MINUTES
OF THE
SYNOD OF GEORGIA
AT THEIR
ELEVENTH ANNUAL SESSION, IN LaGRANGE, GEORGIA,
WITH
J&. IKT APPE3STDIX.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF SYNOD.
ATliANTA, GEOBGIA =
C. R. HANLEITER 8f CO., PRINTERS.
1856.
MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF GEORGIA.
■«> i <—■
LaGrange, Nov. 14, 1855.
The Synod of G-eorgia met in the Presbyterian Church, Wed¬
nesday morning, 11 o'clock, according to adjournment, and was
opened, at the request of the Moderator, with a sermon by the
Rev. John S. Wilson, D. D., from I Cor. 9, 16. 11 For though I
preach the gospel, I have nothing whereof to glory : for necessity is
laid upon me; yea, wo is me if I preach not the gospel.''''
After Sermon the Synod was called to order by the Moderator,
Rev. W. M. Cunningham, and opened with prayer. There were
present—
From Hopewell Presbytery—Ministers N. Hoyt, D. D., P. Bow¬
man, D. D., S. S. Davis, D. D., C. P. Beman, D. D., R. L. Breck.
From Georgia Presbytery—James Stacy.
From Florida Presbytery—S. D. Campbell.
From Flint River Presbytery—John S. Wilson, D. D., J. Y.
Alexander, J. C. Patterson, W. M. Cunningham, T. P. Mont¬
gomery, R. T. Marks, William Mathews, Prancis McMurray.
From Cherokee Presbytery—John P. Lanneau, H. C. Carter,
A. G. Johnson, G-. H. W. Petrie, C. M. Shepperson.
ELDERS PRESENT.
From Hopewell—E. L. Newton, of Athens; W. B. Johnson,
Greensborough.
From Florida.—J. Gillis, Euchee Valley.
From Flint River.—A. Mclver, Newnan ; John Bonner, Ephe-
sus ; S. R. Penick, Perry ; N. N. Smith, LaGrange ; E. Newton,
Long Cane ; John P. Boyd, Muscogee ; James Pedan, Decatur;
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Minutes of the
M. Robertson, Emmaus ; T. S. Reese, West Point; David Gam¬
ble, Brainard.
From Cherokee,—David Ardis, Marietta; Barrington King, Ros-
well.
MINISTERS ABSENT.
From Hopewell Presbytery.—A. Church, D. D., S. K. Tal-
mage, D. D., Henry Safford, R. Chamberlain, J. W. Reid, R'
Hooker, Henry Newton, Wm. P. Gready, R. M. Baker, R. C.
Ketchum, G. H. Cartledge, C. B. King, R. K. Porter, R. W.
Milner, I. S. K. Axson, William Plinn, W. G. Williams.
From Georgia Presbytery.—C. C. Jones, D. D., John Winn,
Joseph M. Quarterman, Donald Eraser, E. T. Williams, L. S.
Bebee, D. L. Buttolph, John Jones, T. B. Neill.
From Florida Presbytery.—D. McNeill Turner, Homer Hen-
dee, D. J. Auld, W. E. Hamilton, J. H. Myers, A. W. Sproull,
S. J. Milliken, Eli Graves, Joel S. Graves, Edmund Lee, W. H.
Crane, A. R. Wolfe, Henry Cherry, Geo. C. Fleming.
From Flint River Presbytery.—J. R. McCarter, Joseph B. Ste¬
vens, W. J. Keith, J. L. King, A. G. Pedan, Samuel H. Higgins,
John McKittriek, H. L. Dean, J. E. DuBose.
From Cherokee Presbytery.—James Gamble, N. A. Pratt, D. D.,
B. D. DuPree, A. Y. Lockridge, J. M. M. Caldwell, F. R. Goulding,
D. Ingles,R. A. Milner, W. H. Johnson, W. Swift, T. C. Crawford,
J. L. Rogers, D. F. Smith.
CHURCHES NOT REPRESENTED.
Hopewell Presbytery.—Lexington, Bethany, Mount Zion, Lincon-
ton, Monticello, Woodstock, New Hope, Sandy Creek, Tbyatira,
Eatonton, Madison, Clarksville, New Lebanon, Green Street,
Waynesborough and Bath, Danielsville, Augusta, Concord, Turkey
Creek, Ebenezer, Sparta, Washington, Bethel, South Liberty,
Pleasant Hill, Irwinton and Hebron.
Georgia Presbytery.—Mount Yernon, Bryan Neck, First Church
Savannah, Pleasant Grove, Darien and Harris' Neck, Waynesville
and St. Marys.
Flint River Presbytery.—Carrollton, Alcovia, Fairview, Goshen,
Americus, Mount Tabor, Jackson, Fellowship, White Oak, Griffin,
Synod of Georgia.
5
Pacbitla, Cuihbert, Greenville, Smyrna, Salem, Hopewell, Beth-
esda, Betbany, Friendship, Albany, Philadelphia, Fayetteville, Leb¬
anon, McDonough, Forsyth, Hamilton, Mount Zion, Lumpkin and
Fort Gaines.
Florida Presbytery.—Tallahassee, Quincv, Madison, Monticello,
St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Bainbridge, Curry's, Boston, Lowndes,
Greenville, Thomasville, Iamonia, Newport, Damascus, Marianna,
Micanopy and Tampa.
Presbytery of Cherokee.—Calhoun, Nazareth, Hopewell, Mar's
Hill, Midway, Pleasant Green, Alpine, Beersheba, Walnut Grove,
New Lebanon, Harmony, Sardis, Cedar Town, Cassville, Friendship,
Euharlee, Canton, Dahlonega, Carthage, Dalton, Bethel, Chattooga-
ta, Chicamauga, Resaca, Concord, Summerville,LaFayette, Armu-
chee, Pea-Vine, Cumraing and Floyd Springs.
The roll being completed, Synod took recess till 2| o'clock, P. M.
Wednesday Afternoon, 2| o'clock.
Synod met and came to order.
On motion, the body proceeded to the election of a Moderator.
On .counting the votes, it appeared that the Rev. C. P. Beman, D.
D., was duly elected.
The Rev. F. McMurray was chosen Temporary Clerk.
The Moderator elect having signified his acceptance of the office,
was inducted according to our usual mode, by reading the Rules for
the Government of Judicatories.
The Minutes of the last Sessions were read, corrected and ap¬
proved.
The Rev. Mr. Conner, of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South; the Rev. T. L. McBryde, of the Synod of South Carolina,
and the Rev. Mr. Coe, of the Synod of Illinois, being present,
were invited to seats as corresponding members.
Rev. S. D. Campbell, of the Presbytery of Florida, appeared,
and rendered satisfactory reasons for not coming sooner, as did,
also, J. Gillis, ruling Elder of the Church of Euchee Valley.
The following explanatory resolution was adopted: Inasmuch,
as there appears to be an error in the names of the Standing Com¬
mittee on Domestic Missions, appointed last year, therefore,
6
Minutes of the
Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Talmage, R. L. Breck and J. J.
Gresham, were, and they be now, recognized as that Committee.
Rev. W. M. Cunningham, T. F. Montgomery and Elder N. N.
Smith, were appointed the Committee on Devotional Exercises,
both of the Congregation and Synod.
A communication from the Rev. B. M. Palmer, D. D., Stated
Clerk of the Synod of South Carolina, informing this Synod of the
action of that body, in relation to the Theological Seminary at Co¬
lumbia, was read.
It was made the order of the day, for to-morrow morning, at 10
o'clock, to hear the Rev. Mr. Coe, Corresponding Secretary of the
Church Extension Committee, St. Louis, on the subject of his
Agency.
Absentees from the last stated meeting were called on for the
reasons of their failure to attend. Dr. Beman, J. Y. Alexander
and C. M. Shepperson, rendered reasons which were sustained.
Rev. W. G. Williams, through Rev. W. M. Cunningham, rendered
reasons for absence from the present sessions, which were sustained.
Three o'clock to-morrow afternoon, was the hour fixed upon to
hear the Rev. T. L. McBryde, delegate from the Synod of South
Carolina, in relation to the Theological Seminary.
A communication'from the Session and Committee of the First
Church of Augusta, kindly inviting and requesting the Synod to
hold its next annual sessions in that city, was read.
Synod adjourned till to-morrow morning 9 o'clock.
Closed with prayer.
SECOND SESSION.
LaGrange, November 15th, 1855. >
Thursday Morning, 9 o'clock. )
Synod met according to adjournment, and was opened with prayer.
Present as on yesterday, together with Rev. S. K. Talmage, B.
D., J. W. Baker, J. M. M. Caldwell, Richard M. Baker, Henry Saf-
ford, J. E. DuBose, Henry Newton, J. W. Keith, J. B. Stevens and
Elders J.J. Gresham, of Macon, James Taylor, Ebenezer, John
Groves, Kingston, B. F. Hawkins, Rome, and Joseph P. Logan, M.
D., Atlanta; who severally rendered reasons for coming late, which
were sustained.
Synod of Georgia.
7
The Rev. W. B. Telford and Rev. J. Leighton Wilson, co¬
ordinate Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions, and both of
the Synod of South Carolina, being present, were invited to seats as
corresponding members.
The Rev. John Winn, by letter, assigned reasons for absence
from the present Sessions, which were sustained.
The Moderator announced the following Standing Committees:
On Bills and Overtures.—S. S. Davis, D. D., J. Y. Alexander
and Elder John Bonner, who were directed to meet in this house
at the close of this morning's session, and afterwards on their own
adjournments.
Judicial Committee.-—R. L. Breck, James Stacy and Elder S.
R. Penick.
Theological Seminary.—J. C. Patterson, J. F. Lanneau, and
Elders B. King and E. L. Newton.
Oglethorpe University.—Gr. H. W. Petrie, J. S. Wilson, D. D.,
R. T. Marks, and Elders M. Robertson and T. S. Reese.
Committee on Finance.—R. T. Marks, and Elder N. N.
Smith.
Narrative of the State of Religion.—S. K. Talmage, D. D.,
William Matthews, and Elder James Pedan.
