Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-21
virginia SYNOD MEETS
TUESDAY IN ALEXANDRIA
Annual Session OF Prcsby terians VIII
BE Held In the Second
Church.
DISCUSS IMPORTANT WORK
Church Is Making Special Effort to
Secure Establishment Of Chair fer
Teaching Bible In ALI Educational
Institutions.

Tho Synod OF Virginia of the Pres
byterian Church in the United States
tSouthcrn Presbyterian Church). will,
meet in annual session in the Second
Presbyterian Church at Alexandria on
Tuesday night. and will continue in
session until Friday. OF the sixteen
synods which comprise the general as
scmbly OF this church. the Synod OF
Virginia. is decidedly the strongest in
point OF membership, the total num-
her OF members OF the churches In
cording 10 the figures submitted to the
general assembly tho present year
The territory o. this synod includes all
Of the State of Virginia Except that
portion Of the southwestern part be-
longing TO the synod of Appalachia), q
part Of West Virginia ard Maryland
The s;atis,ics 10 be submitted 70 the
session OF the s''nod OF this year will
snow substantial growth In member
snip and large contributions to the
several causes OF the synod and the
assembly during the year just closed
Last year there were 3.3ss members
added to the churches in the Synod OF
Virginia on examination. and 1919 were
added by certificate. According to the
| latest figures available, there are 273
m inistcrs in this synod. ffty-two can
didates for the ministry. 3S9 churches.
i.A11 elders. Isis deacons and a total
enrolment IN the Sunday schools Of
5l.S1. II Is n feet OF special interest
that the eurolli:ient in the Sunday
schools OF this Synod exceeds the num-
bcr Of members In the churches. The
number OF adults baptized last year in
this synod was l.7cC. and tho number OF
infants baptized WIS SIS
DIR. JAMES POWER SMITH
STATED CLERK OF SYNOD
The. Synod OF Virginia contributed
last year TO foreign missions ses.Ss4:
10 home missions. :?l.442: to Christian
education and minis t~r.al relief, sal. os3:
to Sabbath schoo! extension and publI-
cation. S7.25e: to schools and colleges
| fl5.16s; to Bible cause. s2.bo7: to
orphans home. s1l.s5a: to miscel-
not benevolent. s3o.5o1: to current ex-
nenscs and presbyterial tax. s2o1,2l5:
to salaries OF pastors. $219.797
The stated clerk OF the synod OF
Virginia IS Rev. James Power Smith.
D. d. OF Richmond, and the host of
the coming session OF this body is
Rev. John L. Allison. D. D.. of Alex
ancria.
Among tho many causes to come be-
fore the synod, none will be more
important than that OF Christian edr-
cation. At this time the department
Of Christian education Of the South
crn Presbyterian Church is making
specia! effort to secure the establish
ment Of 4 chair for the teaching Of
the Eible in every educatiora, instt-
tuition ir tho church. and tn. endow-
incnt OF all OF these Institutions of
learning. In homer OF the four hun
dredth anniversary Of the Protesta Mt
Reformation. which is being celebrated
the present year. In this special eff
fort for the cause of Christian edu-
cation. practically all of the Protest.
ant denominations have united for the
purpofe OF advancing tie work OF
these institutions. and especially along
the line of giving the proper Impetus
to the study OF the Bible. 1t is prob
able that Rev. Henry H. Sweets. D.
H.. OF Louisville. Ky. the assembly's
secretary of Christian education and
ministerial relief. will deliver the lead
Ing address before the Synod Of vir-
ginia in the interest Of Christian cdu-
cation He Will speak to the synod also
in the interest of ministeria. relief