The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-25
DR.. HARRIS KIRK
MADE MODERATOR
Presbyterian Synod of Virginia
Begins Its I23rd Annual
Session.
MEETS AT WINCHESTER
Opening Sermon by DIR. Russell
Cecil-Attendance Is
Large.
MEETS AT WINCHESTER
Especial to The Times.Dispatcbl

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
Winchester. Va. October 24.-The
PRESBYTERIAN Synod of Virginia began
It's one hundred and twenty third an
nual session here tonight. Dr. Russell
Cecil. of Richmond. the retiring mod
orator preached the opening sermon
One hundred and eight preachers and
sixty-seven elders were present DR..
Harris Kirk. of Baltimore. was elected
moderator.
DR. Cecil's subject was THE Ministry
of Reconciliation" and his text was
from Corinthians V. 1919. II was a
profound and thoughtful discourse. and
was listened to with great interest.
This is the first session OF the Pres
byterian Synod of Virginia to be held
in Winchester in twenty-five years.
The synod embraces the States OF
Virginia, Eastern West Virginia.
Southern Maryland. several churches
In the city of Baltimore, and the Dis
trict of Columbia. including Washing
ton city.
The meeting will last until Satur-
day. and many of the ministers will
remain in Winchester over Sunday and
occupy the pulpits of other churches.
In addition to vast deal of routine
business to be transacted. the synod
will consider other matters Of import
ance to the church
The foreign mission work will be
presented by Rev. L. w. Smith, u. D.
formerly of Louisville. KY. but now
OF Nashville, Tenn. the cause of edu-
cation by Rev. Henry NJ. sweets, u. D.,
OF Nashville. and the Bible cause by
Rev NJ B. Porter, of Richmond. Other
distinguished clergymen from various
sections of the South Will be here to
address the meetings of the synod.
Occupies Unique Position.
Rev. Russell Cecil. d. D., the moder-
ator of the synod, occupies a position
in the church to-day which has prob
ably never been held by any other
man. In the Presbyterian Church
there are four grades or courts-the
church session. the presbytery. the
synod and the general assembly. Dr.
Cecil. when he opened the meeting of
the synod, was the moderator of one
of the courts in each of these four
grades. By virtue of his office as
pastor, he is the moderator OF the ses-
sion OF the Second Presbyterian
Church in this city. Last month. when
East Hanover Presbytery met in
Maidstone. it elected DR. Cecil to pre-
side over its deliberations. and he will
hold that Office until next April. A
year ago the Synod of Virginia, meet
ing in Charlottesville, conferred upon
him the honor. which he tonight
handed over to his successor Last
May the General Assembly of the
Southern Presbyterian Church met in
Louisville. Ky. and DR.. Cecil was
called upon to accept the highest honor
in the gift OF this church, when he
was made It's moderator.
There are some interesting points
connected with the positions held by
cecil IIiS 81, to.
In toe presbytery and synod, and one
of the strongest in the whole as
sembly. East Hanover is the Oldest
and one of the strongest presbyteries
In the Southern church. as the Synod
of Virginia is the oldest and the
strongest synod in the church. The
General Assembly is the highest court