Records of Georgia Presbytery.—C. M. Shepperson and Elder
J. Gramble.
Records of Hopewell Preslytery.—H. C. Carter, and Elder A.
Mclver.
Records of Florida Presbytery.—A. Gr. Johnson and Elder J. F.
Boyd.
Records of Flint River Presbytery.—J. M. M. Caldwell and El¬
der B. F. Hawkins.
Records of Cherokee Presbytery.—S. B. Campbell and Elder J.
amis.
The report of the Board of Directors of the Theological Semina¬
ry of the Synods of South Carolina and Greorgia was presented,
which, together with the communication from the Stated Clerk ofT
the Synod of South Carolina, read yesterday, was referred to the
Standing Committee on the Seminary.
The hour for the order of the day having arrived, (the hearing of
the Rev. Mr.- Coe on Church Extension,) it was moved that the or-
8
Minutes of the
der be postponed, with a view to take up a motion that the Synod
take recess at the hour of public church service, to attend Divine
Worship with the congregation. The motion to postpone the or¬
der prevailed. The motion to have recess at the proper time, to
unite in the public services of the Sanctuary this morning, after
some remarks, also prevailed. The order of the day was then ta¬
ken up, and the Rev. Mr. Coe was heard in behalf of the cause of
Church Extension. On motion, the subject was referred to a spe¬
cial Committee, consisting of the Rev. N. Hoyt, D. D., F. Bow¬
man, D. D., and Elder E. L. Newton, to report to this Body.
Synod then took recess till 2 o'clock, P. M.
Thursday Afternoon, 2 o'clock.
Synod met and came to order.
The Moderator announced the Committee on the Minutes of the
last General Assembly, consisting of Rev. W. J. Keith, J. M. M.
Caldwell and Elder B. F. Hawkins.
Nominations to fill the vacancies occurring in the Directorship
of the Theological Seminary, by reason of those who go out of of¬
fice at this time, were made; and it was ordered that the election
take place to-morrow morning, immediately after the reading of the
Minutes.
Elder Ebenezer Newton re-appeared in Synod, and by leave of
the Body, resumed his seat as a member.
On motion, it was made the second order of the day for to-mor¬
row morning, to receive Narratives of the State of Religion and
statistical reports from the Presbyteries.
The Treasurer of Synod, Rev. Dr. Wilson, presented his annual
report, which was referred to the Committee on Finance.
Rev. N. A. Pratt, D. D., appeared and rendered satisfactory
reasons for tardiness.
On motion, Rev. Dr. Pratt was added to the Standing Commit¬
tee on Oglethorpe University, and appointed Chairman of said Com¬
mittee.
Tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock was set down as the hour to hear
the Rev. J. Leighton Wilson on the subject of Foreign Missions.
The consideration of the place of the next meeting of the Synod
was then taken up. Rome, Augusta and Atlanta were severally
Synod of Georgia.
9
nominated. On calling the roll, Atlanta was chosen, and Wednes¬
day before the third Sabbath of November, 1856, at 7 o'clock, P.
M., was fixed as the time of meeting.
The Committee on Devotional Exercises of Synod reported : the
report was accepted, adopted and is as follows : That these servi¬
ces be held on Saturday, at 11 o'clock, A. M., and in the following
order:
1. Psalmody by the Moderator.
2. Prayer by Dr. Davis.
3. Reading the Scriptures by Rev. J. Y. Alexander.
4. Address by Rev. Dr. Hoyt.
5. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Bowman.
6. Psalmody and Benediction by the Moderator.
A letter was received from the Rev. S. H. Higgins, giving rea-'
sons for absence, which were sustained.
The hour for the order of the day having arrived, the Rev. T.
L. McBride was heard in relation to the interests of the Theologi¬
cal Seminary at Columbia.
The Special Committee on the subject of Church Extension re¬
ported. The report was accepted and adopted, and is as follows:
The Committee to whom was referred the important subject pre¬
sented to this Body, by Rev. Mr. Coe, Corresponding Secretary of
the General Assembly's Church Extention Committee, submit the
following report:
In the Assembly of 1854, the following resolution was passed:
"And/urther, this Assembly would earnestly and affectionately en¬
join it upon all the Churches to take up separate collections annual¬
ly, for this object, (to be reported in a separate column in the Ap¬
pendix to the Minutes of the Assembly,) and upon all our Presby¬
teries to see that this is done." [See Min. 1854, page 41.] And
again in 1855, the following: "Resolved, That so far as applicable
to the present Committee of Church Extension, the resolutions of
previous Assemblies on the subject of Church Extension, are re¬
newed for their guidance in their work." [See Min., 1855, page
298.] Now therefore
Resolved, I. That this Synod highly approves of the objects of
the Church Extension Committee, and would most cordially recom-
2
10
Minutes of the
mend it to the early and hearty co-operation of all our Presbyte¬
ries and Churches.
Resolved, II. That wo approve of the proposed plan of the Church
Extension Committee, to endeavor to accomplish their great work
through the agency of Presbyteries, Pastors and Church Sessions,
without the expense of paid agents.
Resolved, III. That it be enjoined on all our Presbyteries to ap¬
point annually a Standing Committee of Church Extension, to which
shall be assigned the following duties :
1. The collecting and reporting to the Assembly's Committee at
St. Louis, definite and reliable information as to the Church Exten¬
sion of our Presbyteries.
2. By writing or visiting to interest our Churches in this matter,
and see that an annual collection is taken up, as directed by the
Assembly.
3. To examine every application for aid in erecting Churches,
and as far as possible by personal visitation of some one or more of
the Committee to determine how much aid is really needed.
Resolved, IY. That as the time is short, and as our Presbyterial
Fall Sessions are already past, and as it is of great importance to
make a speedy beginning of this long neglected work, this Synod
do now, simply as a temporary measure, appoint the following per¬
sons in the different Presbyteries to constitute those committees:
In the Preshylery of Hopewell—S. S. Davis, D. D., It. K.
Porter and John Craig.
In the Presbytery of Flint River—Standing Committee qf Do¬
mestic Missions, namely: Messrs. Cunningham, Marks, Smith,
Robertson and Redd.
In the Presbytery of Georgia—C. C. Jones, D. D., D. L. Bu-
tolph, Donald Fraser and H. A. Crane.
In the Presbytery of Cherokee—J. F. Lanneau, Gr. H. W. Petrie
and John Lewis.
In the Presbytery of Florida—S. D. Campbell, W. H. Hamil¬
ton, Alexander Sproull and Dr. Benjamin Johnson.'
And the Synod earnestly requests our Presbyteries to perpetuate
these committees from year to year.
Resolved, Y. That the second Sabbath in February next, be the
Synod of Georgia,
11
day on which this subject shall be presented by our pastors to their
Churches and a collection taken up in aid of the Church Extension
Committee ; or, in case of a failure on that day, as soon after as
may be convenient; and after that, the time for this action to be
referred entirely to the Presbyteries. All of which is respectfully
submitted.
On motion, a Committee was appointed, consisting of Drs. Wilson
and Bowman, to nominate suitable persons to fill the vacancies oc¬
curring in the Board of Trustees of Oglethorpe University. This
Committee, after a few moments consultation nominated the follow¬
ing persons:
N. A. Pratt, D. D., R. L. Breck and William Flinn, Ministers;
and M. Grieve, E. A. Nisbit, R. H. Ramsey ; and J. J. Gresham
(in place of Dr. Terrell, deceased) for one year, Laymen.
Synod adjourned till to-morrow morning 9 o'clock.
Closed with prayer.
THIRD SESSION.
LaGrange, November 16th, 1855. )
Friday Morning, 9 o'clock. $
Synod met according to adjournment, and was opened with prayer.
Present as on yesterday.
Minutes of yesterday were read and corrected.
The Rev. Messrs. Simmons and Overby, of the Methodist Epis¬
copal Church, South, and the Rev. Mr. Smith, of the Baptist
Church, being present, were invited to seats as correspondents.
Rev. John Jones appeared and rendered satisfactory reasons for
not coming sooner.
It being the order of the day for this hour, Synod proceeded to
the election of Directors of the Theological Seminary ; W. J. Keith
and James Stacy were appointed a Committee to receive and count
the votes.
Elder James Gamble obtained leave of absence from the remain¬
ing sessions of Synod.
The Rev. Dr. Talmage requested to be discharged from the du¬
ties of Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Narrative of
the state of Religion, and John Jones was appointed in his place.
12
Minutes of the
The second order was taken up, and the Narratives and Statisti¬
cal reports of the Presbyteries were received. The Narratives
were placed in the hands of the Committee on the Narrative of
Religion within the bounds of Synod ; and the Statistical reports
spread on the Minutes, which are as follows:
The Presbytery of Hopewell reports to the Synod of Georgia, that
it consists of 22 Ministers, and has under its care 30 Churches.—
It has dismissed John R. Bowman, to join the Presbytery of Tuska-
loosa, and Richard M. Baker, to join the Presbytery of Cherokee.
It has received the Rev. I. S. K. Axson, from the Georgia Pres¬
bytery, and William Flinn, from the Tuskaloosa Presbytery, and
installed him Pastor of the Milledgeville Church. It has licensed
Charles W. Lane and John R. Dow as Probationers—has re¬
ceived under its care Francis H. Bowman as a candidate for the
Ministry, and has dissolved the Bethel Church.
The Presbytery of Georgia reports to Synod, that it consists of
seven Ministers, and has under its care eight Churches, three Li¬
centiates and one candidate for the Ministry—that it has received
the Rev. John Jones, from the Presbytery of Cherokee and dis¬
missed him to join the Presbytery of Hopewell—that it has dis¬
missed the Rev. Thomas Sumner Winn, to join the Presbytery of
Tuskaloosa, and the Rev. James Stacy, to join the Presbytery of
Flint River, and the Rev. Joseph M. Quarterman, to join the Pres¬
bytery of Florida—that it has Ordained its Licentiate, Mr. Thomas
B. Neill, to the Gospel Ministry, and Licensed Mr. Robert Q.
Mallard to preach the Gospel; and received Mr. David H. Porter,
a Licentiate from the Presbytery of Charleston.
