OCR Text |
Show PRESBYTERIANISM. Thcrrcfbyjerj,a. GtBlral jUscmblj Addressed by President BobertM A MORAL POINTED AND A TALC ADORNED. betutor Teller Continues His Argument Argu-ment Ajalnst the Mirer Bill. MEETING Or STOCK BREEDERS IN CHICAGO. TheFope btnes Circular Letter. Railroad Accident la Montana. " Br Telegraph to the Kev the rnr.snYTEiiiAAS. Ireldent Roberta, or Lalt Forrest (Ills.) Inlserslly, Drllrera an Afldrea, Babatooa, Slay 15. Thc rresbj'-tenan rresbj'-tenan genera assembly met here to-lay. to-lay. I'lwIJent Itoberts of the Lake Forrct (Ills.) anlversity, the retiring retir-ing moderator, delivered an address on "Tbe privileges and coDMxjuent obligations of the Presbyterian Church," etc, at length. Ilia reference refer-ence to the absorbing topic of revision re-vision was in enumerating the special tirivllegea of the church. Among these, he said, was a clear-cut, clear-cut, strong anil Scriittural creed. Notwithstanding UiPfeu- objectionable objection-able passages, the alleged Incorrect interpretation of Scripture and the questionable, philosophy of two or three paragraphs in our standard, they arc a marvel of skill and didactic didac-tic acumen. They have been classed among the beet specimens extant of clear thought and cogent reasoning. They were prepared in troublous times for the purpose of uniting in ono church all the Christians of Great Britain and Ireland. liery paragraph uas heated iu the fires of controversy and forged Into bars of gold, notonlybythebcsttheologlans of the church, but by tbe best statesmen, states-men, also of both houses of Parliament. Parlia-ment. 'The shorter catechUm has been pronounced by many Vi ho have had no sympathy with its doctrines as THE EHST COMPENDIUM of scriptural truths the world lias ever setn. The standards are not only clear-cut, but exceedingly ttroiig. They are based largely on Ged's sovereignty. It is no such lovereignty, however, an implies arbitrariness or injustice, but such as abates the proud and encourages tbe lowly. "It is loudly proclaimed in these days that the doctrines f our stand aids are destitute of the breathings of God's love. Tills Is largely true. The tender phase of tbe divine character is uot so clearly set forth as it ought to be in this age. Hut It must not le forgotten that the church has been undergoing a process pro-cess of evolution from her infantile dajs to the present time. Graceaud truth came by Jesus Chrht, hut tbo- lovely qualities could have come only after the way had been prepared for them by tbe sterner qualities of the law which came by Moses. "The strong truths of our Calvin-istic Calvin-istic creed are not to lw looked upon, therefore, as monstrosities, but as necessary antecedents to mil Jer and more lovable doctrines. These doctrines doc-trines have bcendrawnoutof God's word in such a way as to forbid the making of any es-ential changes in them without doing' violence to that word." AMtU THE OTIILIt FBIVILEGES of the church enumerated and dilated dilat-ed upon were a goernment more in keeping with the teachings of Penp-turcthan Penp-turcthan that of any other branch of tbo church; championship in the cause of education- superior missionary mis-sionary appliances, and conceded wealth. On this latter point, Dr. Roberts said in part: "Itmay seem doubtful at first sight whether ricbe can be regarded as one of tbe privileges of a church of Christ. In themselves considered, they cannot bean indication indi-cation of moral inner or usefulness. Xevertbele, they do acquire, according ac-cording to the best known principles' of ethics, morality, as well as strength, when viewed as a trust for God's glory and the good of the world. It Is often alleged that our church owns and controls more money than any other in our land. One of the congregations in Xcw York city Is said to possess more than a hundred millions of dollars. The Presbyterians of Chicago Lave under their control, not in their possesslon.three hundred millions of dollars. Tills Is a fair sample of what is to be found in other communities, com-munities, eat and west. It is certainly cer-tainly a great privilege to be entrusted en-trusted with so much of the Lord's money, If we have grace to use Has good and faithful servants." DR. ROBERTS ADDED that tbe obligations arising from these privileges come under tbe text: "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him should mueh be required," re-quired," and spoke at great length on the duty cf the church. Follow-ug Follow-ug are some of his oInts: -There s an evident looseness, not only in admitting men into our ministry, but also in giving church sessions unlimited license to supply their own pulpits. In many congregations congrega-tions ministers are hired by theyear, like a clock. The rommunity In which they live regard tliemnrtas permanent factors in their social or religious life. Tbe value of the permanent tastoratc is lieyoud all commutation. "Not a few of ourvacantchurcb.es are allowed to be