The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-01-13
MEMORIAL SERMON.
BY REV. E. BUSHNELL.


TExT-"And these stones shall Be for Me-
mortal 'l''to the Children Of Israel for erer."-
Joshua 4: Z.
rude monument was that, standing near
the bank Of the Jordan,-a simple heap of 10
stones carried upon mans shoulder out
of the rivers bed. Piled up on the site of the
first nights encampment after crossing, these
stones were to commemorate tbe entrance of
Gods chosen people into the Land OF Promise.
This was an event to be held in remembrance.
God would have his great attributes, and his
acts of favor to men commemorated by fitting
memorials. He has regard for remembrance,
and is unwilling to be put out of mind Civ
ing his great name "Jehoyah"-I Gns-to Mo-
ses, he said: "This is my name forever, and
this is my memorial to all generations"
When Israel came out of Egypt, God appoin-
ted the Passover . commemorate that delive-
rance, saying: alt shall be for sign unto thee
upon thine hand, and for memorial between
thine eyes," Following the Passover, the Lords
Supper is memorial of Christ's death. 'Do
this in remembrance of me-" So it seems that
for memorials there have been appointed these
two things-viz: Structures and Acts.
Memorials are fitting to individuals, to fam
lilies, to nations, to churches. The memorial
acts of the Children Of Israel, were done by
them as the people of God. In like manner e
vents and communications which help forward
our work, as Gods people, are worthy of
thanksgiving and commemoration. In the
spirit Of gratitude and praise to God, for His
goodness, the Presbyterian Church of the q.
S. A, propose to erect Memorial of the Re-
union which was consummated last year. I
propose to speak: First, of the importancs of
the Reunion. Secondly, of the plSpossd fitting
Memorial.
LIST. The importance of the Reunion is to be
seen from the causes which made it necessary
and led to it. Among the characteristics of
of the Presbyterian Church are these two, viz !:
An ardent attachment to sound Christian doc
trine, and high regard for good order in all
ecclesiastical acts. Out of these characteristics
have grown a high-toned and plain-spoken
confession Of faith, and definite form of gov
eminent and discipline. In connexion with
these things, the church always t0otsld have a
thoroughly educated ministry, and always ex-
pressed in its standards, sentiments of sincere
charity toward other bodies of earnest Chris
tian people. 1t is nothing strange if some men
are more rigid in their dOctrinal views and
attachments than Others In 1901, the Gener-
al Assembly and the General Association Of
Connecticut, formed a "Plan of Union" for
prosecuting missionary work in the new set
Elements of the west, together. The result was
many Congregational churches connected
with Presbyteries. The essential fairness of
this plan, and the honesty of its purpose are
suggested by the fact that in 1887 the o. s.
majority Of the General Assembly, repudiated
it as operating to the disadvantage of Presby-
tsrianinm, and in 1852 the Albany Convention
Of Congregationalists repudiated it as working
periodically to COngregationalism. From
1880 to 1887 say, one party in the Presbyterian
Church, wished the abandonment of this plan,
while others wished its continuance At the
same time the first party charged that among
the adherents of the plan were grave errors in
doctrine, and irregularities in practice, which
the others denied Another question of differ
ence was the preference of one party for
Boards of Missions, Education, &C., appointed
and controlled by the church, while the other
party preferred voluntary" societies, i. e. as
sociations Of mere individuals These differ
erces led the assembly of 1887, to disown four
synods, as not of the Presbyterian Church
The n. S. portion Of the church, (which had had
majorities in five out of seven last assemblies,
and might have done the same thing to their
opponents,regardingt this act as uneonstitation-
al and void, sided with the excluded Synods,
and so there was a rupture into two bodies
The n. S. were taken by surprise, and were
altogether unprepared for the separation.
They had the work of organization all to dc,
The o. S. also had a great work of reconstruc-
ton on hand.
The two bodies continued apart 80 working
years, and this period was one Of growth to
both. In 1887 the undivided church had z, lao
ministers. 1856 churches, 220,557 members
In 1910 the o. S. had l,22l ministers, 1893
churches, l26,5S3 members. In lS49 they had
1850 ministers, 2,5l2 churches, 2O0,S3O mem
bers, In 1853 they had 2,577 ministers, 3,4S7
churches, 279,690 members. In 1859 they had
1881 ministers, 2,740 churches, 25s, ,9O3 mem
The diminuti0n from 1859 to 1869 was owing
to the fact that when the Rebellion arose thG