Newspaper Page Text
14 THE
I Synods |
SYNOD OF ARKANSAS.
The Synod of Arkansas convened in
Helena, Uctober 19, and continued in session
four days.
Rev. R. B. Willis D. D., the moderator,
preached the opening sermon on "The
Sabbath."
Dr. C. C. Williams was elected moderator,
Rev. Flournoy Shepperson, temporary
clerk and Dr. J. W. Purcell, reading
clerk.
The second day of Synod was largely
devoted to hearing the "Second Day Program,"
and a number of helpful addresses
were made. With this preparation the
business of Synod was transacted speedily
and pleasantly. No unpleasant complaints
were heard and every decision of
Synod was practically unanimous.
The "causes" were given an attentive
hearing. Rev. H. E. McMillan for Assemhli.'a
. T>n m trx
uij o nuiuc luiaoiiiiia, ncv. IV. ?j. V 111SU11
for Schools and Colleges; Rev. Robert J.
McMullen and Mr. H. C. Ostrom for Foreign
Missions; Mr. R. W. Davis for Brotherhood
and Covenanter Work; and Rev.
J. D. McLean for the Southwestern Orphans'
Home, were presented.
Austin Theological Seminary was represented
by Dr. R. E. Vinson and through
hinx and the board of trustees very encouraging
reports were heard from this
the young seminary of the southwest. A
number of pledges were made for financial
assistance to meet some of the immediate
needs.
Members of the faculty at Austin Sem
inary are conducting Bible classes for
university students, and the board has
admitted to the class rooms such women
as will undertake the full work of the
class for a course or for a term.
Home Missions, which is conducted under
the Synod's plan of co-operation
among the Presbyteries, was brought before
Synod in the report of the chairman.
Dr. J. C. Williams. The past year has
witnessed the largest contributions to
this work and the largest results in the
history of the work in the Synod are reported.
Dr. Williams was re elected
chairman.
The reports from Arkansas College, the
Synod's school at Batesville, were the
most encouraging ever sent to Synod
from that institution. The material equipment
of the school has been greatly improved,
the endowment has been increased,
and the enrollment for the present
session surpasses expectation and the
dormitories are more thpn filled. Additional
accommodation is imperative and
Synod appointed Rev. J. F. McKenzie as
its representative to secure the |1,500
needed to erect at once a dormitory costing
$6,000 and containing twentv-eieht
rooms.
Synod has endeavored for several years
past to establish a college for girls and
young women, but very little has been
accomplished. A committee, composed of
Rev. Drs. J. L. Caldwell, E. C. Bingham
and Charles Morris, was appointed to confer
with the board of trustees of Arkan
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOU
sas College with regard to making arrangements
for the better accommodation
of girls and young women, so that they
may have the full advantage of our already
established college together with
such other branches as are specially emphasized
in schools for women.
Memorials of Judge H. G. Bunn and of
Rev. Robert B. Cavett were read.
Jonesboro was chosen as the place of
meeting next year, and the time was
changed from October to the third Tuesday
(15th day) in November.
Wm. H. Morrow, S. C.
Springdale, October 29.
THE SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Charleston, the metropolis and chief
seaport of the State, and the centre of
much of its history, business and culture,
was the place in which the Synod
met this year. And the old First Church,popularly
known as the Scotch Church,
organized in 1732, the mother of the other
Presbyterian churches of the city, welcomed
the body in the massive walls
nf its Rtfttplv hniiRO of wnrohln Tho
place was very attractive in its historic
interest, its beautiful and spacious harbor,
and magnificent navy yard and its
elegant and hospitable homes. The attendance
was unusually large, 175 members
being enrolled and many visitors
besides being present, and the meeting
proved a very pleasant one in every respect.
There were no judicial cases or
other vexing questions to produce heat of
debate, or divergence of opinion.
The meeting began, Friday night, October
22, and closed Tuesday night, the 25.
Rev. T. W. Sloan, D. D., the esteemed
pastor of the First Church, Greenville,
was elected Moderator, and presided with
promptness and efficiency. And the excellent
arrangements of the efficient pastor,
Dr. Alex. Sprunt, and the charming
October weather, with its clear skies and
balmy air, contributed much to the comfort
and success of the meeting.
