Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-12-23
NUMBER 155.
Presbyterian Reunion.
SERVICES IN HONOR OF THE EvENT-A LARGE
Observation-Disclosures EXERCISES.

hSAEhSAsAo-
The reunion prayer meeting at the First Pres
byterlan church, Thursday, was well attended.
Rev. Mr. Webb, conducted the exercises, reading
from the 18th chapter of st. John, and giving out
the hymn
"Love sivine all love excelling."
Eldor Barney of Centervile, offered prayer, after
which Rev. DIR. spetswood Of New Castle spoke,
referring to the fact that he had voted In Presby-
terry against the reunion, but that seeing the
earnest feeling and fraternal interest of the vast
majorlties of both branches he had felt 1t his
duty to come over bodily and mentally to the
other side.
Prayers were offered by Reys. Crowell of Odes-
So, Dubois of Now London, Hamilton of Newark,
and Marks of this city. Brief addresses were also
made by Revs. Shaw and Smyth. The arst re-
ferred to the pride with which, in old tmes, .
man announced himself as Roman citizen. But
that right carried with itobgatons as well as pri-
vilegcs. So the speaker was glad to be able to say
~ am Presbyterian" but sow that the fact OF
belonging to the reunited church involved great
er responsibilities. John Knox prayed, "Giye
me Scotland or die" Looking on the heathen
world, means and efforts for It's conversion ought
to be multiplied; looking ut America we ought
to desire to possess 1t for Christ, and lift the
prayer of Knox, Lord, give us America, give
us the world.'' The united prayer OF the united
Mr.. smyth spoke Of the necessity of deeper
personal,interest and more jealous personal eff
fort because of the reunion. OF itself It would
add nothing to the efficiencles OF individuals or
churches The question had .s neen ASKED MN NJ
The inquiry had struck him as most important.
If from these gatherings ministers and elders
and members went home with renewed conse,
Grafton then good results In Sunday Schools and
churches would be quickly seen. He hoped the
flaternal feeling and unity shown in the event
celebrated to-day could extend to oil the other
Protestant churches, for If they did not come
willingly to that position common Danger
would bring them there. The meeting closed
with the doxology and benediction
JUBILEE MEETING IN HANOVER STREET CHURCH
THURSDAY EVENING.
Hanover Street Presbyterian Church was occu-
pied Thursday evening with alarge audiencet totake
part in the celebration of the reunion of the Old
and New school branches of the Presbyterian
church. A number of members of Wilmington
On. So and New Castle %. 81 Presbyteries were
present, and all seemed to rejoice that the re-
union had been accomplished.
The exercises were opened by the choir, under
the leadership of MIR. NJ. l. Lichtenstein, singing
very beautifully voluntary.
Rev. DIR. Dubois, of New London, Pa.,presided
and after few remarks expressing regret that
the speakers from distance had not arrived,
read the XCV Psalm, after which the hymn COM
mencing,
"Glorlous things Of Thee are spoken,
Zion city Of my God"
was sung by the congregation.
Rev. Mr.. Marks, of Hanover Street Church ad-
dressed the meeting. He thought this new era
in the Presbyterian church. and the starting point
of great feature in its history. lie said there
attn bodina nj prpehyfpriapa
this country, the majorities of the members OF
which he believed were anxious to be united in
one, and he thought the day notfar distant when
| the union would be accomplished. Ihey all held
| the same fundamental doctrines, the same faith
| all worshipped in the same manner, under tho
guardianship of the same Master and 70 the
honor and glory of the same Lord and Savior
Christ Jesus. He hoped that the unity would
soon be complete and he was certain much
good would follow.
Rev. Mr.. Moore of this city, followed in briei
prayer, after which the hymn:
"Blessed bo the tie that binds
| Our hearts in Christian love-"
| was sung by the congregation.
Rev. Mr.. Hamilton, of Newark, thought thai
| If the Presbyterian Church prospered, the indi-
vidual members of 1t would have to go to work
feeling as the Apostle Paul did, that they have 3
work TO do which no other can. He would ad
wise them to ask constantly as did the great Apos
tie, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do, and
sible for their aciions He would especially urge
this upon them at this time as he believed this tht
crisis in the history of the church, when 1t mus
rise or fall.
tiana, addressed the meetlng. He said he fcl
proud to be able to say that he was born and brct
a Presbyterian, and was also one by conviction
and choice He said no one must be ashamed L
be called one. He was certain that the great re
ligion in the future would be the Presbyterian
and had it not been for the petty divisions Ia tn
ecclesiastical ranks it would be the strongest bod,
at the preseut day. He gave history. Of the ori
gin and progress of the church, its trials reverse
and victories. He vividly described the meetinI
at Pittsburg, at which he was present, and close
by expressing the thought that he had not III
least doubt but God had noble duty in store TO
the Presbyte terian church.
After the singing of the hymn-
"Love divine all love exceng
Joy Of Heaven to earth come DOWN."
a gentleman arose in the audience and spok
briefly of the happiness it gave him to see th
union completed, and said he would like to hea
from some of the fathers of the church, men VIII
had been in it during these thirty years OF II
trials, and would take the liberty OF calling o
the chairman, Rev. DR.. Dubois to make some RI
marks.
DIR. Dubois arose and said his ministry con
menced in 1885, the year before the division too
place. He said those were warm times, th
, times that tried mems souls. For long tune
! saw division must take place and was glad ths
it did, for he believed if It had not divided the
it would have been torn to pieces by. intern'
fighting. There was constantly two parties in th
must have eventually destroyed the whole body
allowed to go on. But happily the strife ha
, ended, and all seem to be now working harmon
iously and for that same great end. He wa
truly joyous at the reunion of the two great eli
ments Of the church upon such o friendly an
Christian basis. He hoped especially that thos
two Presbyteries, Wilmington and New Castl
: which cover almost the same territory, woul
9 know each other better and work with create
unanimity. He closed by saying he did not wis
he thought them all brothers in Christ and 0
, working TO obtain the same great end. :.
, He was followed by short prayer by Rey.M
Snyder, of this city, after which the grand o.
WAll hail the power Of Jesus' name,