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4 THE PRESBYTERIAI THE SYNOD OF VIRGINIA. In its one hundred and twenty-second session the Synod of Virginia, on Thursday night, October 14, T909, met in the Davis Memorial Church, Elkins, West Virginia. Quite remote from the center of the terri tory, and somewhat circuitous in its routes of access, it was to be expected that the atetndance would not he full, but one hundred and twenty were enrolled, and do not regret their coming to this new city in Tygart Valley in the mountains of the northwest of Virginia. But it is not farthest point reached by the Synod, for in the year 1800 the Synod, then including old Redbone Presbytery in its bounds, met in the town of Washington, Pennsylvania, and the fathers must have gone on horseback far over the Allcghanies, and across the Monongahela Valley. The opening sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. j\. m. Eraser, ot Staunton, Va., by request of the Moderator, Rev. J. E. Booker. The Rev. Dr. George L. Petrie, of Charlottesville, was elected Moderator, and the clerks were the Rev. J. B. Massev and the Rev. T. YV. Hooper, Jr. The institutions having relations to the Synod were ably and fully presented. Union Theological Seminary by the President, Dr. W. W. Moore, and the Field Agent, Rev. R. F. Kirkpatrick; Hampden-Sydney College by the President, Rev. H. Tucker Graham ; the Assembly's Home and School by the Rev. J. H. Henderlite, of Fredericksburg, and the Synod's Home for Orphans at Lynchburg by the Superintendent, Dr. R. H. Fleming. All are dong good work for the Lord and His cause and people, and all were com mended to the sympathy and cordial support of our churches and people. The Assembly's Executive Committees were represented by their secretaries, and were given a good hearing by the large assemblies. The Rev. H. H. Sweets spoke for Ministerial Education and Ministerial Relief; the Rev. Dr. Wm. E. Boggs for the new Committee on Schools and Colleges; the Rev. J. O. Reavis for Foreign Missions, and Rev. J. G. Snedecor for the Evangelization of the Colored People. One evening was given to an address of great power and earnestness by former Governor Glenn, of North Carolina, in behalf of Missions in the Home Field. His subject was the perils that confront our civilization and the character of our people, naming especially the desecration of the Sabbath, the wickedness of great cities, and thp Hpstrnrtinn foitli J^? ?Vin 13.'Kt? T'U^ , ~ r?w?a V* 1U1 Lit Alt kllV. JJlUIt. X IIC: Synod responded in a strong paper commending the work of Governor Glenn. Sermons by the Moderator, Dr. Petrie, by Dr. Kirk, of Baltimore, Dr. W. W. Moore, of Union Seminary, and by Dr. Ernest Thompson, of Charleston, West Virginia, were heard by large congregations, and were impressive and profitable. The communion service on Sunday night was conducted by the Rev. C. S. Lingamfelter, the former pastor, assisted by Dr. A. C. Hopkins, and was marked by brevity and simplicity. There were appropriate addresses on the Bible cause by the Rev. M. B. Porter, and the Laymen's Movement by Mr. Ostrom and Mr. R. M. Friend. Twelve or more churches in a wide radius from Elkins were supplied on the Sabbath, and the day being fair, large congregations heard the message of the Gospel from i OF THE SOUTH. October 27, 1?G9. ministers of the Synod. On Saturday afternoon a very handsome reception was given to members of the Synod, the ladies with them and the congregation, at the mansion of Senator Elkins, and the social entertainment was greatly enjoyed. The Synod adjourned on Monday night, October 18, after a very interesting and pleasant meeting. At the closing service memorials were read of two bretb ren, Dr. George W. Finley and the Rev. John Ruff, who have passed away during the year part. Next year the Synod of Virginia will meet in Charlottesville. Virginia. The last meeting there was in 1883. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE LIQUOR TRADE. A strong, movement is on foot, at this present tiiue, to secure a change in the laws of the United States in reference to the interstate sale and delivery of intoxicants. The Federal Government is nullifying the laws of the several States in a way that is utterly inexcusable. An illustration is found at Chattanooga, on the bor der between Georgia and Tennessee. Both States have prohibited the sale of liquors as a beverage. But the sale is going on, none the less, at this point under the patronage of Interstate Commerce. The dealer in Chattanooga sells his liquors to some one who is to receive them at Chickamauga, or some other point just a few miles across the Georgia line. It is then interstate commerce and the officials of Georgia, under the decisions of the United States courts are powerless to restrain it. Then the recipient takes the same liquors and carries them back to the real purchasers in Chattanooga. Under this color of law prohibition is nullified. At the present there is a bill in the United States Senate providing that immediately on the arrival of any intoxicant within the bounds of anv \t shall become subject to the laws of that State, and that it may not be sold or delivered in violaion of such law. Also that when the laws of any State forbid the dealing in intoxicants, the Federal Government shall not give encouragement to such sales by issuing a Federal license. The bill is exactly just in its purport. We feel that it is only right that one branch of our government should fully sustain every other branch. It can not be right for the one authority to weaken the hands of the other. This bill will come up for consideration in the approaching session of Congress. It is well for every citizen to bethink himself what he can do to promote the passage of a law which will put a stop to these violations of our prohibitory enactments. It is an "old story," which we have heard many a time, arid ever since we were a child, but it comes again: A most intelligent, earnest and charitable "layman" said to us the other day, speaking of his preacher, "Oh, how I do wish some one would endow a chair in each of the Seminaries to teach the ministers how to read!" His pastor's reading of the Scriptures and / the hymns troubled him greatly. /