The Presbytery of Flint River reports to the Synod of Georgia,
that it consists of 17 Ministers and has under its care 42 Churches,
1 Licentiate, 1 candidate for Licensure, aud 2 Beneficiaries in a
course of preparation for the Ministry—that it has installed the Rev.
Samuel H. Higgins, Pastor of the 1st Presbyterian Church, of Co¬
lumbus—has dissolved the pastoral relation between the Rev.
James R. McCarter and the Church in Americus, and dismissed
him to join the Presbytery of East Alabama—and that it has re¬
ceived the Rev. James Stacy from the Presbytery of Georgia.
The Presbytery of Cherokee reports to the Synod of Georgia, that
it consists of 20 Ministers, and has under its care 35 Churches, 1
Synod of Georgia.
13:
Licentiate and 5 candidates for the Gospel ministry; that it has dis¬
missed the Rev. James L. Rogers to join the Presbytery of Tus-
cumbia; has received the Rev. John VV. Baker and Rev. Richard
M. Baker from the Presbytery of Hopewell, and the Rev. W. B.
Telford, of South Carolina ; has installed Rev. C. M. Shepperson
Pastor of Sardis Church, and Rev. R. A.. Milner Pastor of the
United Churches of Friendship, (or Cartersville,) and Euharlee;
that it has received Mr. Henry B. Pratt, a licentiate from the Pres¬
bytery of New Brunswick, and ordained him to the office of the Gos¬
pel ministry, as an Evangelist, with the view of his entering on a
mission to South America, under the care of the Assembly's Board
of Foreign Missions. Presbytery also reports that the Rev. R. A.
Milner has departed this life.
The Presbytery of Florida, reports* to Synod, that it consists of
15 Ministers, and has under its care 19 Churches and 4 Candidates
for the Gospel Ministry; that it has ordained, " sine titulo," Mr.
George C. Fleming, at present laboring as an Evangelist in East
Florida.
The Committee appointed at the last stated meeting of Synod,
to raise the funds for the endowment of the fourth Professorship in
Oglethorpe University reported. The report was accepted, and
2\ o'clock this afternoon fixed as the time to take up and consider
the subject.
The Committee to receive and count the votes ior Directors of
the Theological Seminary reported that the following persons had
been duly elected to serve for three years :
Ministers—A. Church, D. D., N. A. Pratt, D. D.,R.K. Porter
and I. S. K. Axson.
Elders—E. A. Nisbit, J. J. Gresham and Barrington King.
The Board of Trustees of Oglethorpe University presented their
annual report, which was referred to the Standing Committee on the
University.
The hour for the order of the day having come, it was
Resolved, That the exercises of the Missionary Meeting be pre¬
ceded by singing and prayer.
Having closed these devotional services, Synod heard the Rev.
*This report was received after the adjournment of Synod. The report
is imperfect.—Stated Clerk.
14
Minutes of (he
J. Leighton Wilson and others on the subject of Foreign Missions.
At the conclusion of which a Synodieal collection was taken up,
amounting to $102, which was ordered to be paid to the Rev. Mr.
Wilson as the Agent of the Board.
The Standing Committee, to which was referred the Annual
Report, &c., of the Board of Directors of the Theological Semi¬
nary, made their report. The report was accepted, and made the
second order of the day for this afternoon.
Synod took recess till 2\ o'clock this afternoon.
Friday Afternoon, 2| o'clock.
Synod met and came to order.
Rev. W. B. Telford and Rev. R. L. Breck, and Elder J. J.
Gresham obtained leave of absence after this afternoon's session.
Rev. William Flinn appeared, and rendered satisfactory reasons
for not coming sooner.
The Committee on the Records of Hopewell Presbytery, report¬
ed recommending the approval of the Minutes. The report was
accepted and the Book approved.
The Board of Trustees of Greensboro' Female College presented,
through their President, their annual report. It was referred to a
special committee, consistng of the Rev. John Jones, J. W. Ba¬
ker and Elder Joseph P. Logan.
The Committee on Devotional Exercises was directed to appoint
some suitable hour for the presentation of the annual report of the
Executive Committee of Foreign Missions.
Rev. Dr. Hoyt obtained leave of absence after tomorrow after¬
noon's session—Elder John Groves had leave of absence after this
afternoon's session.
Elder William McKinley, of Milledgeville, appeared and render¬
ed reasons for tardiness, which were sustained.
Rev. C. C. Jones, D. D., through Rev. John Jones, assigned
the reasons of his absence from the present meeting of Synod, which
were sustained.
The order of the day was then taken up, and the report of the
Committee on the Endowment of the fourth Professorship, consid¬
ered. The roll was called and the Churches were enquired of,
through their Pastors and Elders, whether they had responded to
Synod of Georgia.
15
the assessment made by the Committee for raising the sum necessa¬
ry to the effecting of the object, and if not, the reasons why they
had not done so. It appeared that the responses had been very
partial. The report was referred to the Standing Committee on
the University; and 6| o'clock this evening was appointed as the
hour for receiving the report of that Committee.
The annual report of the Board of Trustees of the Griffin Female
College was presented by their Secretary, .Kev. W. J. Keith. The
report was accepted and referred to a special Committee, consist¬
ing of the Rev. J. E. DuBose, R. M. Baker and Elder E. Newton.
The second order was then taken up, and the report of the Com¬
mittee on the Theological Seminary being read, was adopted seria¬
tim, and^is as follows:
The Committee to whom was referred the report of the Board
of Directors of the Theological Seminary at Columbia, and also the
communication from the Stated Clerk of the Synod of South Caro¬
lina, in reference to certain matters of common interest between
the two Synods, beg leave to report, and to recommend the adop¬
tion of the following resolutions :
jResolved 1st. That this Synod is highly gratified to learn that
Dr. B. M. Palmer and Dr. James H. Thornwell have accepted
their appointment to the Chairs of Church History and Theology,,
and that they will both, at an early day, be in their respective
Chairs in the Seminary.
Resolved 2nd. That the Synod approves of the purchase made by
the Board of Directors, of a dwelling house in Columbia, for the
accommodation of Dr. Thornwell; and are pleased to learn tha^
suitable buildings have been erected for the accommodation of stu¬
dents, the expense of which have been cheifly defrayed by the libe¬
rality of two benevolent ladies.
Resolved 3d. That the members of this Synod admire the energy
with which the Board of Directors have carried forward the work
of raising funds for the Endowment of the fourth Professorship in
the Seminary, and for the increase of the Library ; and rejoice in
their past and prospective success in the matter ; and the Synod also
unites with the Synod of S. Carolina in an expression of the opin¬
ion that the erection of a new building as a Library, as early as
practicable, is desirable.
16
Minutes of the
Resolved 4th. That this Synod fix the salary of Dr. Thornwell at
the sum of $2,500 per annum, and a bouse free of rent.
Resolved 5th. That the Board of Directors be requested to in¬
struct their Secretary to transmit annually to the Stated Clerk of
this Body, a copy of the Minutes of the proceedings of the Board,
to be published in the Appendix to the Minutes of this Synod.
Resolved 6th. That the report of the Board of Directors be pub¬
lished in the Appendix to the Minutes of the present sessions.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Synod then took recess, to meet iu the Baptist Church at 6^
o'clock this evening.
Friday Evening, 6J o'clock.
Synod met.
On motion, a Committee, consisting of Rev. J. F. Lanneau, J.
M. M. Caldwell and T. F. Montgomery, was appointed to prepare
a suitable Minute in reference to the death of Rev. R. A. Milner.
The Committe appointed by the Synod last year to visit the Sy¬
nods of Alabama and Mississippi in relation to the Theological Sem¬
inary, reported that they had failed to comply with the appoint¬
ment, and rendered reasons which were sustained, and the Com¬
mittee excused.
Rev. Henry B. Pratt appeared and rendered satisfactory reasons
for not coming sooner.
On motion, Synod proceeded to the order of the day. The
Standing Committee on the reports and papers in relation to Ogle¬
thorpe University reported. The report was accepted, and while
under consideration, Rev. J. E. DuBose and Elders Joseph P. Logan,
and Jo'on F. Boyd obtained leave of absence.
Synod adjourned till 8| o'clock to-morrow morning. Closed
with prayer.
FOURTH SESSION.
La Orange, Oa., Nov. 17, 1855. j
Saturday Morning, 8£ o'clock. J
Synod met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with
prayer. Members present as on yesterday. The minutes were
read, corrected, and approved.
Synod of Georgia.
17
The Committee on the Records of Cherokee Presbytery reported,
recommending their approval, with one exception, which was sus¬
tained, and the records approved.
The Committee of Finance reported that the Treasurer's account
had been examined, and found to be correct. The balance in his
hand fifteen dollars and thirty-one cents ($15 31.) We recom¬
mend the assessment* on the Presbyteries, as was last year, and the
same salary to the Stated Clerk. The report was adopted.
The unfinished business of last evening was taken up, and the
discussion on the report of the Committee of Oglethorpe Univer¬
sity, continued.
The Rev. J. W. Reid appeared, and rendered satisfactory rea¬
sons for not coming sooner.
Rev. Mr. Teauge, of the Baptist Church, being present, was in¬
vited to a seat, as a correspondent.
It being the order of the day for the devotional exercises, on
motion, the order was indefinitely postponed, to allow the debate on
the University to proceed.
Rev. H. C. Carter obtained leave of absence from the remaining
sessions of the present Synod.
Synod then had recess till 2 J o'clock, P. M.
Saturday Afternoon, 2 \ o'clock.
Synod met, and resumed the unfinished business. After further
discussion, the following resolution was offered, and unanimously
adopted, to wit: " Whereas, the success and prosperity of the Col¬
lege involve interests of the greatest magnitude to our Church;
and whereas, its success depends upon a hearty and united co-ope¬
ration of the entire Synod ; and whereas, as individuals, we can,
with safety, adopt a decision deliberately made by a majority of our
brethren : Resolved, That we do now solemnly engage unanimously,
to sustain such decision as the majority, in their wisdom, may ar¬
rive at; and unanimously, heartily, and affectionately, to sustain
the Institution, wherever its location may be." The vote of the
Synod was then taken, by calling the roll, upon the question of the
* Last year's assessment was the following:
Hopewell, $35; Flint River, $20; Georgia, $15; Cherokee, $15; Florida,
$10.
