The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-16
WORK Of SYNOD
IN FULL SWING
Committee Takes Up the
Divorce Question.
DR.. NOM ENT breaches
Or. John Grier Elected Moderator. Mem.
orial Service Held. Report on For
eign Missions. Election of Stand
ing Committees. Sermon by
Or. Graham.
Or. Graham.
BY REV. j. III. HENDERLITE.


Durham. n. c., Nov. 15.-When the
Synod of North Carolina was invited to
come to Durham, the picture that city
presented to the minds of perhaps d
majority of the Synod was a rather
vague and cloudy one. Yes, they had
heard of Durham-very often. in fact.
the story of it's wonderful growth and
unusual wealth had spread to the re-
motest sections of the State. But 10
their mind Durham was simply bus
mess town, first and last: it's highest
work of art a trade certificate and
its sweetest music the ring of the dol
lar. Hence, the picture was clouded-
with tobacco smoke and nebulous wells
Of cotton fiber.
Those delegates who reached Dur
ham with such visions of the place
floating through their minds have
doubtless met with something like a
shock. Durham is pre-eminently
business town. The Southern head
quarters of the American Tobacco Co.
with four immense tobacco factories.
besides a number of other industries
that handle the weed, the tobacco in
terests are colossal, as may be seen
from the fact that the town paid To
the Fderal government in 1901 for
revenue taxes over two and a quarter
million dollars. Her milling and manu-
featuring business is enormous; five
large cotton mills. besides hosiery
mills. bag factories and the like. And
her business interests are by no
means confined to cotton and tobacco
Very many industries of various
kinds are seen thriving on every side
while four railroads compete for her
patronage. The industries of Durham
employ more than 5000 operatives and
pay weekly wages in cash aggregating
more than $4,000.
But Durham has other things be-
sides mills and factories. Synod finds
1t is the seat of Trinity College, claim
ing to be the richest school of its
class in the South. 1t has an excel
lent Academy, Trinity Park High
School: and in addition perhaps the
best housed, best equipped and best
managed system of graded schools
in North Carolina. 1T has a good con-
servatory of music, a public library
and two hospitals. So Durham is not
deficient in culture or lacking in BEN
evidences.
When SYNOD was invited last fail
in Wilmington to come to Durham
this year, the promise was given. All
unSought ana unnecessary that the
town would try to make the sojourn
of its members pleasant and comfort
able. A sure pledge of that prom
ise's fulfillment is to be found in the
committee appointed for purposes OF
reception and hospitality.
Durhams foremost and best known
citizen, Geo. w. Watss, is chairman Of
the committee man known and hon
Ored far and wide for his high inte--
rty and spotIesS Christian manhood,
ready to spend and be spent in be-
half of the work of the church and
the welfare of the town. His munif-
icent gifts to Christian education.
evangelization and public charities
have reached far beyond the limits
of the State.
Associated with him are several of
Durham's prominent and most nopu-
lar men, Thos. b. Fuller, l.. A. Carr.
j. E. Wylie, Mr.. Fuller is the president
of the Durham Chamber of Commerce,
and he is a good one 1t is said that
when he is to speak on municipal is
sues there is always a full house and
never dull listener.
The hospitality of Durham is all
that it could well be, and will help
to render this meeting Of Synod mem
orable.
The music furnished specially for
the occasion is a treat. For several
NCCho a ScOIt VI the pest voices In
town have been training for the meet
ing and the results fully justifv the
efforts.
Synod honored itself in the choice
of Rev. John Grier, D. D.. for its
highest honor, the position of mod
orator. DR.. McKelway of the Char
lotte Standard nominated him on the
ground that the time had come for the
Synod to show honor to the country
pastor.
DR.. Grier has charge of a group of
rather small churches in Mecklcnburg
Presbytery. but there are no signs
about him to betray the country
preacher His splendid bearing. his
ease and grace in the moderator's
chair, his massive brow and strong
features indicate rather the scholar.
orator and man of affairs SYNOD
made no mistake in its selection. a
good moderator is assured, and honor
has been rightly bestowed upon the
man who can devote splendid gifts 10
the field most neglected yet most inn
portant the country church.
The opening sermon was just what
was to be expected from DR.. A. r.
Graham. DIR. Graham is pastor of the
church at Davidson. and has become
an integral part of the college life
there. All the students love him as
a man, and attend in a body TO hear
him preach every Sunday. 1t is q
sure thing that man has flied that
very trying and delicate position. q col
lege pastorate, with such entire suc-