Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-21
SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEENTH
SESSION AT NORFOLK.
EXERCISES BEGIN TONIGHT,
rev. w. II. woods, D. D. the Mod
orator, Expected to Pre"e" ny
sermon-1,nrEc Territory of the
sxuod-It May Nc Divided.
synod-ft May DC pi

THO PRESBYTERIAN Synod Of Virginia WIN
,,o-,r us 1i5.h session tonight IN 'He
First Presbyterian church N
Rev. ". II. Wood. d. D.. is me '"o"
orator. and is expected to preaeii '''s
opening sermon ,,,.,,;,,;.
Th,s synod Includes all OF Virginia.
West Virginia, and the District Oh So'''A',
hin and small portion OF Mafsia''o.
rh. members of the body CONSIST loA "''
,,,o ministers of this church who I'VE III
this territory, and one ruhhs cue =
each church, appointed by the sess''i.
+l,r church. The number VINO are '"1"
entitled to membership is something oNe'
7Fo but the fact is that a large ~.
iority. especially Of the ruling elders ~
mt attend. II this were not me case'
n would be very difficult Tor any. co.t.
nunity to entertain the synod ii's i.
always done by the church or Gnu.
with which the synod holds us itee ne,
The largest number when mas 80 ,..,,T'
present at a meeting was
burg last year. ia :,
Tbts viii be the sixth meeting heio IN
%orfo1k The first was in 1874, with 'r.
Ssnuei L. Graham; of Union seminal -
as moderator. The other meetings.
In 1851 with DR.. Jesse ATn1lStead as iiioN
nra+or: II, 1866, with DR.. T. i. PECK, OF
go, seminary as moderator: in 1876.
With DR.. Henry c. Alexander, also OF
the seminary. as moderator: in 1881. WIN
Rev. Theodcrick Pryor, D. ID, OF Not'o-
way Courthouse as moderator.
The election of a successor TO these
princes in Israel will be the hrst dust
ness after the opening sermon. ! mere -
no way of even predicting upon whom 'i1is
cn-1fp
vass!ng is ever done for the oftice.
MAY BE DIVIDED,
Among the matters that will demand
the attention of the SNTod. none Is ''.oN-
ed forward to with more interest IMAM
The report of a committee appointed at
the last meeting to consider ana report
,nou the ACCESSIBILITY of dividing the
SYNOD. Just what this report will be mas
not been made public. The line OF d.
vision generally suggested by those ad-
vocating division is that OF the bluc
Ridge Mountains, throwing all the ter
ritory east into one synod ana an west
into another synod. Those advocating
this course give their reasons Tor
wishing il; that the two bodies will each
be more compact than the present UNI
divided body. and SO more of the mem
bers will be able TO attend: that the two
bodies will meet at twice many places |
as the one and SO the Inspiration derived
from the meetings Will be doubled IN its |
Influence upon the churches; that the |
number in each case will be smaller than |
now, and so the meetings can be held III |
fmaller places.
In reply to these arguments those who |
oppose the division say that the desired |
ends will not be accomplished; that in |
case of the western division. at least,
owing to the peculiar geographical fea-
lures of the country. and the location Of !
4 ~, al cta 1,a cd
In attending the meetings will be pracu-
cally as great as now; that the reduced /
number Will reuuCe the inspiration grow
ing out OF the meetings; that row the |
Synod of Virginia is the most influential |
body in the Southern Presbyterian
Church, and that that position would be
lost by the division. In addition 10
this they urge the argument from SEN
timent. The members OF the synod and |
the churches Of the different sections
are 50 closely bound together by ties
of love and friendship that great regret
will be caused by their severance.
The chief champion of this movement III
the last synod was Rev. S. TAYLOR Martin.
Since that time he has died, and upon
whom his mantle will fall is not known
HOME MISSION WORK.
Another matter OF very great import
ance that vii! occupy much of the time
and thought of ~.le synod is the home
mission work. a great deal of work has
been done during the year, and the need
for this work We're never greater esp
cially in many rapidly developing sectic
Of West Virginia. The planning for
other years work is 4 very inpor
matter.
At the last meeting of synod p g
mittee was appointed TO recomr
location for the orpllanaEe it is r.
10 establish. This committee is
N Norfolk this morning to prer .;t-.
report Efforts are being made
the location of the orphanage .a
the following cities: Richmon
i-etersburg. Lynchburg Isoa
Cow. Lexington, Stanton, anl
vile.
The prospects for a large
his meeting arc very good
important business to be al
wcil-known hospitality g
much appreciated by all W A.
oortunity of visiting III he
sea.