3
18
Minutes of the
removal of the College, as contemplated in the 4th resolution of
the Committee's Report. The vote stood, sixteen in favor of its
removal, and thirty-one opposed : So the 4th resolution was stricken
from the Report. The Report, as amended, was then adopted
unanimously; and is as follows:
The Committee to whom was referred the Annual Report, and
papers in relation to Oglethorpe University, beg leave to recom¬
mend the following resolutions:
Resolved 1. That the very large increase of students entering
the University at the commencement of this year, affords undenia¬
ble evidence that the confidence and affections of the people, have
been true for this school of our Church ; and that the renewed
manifestations of the Divine presence and favor of the Spirit in the
conversion of so many of the beloved young men of the Univer¬
sity, affords at once, matter for sincere gratitude and thanksgiving
to God, and assurance that we have His approbation of this work
of our hands.
Resolved 2. That the partial success which has hitherto attended
the efforts to raise funds for the University, on the plan adopted by
the Synod, to complete the endowment, has by no means lessened
our confidence in its merits, or in its inestimable importance to the
Church, or in the necessity for its existence, or in its ultimate and
complete success.
Resolved 3. That this Synod will, at its present sessions, ap¬
point, and if possible, secure the services of an efficient Agent to
visit all the Churches of the Synod; to lay the wants of the Uni¬
versity before them, and to endeavor, by all suitable means, with
the co-operation of the Pastors and stated supplies, and such other
assistants as he may be able to secure, induce our brethren and
friends throughout the Synod, to make up the funds according to
the appointment of Synod's Committee already published.
The Committee appointed to bring in a minute in relation to the
death of the Rev. R. A. Milner, reported as follows, which was
adopted:
The Rev. R. A. Milner was a native of South Carolina, and
removed in early life, with his father's family, to Cass County,
Cherokee, Georgia. A child of pious parents, he became in his
youth a professed follower of Christ. He graduated in Franklin
Synod of Georgia.
19
College, and having studied law, he practiced at the bar for a short
time only, and soon turned his attention to the Gospel Ministry
He was licensed to preach by the Etowah Presbytery, but subse¬
quently connected himself with 'the ^Presbytery of Cherokee, by
which body he was ordained, in 1844, to the office of an Evangel¬
ist, and since that time has labored efficiently and successfully as a
missionary within their bounds.
During the last sessions of Cherokee Presbytery, he received, and
accepted, a call from the united Churches of Friendship, (or Car-
tersville,) and Euharlee, and was installed as their Pastor on the
fourth .Sabbath in October, with the expectation of supplying^the
Church at Cassville. He was unwell at the time, but consented to
be carried in his feeble state of health to the Church at Carters-
ville, where the solemn services were performed, and [returned
thence to his sick-bed, which was to him, in two weeks^afterwards,
the bed of death. He died on the 13th instant, and was burried on
the same day on which our Synod assembled.
Thus, suddenly and unexpectedly, and under? these peculiarly
trying circumstances, has another able, faithful and suceessful min¬
ister of the Gospel, within our bounds, been taken away from a
large and promising field of labor.
Ordained in the same year in which the Cherokee Presbetery was
organized, he was identified with all the interests of that -Presby¬
tery from its beginning, and with the cause and welfare of Presby-
terianism within that interesting portion of Synod.
During the eleven years of his ministerial life, he was greatly
instumental, under God, of " lengthening the cords and strength¬
ening the stakes " of the tabernacle of our beloved Zion. He was
permitted the joy of seeing his Presbytery increase from four to
twenty ministers, and from nine to thirty-five churches. His hum¬
ble and ardent piety, his burning zeal, his untiring energy, his
touching and glowing eloquence won for him the confidence and the
love of his brethren, and a wide-spread popularity and usefulness.
But just as he was entering upon his pastoral work, over churches
in a great measure gathered and sustained through his exertions,
and which were growing in importance and influence, it pleased the
Great Head .of the Church to remove him from earth, as we hum*
bly trust, to his rest and reward in Heaven.
20
Minutes of the
The Synod would bow in submission to the Divine will in this
mysterious dispensation of Providence, and would be reminded by
this solemn event of the necessity of more fidelity as fellow laborers
in the Master's Yineyard, and of constant preparation for death,
not knowing at what hour any of us who survive may be summoned
to give an account of our Stewardship.
The special Committee on the report of the Griffin Synodical Fe-
male College, submitted the following resolutions:
Resolved 1st. That this Synod has heard with lively interest that
the College at Griffin, established under our direction, has experi¬
enced in its progress thus far, a degree of prosperity fully equal to
the expectations of the friends of sound, thorough, literary and
moral training.
Resolved 2nd. That while we have heard with regret that the
President of the Institution feels it to be his duty to retire from the
position which he has so faithfully occupied since its organization,
we recognize with great satisfaction and gratitude, the hand of
God in guiding the Trustees to the choice of our brother, Rev. J.
C. Patterson, as his successor. His experience in teaching, rigid
and intelligent piety, scholastic attainments and devotion to the
cause of Female Education, in the judgement of this Synod pre-em¬
inently qualify brother Patterson for the place to which he has been
called.
Resolved 3d. That we most cordially again commend the Griffin
Female College to the increased confidence and patronage of the
families of our Church.
Synod then had recess till 6| o'clock this evening.
Saturday Evening, 6^ o'clock.
Synod met and proceeded to business.
It was Resolved, That in consequence of the lateness of the hour
and the press of business, the Devotional Exercises be omited.
The Standing Committee on Foreign Missions was re-appointed.
It consists of the following persons :
Rev. N. A. Pratt, D D., Chairman, Rev. S. S. Davis. D. D.,
Benj. Hall, David L. Adams, P. Fleming, John R. Dow, J. W.
Davies, C. J. Jenkins, A. W. Walton. James W. Davies, Treas¬
urer, Augusta.
Synod of Georgia.
21
The Standing Committee of Domestic Missions was also re-elect¬
ed, with the addition of the Rev. S. S. Davis, D. D. It now con¬
sists of the following persons :
Rev. S. K. Talmage, D. D., S. S. Davis, D. D., R. L. Breck
and J. J. Gresham.
The Committee on Domestic Missions made the following report,
which was adopted:
That having failed to secure the services of the Rev. W. M.
Cunningham as Missionary Evangelist, they made other efforts to
secure some other suitable laborer for this important work, but
were unsuccessful. They recommend that the Standing Commit¬
tee be authorized and instructed to employ a Missionary Evange¬
list for the present year, provided a suitable man can be secured
The following resolutions were offered and unanimously adopted ;
Resolved 1st. That the Committee on Domestic Missions be di¬
rected to write a circular detailing our wants and destitutions, and
embracing a comparative view of the location of the Missionaries of
our Board, and send it to the Professors or Society of Enquiry in
the Seminaries of Columbia, Princeton and Union Seminary, Va.,
and to the Board of Missions; and also to the Presbyterian, South¬
ern Presbyterian, Presbyterian Banner, and Watchman and Ob¬
server, for publication.
Resolved 2nd. That the following persons be, and are hereby ap¬
pointed to collect information and forward to our Standing Com¬
mittee on Missions, respecting the vacancies and openings for Mis¬
sionaries in their respective Presbyteries, viz :
In Hopewell.—Rev. J. W. Reid,
In Georgia.—Rev. C. C. Jones, D. D.
In Cherokee.—Rev. J. F. Leanneau.
In Florida.—Rev. S. J. Miliken.
In Flint River.—Rev. William Mathews.
The Special Committee on the report of the Greensboro' Female
College, reported as follows :
1. The Committee have remarked with great pleasure, the suc¬
cessful progress and growing prospects of the Greensboro' College.
The number of pupils during the year, has been one hundred. The
corps of Instructors has been full, and their labors rewarded by
proficiency in scholorship, and docility of conduct on the part of
the pupils. The late graduating olass numbered nineteen.
22
Minutes of the
2. The Committee are particularly gratified to notice the careful
attention given to the religious training of the scholars, and the
time devoted daily to the Scriptures, and especially on the Sabbath,
in maintaining the exercises of the Sunday School and Bible Class-
3. The Committee do especially commend to the praise and en¬
couragement of the Synod, the Board of Trustees in their worthy
effort to enlarge their accommodations for pupils from abroad, by
the erection of a dwelling which will furnish ample room for the
family of the President, and for twelve or fifteen young ladies, who
will be under his particular guardianship. This object which was
part of the original plan of the College, is most desirable ; and for
its accomplishment, we earnestly appeal for aid to the Eldership
and Ministry of our Church.
4. And finally, the Committee would congratulate the Synod
upon the successful experiment of a Synodical Female College at
Greensboro', which has surpassed our most saDguine expectations :
and we do most heartily commend that Institution to the confidence
and patronage of parents and guardians throughout our land. And,
further, the Committee recommend to Synod the confirmation of
the election of Mrs. Donald, to fill the place in the Musical Depart¬
ment, and teacher of French, lately vacated by the resignation of
Miss Lyman.
It was resolved, That the thanks of this Body be, and hereby are
tendered to the brethren and citizens of this eommunity, for their
kindness and hospitality to the members of Synod, during our Ses¬
sions among them; and also to the Trustees of the Methodist and
Baptist Churches, for their houses of worship kindly tendered for
our use; and that brother Cunningham be requested to publish the
same to the respective parties.'
The Stated Clerk was instructed to have printed one thousand
copies of the Minutes of the present Sessions, and distribute the
same among the Ministers and members of our Churches.
The case of Elder James W. Espey, having been brought to the
attention of Synod, and the statement made of his necessitous con¬
dition : It was Resolved, That Rev. D. J. Auld, W. J. Keith, and
William Mathews, be appointed a Committee to raise $150 for his
relief, in the extinguishment of his debts, and that the money be
paid in, and sent directly to Rev. William Mathews.
It was Resolved, That the Committee on the endowment of
Synod of Georgia.
23
Oglethorpe University, appointed at the last stated meeting of Sy_
nod, be authorized to complete the arrangement of the Synod in the
appointment of Rev. W. M. Cunningham, to fix and provide for
his salary, and if necessary, to employ other Agencies.
