Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-29
SYNOD OF BALTIMORE.


Sermon by DE-. Talmago at Night.
Wednesday afternoons session of the
Synod of Baltimore was opened with
prayer by DR.. Radcliffe.
1t was decided to hold the next
annual session in the West Street Pres
byterian Church, Georgetown. d. O.
DR.. Ramsdell presented the report Of
the committee on systematic benef-
cence. The committee said it is
almost impossible to ascertain the exact
amount contributed by the churches
for specific objects. An attempt has
boon made to modify this stats Of affairs
by the General Assembly. The con-
tributions, as a rule, are small, rather
than general increase. which is greatly
needed. The committee called special
attention to the ACT of the General AS
sembly committee in sending to the
churches the suggestion Of a system of
proportiouate giving. The synodical
committee would not say that this plan
is or Is not desirable one. 1t pro-
posed the following resolutions for the
consideration of the Synod:
"First-That the most careful CON-
sideration DO given at an early date by
each presbytery to this most important
subject, AS presented by the General
Assembly committee.
"Second = That more effective
measures he adopted to increase our
gifts TO the proportion suggested by the
General Assembly.
Third-That, as measure to this
end, the cultivation of the habit Of
systematic and proportionGte giving be
encouraged among all our people
Fourth =. That the churches DO
urged to see that the circulation OF tho
Assembly Herald is not allowed to
decrease.
Tho report and resolutions were
adopted.
DIR. Marks prosecuted the report of
the committee on education aud the
following resolutions were adopted:
"First-Tbat we approve th0 general
management Of the Board OF Education
and the reduction in the grant to the
students for the present year.
"Second-We recommend TO all the
congregations under our care the i'm
portarce and requirements of this
board; the need of increased donations
and legacies for its support.
'tIlird That we commend the
example of those former beneficiaries
who have returned to the treasury of
the board the full amount expended in
their education.
Fourth : That we commend the
efforts of tho board to have this gospel
preached to the exceptional populations
OF our country in their native tongue
and to sec ure the endowment of scholar
ships in connection with our medical
colleges for the equipment OF medical
missionaries to be selected from our
best theological students. -
The committee was in favor of an
educated ministry and opposed to a
free and unlimited coinage of min
listers even at the ratio Of 16 good
| ministers to one bad one.
The committee ON bills and overtures
reported that it had declined to send
two delegates to the American Anti
Saloon League convention. The com
mittee was in hearty sympathy with
| the object in view, but could not in
volve the Synod in an entangling alli-
ance with non ecclesiastical body.
| In reference to the communication
anent the Goth century call to Cbristen-
dom the committee advised that no
reply be made, which report was
| adopted.
The committee on finance reported
that it had examined the accounts of
the treasurer of the synodical fund. as
follows: Received, 81, SSS. 81; balance
on hand at the beginning of the year.
S65S. 36; expended, 81 466. so for the
Presbytery Of Baltimore, 81, 2S7. so for
the presbytery of Washington and
81, 305 for the New Castle Presbytery |;
incidental expenses, SlS9.77; present
balance on hand, 1882. Sc.
F,,t H.,
was received: During the year 1,544
missionaries were employed. This is
| 257 less than during the previous year,
owing in part to the transference of
| some Of the missionaries to synods that
have undertaken their support and to
| the unemployment Of theological
students. Ninety church buildings have
| been erected at a cost of SlG5, 300. They
have received o. ITO mem bers on pro-
| fession of faith ana a. 1908 by letter.
The board began the year with a debt
OF S36i, $50. by the aid of the reunion
university fund aud by good manage
ment the debt has been reduced to
S299, O62. One of the most powerful
agents of the board is the woman s
executive committee OF home missions,
which raised last year S3l 4, GAL and
employed 31S teachers. who have under
their caro- 0, 32G pupils.
The Rev. William I. Logan recon-
inended that all ministers and elders
read carefully the report OF the board
OF homo missions and bring its contents
before the notice of the people, that
wherever possible conferences Of neigh
boring churches be held.
Tho committee on Sunday schools
and publication reported loss of re-
ceipts over 1896 of S240, of which the
Sunday schools show about SAT de-
crease and the churches $780, The
| Presbytery of Baltimore shows de-
| cided decrease from both schools and
churches New Castle Presbytery
shows an increase from churches and a
decrease from schools. The Presbytery
Of Washington shows a decrease from
churches and an increase from schools.
A motion to give the contribution of
the evening to the support of the
| Armenian refugees who care to be
quartereu in this city was defeated
and substitute, giving the contribu-
tion to the board OF home missions, was
carried.
After prayer by DIR. Perry of the
Baltimore Presbyt terry the synod took a
recess until s o'clock.
West Church was crowded to it's
utmost capacity at night to hear DR..
De Witt Talmage of Washington, ID.
c., and many disappointed people were
unable to gain admittance. DIR. Tn
mage chose for his text NIX Psalms 8 I:
"The statutes of the Lord are right. I"
He said in part: Old books go out of