Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-08-27
Virginia Synod OF the Lutheran Church.

The sixty.seventh annual convention
of the Lutheran Synod of Virginia was
held in Waynesboro, Augusta county,
Va, last week, beginning on Tuesday.
This Synod includes all the Lutheran
churches of the northern territory Of
Virginia, and several churches in West
Virginia, having a total membership
of over 5000 communicates. The
opening sermon was delivered, accord
ing to custom, by the secretary, Rev.
L. L. Smith, of Strasburg. The Synod
formally opened on Wednesday morn
ing, August 10, at 9 a. m, by the cleo
ton of the following officers Presi-
dent, Rev. H. F. Shealy, of Stanton,
Va; vice-president, Rev. c. II. Hockey,
of Shepherdstown, W. Va; secretary,
Rev. L. L. Smith, of Strasburg, and
treasurer, Mr.. L. S. Walker, of Wood
stock, Va. Reports of the officers OF
the past year were read and referred
to committees. At the synodical COM
munion the sermon was delivered by
the president.
The reports on the state of the
churches were presented by the pas
tors. These reports show an encour-
aging condition of the churches during
the past year, and commendable de-
gree of advancement in benevolences
and spiritual life. The sermon at
night was delivered by Rev. f. L.
Folk, Of Mt. Jackson.
On Thursday morning after miscella-
neous business, the subject Of education
was taken up. Rev. Dr. ]. D. Dreher,
president of Roanoke College, Salem,
Va, the college of the synods of Vir-
GINA and Southwest Virginia, present.
ed in an admirable report the condi-
ton of Roanoke College. This college
catalogued 200 students during the
past year, an increase over any pre-
ceding year. The finances are encour-
aging, more money by endowments
and gifts and. tuition having been re-
ceived than any year previous. The
buildings, of which there are three,
have recently been remodeled- and
renovated, steam heat and electric
light introduced and many other i'm
provements made. A new annex has
been added to the library, Of which
there are now $4,000 volumes, and
this promises soon to be the largest and
best library of the State. Rev. DIR.
Dreher administration was endorsed
heartily by the Synod and the college
commended to the support Of the Lu-
theran church in resolutions presented
by Rev. W. L. Seabrooke. The syn
odical address on education was deliv
cred by Rev. J. A. Moorehead, Of
Richmond, Va.
The Staunton Female Seminary,
which has been closed during the past
year, was considered, and a PROPOSE
ton for the continuance and reopening
of the school was placed in the hands
of "a committee. The parochial schools
were endorsed as a means Of moral and
religious culture of the children. The
young peoples movement, the Luther
League, and the Woman's Home and
Foreign Missionary Society, were en-
dorsed by Synod through resolutions
presented by Rev. c. H, Hockey. At
night Rev. DR.. Voigt, professor Of the
ology of the Newberry, S. c., Theolog-
ical Seminary, delivered an admirable
address.
On Friday the subject of missions
was taken up. This subject was pre-
sented in report of the delegation Of
the Virginia Synod to the United Syn
Cd of the South, held last year, present
ed by Rev. G. H. Hockey, chairman.
The Virginia Synod has five missions:
two at Richmond, one at Norfolk, one
at Buena Vista aud one at Harrison
burg. The three last are sustained by
the Virginia Synod. Nearly five thous-
and dollars was contributed by the
synod for missionary and synodical
purposes. Rev. T. X. Probst, gener-
al secretary of the United Synod's
Board of Missions, of Atlanta, Ga, pre-
sented the work Of the Mission Board
He showed that the work was growing
and fields everywhere ready into which
God was calling the Lutheran church.
In the same report the proposition
of the United Synod for the addition
of a second theological professor in
Newberry Theological Seminary was
presented and endorsed, and the ap-
portionment Of the board Of directors
of $275 annually for the Virginia Syn
cd was accepted. Dr. Voigt was pres
ent and gave a full report of the semi
nary and its needs.
The same report Of Synod's United
Synod delegation presented the work
of the Orphans Home as the institu-
ton of the Synod, and Rev Dr. Paint
er, of Roanoke College, secretary of
the Home, delivered an admirable
address on the subject. The Home is
located near Salem, Va, and is now
being enlarged. 1t had twenty or
phans last year, with many applica-
tons for others. At night Rev c. H.
Hockey delivered the sermon.
On Saturday much miscellaneous
business was transacted. Synod next
year will be held at Winchester. The
mountain charge, Aurora, was dis
missed to unite with the Maryland
Synod. No vacancies were found ex-
oept those supplied. The apprOpria-
tons made, as shown by report pre-
sented by Rev W. ]. Smith, were
greatly in excess of the appropriations
Of last year for all purposes. The
sermon at night was by Rev. W. L.