Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-22
THE SYNOD OF BALTIMORE.
This Mornings Session In West Pres
byterian Church. t

appoints the STANDING Cominittees-Otnor
Business Transacted.
The Synod OF Baltimore convened in
West Presbyterian Church Tuesday at
D clock p. m. and was opened with a SER
mon By the retiring moderator, the Rev.
Henry Branch. d. D., of Rockville,
Md. He took for his text the 18th
verse of the 22d chapter of Matthew,
g Render unto Cesar the things that
are CAESARS and unto God the things
that are Gods"
He said in part: 1t was the intention
of the Pharisees to entrap our Lord |
by means of claiming that Ele had no
concern for the people. and it seemed as
IL they would be successful. But our
Lord tore from them the mask of their
cruel intent by demanding Of them a
penny, and by means of it commanded
them to render to man what was his,
and to God what was His, thereby
showing His greater interest in man.
The coin demanded was current coin
it had the stamp of the government
upon it. Coin that is current and used
recognizes the majesty and sovereignty
of tine government. 1t is specific in
this claim, and is the opposite OF what
is insisted upon as peculiar to God
alone. Yet God is sovereign in His rela-
tion to the church, and sovereign in
His relation to His own spiritual
kingdom.
The church is not dependent on the
State, but upon God; and yet the SER
vice we are to render to the State and
to God, is dual act. The rendering
to Caesar what was his and to God
what was His is right thing to do by
him who would be true to God as
citizen and as Christian.
The centre of government is God;
government is not human invention.
Its sanctions, penalties and rewards
are divine. It's functions are civil the
church ia likewise divine; its privileges
are spiritual. These two, the
civil and the spiritual, are divorced
from each other in the sense that the
ore must not exercise the functions OF
the other; but this forEids not the
citizen from being an earnest and
active Christian; nor the ChrisNan
from heine true, loyal and patriotic
citizen. In this case piety is Identified
with patriotism. The fifth commapd-
ment requires honor to be give4 to
parents. but it goes beyond this and
| logically requires obedience to3all
superiors, and this includes govern-
ment and the church.
The sermon attracted close attention
and WIS an earnest appeal for good
| citizenship and faithful Christianity.
| At the conclusion of the sermon, the
Synod was constituted with prayer by
DIR. Branch and the moderator for the
| ensuing year was elected, Rev. j. r.
| Milligan of the First Presbyterian
| Church, this city, being unanimously
| chosen.
| The attendance was rather light.
The committee of arrangements re-
ported, recommending the session oil
the Synod TO be as follows: Morning
sessions from 8 a. m. to u m. After
noon sessions from p. m. to p
m. Evening sessions from p. m. tt
adjournment The report was adopted
and the Synod adjourned until 8 o'clocl
yesterday morning. @ a,M
YESTERDAY MORNINGS SESSION.
| Moderator Milligan called the SYNOD
to order at g. 30 o'clocs. The minute
of tho previous evening were read ant
adopted. Rev. DR.. Branch moved tn
following telegram be sent Presiden
Patton OF Princeton University, Prince
ton, N. j.:
"The Synod of Baltimore sends greet
ings to President Patton and his asso
ciates, congratulating them uron tbei
successful administration, and inyok
ing the blessings of covenant Co
upon that institution that men ma
run to and fro in the earth and know
,, edge be increased
81. r. Milligau, Moderator.
: sc. H. Robbins, Stated Clerk"
The moderator appointed the follow
ing standing committees:
Bills and Overtures-TheR evs. Henri
March, d. D., Thomas A. McCurdy
d. D., and William @. Alexander, .
D., Elders George H. Beatson and +
8 B. Dalyrmple.
: Judicial Cases-The Revs s. v
t Reieart, d. D., Hugh X. Walker, L
: D., and w. j. Mcknight. d. D.. Elder
: A. l.. Duyckinck, John F. Amedon.
Finance-Charles Lyman, e. c
I, Polk and P. f. Ball.
Minutes =. The Revs. Luther A
Q Oates. Fl. W. Ennis and Albert {
Parker, Elders William NJ. Terrell an
Theodore F. Clark.
Minutes Of Preshytery of Baltimore
o TIE Reeve. Benjamin F. Bittinger an
Edwin W. Long and Elder James
Price.
6 Minutes of Presbytery of New Cast
/, The Revs George E. Jones and Jam
d NJ. Monroe and Elder William /
b Purnell.
n Minutes of Presbytery of Washingtc
j. The Revs. N. II. Miller aud Robe
J, Fl. Williams and Elder John A. Niche
10 son.
j Leave of Absencs-The Revs. W.
ID Lewis, Thomas @. Easson and j.
" Yeakle, Elders Charles Baird and
IF r. Zimmerman.
d Narrative for 1s97-The Revs. Wt
d lace Radcliffe, Samuel @. WATSON al
t. John McElmoyle, Elders William
70 Simpson and E. F. Witmore.
as Standing Committee on Rules-T
d Revs. S. Beattie Wylie. Thomas
Springer and Varnun d. Collins, Eide
1t Thomas McCorkle and Benjamin
r. Mayfield.
ID Synodical Sermon-The Revs. Malt
at d. Babcock, Charles B. Ramsdell al
D. Lafayette Marks, ID. d.
la E. III. Robbins of Baltimore, Nc
,e the present stated clerk, stated that
es account OF pastoral duties he found
impossible to continue in office as stat
clerk and would therefore be compel
to offer his resignation. DIR. Purn
ia of New Windsor College moved tt
al the resignation be accepted with
le thanks of synod. The Rev. Mr.. Re
81 bins has been stated clerk of ii
as synod for the past four years and
10 was with great regret that his resign
ton was accepted.