The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-31
VIRGINIA SYNOD
WILL END TO-DAY
M Uncertain Resolutions Adopt
cd Regarding freight. Trains
Running Oh Sunday
MATTER OF HOME MISSIONS.
Committee Instructed 10 Aid in
Establishing Schools for Chris
tian Education.

no, o,c hundred and eighteenth annual
so.s,on or tic Presbyterian Synod OF Nir.
,;,,,, ,vi,, end today. great mass OF
h,.tnoss was completed yesterday. and
The programme will be finished out prob
oh1v nv this afternoon. Tic meeting
la. been one Of the most successful in
the history Of the body. The attendance
Ing bccn very large. and vast amount
nf ,nnortant and necessary work has
bccn accomplished.
Yesterday the matters Of chief note,
we're the fixing Of tho time and place
for tho next meeting, the report upon the
condition OF the churches, the reports
touching The home mission work, the col
lego work and tile work of the Union
Theological Seminary, and finally the
action OF the synod with reference to
+ the stopping of Sunday trains. Upon
thi; last matter the body expressed Its
hearty sympathy with the movement con-
tctnplatc1 and named u committee OF
three members to confer with representa-
lives of other ecclesiastical bodies and
to unite with them in an organization
TO persuade and, IL necessary, through
the courts, TO force, the railroads TO
observe the existing laws"
The Fourth Day.
'rhc fourth day of the Synod opened
with devotional exercises conducted by
Mr.. S. J. coffman, q ruling elder The
first business disposed OF was tho fixing
OF tho time for the next meeting, which
will be held in Stanton. The date agreed
upon is October Is, 1905.
The narrative OF the state Of religion
in the churches was made By the Rev.
Dr. q. L. Petric. This report referred
10 the lberality OF the contributions
made for church work, declared that the
salaries OF the pastors generally TO have
been paid and in some cases to have been
Increased, and touched further upon the
energetic cvangelistic work in which
many OF the churches arc engaged. in
addition to the regular church work
Proceeding. the narrative said:
THE reports from the various pres
byteries Of tho Synod In regard to the /.
state Of religion In the churches with
in their bounds indicate nothing I'M
usual. There are lights and shadows
that make up the picture on which we
are called to look. There are reasons
for encouragement that should nerve al
us for renewed cndcavors, and cheer
our hearts with hope. But.we are also
= reminded that results have fallen far
short Of ideal of our desires and 81
attempts. With a remarkable unan-
unity tho prcsbyter'es report a good
attendance on regular services. The Qs
II sabbath morning service Is said to
H * be well attended; the evening service q
not so well attended. with some ex-E
ceptlons. The prayer meeting SER i
vice In some Instances we'll attended.
but In others not so well. But
throughout the reports there is a tone
OF cheer and encouragement as 10 the
numbers that wait on the ninistration
OF tho Word.
Family Worship.
I'm regard 10 family worship there
Is prevalent note OF encouragement.
Most of the spresbyteries report a sad
neglect of the home altar, while other
presby tcrles report a partial OBJ
servance of this sweet and sacred
means OF grace. stating at the same
time that in many instances the home
worship is greatly neglected Tho
tenor Of the reports clearly indicates
that the daily worship In the homes, x
which our fathers 30 faithfully con-
Quoted, and under tho helpful inf1u-
cnccs OF which we were reared has
yielded to the pressure OF modern
demands, and in many instances Is
now unknown. The family altar needs
to be erected again, and Its holy fires
kindled anew.
Sabbath observance receives a IA
vorablc report in most instances. but
this statement Is restricted to church
members. as distinguished from COM
nunltles, and n further statement Is
made that there prevails more lib
eral view Of what constitutes proper
Sabbath observance. Also attention
is called to dissertation of the Sabbath
by Sunday trains. Sunday mails and
Sunday newspapers.
Tho presbyterial reports show that
the children OF tho Church arc faith
fully trained in Sunday schools. being
for the most part carefully taught tho
Bible, the catechlsm and other stand
ards of the Church. But in many in
stances the statement is made that
the duty Of religious teaching is neg
lected by parents and by them Gc-
volved too largely upon the Sunday
school. Homo. as homo worship. is
sadly neglected.
Sunday Trains.
In response to the address mado Friday
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