The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-20


Publication ....,....... ......'...'.. 200
Eible Cause $3.50. .................... LOO
Presbyterial ........-..... .......... 5,opo
Pastors salaries paid .............. l6s,sls
Congregational ............ ......,.. lsl,boo
Miscellaneous ......... .............. 1880
Total s.......... ..................s4"'.oso
This is the largest Synod In the South
ern church, and counts among It's minis
ters many OF the ablest preachers in
this denomination.
The Synods meet in the fall OF each
year Those who are entitled TO member
ahip in the body are all tho ministers
within Its bounds and one elder from
each church. making the number for this
year 297 ministers and 4B7 elders or
Total OF 76i. But the fact Is that only
small part Of those entitled 70 attsna
ever do so. The largest attendance thai
the Synod has ever had was about 80.
AS this meeting is to be SO far from
most of the Presbyterian strongnoios
of the State the probability Is that the
attendance will not be very large.
WORK OF THE sY.;oD.
The synod has general supervision OF
all the churches In its territory, though
II does not deal with them directly, out
through the Presbyteries.
The Presbyterian Church courts form a
series OF appellate courts. each one WITH
the power of review and control over
the courts below it. The Presbytery ex-
amInes and passes upon the proceediNes
OF the church session. as shown by aus
minutes. and approves or dlsapproYes OF
them according as they are found to
agree or not to agree with the prncl-
pies and government OF the Presbyterian
Church In the same way the Synod
passes upon the proceedings OF the Pres
bytery: and the General Assembly upon
those OF the Synod.
Any member OF a church who reels
apgrieyed at the action OF the session
NAV appeal from Its decision to the Pres
bytery; then to the Synod. and then TO
the Assembly And this may be done
in even the smallest matters.
a very important part of tho work OF
the Synod Ia that OF home missions IN
It's own bounds. This work Is conducted
by very efficient committee. OF which
Rev. J. e. Booker. OF Lexington, Is
chairman. This work is donc through
cvangelists, who visit weak and vacant
churches and establish mission points in
destitute sections of the country. This
eyangelistic work Is carried on In all
parts of It's territory, but especially witt,
rapidly developing regions Of Southwest
Virginia and of West Virginia. A great
deal has been done in the way OF build
rneans. This cause always occupies a
prominent place at tho meetings Of tho
gynod.
THE oRPHANAGE; PROPOSED
DIVISION.
Another matter that will probably ha
given a good deal OF attention at this
meeting is the Orphans Home. recently
opened at Lynchburg, under tho auspices
Of the Synod. This home Is now In ope-
ration, but in order to put 1t into POSI-
tion to do the work that Is needed, IL
will be necessary to raise at least Se5, COO
Steps will no doubt be taken to do this
The matter which will probably attract
moro attention and awaken more inter-
est than anything else will be the ques-
tion of division. Some Of the members
OF the Synod have for some time felt
that the body Is too large and ought to
be divided. At the meeting last fall in
Norfolk two propositions were presented,
one for division into two parts, the other
for division into three parts After dis
cussing the subject for nearly two days.
no decision was reached and 1t was post
poned to be taken mp again at this meet
ing. Those who favor division into two
parts, propose the Blue Ridge mountains
as the line. This would throw into the
eastern division the Presbytcres of Nor
folk, East Hanover, West Hanover, Roam
oke, Chesapeake Maryland, and a part
of Montgomery, leaving in the other d.
vision part of Montgomery and all OF
Abingdon, Lexington, Winchester. Green
brier, Kanawha.
The other plan, that of three-fod di-
vision, would make the following groups
of presbyteries, each to be a separate
SYNOD First. Norfolk, East Hanover,
Chesapeake ana Maryland; second, West
Hanover. Montgomery, Roanoke and
Abingdon; trird, Lexington, Winchester,
CSreenbrier and Kanawha,
The opening sermon will be preached
tonight by the retiring moderator, Rev.
F.. j. Brooke, D. D., of Alexandria.