Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-08-27
The Synod of Virginia.

The 18th annual session Of the Evan
gelical Lutheran Synod of Virginia met
in Mt. Calvary Church in Mt. Jackson,
Va, on August 18th. The opening SER
vice was conducted by Rev. Peter Mil
Ter, vice-presldent Of Synod. The
opening synodical sermon was preached
by Rev. d. NJ. Gilbert, d. D., of Harris.
burg, Pa, a former member of this
body and for some years located at Win
chester. He took for his text, Grant
unto thy servant with all boldness to
speak Thy word" He was listened 10
with close attention by the members Of
Synod and the large congregation pres
emit He forcibly, clearly and beauti-
fully expounded the blessings and adj
vantages that come from a faithful
spreading of Gods word.
The second session met promptly at
o'clock and opened with devotional ser
vices by Rev. p. Miller.
Wednesday morning on calling the
roll of ministers and pastorates, ii was
found that there we're of ministers and
delegates present about 80 each. At
the election for officers the following
were elected President, Rev. Peter
Miller, of Rio, w. Va; Nice-P President,
Rev. E. L. Folk. of Mt. Jackson, Va;
Secretary, Rev L. L. Smith, d. D., of
Strasburg, Va. Treasurer, L. S. Walk
er, ESQ, of Woodstock, Va.
4 number Of items OF business in
Guiding the presidents, Secretary's and
treasurer's reports, were received and
disposed of, and at 1915 the meeting ad
iourned with prayer by DR.. Gilbert, for
the annual synodical communion ser.
vice. This service was conducted by
the newly-eleCted president, Rev. p.
Miller, with sermon by Rev. Prof J. A.
Morehead, d. d., president OF Roanoke
College. His text was, For We are
saved by grace, and that not OF your
selves; il is the gift of God" He beau
tifully expressed the idea that grace is a
gift of God and that it is only required
that we accept what He offers, in order
that we may be saved.
AT the afternoon session additional
delegates were received and admitted.
The arrangement of items on parochial
report caused spirited discussion and
motion was adopted TO make same
uniform with the work of Synod.
The report of the executive commit
tee was read, and after spirited dis
cusson was on motion recommitted to
the committee, together with such pc
titions for aid from mission congrega-
tiOns as are now in hand, with inStruc-
lions TO consider and make recommen-
datiOn.
Rev. J. d. Dreher, D. D., late president
of Roanoke College, Rev. NJ. G g.
Scherer, d. d., Rev. h. L. Weissinger, of
Tennessee Synod Rev. ID. NJ. Gilbert,
d. d., of Harrisburg, Pa; Rev. J. l.. ST.
bole, of Buffalo, n. Y, and Mr.. w. {.
Schaeifer, theological student, assistant
at New Market, Va, were admitted to
the bar of Synod and made advisory
members. DR.. Dreher read his last re-
port TO Synod Of the condition OF Ro-
anoke College. This was a very inter
esting paper and showed what had been
done by the college the past year. He
supplemented his report by an eXplana-
tion of the conditions surrounding the
college and of its needs and the circum-
stances necessitating his severing his
connection with the college. The re
port was ordered printed with Synod
minutes.
The president then appointed the usu-
al committees to consider the matters
submitted to Synod for its action.
On Wednesday evening the Synod and
the large audience which were present
listened TO very able and instruC-
tive sermon from Rev. ID. NJ. Gill
bert, d. d., of Harrisburg, Pa.
The session Of Thursday morning was
opened with the usual devotional ser
vices, with roll call and reading minutes
of the previous session. Additional
"a, nd
Reports were read from the committee
on state of the church, Scandinavian
immigration and presidents report.
The latter was considered by items and
adopted. An election was held for dele
gates to United Synod OF the South, that
meets in st. Matthew's church, New
Market Va, in 1904. The election re-
suited in the selection Of the following:
Clerical, principals, Revs. l.. l.. Smith,
d. d., J. +. Shenk. h. L. Folk, w. J.
Smith, Peter Miller. A. ID. r. Hancher,
H. c. Haithcox, ID. ID. Alternates, Revs.
S. l.. Keller. w. II. Riser, G. A. Marks,
E. A. Shenk. w. p. Huddle, Geo. 5.
Bowers j. w. Stricken. Lay delegates,
principals, J. +. Cooper. j. NJ. Snapp,
{. W. Heater l.. S. Walker J. 4. Alex
ander, J. Frank Clemmer, w. NJ. Burk.
Alternates, Henry Heischman, J. g.
Utz, G. w. Koiner. G. NJ. BeltZhooyer.
r. J. Walker, n. f. Snarr, S. Il. Harper.
AT the afternoon session various re-
ports and resolutions were heard and
acted on. The report from the Pastor 5
Fund Society was encouraging. 1t
showed that over 5000 had been re-
ceived, including one single contribu-
ton Of $500 TO the permanent fund.
This had been invested in good securl-
ties. 1t was recon amended that no Sun
day School Convention be held this
year, but that special attention be Civ
en- to the one for 1904. Rev. J. J.. Dea-
ton, Rev. G. r. Keller, Rev. Il. o. keis-
ter, Rev. H. Ditzler, and Mr.. {. J.
Smith, theological student were intro
duCed to Synod and admitted to its bar
as advisory members.
On Friday morning the report OF the
Committee on Literary Institutions was
discussed. IL dealt particularly with
the needs of Roanoke College, and earn
est and forcible addresses were made by
Rev J. A. Morehead, d. d., its new
president; Rev J ID. Dreher, its retiring
president, and also by many members
Of the Synod. 1t was finally adopted.
The Synod took recess at ii a. m. for
divine service. at which time Rev. J. {.
Bowers, of Winchester, Va, preached
most excellent sermon on the theme.
I'VE would see Jesus" The afternoon
session was extended beyond the usual
hour in order that the report of the eX-
ecutive committee could be taken up
for action. In the evening divine ser
vices were held at which Rev R Is.
Peery, missionary to Japan. delivered
an address. He gave very vivid de-
scription of the lives and habits of the
natives, with their needs and desires in
religious matters. An offering was lift
ed which resulted in the gathering of
over 800 for the cause.
The final session of Synod was held on
Saturday morning. The report of the
executive committee, which had been
pending at last adjournment. was taken