Resolved, That the roll be now called, that the brethren may ex¬
press their minds with respect to the encouragement and aid that
may be expected of them in co-operating with the Agent, to raise
the endowment of the fourth Professorship. The roll was called,
and the brethren responded generally, individually pledging them¬
selves to do what they can, to aid in this matter.
The Committee on the Narrative of the State of Religion, re¬
ported. The report was amended, and ordered to be printed in the
Appendix to the Minutes.
The following pledges were given for the support of the Agent
to be sent out on the Endowment of the Professorship of Ogfe-
thorpe University, to-wit:
Milledgeville Church, $300
Macon Church, 100
Roswell Church, 50
S. S. Davis, D. D., 100
F. McMurray, Ephesus Church, 100
Dr. Talmage, 100
R.H.Ramsey, .. 50
T. F. Montgomery, 50
W. B. Johnson, 10
M. Robertson, '. 10
J. W. Reid, 30
$900
The Minutes of this day were read, corrected and approved.
Synod having no further business, adjourned to meet in the Pres¬
byterian Church, Atlanta, on Wednesday evening before the third
Sabbath (12tb) of November, 1856, at 7 o'clock.
Closed with prayer, singing and Apostolic Benediction.
C. P. BEMAN, Moderator^
F. McMurray, Temporary Clerk.
John S. Wilson, Stated Clerk.
APPENDIX.
I.
NARRATIVE
Of the State of Religion within the hounds of the Synod of Geor¬
gia, presented November 17th, 1855.
Another Synodical year has passed away, and we have been per¬
mitted in tender mercy, to welcome each other again in the flesh,
and to recount the dealings of a kind Providence.
It is indeed, a time for gratitude and solemn reflection. Anoth¬
er year is in the stern keeping of the past: past time, past labors,
past opportunities will not return.
Let us dwell upon our mercies, and carefully set before us our
manifold short-comings.
First: The past year has been dintinguished for temporal mer¬
cies, and is a bright contrast with the dark and memorable year of
1854. We have had no pestilence walking in darkness, nor de¬
struction wasting at noon-day. No desolating storm has ravaged
our Atlantic coast. Cheerful Health and smiling Plenty, have
beamed on us ; and there is not only bread for the eater, and seed
for the sower, but bread enough and to spare.
Second : We have been blessed with gracious mercies. A num¬
ber of our Churches have been refreshed with the our-pourings of
God's Spirit. In Cherokee Presbytery, the Pleasant Green, Car¬
thage, Canton and Sardis Churches have been revived and increased.
In Flint River, the Philadelphia, Smyrna, Perry, Griffin and
Cuthbert Churches have enjoyed refreshing seasons from the pres¬
ence of the Lord. And the Churches of Newnan and Atlanta have
been blessed with revivals of a marked and gracious character. In
Newnan, the work of God was " most thorough and extensive,"
embracing some hundred precious souls, and prominently marked
by the ingatherings of Sabbath Scholars, and the dedicated child¬
ren of the Church. In Atlanta, between forty and fifty have pro¬
fessed the Lord Jesus, and among them are a number of young
and promising men.
Many other Churches have had steady additions at' each com¬
munion season; and there has been a general and decided attention
to the means of grace, to Sabbath Schools, and Bible and Catechet-
Appendix.
25
ical classes. And we gladly notice an increased attention to that
too much neglected duty, the religious instruction of our colored
people.
Our Churches and Ministers are multiplying: and one Presbyte¬
ry reports the increase of Ministers as transcending the ability of
the Churches to sustain them.
We would also record the prosperity of Oglethorpe University,
and the Synodical Colleges of Griffin and Greensboro'.
Thus we have many mercies and many causes of gratitude and
rejoicing.
We have also to ponder the other side of the picture.
First: We fear that Temperance has not made sure progress
within our bounds ; that it has been sacrificed to an unhallowed po¬
litical aspiration.
Second : As a Church, we are not as aggressive as we should be
at home; and we do not occupy that commanding and useful po¬
sition which it is both our duty and privilege to hold.
Third: We are compelled to blush at the stinted, meagre support
given to our ministry, and the stroDg hold of covetousness upon the
heart of the Church.
Fourth : We are called to mourn over the paucity of our candi¬
dates for the sacred office, and the absence of a solemn dedication
of our sons to God, for his service in the ministry.
Fifth : We cannot conceal the fact that we are greatly derelict
in our duty to the perishing millions of the heathen. The Com¬
mittee on Foreign Missions, reported last year, only fifty-three con¬
tributing churches out of 327; and for the present only forty-one
contributing churches out of 134. When shall we truly realize
and promptly obey that last command of our risen Saviour, " Go
into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature
In review of mercies and delinquences, let us gird up our loins
for new trials and new labors. Let us invoke a fresh baptism of
the Holy Spirit, that we may return to our Churches with new en¬
ergy in the cause of our Redeemer.
The recent death of a beloved brother, the Rev. Richard A
Milner, whoso sun has gone down in the morning of his ministry?
admonishes us that the time is short, that we must do with our
might whatever our hands find to do, and work whilst it is called
to-day, for the night cometh wherein no man can work.
By order of Synod.
C. P. Beman, Moderator,
4
26
Appendix.
11.
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
OF THE SYNODS OF SOUTH-CAROLINA AND GEORGIA.
OFFICERS:
J. H. THORNWELL, D. D , President.
Rev. SAMUEL DONNELLY, Vice-President.
B. M. PALMER, D. D., Secretary.
ANDREW CRAWFORD, (Columbia,) Treasurer.
faculty:
GEORGE HOWE, D. D., Professor Biblical Literature.
A. W. LELAND, D. D., Professor Pastoral Theology and
Sacred Rhetoric.
B- M. PALMER, D. D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History
and Church Polity.
J. H. THORNWELL, D. D., Professor of Didicative and
Polemic Theology.
DIRECTORS IN SOUTH-CAROLINA *.
For Three. Years—Ministers: John Douglas, Thomas Smyth,
D. D., J. B. Adger, D. D., T. L. McBride. Laymen : A, Craw¬
ford, R. T. Brumley, J. K. Douglas.
For Two Years—Ministers: T. E. Bishop, D. McQueen, John
Forrest, D. D., Edward Palmer. Laymen : J. A. Crawford, W.
C. Dukes, H. M. Bruns.
For One Year—Ministers: S. Donnelly, E. T. Buist, W. M.
Reid, S. H. Hay. Laymen: Hon J. N. Whitner, T. C. Perriu,
E. R. Calhoun.
DIRECTORS IN GEORGIA :
For Three Years—Ministers : A. Church, D. D., N. A. Pratt,
P. D., R. K. Porter, I. S. K. Axson. Laymen: E. A. Nishet,
J. J. Gresham, B. King.
For Two Years—Ministers: S. K. Talmage, D D., F. Bow-
than, D- D., J. C. Patterson, D. J. Auld. Laymen: E. L. New-
ion, W. L. Mitchell, E. G. Thomas.
For One Year—Ministers: N. Hoyt, D. D., J. S. Wilsoa, D..
D., J. W. Reid, J. F. Lanneau. Laymen : lion. J. II. Lamp-
kiu, D. C. Campbell, W. Shear.
Appendix.
%1
REPORT
Of the Board of Directors of the Theological $emindr'y, t& the
Synods of South Carolina and Georgia, June 28, 1855.
I. Receipts and Disbursements per Treasurer's Account.
Interest and Dividends on old Investments in South
Carolina, $2,120 00
Interest and Dividends on old Investments in Georgia, 2,708 88
Interest and Dividends on Instalments of New Fund, 3,£57 53
Notes and Subscriptions on the Third Professorship,... 1,370 00
Old Note of Rev. U. Powers, 50 00
From Executors of Mrs. Ellison's Estate, for Jos. El¬
lisons Scholarship, 2,500 Od
Mrs. Law's Second Instalment on her Donation, 1,000 00
Education account, balance due on Stocks for Telfair
Balance due Treasurer as per last Annual act.,$ 36 53
Dr. B. M. Palmer's Salary for last year, 1,000 00
Dr. Leland's Salary to July 1st, 1855, 1,909 50
Dr. Howe's Salary to July 1st, 1855, 2,000 00
Rev. B. Lanneau's Salary to Jan. 1st, 1855, 300 00
Paid for ninety-three shares Commercial Bank
Stock for the Joseph Ellison Scholarship, 2,495 50
Paid for three Bonds of Greenville and Co¬
lumbia Rail Road Stock, 1,232 50
Paid Johnson and Waring on act. of build¬
ing Law Hall, 2,000 00
Paid Dr. Howe, Chairman of Permanent
Building Committee, 90 44
Paid Insurance on Buildings and Library,... 188 74
Paid Bills for Tables and for Printing, 21 00
Paid Charles Beck for Building and Repair¬
ing, 445 11
Paid Education act. for balance on Stock
transferred to So. Carolina Professorship, 110 82
Paid Interest on Nephew Scholarship, trans¬
ferred to Education act....... 175 00
Paid Discount on Bank bill, and for Sta¬
tionery, 2 00
To balance on hand, 1,508 96
Timothy Scholarship,..
Total Receipts,
305 69
$13,612 10
Disbursed as Follows:
Total Disbursements,
$12,612 10
28
Appendix.
II. Investment of New Fund.
228 Shares Camden Bank Stock, $11,575 54
297 Shares Commercial Bank Stock, 8,613 00
32 Shares Charleston Bank Stock (new,) 1,600 00
4 Bonds South Carolina and Charlotte Rail Road, 2,000 00
6 Bonds Greenville and Columbia Rail Road, 2,707 50
Capt. Blair's Legacy, ^ of 100 shares Planters and
Mechanic's Bank, Baltimore, 833 33
Bonds and Notes of Individuals, 8,000 00
Total, $35,319 37
Amount of Investment this year, $35,329 37
Amount of Investment last jear, 34,091 87
Increase of Investment this year, $1,237 50
Outstanding Subscriptions and Notes.
