Virginia Free Press & Farmers' Repository

SYNOD OF VIRGINIA.

WINCHESTER, NOV. 5.

The synod of Virginia met in the Kent street Presbyterian church, in this town, on Thursday of last week, and was attended by the following members:

From the Presbytery of East Hanover.

Rev. Wm. J. Armstrong, Richmond

A. Converse do.

Elder James Caskey do.

From the Presbytery of West Hanover,

Rev. John K. Murdock, Cumberland

Desmond Isom do.

Keppel Jones, Augusta

Henry Smith, do.

Israel Rumel, do.

John Kinmon, do.

John Cathey, York

Asher Pryor do.

From the Presbytery of Winchester.

Rev. William Hill, D. D. Winchester

William Williamson, Middleburg

Samuel L. Young, do.

James Black, French Thornton, Culpeper

J. M. Rankin do.

William H. Foote, Romney

Intor. J. Woodwork do.

Serenus T. Sutton, (Hagerstown?)

Jesse S. Brown, do.

Irvin H. Baker, Winchester

Elder C. Hutchinson, Lewistown

Jacob D. Mitchell, Smithfield

Elias Henry Butler, do.

Daniel Bonham, do.

Robert Worthington, Charlestown

William Wilson, Greenville

Bloody Mills

William Fould, Cedar Creek

Augustus C. Smith, Winchester

Corresponding members present.

Rev. Nathan S. B. Baum, D. D., Troy, N. York

William C. Walton, Alexandria

Jacob Brother, German Reformed Church, Sharpsburg

Mr. Lucas, synod of New Jersey.

Total, 30 ministers, 15 elders.

In addition to these, there were 3 licentiates present, and a large concourse of strangers from the surrounding neighborhood and more remote parts of our state.

The introductory sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Hill, the moderator of the last synod, from James iii. 17.

The sermon being concluded, the synod was called to order, the roll of the members called, and the synod organized by the election of the Rev. Wm. J. Armstrong, as moderator; and the Rev. Abner W. Kilpatrick and Rev. A. Converse, as clerks. The synod then adjourned till 4 P. M.

We presume a report of all the proceedings is not expected by our readers. We shall merely state, that, from the reports of the ministers, verbally made to the synod, the cause of religion, in their respective congregations throughout the state, seemed encouraging. In many, large additions were made to the church during the past year, and an anxious feeling continued to prevail. Liberal contributions had been made for carrying on the benevolent operations of the church. The tract cause was gaining ground; the attention of the church was becoming more fixed on the importance of Sabbath Schools, and the number of those who were brought under their influence, was increasing. The cause of temperance, also, was advancing: and the advantages resulting to individuals, to the community at large, and to the church, from the attention which had been paid to this cause, were already felt.

So large a number of ministers had never before met in our town, and the occasion was improved to dispense public worship as often as the convenience of the synod would permit. Service was performed at noon and night each day in the two Presbyterian churches, and on Sunday in the Episcopal and Methodist churches also. We have ascertained that 17 sermons were delivered during the sojourn of the synod, and that there were about as many exhortations, and a proportionate number of prayer meetings.

The communion was administered on Sabbath afternoon, in the First Presbyterian church, to about 450 communicants.

The Synod closed its business on Saturday night. The next meeting is appointed to be held in Harrisonburg, Rockingham county, on the 4th Thursday in October, 1831.

Winchester Republican.

In a communication, in the same paper, referring to some of the incidents connected with the meeting of the synod, we find the following just tribute to the respected pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Charlestown:

In the afternoon a large audience assembled (in the Episcopal church) to hear our old favorite, the Rev. Mr. Tuston. His sermon was from the text—"For God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath appointed." This gentleman's standing and peculiar style, as a pulpit orator, is so well known in this section of the country, as to require but a brief notice. Suffice it to say, that this effort detracted in no wise from his well-earned reputation, and was pronounced by some good judges as one of the finest specimens of eloquence that they had heard for a long period! His descriptions of the judgment—those who should be present and judged—the character and appearance of the judge—were in a style and manner which were at times really sublime: and the silence and deep attention paid by his large and intelligent auditory, was such as to pay the highest compliment to the successful efforts of the speaker. Mr. T., on this occasion, was free from the principal defect we have noticed in his delivery—and this regards the modulation of his voice. His voice is an excellent one on the low tones, and shows great cultivation: but when it rises in compass, it, perhaps from physical defect, becomes broken, and then grates upon the ear. We hope that there is, or will be, a radical improvement in this important respect.