Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-10-31
BACK FROM SYNOD.

87th annual session of Associate Reform
ed synod, which convened in Chicota,
Texas, on Thursday, the 22d instant.
This was the first meeting Of thelsynoc
ever held in Texas, and it was though
that the attendance would be small. But
ther was an agreeable surprise. The at
tendance included in the neighborhood o.
90 delegates.
The church at Chicota, is made up large
ly of people who formerly lived in York
Chester and Lancaster counties. Among
the former York county people are the
Gills, Whitesides's, Oates's, Loves
Blacks, Smiths, etc.
The opening sermon was preached BY
Rev. C. E. Mcdonald, retiring modera'
tor, and synod was call to order by Rev
T. G. Boyce, moderator elect. After at
tending to the usual routine matters, the
reports of the various committees were
taken up.
The committee on Erskine college re-
ported 40 students in attendance, and
that the institution is now in more pros
porous candition than it has ever been in
heretofore. The dormitory in course Of
erection will be completed at cost Of
about $1,000 and will furnish accommo.
dations for about IS students whose entire
expenses need not be more than Sll5
No arrangements have yet been made To
furnish the dormitory. The expense will
be about SIS room, and it was decided
to canvass the churches for the necessary
funds, allowing each congregation which
contributes Sl5, to name one Of the rooms
as it may see fit. This work was placed
in charge of Revs. w. w. Orr and J. T.
Chalmers.
The matter of DR.. Grier's resignation
as president Of Erskine came up from
the board of trustees, which had re fused
to accept it. By unanimous rising vote,
synod refused to accept the resignation,
and asked the doctor to reconsider it.
DR.. Grier again took the matter under
consideration, and before final adjourn
ment, announced that he would conform
to the synod's desire.
The report of the home mission board
was very encouraging. It showed that
steps had been taken for the erection of a
church in Corsicana. A mission has been
established in Columbia, S. c., and COOP
Grafton has been arranged with the United
Presbyterian church in the maintenance
of the mission at Louisville, KY, as is
already the case with the mission in
Atlanta.
Foreign mission work, however, is not
making such satisfactory progress, es-
pecially in Mexico. On account Of the
long drouth that has been distressing that
country, thousand of people have been
reduced to want, and the missionaries find
it necessary to provide for their tempora-
ry as well as their spiritual needs. The
church at El Maiz, under the care of Rev.
J. S. C. Hunter, is about completed, and
good work is being done by Rev. John R..
Edwards at Rio Verde. Mr.. Edwards
desires to establish hospital in connec-
ton with his mission but synod does not
see its way clear to raise the necessary
means. 1t was an occasion of regret to
synod that Miss Matte Boyce, one Of the
teachers in the school at Tampico, has
been forced to return to the United States
for rest and recuperation on account OF her
failing health. She is now at the home Of
her brother, Rev. T. G. Boyce, in Salem,
Tennessee. Special prayer was offered
up by synod for her restoration to health.
The board had received number Of ap-
plications from candidates who desired to
be sent out as missionaries; but was una
BILE to accept any of them for lack of
funds.
The question Of establishing an orphan
age under the care of synod was taken
under earnest consideration and finally
referred to committee consisting of Revs.
C. b. Belts, j. S. Moffatt, &. B. White,
Dr. James w. Bigham and Mr.. r. A.
Grier. The committee was instructed to
canvass the subject thoroughly, get infor-
nation as to the methods and expense of
conducting such institutions, find out
whether or not the churches are in favor
of the idea, and report at the next meet
ing of synod. 1t was stated on the floor
that several hundred dollars have already
been contributed for the purpose of estab-
fishing All orphanage, and representatives
Of Yorkville, Hickory Grove and Lam
caster intimated that these towns would
be glad to furnish location for the nee
essary buildings, etc.
The delegates to synod made the trip
from Atlanta to Chicota and return in
special car. They enjoyed themselves
very much and were Hospitality enter
tanned by the people of Chicota. On
last Tuesday they made little excursion
into the Indian Territory, and many Of
them secured various kinds of souvenirs
to commemorate the trip. While going
and returning, the delegates took poll
on the silver question, and found that
there was handsome majority against
the gold standard. Mr.. Grier, although
not much of silverite himself, says
Texas will give Bryan majority of from
anywhere to 100000 to 10000. The crops
in southern Texas, he says, are poor; but
in the northern part of the state they are
good, and if the frost remains off long
enough, the top crop of cotton will be
eu ually as heavy as the bottom crop.