In South Carolina, last year, $5,067 96
Collected this year, 1,370 00
$3,697 95
In Georgia, 2,541 84
Total outstanding in both States, $6,239 79
III. Permanent Funds, Excluding Scholarship.
Investment in Georgia, $28,500 00
Investment in South Carolina, (old Fund,) 27,450 66
Investment in do do (new Fund,) 35,329 37
$91,280 03
IV. Scholarship,
1. Lanneau Scholarship, $2,200 00
2. Cong, and Presbyterian Scholarship, 2,250 00
3. Nephew Scholarship in Georgia, 2,500 00
4. Fabian Scholarship in Georgia, 2,500 00
5. Telfair Timothy Scholarship, 2,500 00
6. Joseph Ellison Scholarship, 2,500 00
7. Capt. Blair's Legacy, § of 100 shares PI.
and Mec. Bank, Baltimore, 1,667 67
$16,116 67
Total of Vested Funds, $106,396 70
Appendix.
29
V. Funds For a Fourth Professorship.
Notes in hands of Treasurer to the amount of $28,617 31
Subscriptions in hands of Treasurer to the amount of '800 00
Cash in hands of Treasurer to the amount of. 1,901 83
Cash temporarily invested, (,say,) 3/218 96
Notes and Subscriptions in hands of different persons, 2,560 00
Total collected in Notes and Subscriptions, about $37,098 20
VI. Claims on the Treasury.
Salaries of three Professors, $6,000
Salary of 4th Professor, 2,500
Salary of a Tutor, 600
Insurance and Contingencies, 350
Contract for New Building and fixtures, 6,400
Arrears to Dr. Palmer, 2,000
$17,850 00
Resources to Meet the Above.
Balance in Treasury, $1,508 96
Dividends and Int'st on Geo. Professorship, 2,300 00
Dividends and Int. on S. C. Professorship, 2,000 00
Dividends and Int. on third Professorship, 2,500 00
Dividends and Int. on fourth Professorship, 3,000 00
Mrs. Law's donation next year, 1,000 00
$12,308 96
Balance to be provided for, $5,541 04
towards which, are $2,000 pledged by Mrs. Law for the build¬
ing of the new wing, which will be paid in annual instalments.
VII. The Library.
Forty-three Volumes only, have been added to the Library du¬
ring the past year, which, added to 5,310 Volumes reported last
year, make the present number of Volumes 5,353. The effort now
making to raise the sum of $60,000, contemplates, it will be re¬
membered, not only the Endowment of the fourth Professorship, but
also a large increase of the Library. As will be seen from the
financial part of this repoit, above given, this effort has been very
successfully prosecuted, and there is every reason to expect that
the entire amount proposed, will be raised. It will soon, therefore,
be a practical question, for the Synods to determine, how the Libra¬
ry shall be increased ; whether a large amount, say $15,000, shall
be at once expended in the purchase of a Library already collect-
so
Appendix.
ed, or in the purchase of Volumes according to the wants of the In¬
stitution ; or whether it shall be funded, and the proceeds only to
be used in the annual purchase of books.
VIII. The Buildings.
Since the last report, a contract has been made for the erection
of a large building, ot three stories, with eight rooms on a floor,
exactly similar to Simon's Hall, recently built, and to be called
Law Hall, and which will be ready for use on the 1st of October.
The cost of this building exceeds a little, $8,000. Towards the
payment of this sum, Mrs. Law has already paid $2,000, and is
pledged to give $3,000 more, in annual installments. A slight
debt will still, however, be created, which it is hoped, may be grad¬
ually extinguished by applying whatever surplus may be in the
Treasury from time to time : and the Treasurer has been instruct¬
ed to meet it with any monies which may be on hand, as it was not
felt necessary to make extraordinary provision for it. The t.vo
Halls furnish 48 rooms for as many students, equal in comfort to
any elsewhere to be found ; besides which, accommodation can be
made for several more in the main or central building.
If the Library should be increased, provision must be made for
the accomodation of the books, wh'ch have already more than filled
the room now used as a Library.
IX. Professors'1 Rejport.
The whole number of students in all the classes has been 32.
RESIDENT LICENTIATES.
J. C. Phelps, Samuel Orr.
SENIOR CLASS.
JVames. Graduate of Candidate rf
James A. Cousar, Oglethorpe University. Harmony Presbytery.
James A. Davies, Davidson College. Bethel "
N. M. Edmunds, S. Carolina " Charleston "
R. Q. Mallard, Georgia University. Georgia "
R. S. McAlester, Chickasaw "
Robert McLees, S. Carilina "
D. H Porter, S. Carolina College. Charleston "
C. J. Silliman, Oglethorpe University. Tuskaloosa "
'L. A. Simonton, " " Flint River "
Robert R. Small, " " Charleston "
Arthur Small, " « «e
C. H. Wilson, " " t Harmony "
MIDDLE CLASS.
Robt. M. Brearley, S. Carolina College. HarmoDy Presbytery.
Thoa. J. Davidson, Cglithorpe University.
Appendix.
31
Names.
A. H. Epstien,
J. S. Harris,
Elmore Kinder,
A. L. Kline,
James McDowell,
James McLaun,
M. D. Wood,
W. D. Wilkes,
Sam. J. Bingham,
D. C. Boggs,
S. W. Davies,
J. E. Dulap,
J. C. Humphreys,
G. G. Lane,
S. C. Boyce,
Jethro Humph.
Graduate of Candidate of
Polytechnic Inst., Vienna, Charleston Presbytery.
Davidson College.
Oglethorpe University.
S Carolina College.
Davidson "
Oglethorpe University.
Erskine College.
JUNIOR CLASS.
Oglethorpe University.
Hampden Sydney.
Uniaersity of Virginia.
Genesee College.
Middlebury "
Concord
Harmony "
Oharleston "
Harmony "
Fayetteville "
Charleston "
S. Carolina "
Tuskaloosa Presbytery.
S. Carolina "
As the new arrangement of Professorships, adopted by the Sy¬
nods, could not be carried into effect during the past year, the same
order of instruction and distribution of labors have been observed,
as in former years. All the proscribed exercises of the Institution
have been conducted as usual; and the report speaks in general
terms of approval respecting the diligence and behavior of the
students.
X. General Remarks.
1 The Endowment of the fourth Chair has been vigorously pros¬
ecuted during the past six months. By the voluntary labors of a
few individuals, subscriptions, notes and money have been secured
to the amount, as before stated, of some $37,000. The Board al¬
so appointed brethren to visit the churches within the Presbyteries
of South-Carolina, Bethel and Harmony, with the hope that a much
nearer approximation may be made, before the meeting of the Sy¬
nods, to the amount proposed to be secured, to-wit, $60,000.
2 It being necessary to secure a residence for the use of Dr.
Thornwell and his family, the Board has authorized the purchase of
a house, not exceeding the sum of $8,000, from the funds raised
for the new Endowment.*
3 Greatly to the loss of the Seminary, and to the sorrow of the
Board, Mr. Lanneau has been compelled to resign his Tutorship of
Hebrew, with a view to seek a milder climate. The Board not be¬
ing satisfied, that with the present heavy drain upon the Treasury,
the state of our finances wou'd justify the appointment of a Tu'or
for the coming year, remitted this to the discretion of the Execu¬
tive Committee.
*lhls hcuse has since Icon purchased.
32
Appendix.
4 The following Directors go out of office, whose places must be
filled by a new election :
Synod of South-Carolina. Synod of Georgia.
T. Smythe, D. D., A. Church, D. D.,
B. M. Palmer, D. D., N. A. Patt, D. D.,
J. B. Adger, D. D., R. Chamberlain,
J. H. Thornwell, D. D. I. S. K. Axson.
All which is respectfully submitted.
B. M. PALMER, Secretary.
m.
OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY.
OFFICERS:
Hon. E. A. NISBET, President.
C. W. LANE, Secretary and Treasurer.
FACULTY:
S. K. TALMAGE, D. D., President and
Professor of Evidences of Christianity and Belles-Lcttres.
C. W. LANE, A. M., (South-CarolinaJ
Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy.
Rev. R. C. SMITH, A. M., (Alabama,)
Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy.
Professor of Ancient Languages.
JAMES WOODRGW, A. M., Professor of Chemistry,
Natural Philosophy, Geology and Botany.
C. W. LANE, Secretary of the Faculty and Librarian.
TRUSTEES IN GEORGIA :
For Three Tears.—Ministers: N, A. Pratt, D. D., R.L. Breck^
William Flinn. Laymen: M. Grieve, E. A. Nisbet, R. H. Ram.
say.
For Two Tears.—Ministers: W. M. Cunningham, J. C. Pat¬
terson. Laymen: W. McKinley, W. Duncan, Hon. J. H. Lump¬
kin, S. B. Hunter.
For One Year.—Ministers : John S. Wilson, D. D., F. Bow¬
man, D. D., J. F. Lanneau. Laymen : D. C. Campbell, J. J. Gres-
ham, Gideon Dowse.
TRUSTEES IN SOUTII-CAROLINA :
For Three Tears—Ministers : George Howe, D. D., Thomas
Smythe, D. D., T. R. English, B. M. Palmer, D. D. Laymen :
G. W. Glen, J. W« Simpson.
Appendix.
33
For Two Years—Ministers: J. L. Kirkpatrick, D. D., John
Douglas, M. D. Fraser, J. F. Gibert. Laymen: James Gillam.
S. Clark. '
^ For One Year—Ministers : S. Donnelly, W. H. Davis, E. Car¬
ter, D. McQueen, J. B. Adger, D. D. Layman: T. C. Perrin.
TRUSTEES IN ALABAMA:
For Three Years—Ministers: P. J. Spairow, D. D., R. B.
White, David Finlay. Laymen : Jonathan Bliss, W B. Bell, j'
M. Calhoun.
For Two Years—Ministers: R. Nail, D. D., A. B. McKorkle,
C. A. Stillman. Laymen: William S. Smith, James D. Webb,
W. Lapsley.
For One Year—Ministers : J. P. McMullin, A. A. Porter, R.
H. Chapman. Laymen: R. T. Nott, Daniel Chandler, George S.
Walden.
ANNUAL REPORT
Of the Board of Trustees of Oglethorpe University, for the year
1855.
