Bethany Church, Oct. 9th, 1802.

SYNOD was opened by Rev. Leonard Prather, with a sermon from Amos iv., 12th, and Rev. William C. Davis was chosen moderator. The Presbytery of Orange reported they had received the Rev. Leonard Prather from the Methodist Church, and that they had suspended the Rev. M. Thompson: Presbytery of Concord, that they had dismissed Rev. John Andrews to the Presbytery of West Lexington. Mr. John Matthews, missionary to the Natches, and Mr. Thomas Hall, missionary in the Carolinas and Georgia, read reports of their missionary labors, and for their diligence received the thanks of Synod. The Synod (after an interval of some years) appointed a Commission of Synod to attend to the missionary business, and appointed Hugh Shaw, licentiate of Orange, a missionary to the Natches; and as Mr. Matthews expressed a desire to return, a commission was ordered for him. The Presbytery of Orange was directed also to ordain him for the mission, should he go.

The case from Sinking Spring, Greenville Presbytery, came up again, and after long investigation, was put over till next session; it was an intricate but entirely local matter.

"This Synod enjoin it on each Presbytery of which it is composed, to establish within its respective bounds, one or more grammar schools, except where such schools are already established; and that each member of the several Presbyteries make it their business to select and encourage youths of promising piety and talents, and such as may be expected to turn their attention to the ministry of the gospel."

"Overtured: Whether it be proper for this Synod to confer on any one who may be well recommended, a written and formal permission to act in the character of an exhorter? Synod judged it would be improper, as our book of discipline does not authorize Synod to grant such permission."