris
tianty against the field as against all
things that tend to the injury of the re-
publjc"