The Board respectfully present the following Report to the Synod:
The whole number of Students during the College year, closing
with the commencement, in July last, was 99, of whom 68 were
in the College proper, and 31 in the Preparatory Department.
• The late Graduating Class, consisted of 13. The Board are
happy to learn, that the moral department of the students during
the year, has been highly satisfactory—and that no serious cause of
discipline has been found necessary; and also, that some precious
tokens of Divine favor have been vouchsafed in the hopeful con-
vertion of several of the students.
It is als > encouraging to us to learn that the new college year has
opened under propitious auspices, the unusual number of 40 new
students having already been received into the college.
We express our entire approbation of the action of the Execu¬
tive Committee in granting leave of absence to Professor James
Woodrow, with a view to his visiting Enrope for the purpose of
pursuing the study of Natural Science, under the instruction of the
ablest teachers of the age, believing as we do, that his temporary
absence will be more than compensated by the increased advanta¬
ges with which he will return.
We recommend that some special appropriations be made to en¬
able him to purchase additional apparatus for the College, during
his absence, which can be done to great advantage to the Institu¬
tion.
The endowment of President Talmage's Chair, is a subject of vital
importance ; but as the matter has been entrusted to a special Com -
34
Appendix.
mittee of the Synod, we will not anticipate what that Committee
will no doubt urge on the attention of the Synod. The payment of
the salary of President Talmage, has been so faithfully urged by
the Treasurer, in his report, that the Board need only to present it
to claim your serious and prompt attention.
The Board present the following extracts from the Treasurer's
leport, from which the Synod will learn the present fiscal state of
the Institution :
ANNUAL REPOUT
Of the Treasurer of Oglethorpe University, November 1855.
The Treasurer of Oglethorpe University respectfully submits the
following report to the Board of Trustees, as his annual report for
the year 1855.
The assets of the Institution remain substantially unchanged since
the last report. These assets consist, as stated in that report, of
the following items, to-wit:
The College Edifice and Dormitories.
The President's house.
Between three and four hundred acres of land.
Apparatus and Library.
The Alabama Professorship.
The South-Carolina Professorship.
The Georgia and Florida Professorship.
College Edifice and Dormitories, and President's
house, cost say, $50,000 00
Land, " " 4,000 00
Apparatus, " " . 1,000 00
Library consists of about 1,500 volumes.
The Treasurer is unable to say what the real present value of
the property, whose cost is thus given in round numbers and from
memory, may be. A small portion of the land (12 acres) has
been sold during the Summer, under an order of the Executive
Committee, for $305,00. The proceeds of the sale, together with
the proceeds of the sale of another portion, (negotiations for which
are now pending,) are to be applied to the repair of the College
buildings. The work of repairing is now in progress. Between
four and five hundred dollars will be expended in these repairs.
This is independent of the repairs upon the Dormitories, which are
made to a greater or less extent every year, and the funds for which
are drawn from the room rents.
The South-Carolina Prof essorship.
No report has been recently received from the Committee of the
South-Carolina Synod, which has charge of the funds of this Pro-
Appendix.
35
fessorship, in reference to its present condition : no material change
of which the Treasurer is aware, has taken place in its funds since
the report of last year. The nominal value of the Professorship
as stated in the report made last year, is about $26,300. '
About $14,000, is in the hands of J. Adger & Co., of
Charleston, at 7 per cent. The remainder is in notes and subscrip¬
tions.
The Alabama Professorship.
So far as the Treasurer is informed, no consolidated report of the
condition of the funds of this Professorship, has been presented to
the Synod of Alabama, by the Committees of the three Presbyte¬
ries, who have, each of them, portions of the funds in charge.
The nominal value of this Professorship is about $24,500.—
This includes a residence for the Alabama Professor, valued at
$2,500. It affords the Treasurer great pleasure to state that both
the Alabama and South-Carolina Professors receive their salaries
promptly from the Committees of their respective Synods. No de¬
tailed exhibits of the payments made to these two Professors, will
be found in their report, as they are paid directly by the Commit¬
tees.
The Georgia and Florida Professorship.
The assets of this Professorship are controled by the Board of
Trustees, and deposited with the Treasurer.
Upon consultation with the Fiscal Agent, the Treasurer sees no
reason to change the estimate given in the last report, of the proba¬
ble real valuejof the assets of this Professorship. That estimate,
after rejecting^the notes and subscriptions considered bad, and also
one half of those considered doubtful, gave $17,800 as the value
of the assets of the Georgia and Florida Professorships.
Of this amount, $6,500 is in State Bonds and Railroad Stock
—the remainder is in notes and subscriptions, excepting $240,
which is in hand awaiting an investment.
For an account of the disposition that has been made of the
$60,000, subscribed for the endowment of the Institution, the Treas¬
urer begs leave to refer to his last report, or to the report of the
Board to Synod, made in 1852.
When the last annual report was made, the amount belonging to
the Georgia and Florida Professorship, invested in State Bonds and
Railroad Stock, was $5,900; since then, notes and subscriptions
have been collected to the amount of $1,030, 7 shares of $100
each in the Milledgeville and Gordon Railroad, have been pur-
chhsed at 90 cts., with a portion of this fund, leaving abalanoe (after
deducting the percentage of the Fiscal Agent on the part collected
by him,) of $240, now in the Treasury, awaiting investment, aa
stated above.
36 Appendix.
The receipts and disbursements during the present year, have
been as follows:
Receipts.
Tuition, $465 75
Room Rent, i 458 00
Permanent fund, 1,030 00
Interest on Bond and Stock, 426 75
Interest on Notes, 826 36
1 Scrip sold toG. Barnsley, 100 00
Balance from Fiscal Agent, 24 62
Money advanced by the Agent, in payment of Prof.
Woodrow, 226 29
$3,557 89
Disbursements.
Paid Br. Talmage, on salary $ 986 50
Paid Prof. Woodrow in full, 1,057 50
Fiscal Agent, 20 per cent., on collections made by him, 327 87
Repairs on Dormitories, 131 57
7 Shares of Milledgeville and Gordon Railroad Stock,... 63S 95
Catalogues, 40 21
Remitted tuition which had been paid by mistake 40 00
Paid Fiscal Agent on account, of mon^y advanced, 28 48
$3,251 08
Permanent fund in hand for investment, $240 00
Contingent fund in hand, 66 79
$3,557 87
Note.—Since this report was made out, two hundred dollars
more of permanent funds, belonging to the Georgia and Florida
Professorship, have been paid into the Treasury, making $440 now
in hand for investment.
Indebtedness of the Institution.
The Board is indebted to the Fiscal Agent, for money advanced
to pay Prof. Woodrow, $197 88.
The only arrearage of salary, now outstanding against the Col¬
lege, (for which the Board is directly responsible,) is the balance
due to Dr. Talmage, which at the close of the year, will amount to
$1,847 75. This is an arrearage greater by $500 than it was at
the close of the last year ; and as the President's salary is only
$1,500, amounts to more than the salary of a whole year.
Supposing that the entire income of the Georgia and Florida
Professorship—the tuition, and all of the room rents, not needed
Appendix.
37
for repair of Dormitories, be appropriated to the payment of what
is now due to the President, together with his salary for '56, the
whole amount that will be realized from these three sources, during
next year, judging by the income from the same sources for the
last two years, will be not far from $1,600.
This will still leave more than'a year's salary unpaid to the Presi¬
dent at the close of next year, unless some method be devised for
liquidating the amount now due. It is not necessary, nor within the
range of the Treasurer's duty in making his report, to inform the
Board of the unwearied devotion of the President to the interests
of the College. Yet an allusion to some of the evidence of that
devotion, the Treasurer hopes will be allowed. For eight consecu¬
tive years, beginning with 1844, it appears from the Treasurer's
book, the President voluntarily surrendered each year, from three
to five hundred dollars of his salary, making in the aggregate a vir¬
tual donation to the College, during this period, of three thousand
six hundred dollars. This does not embrace many small ex¬
penditures from his purse, which, within the personal knowledge
of the Treasurer, were made for many years for the College with¬
out ever being charge i, and which must have amounted to no in¬
considerable sum.
In view of the fact that the President has given eighteen of the
best years of his life to the Institution—that he has so long incur¬
red pecuniary sacrifice in its behalf— that he has repeatedly, from
devotion to the College, refused eligible situations elsewhere, which
would have yielded an ample support—that he has uniformly pur¬
sued a most generous course towards the officer or officers, whose
salary came from the same source with his own ; providing for oth¬
ers before providing for himself, as the Treasurer takes pleasure in
acknowledging was the case towards himself, during the first ten
years of his connexion with the Institution, when his salary came
from the same source with that of the President—in view of the
fact that the arrearage of salary in the President's account is in
painful contrast with the prompt payment of the South-Carolina and
Alabama Professors—that his nominal salary is only equal to that of
each of the Professors, when his position as President calls for a con¬
siderable increase of expenses—in viewof all these facts, the Treas-
urer would respectfully submit the question, whether the entire li¬
quidation of the debt due to the President, together with a sure pro¬
vision for the payment of his salary as it falls due, be not the first
and most pressing duty of the Board ? _
The Treasurer begs leave to state, that without consultation with
any one, and prompted simply by a sense of justice, he has made
this allusion to the payment of the President.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
C. W. Lane, Treasurer,
88
Appendix.
Oglethorpe University, Nov. 8th, 1855.
The Board also have deemed it expedient to offer the following
resolution to the Synod :
Resolved, That inasmuch as the question of removing the Insti¬
tution is much agitate!, the Board dejm its settlement important,
and submit to the Synod the propriety of dccid ng the question
without delay.
The Board has also resolved, to place in the hands of J. J. Gres-
ham, Esq., of Macon, all the subscriptions and notes of the Geor¬
gia and Florida Professorship, with directions to press them to as
speedy a settlement as practicable.
All of which is respectfully submitted to the Synods.
IV.
B E P 0 R T
Of the Executive Committee for Foreign Missions.
Time, in its rapid flight, has closed our ninth Synodical year ;
and the Synod of Georgia is called upon to review her Foreign
Missionary operations for the twelve months past. The results,
whatever they are, have been recorded on high, and the Head of
the Church has already passed his sentence of approval—" well
done good and faithful servants," or written against us, "unfaithful
stewards of his manifold mercies."
