Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-10-20
FIRST EDITION.
The presbyterians.
MEETING or THE SYNOD OF BALTIMORE AND ORGAN
IzArIoN, Last LvENIad-sERMoN BY Mr.. Full
TON, OF BALTIMORE,

MEETING OF THE tYSOD OF BALTIMORE AND ORGAN
IzATIos, Last lvENIad-sEnMoH BY Mr. Full
| TON, OF BALTIMORE.
The Presbyterian Synod of Baltimore con-
vened in the Central Church, this city. last eve
ming. The opening session was largely attend
ed by visitors, to whom all the sessions open,
and the church was very comfortably filled.
Not more than half the delegates if 30 many,
were present, but as only some half dozen were
absent by sickness 1t is expected that the at
tendance will be swelled by new arrivals to-day.
Ihe opening sermon was preached by Rev.
| ltobt III. Fulton, of the Second Presbyterian
| church, Baltimore, Rev. Dr. Marquis, who had
been selected for that duty, being disqualified
| BY sickness. Mr. Fultons text was "And Lead
us not into Temptation" Matthew 613. De-
Inning temptation as a sort OF test or trial,
measured by n force exertod upon tho moral
| character. Mr. Fulton proceeded to notice some
OF the tests which God Is wont to apply to hu-
man character, making direct reference to our
first parents in the garden of Eden, whore man's
obedience to his Maker was tried. SO of Abra-
ham who was commanded to sacrifice His CONS on
a mountain in Moriah. But the purpose OF these
tests s not to soduce man to sin for God can
not be tempted of evil, neither tempteth IIo any
man)but to prove whether wo love our Lord with
all our heart and soul; they are meant to confirm
us in holiness, never to seduce u5 into wrong.
All such temptations, however, occur in our
contact with the powers of eyil-the devil, whose
attitude toward the race il OF aggressive HOSTILE
ty. But common mortals, MIR. Fulton thought,
have very little personal conflict with the devil.
Martin Luther may have seen him when ho hurl-
ed his inkstand at the apparition in his chamber;
but any OF the little devils is more than
match for most men. There is
not need that Satan should be personally active
in assaults upon the human heart, for having
achieved the conquest of the race in the fall
Of Adam and Eve with its consequent taint and
bias towards wickedness, he may withdraw from
the fight and exert his comprehensive genius in
the detailed actions OF his emissaries
Passing to a consideration Of the manner in
which temptations influence u.s. Mr.. Fulton said
they came as suggestions-by persuading us to
a course of action. They cannot take hold OF
uB and compel US to an unwilling performance,
for this would destroy the essential of personal
responsibility. Such influences moving us as
move children, idiots, or insane persons,
would neither be right or wrong, for they would
lack all moral quality. These temptations are
also suggestive enticements, and therefore mis-
representations of truth.
Looking at the conditions within man un-
der which ho is especially liable to TEN 1tation,
Mr.. Fulton named among these extremes of
prosperity or adversity, as especially danger
ous In q middle course. removed alike from
wealth and penury we walk most safely. But
recall our commercial history of the past four
years and you will have an exhibition Of
each extreme. In the immense volume OF
trade consequent upon the ,over-stimuated ac-
tivity OF war-times, the gigantic schemes Tor
national development, and the predominant
mania for specuation--the natural result Of an
inflated currency--the, whole nation seemed to
ride upon flood tide of fortune. And then what
forsaking was thore Of the ancient landmarks
Old habits of frugality gave place to prodigalty,
the day laborer turned Dives must don the pur-
pie and fine linen and fare eumptuousy every
day. Conservatism was ruled out; prudence
yielded to recklessness, and dashing Fisk III
the East, and a more dashing Ralston in the
West were the men chosen to guard great trusts
aud manage great enterprises 1t was an era
of universal excess. We had touched nothing
that we did not quit oyerdone Fortune was the
goal and success the criterion of every action.
SO, from having been one OF the most upright
and stable peoples, wo quickly became one OF
the most debauchcd and unsubstantial. As
might have been expected, the tide that made
shipwreck of our public morals receded and with
it 1oated away our prosperity. Then
came the collapse i'll trade, the shrink
age in values, the stoppage of mills, and
thousands standing idle with no man to hire
them. Here we were precipitated from one ex-
treme of temptation to another. and it wore
hard to tell which was tho greater evil the.ple-
thorn OF initiation or the gripping of contfacton
For lis the one made mon lavish OF money, the
other made them lavish of their good name
aud our country has witnessed the humiliating
spectacle of men who stood as pillars OF trade
not only become bankrupt in property but what
is worse, revealing in their financial ruin that
they had before been bankrupt i'll character
The state of our health aud periods OF leisure
arc also opportune times for temptation. But
insdous as arc all the devices Of satsn and his
minions and great as the dangers i'll the way
of escape, they may all be overcome by habitnal
caution, firm adherence to right, and the in
voking OF the divine aid by prayer.
THE ORGANIZATION.
After the sermon, Rev. Gaylord L. More, in the
absence of the retiring moderator, called the
Synod to order. and prefaced the proceedings
with prayer. Roll was called, and Rev. James ).
Smyth. of the New CASTLE Presbytery, was cleo
ted Moderator by rising vote. VIM. IL. Cole
and Chas. Baird were elected Recording Clerks,
and Rev. D. II. Riddle, of Washington, Reading
Clerk. Rev j. p. Conkoy,n behalf of the Com
mittee of Arrangements, read the pro-
gramme OF business for the eession,as follows;
Wednesdsy-fr 8 to $50, q. m, devotional
exercises: from 930 to 10, " Business of the
Docket; from 10 to 1880, the discussion OF the
subject Our Church Life as compared with the
Apostolic Standard" list, with regard to the
duty and authority of the church session, to be
opened by Rev. John Patton, d. D. 2nd, with
regard to family instruction, to be opened by
Rev. John Chester, ID. d.. Sd, with regard to the
relation of the church to the world, to be
opened by Rev. John 3. Jones 4th, with regard
to the position and work OF women in the
d. From to 5 p. m. business of the docket
7.3O p. IN, celebration of the Lords Supper.
Thursday--from 0 to . 30 a. m. devotional ex-
erclses 80 to 123 80, business of the docket
3 to p. M, the general benevolent work of the
church, to be presented by secretaries Of the
boards or their representatives.. AT ~ TO ad-
journment, t,-clearing the docket.
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Eatai Ouarrci About u Girl.