Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-27
THE SYNOD OF BALTIMORE
Future OF the New Island Pos
sessions Discussed. -
CANDIDATES FOR THE MINISTRY
Recommendation That Exami-
nation be Searching.


Baltimore, Nd, Oct. 20.-The future |
of Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip |
pines occupied valuable time at the |
meeting Of the Presbyterian Synod OF
Baltimore yesterday.
The question came up on resolution
from the Presbytery Of Washington,
which offered Thanks to God for the
happy issue of the war with Spain, for
the wisdom vouchsafed President Nc
Kinley; for the heroism of the army
and navy and for the humanity and
magnanimity of the republic in the
hour of victory"
The resolution declared that the
trusts necessitated by success must be
logically accepted, and that system
of government and education must be
set afoot in order 1 to insure future
pence and welfare of the islands,
whether the future be autonomy,a pro-
t,ctorate or an absolute possession.
That during our military occupation,
which ought to continue until condi-
jtions OF security are effected, such sys-
( tenn should be put In operation as may
be continued afterward." Closing, the
resolution said: Viewing the matter
In the light of the information we pos
sess, none of them should be turned
back to the oppression of Spain or be
left to the horrors Of civil turmoil"
The adoption Of the resolution met
with opposition from all parts Of the
house, many declaring that the church
has no right to steer SO close to politics
as the adoption of the resolution would
require. The vote on the resolution
showed very few to be in favor of its
adoption.
The report Of the committee on edu-
cation was also discussed at length.
The committee recommended that pas
tors and stated supplies be urged to
present the claims Of the board of edu-
cation with approval of their manage
ment of the affairs of the board, and
that the synod give special heed to the
future of the men who are to be re-
ceived for the ministry and that a
searching examination be made before
they are recommended.
The Rev. J. Addison Smith, who
read the report, spoke strongly in favor
OF adopting the recommendation of the
4 committee. He said that through the
efforts of the board of education there
are 2S college presidents,T college pro.
fessors, 16 secretaries in the church,
II editors Of religious papers, over 10(
foreign missionaries and over 600 en-
gagged in home missionary work. He
said one trouble at this time is the dis
position to retire or reject ministers
while they are still young, and tn,
exactions in this connection are becom
ing greater every year. Ten years age
so years OF age was regarded as the
dead line, now the line is fixed a
-.
this disposition, he continued, hesitat
young men to take the place Of othe
men, who are still young.
The Rev. DR.. James Il. Moffatt o
Cumberland said he believed grea
deal of money was being wasted o.
the education of young men who hav
never entered the service of the church
We ought not encourage our youn
men to enter the ministry unless the
feel called of God, he said
The Rev. Thomas A. McCurdy, d
d., Of Wilmington and Robert Il
Smith Of Baltimore also spoke upo
the report, which was adopted, with
gmal negative vote.
The committee on home missions an
sustentation reported that more wor
was accomplished last year than at an
time since sustentation was adopted
Forty fields, including Sc churche
have been aided, every church whel
there is an organization has been KEEL
4 open. Three new churches have bee
organized in the Baltimore Presbyter,
Reports from At churches give the 70
lowing statistics: Number of men on
ployed, 40; persons added on profe
sion, BAG; added by letter, "a; tot
membership, 1857; adults baptize
So; infants baptized, 1877; Sunda
schools, "a; Sunday school membe
ship, $3.50; value OF church edifice
$191, $50; debt cancelled, 50, 1862. The
are II manses, valued at 1928, 80
church debts amount to S35, 1853. ~
receipts for the year we're: From Il
Presbytery Of Baltimore, 80, 453. 9
Presbytery of Washington, 81, 231.
Presbytery of New Castle, 81, 2S1. O
Board of Home Missions, "a, 800;
terest, $99. 10; balance from last yes
sl,307.50; total, 81, 171.87; expens,
support of churches, in Presbytery
Baltimore, s4.s66.51; Presbytery
Washington, 81, 606. rs; Presbytery
New Castle, S2,950.67; expenses
administration, $l42.7 IS; balance
hand, S1,605. 10. The collections
home missions for the year amount
to $17, 080. 26, decrease of s., las fir,
the collections of last year, but an
crease over the average of the past {
years.
The following statistical reports W,
presented:
Presbytery Of Baltimore-Ministe
r.; licentiates, g.; candidates for I
ministry, ID; churches, "a; ruli
al
cants, 1885; Sunday school membe
11,87i; ministers received, IL; mir
tiers installed, ID; ministers ordain
q; pastoral relations dissolved, z; {
missals, 6; deaths, 8; churches org
lied, 4.
Presbytery of Washington-Mir
tiers, so; churches, 81; communion
7,703; ruling elders, Isl; deacons, ]
candidates, z; ministers received,
candidates received, 1; ministers
dained, 1 ministers installed, q; I
toral relations dissolved, 4; minis
dismissed, q; deaths, Q.
Presbytery Of New Castle-Mii
tiers, Al; churches, 81; communicai
6,781; ruling elders, 204; deacons,
candidates, g.; Sunday school m
bers, 7,102; licentiates received,
ordinations, l.; ministers received
installations, 2; pastoral relations
solved, B; dismissals, A.; deaths, 3.
The standing committee on mi
terial relief reported 875 names on
roll; 342 ministers, Az widows,
orphans, 8 female missionaries an,
preachers at the home at Perth Ami
The average amount paid beneficial
was S205. 50. During the year 500 n
churches contributed to the cause I