This department of our work, as a Church of Jesus Christ, falls
not below, in importance and interest, any to which we are called.
Nay, if we estimate this importance by the vastness of the field—
the variety of means to he put into operation, in order to its suc¬
cessful cultivation—and the number of laborers to be employed to
reap the harvest, we shall admit that it stands very high in the scale
,of duties which God has devolved upon his people.
The work of Missions is the great work of the Church. It is
the great object of the express commandment of Jesus to his Dis¬
ciples ; " Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every
creature," with the promise of divine encouragement and ever-
present aid—" Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the
.earth." With this injunction and encouragement, of the Church's
Great Head, ever legible on his inspired word, we come to enquire
what the Ministers and Churches of our Synod have done, during
,the last year, for the perishing millions in foreign lands ? How
much substantial aid we have furnished towards that magnificent en¬
terprise, which is the glory of the age in which we live? How
many laborers we have furnished and sent into the field ? How
much time and effort we have expended in devising and maturing
Appendix.
39
plans for the good of mankind, and extending the kingdom of God
in the world ? While God has graciously removed our apprehen¬
sions of want and famine, by crowning the year with his goodness,,
and filling our garners with the abundant productions of the soil,
have we brought our tythes into the store-house, to prove Him
therewith ?
While the number of our Ministry has been diminished, only in
a single instance, by death, but rather augmented by accessions of
young heralds of the Cross, and most of our Churches have enjoyed
the regular ministrations of the sanctuary, and some of them, pre¬
cious out-pourings of the Holy Spirit, have our Ministers, Elders
and Churches, as testimonials of their thanksgiving, remembered
swarming millions of earth, who have no Gospel, no Ministry, no
Sabbath, no house of God, no hope of Heaven? Have they looked
out upon a world, almost the last nation of which now flung open
to the Gospel, seems ready to welcome the footsteps of the Chris¬
tian Missionary ? and have they acted under the presure of the
mysterious, overwhelming truth, that untold millions of their popula¬
tion never heard a sermon ?
Surely our Ministry need no fancy sketch, to wake and move the
people in a cause like this. The solemn and awful verities, patent
on the very surface of all heathen lands, are enough to startle the
ear and stir the sympathies of listening christians. When they are
told that deep darkness broods over nine-tenths of earth's popula¬
tion ; and that on the other side of the globe, countless millions are
hastening to Eternity without a Saviour, will not those who prize
the Gospel be moved ? And when they are told that heathanism is
always without feeling, cold, cruel, and bloody—that it teaches chil¬
dren, as a part of their religion, to leave their aged parent to die a
lingering death, or to be devoured by the wild beasts of the desert
—mothers to bury their children alive, or expose them to be swept
away by the rising waters of the river—frantic devotees to fling
themselves before the idol's car to be crushed to death, leaving its
wheel dripping with their blood, will they not be eager to give them
a Gospel, which is a sovereign antidote to all their wretchedness :
big with the " promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to
come"—a Gospel whose obvious design is not only to make men
good, and useful, and holy, and happy, but which does in fact work
this moral transformation in all who embrace it—which requires
" whatsoever is pure, honest, true, lovely, and of good report," and
condemns all that is dishonest, impure, false and unholy ! A Gos¬
pel which encourages all that can assimilate man to his Maker, and
prepare him for the family of the redeemed} and condemns all that
renders him deformed and odious—that severs the bond of moral
union, and fits him to become the companion of foul and miserable
spirits and an eternal outcast from Heaven I A Gospel, whose
40
Appendix.
crowning glory is the amazing scheme of human redemption by our
Lord Jesus Christ, and which must be Icnoivn in order to remove
the curse under which the heathen groans.
But how shall they know, except they be taught ? And who
shall teach them, except teachers be sent? And who will send
the Gospel and the living teacher, except those to whom it has been
committed, that having themselves drank deep refreshing draughts
of the cup of life, they might hand it round to all within their
reach.
The Committee are happy to report that there has been a little
gain upon the contributions of former years.
The amount received from the different Presbyteries, is as fol-
ows :
Presbytery of Hopewell.
Augusta church collections and Mo. con., ,$276 10
Augusta Female Missionary Society, 54 00
—: $330 10
Macon church collection, 231 30
Macon*Svnodical collection, 1854, 46 00
277 30
Athens,.... 250 06
Milledgeville, 145 03
Washington, 42 00
Thy atria, . 59 50
Sparta, 30 00
Lexington, (a Lady,) 10 00
Clarksville, 32 43
Mount Zion, 15 00
Greensboro', 140 00
Bath and Burke Missionary Association, 23 00
$1,354 42
Contributing Churches, 13
Non-contributing Churces, 17
30
Presbytery of Flint River.
Columbus Church, $178 25
" Sabbath School to educate C. B. King,.. 25 00
" " " " Mary Ann Sanky 31 54
$234 79
Griffin, $20, Juvenile Missionary Society, $30, 50 00
LaGrange Church, $22,65. Synod collection, 1855, $104. 126 65
Carried over,
$411 44
Appendix.
41
Brought over, $411 44
Bethany, 30 00
Decatur, • 20 00
Fairview, 34 75
Newnan,' 10 00
Mount Tabor, 12 00
Muscogee, 20 00
Atlanta $13,53. Juvenile Missionary Society $35, 48 53
Ephesus Church $29. Benevolent Society $7,45, 36 45
Alcovia,. 6 25
Pochitla, 32 00
.Americus, 9 40
White Oak, 1 00
Long Cane, 6 30
Ebenezer, 6 50
Family of Rev. J. Y. Alexander, 5 00
$689 62
Contributing Churches, 17
Non-contributing Churches, 25
42
Presbytery of Georgia.
Darien Church, $72 50
Mount Vernon, 77 00
Walthourville, 13 00
Savannah,
Bryan Neck,
Waynesville,
Pleasant Grrove, 25 00
St. Mary's,
Flemington, (Congregational) 60 51
Dorchester, " 34 25
Jonesville, " 25 83
Hinesville, $16 50. Two ladies, $10, (Congregational) 26 50
$334 59
Contributing Churches, 4
Non-contributing Churches, 6
10
6
42
Appendix.
Presbytery of Florida.
Tallahassee, $
Quincy,
Iamonia,
Greenfield
Monticello, 25 00
Madison,
Marianna,
Boston,
Manhattee,
Lowndes county,
Currie's Church, 28 27
Euchee Valley, 10 40
Albany, 5 00
Bainbridge,
St. Augustine, 118 42
Jacksonville, 14 25
Micanopy,
Thomasville,
Damascus,
Little girl for Corisco Mission, 5 00
$206 34
Contributing Churches, 5
Non-contributing Churches, 14
19
Presbytery of Florida.
Marietta, $110 00
Rome, 213 00
Rosw.ell Church $100 60. Juv. Miss. Soc., $20 120 60
Bethel,... 15 80
Sardis, 6 00
Calhoun, 2 00
Pleasant Green, 11 00
$478 40
Contributing Churches, 7
Non-contributing Churches, 28
35
Appendix.
48
Recapitulation.
Hopewell Presbytery, Con. Chur., 13. Non-Con., 17, $1,354 42
Flint River Presbytery, Con. Chur., 17. Non-Con., 25, 689 72
Georgia Presbytery, Con. Churches, 4. Non-Con., 6, 334 59
Florida Presbytery, Con. Churches, 5. Non-Con., 14, 206 34
Cherokee Presbytery, Con. Churches, 7. Non-Con., 35, 478 40
46 97 3,063 47
Contributing Churches in the Synod, 46
Non-contributing Churches, 97
Whole number of Churches, 143
When, nine years ago, the Synod of Georgia was organized, it
comprised 55 Ministers and 99 Churches. Two years thereafter,
its contributions to Foreign Missions amounted to a fraction less than
$3,000. Now we number 80 Ministers and 143 Churches, and
our contributions, for the first time, have a little exceeded that
amount. We are thankful that our contributing Churches have giv¬
en this testimony of their attachment to, and affection for the cause
of Foreign Missions. But we would most earnestly and affection¬
ately ask them, whether no holy ambition stirs their hearts to have
even a larger share in the amelioration of the heathen world ?—
Whether, as the number of their members and their strength in¬
crease, there shall be no expanding of their benevolence, and no in¬
crease of their charities ? And those 97 Churches in our bounds,
which have felt too little interest in the eternal welfare of perishing
millions to give one dollar to send them the Bread of Life, we ask,
if the principle holds good " that withholding more than is meet
tendeth to poverty," and that they " who water shall be watered
again," on what ground they can even hope for spiritual prosperity ?
Are any so poor that they have nothing to give ? Or have they
grown weary in well-doing? Or have the objects of benevolence
been so nearly provided for that they can with safety withhold their
hands from doing good ? It may be true that some have grown
weary in well-doing and that others have never yet begun to care
for the heathen ; but that God has grown weary in pouring his bless¬
ings upon them, or that there are few objects of benevolence with¬
in their reach, must be met by a prompt, unfaltering negative.
Uncomputed millions are perishing for the lack of what God ^has
graciously vouchsafed to us—the word of God and the living Minis¬
try. And their death-wail reaches our ears from over broad oceans,
41 send us Jesus' book and Jesus' man,'" ere we sink into eternity.
44
Appendix.
Nor are they too poor to respond to these touching appeals. God
has not forgotten to be gracious to them. The year that came in
with fears, and doubt and trembling, has gone out with gladness and
undoubting assurances of the goodness of God. Our fields have
brought forth exuberant harvests, and our storehouses groan with
the abundant productions of the earth. The Lord our God has giv¬
en us no occasion to withhold our liberal offerings, but has made us
the depositories of his bounty, that we may do good to others.
And, finally, the death of a highly esteemed, beloved brother, in
Cherokee, solemnly admonishes us all this day, that " whatsoever
our hands find to do" in the work of the Ministry, in the work of
Missions, in the great work of individual preparation for the eter¬
nal world, " to do it with our might," " for the night cometh"—
"death draweth nigh when no man can work."
N. A. PRATT, Chairman.