overrun by j ro-fWional ro-fWional candidates. Our worthy ministers are frequently set aside by men who aro after the loaves and fl.hes. They have a few flashy dls-ooup-es that please the ears of the people, but when they are delivered they have nothing left worth listening listen-ing to. Under this practice piety languishes, actively ceases and Christian benevolence Is left uncultivated. uncul-tivated. "The presbyteries must watch with greater care the entrance Into her mini-try. The number of candidates can-didates who reject some of tbe fundamental fun-damental DOCTRINES OF OUK CREED Is tsald to be on the increase. At the present rate of Increaso the doctrinal doc-trinal statutes of our church will certainly be Impaired. If the growing grow-ing laxity goes on. a loud cry will presently be raised for a creed that -will bind no mlul'tcr to a specific system of belief. The presbyteries should exercise more vigilance In thedlrectlonofpreservlnga soundness sound-ness of faith iu our ministers and elders. "The Presbyterian Church is called upon to conserve the educational educa-tional institutions the has been largely the means of establishing, and to add to their numbers as cir-ttimstaucc-i may demand. The tublic school system has become the ulnarkand glory of our nation, but of late it has become an olject of acatilt by the Ilnmlsli clerj-y. The high officials of thatpollUco-rellglovis system are bent on destroying or controllng It. The church we represent re-present is in duty bound to meet these enemies of our common schools. They should, and probably can be, Improved in certain particulars, particu-lars, but the system in its main features fea-tures and fundamental principle must be upheld at the cost, if needs be.of blood and treasure. The perpetuation of our free Institutions Insti-tutions depends upon the -lrtueand homogeneousnesa of our nation, but this CA.NNOT HE REAUZLD without the moulding Influence of Christianity. The Ilomanlst must bu brought to accept our common schools; the Mormon to practice monogamy; the Indian to worship the only true and living God: the Chinaman to adopt the principles of Christian religion, and the anarch-1st anarch-1st to keep the Sabbath and honor the eternal principles of God's work. The alarming condition of portions of our country calls lor still greater vigilance and effort upon tbe part of the church. Kven New England, which in many respects is the most favored port of our country, Is threatened by an avalanche of propagandists of theltomlsh Church. The middle States are threatened with a tidal wave of Immigrants from Iirope, the majority of whom would gladly wash an ay old land marks of the puritans, if not their religion. "The country Is today standing aghast at the rising cleud of ignorance igno-rance and immorality among the freemen of the South, which threatens threat-ens to overspread our political sky with gloom. The Northwest Is trembling over the top of a volcano that may at aii3 moment shake Into pieces IU proudest political and religious re-ligious fabrics. Tbo Southwest is groaning under tbe domination of itome. The Wasateh Mountains are holding today in their bosom a fetid pool that threatens to devastate tbe contiguous States and Territories. Terri-tories. The Pacific Coast Is TlIIthATKMD WITH 1IEAT1IEMSM. "Infidelity, intellectual and practical, prac-tical, is eerywbcre striving to overthrow our Protestant Christianity. Christi-anity. It has the tongue of the orator and the ear of the pojulace. It Is becoming every day more and more resolutely formidable and boastful, but Christ's Gospel, the power of God unto salvation, can meet such threatening evils." Dr. Itobcrts added that, notwithstanding notwith-standing all th!, Jiotieful prospects are not wanting to encourage the church iu home missionary work and urged renewed effort. More men are needed, particularly In the west The foreign field is also calling call-ing for more men and means. Another An-other task to which the church shout J lend her energies is to Instruct her members Iu the mtanlng of true stewardship and the u-a of money. Xo department of Christian work has so poorly developed as lcu uiary offerings. The church must set faith more emphatically the connection that exists between the accumulation accumula-tion of rlehesand God's blessing. At the afternoon meeting Itev. William li Moore, of Columbus. Ohio, was elected moderator, several reports were accepted and dates set lor iicbate-1 thereon. The report of the committee on Church Unity stated that a cordial response was made to the overtures ol tlio bishops of the ProtestrintTIpIscopal Church. Correspondence also has been had n 1th tbe chairman of the Congregational Congrega-tional Council." The resolutions accompanying ac-companying the report deprecate tbe undue multiplicity of churches of different denominations in small communities. A continuance of negotiations uith the Protestant Ktl-roral and Cont-regatlonal Churches was recommended. |