South Carolina Synod has a very simple
and easy going method of doing its
business. Excepting Home Missions (of
which there is an Executive Committee
to conduct the work and report to Synod),
it has a system of permanent committees,
which bring in carefully prepared reports,
AAirArlnty oil riA/tAaaoKW 1?form oUah nn<l
V.U TV1 lt<5 Mil UCVCODU1 J 1U1U1 111ML1WU ailU
recommendations touching the several
causes, and these reports are considered
immediately upon presentation and if
the Assembly's Secretary, or other representative
is present, he may be heard
at once. Thus there are very few standing
committees to burden the patience
of the members and prolong the sessions
of the Synod. This year we had Secretaries,
Chester, Sweets, McMillan, Snedecor,
Boggs and also Dr. Phillips. Mr.
h. u. ustrom, or tne Laymen's Movement,
Missionaries S. P. Fulton, and Tate,
and College Presidents Adams and- Smith,
all addressed the Synod and Rev. J. T.
Hall, of the Plumtree mission in North
Carolina and Rev. J. M. Way, secretary
of the Interdenominational S. S. Association,
also spoke. The features of special
interest connected with the meeting
were as follows:
TH. November 10, 1909.
1. The Calvin Celebration, beginning
with opening sermon of the Moderator,
Rev. Dr. H. A. White. There were set addresses
by Dr. S. M. Smith, of Columbia,
on "Calvin and Civil Institutions," by
Dr. James I. Vance, of Newark, N. J.,
on "Calvin's Message to the Modern
World," and by Dr. G. B. Strickler, of
Richmond, Va., on "Some Doctrines of
v^mvin. lor. vances address was delivered
to a large assembly of men in
the Academy of Music, on Sunday afternoon
under the joint auspices of the
Synod and the local Y. M. C. A. The
others were in the- church, where the
Synod met.
2. The erection of a new Presbytery.
A proposition was made two years ago
to divide the old South Carolina Presbytery
and constitute a new one out of the
churches and ministers in Anderson, Oconee
and Pickens counties, in the northwestern
part of the State. But as there
seemed to be quite a difference of sectional
opinion on the part of those directly
concerned, the matter was postponed
until there should be an overture for
division from tho Proohvtarv ?? a -1
though there was still a divergence of
opinion as to the desirability of the division
and strong opposition on the part of
some, the erection of the new Presbytery
was ordered and is to be effected as
a meeting place at Seneca on the ninth
of November. The Synod also at its own
request, transferred Salem Church from
Enoree to Bethel Presbytery.
3. Changes as to Synodical Home Missions.
A new plan proposed last year
and adopted by the Presbyteries goes into
effect by which the chairmen of the
Presbyterial committees on Home Missions,
compose the Synod's committee;
and all collections for local Home Missions
go to the Presbyterial committees,
which shall remit two-fifths to the Synodical
Committee. Rev. G. G. Mayes, was
elected General Superintendent and Rev.
George F. Robertson, General Evangelist.
A general treasurer is to be chosen by
the committee. Rev. R. G. McLees, who
has served acceptably and efficiently as
general evangelist for six years, retires
from the work to accept a pastorate at
Chatham, Va.
4. Improvement in Columbia Seminary.
Official announcement was made of the
election of Rev. A. M. Fraser, D. D., of
Staunton, Va., to be president and professor
of Pastoral Theology and HomilAiinn
*WU ? ui. a *? -
isuw iu iuib vcuerauie 1I1H11I.UI.10I1, OI
which he is a distinguished alumnus, and
of his readiness to accept. But a technical
defect appeared in the manner of
his election, which though unanimous
and hearty, was at a called meeting when
two-thirds of the directors (as required
by the constitution in the election of a
professor), were not present. This was
noted and steps were taken to have the
other associated Synodq concur in adopt-,
ing means to legalize the election and
ur. r raser was urged to accept.
5. The Synod approved of measures
taken last summer to organize the young
people's societies, connected with the
churches of Synod, into a Westminster
federation of Young People's Societies