The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-21

synod of West Virginia, and that there
be added to them as many or the
churches Of other presbyteries, part
of whose territory is in that state, as
viii voluntarily go into the organixa-
ton.
Those who favor this division say
that it is needed for the best interest
of the work and the development of
the churches in West Virginia The
present synod is too large and wide
spread to do its work effectively. The
body is SO large as now constituted
that only a few of the churches can
entertain it, and the distances TO be
Travelled are so great that many of
those who ought 10 attend especially
from West Virginia, cannot do SO, Now
the synod meets very rarely in West
Virginia. The proposed new synod
would meet in that state every year.
The Line of Division.
BY mutual agreement with the
Northern Presbyterian Church the State
has been divided between that church
and the Southern Church, the line OF
division being the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, the territory south of that
line belonging to the Southern Church.
This part of the State has a population
of sIs.l07. In the State there are 114.-
TAO OF foreign birth or parentage. the
greater part of whom are in this south
ern part of the State.
1t Is felt that the churches in West
Virginia. if left to themselves, will feel
the responsibility for their own terri
tory and will become more active In
supplying Its needs than at present.
Another argument is that the new
synod would rally 10 the support of
the church schools in its territory
with more earnestness and success
than can be done by the present synod
with its interests divided between the
institutions of the two States.
There seems to be also an amount
of tustitiable State pride in the move
meTit. West Virginia feels that it Is
great State. and It's churches fee!
that they can stand aicne. at least
after little while. The churches OF
Virginia, through the synod's home
mission committee. have been giving
about $4,000 a year for mission work
in West Virginia, and the new synod
will ask the old mother to continue
its help for few years. decreasing
the amount each year.
May Be Granted.
1t is probable that this request OF
the West Virginia Presbyteries will be
granted, and that the mother synod
will agree to the daughter setting up
will give her with her blessing the
help that she will need until she is
able to take care Of herself.
But this is not the only division
proposition that win be presented at
this meeting of the synod. At its
recent meeting in Greensboro launch
ed a plan in which 1t is proposed
that the synods of Virginia, North
Carolina. South Carolina, Kentucky
and Tennessee shall form a new
synod composed of all the mountain
sections of the territories of these
several synods. This proposed synod,
ii is suggested, should he called the
Appalachian synod. II would include
all that section of the country that
is occupied by what is commonly
called the mountain whites
So far as known this proposition
does not meet with much favor in the
Virginia synod. 1t is claimed that
the territory would be too large, es-
pecially that it is very long and
comparatively narrow strip of coun-
try: that communication from one
part of it to another would be very
difiicult; and particularly. it Is OBJ
jected. nearly whole territory is mis-
sionary ground, with few churches
strong enough to support the work
that ought to be done for the bene-
fit Of its dwellers in the mountain
regions. including the hundreds OF
Thousands of foreigners engaged in
| the coal and lumber industries.
These and many other matters Will
be carefully considered by the synod.
and II ii certain that no action will be
taken hastily. or Nili Advisedly.
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