The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-01
PRESBYTERIAN.
A Sketch of the Edinburgh Council
at Work.
SOME NOTABLE DELEGATES.
The Battle OF Religion With Science
Infdelity Vice of the Heart
EpIsauRaz. July 10. 1877.

EpIssuR0z. July 10, 1871
It 10 not . little curious that the most important
eonvepuon OF tho Presbyterian Churches since tho
Reformation should have boon going for week
In Edinburgh and the readers Of the London daies be
wiser for It. Archbishop Cranmer In his day
invitations all the great reformers living
assemble In Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster Abbey,
LONDON That council have included Melsncthon,
author Of the Augsburg Confession; Bulnger friend
ofZwngs and author Of another confession and ablest
critic OF Lather; Bucer mediator between Lutherans
Zwinglians; Anglican and Continental Professionals,
and John Calvin. Tho dream Of Cranmer, impossible
then is now fulfilled, and the great English world
hardly knows It, But the old roundelay runs,
"Scotland's burning" and Its IRE 10 hot enough to
make up for England's apathy. Tho scene which
daily mcots The eye Is impressive enough. The
visitor passing py Sir Walter Scott's nne Gothic
monument tho beautiful park in which 1t is stu
ated asceuds toward the grand Old castle, but passes
before = building with two towers, from Of
which floats the English nag, <hich has long borne
the baltic aud tho breeze, aud from the other sky
blue banner. which points the spot whore the tneo
logical ceruiens in conclave Entering through a
Gothic archway ws find ourselves alter a careful
ticket scrutiny. in the Free Church Assembly Hail. II
is q room which can accommodate about q thousand.
the wide galleries which Phoebes and tho Pris-
elias OF to-day are consigned, stretching around
every sdc and always crowded. The ceiling Is of
heavy oak work. wallis and the effect OF the
whole sombre rich aud strong. Here in tho main
body sit the 800 delegates and their many associates
speaking and voting with earnestness which ndi-
conviction that the word Is really living
around that room It's hub whether 1t knows II or
not
PRESBYTERIAN PHYsIoGNoMY
Though the majority not Scotch the Council has
general Scotch physiognomy Ono's eye aiigbts
many face OF the Carlyle type-the face Of perfer
vidum ingeniuns, with Pushes almost hectic in the
cneck jutting brow and prowlike undertake. hair sill
vered by thought and study rather than By age, and
intense animation moderated by refinement. Now and
then we meet form ana counienance which suggest
new habitat. Such one Tor example Is Dr. stuart
Robinson, of Louisville, KY restless, eager, vivid in
speech and and apparently we'll acquainted
with everybody present II no had lived next DOR
to them all his life He Is the perfect type Of the West
ern democrat, and every speech he makes seems to
suggest platform fronting a miscellaneous crowd.
Yet, popular orator he IS, and his
blonde lace and light eyes rcplets with bon-
homie thsre Is NO greater stickler for
the strict theology Of his Church and
no better authority It's polity He "brothers''
people of other denominations but It Is for fraternai
fight on the nvc points. 1.-THE Methodist" says he
cannot see the comfort OF election roproba
Somebody says, DO you sec the eagle on ~? .No,'
says gazer, don+ IT. Butt is there, nevsrthe-
loss though that brother don't SEQ It However, he
sees the bridge" And Dr.. Stuart Robinson eicits q
round Of applause the Methodist brother because
at any rate he sees the bridge.
These sobersided Europeans hardly know how to
take his hearty humorous sallies sometimes have
an uneasy feeling that he and some other Americans
want 10 stir them up to something now Another man
with this popular way about him Is Dr. Ormiston, Of
oRuisrox AND DAxNocKs.
strange looking man he IS OF almost African COM
pexion, with short, thick hair standing end and
encircl,ng his head, as some one remarked like a
black nimbus. Herculcan In frame he IS stentorian IN
voice. when he gets exciied-a rather normal con-
dtion with him-hs gesticuatton Is such rs 10 give
| pleasure only TO those al q safe distance Ormston
was reared the shadow OF Tintock ION oatmeal
| and catcchism" in his phrase, and, though be
doesn't look like it, one smlilude used by Orm ston
/ at tho beginning OF the Council showed tho Scotch
their long lost brother more plainly than tho pro
words Shorter Calcchism as having been 10 his
childish teeth 'ke pcasc hammock be remembered
| ana whose hardness he described IN pantomme by q
kick he did not leave us to suppose that the
chetlcal cake was III ouly football but declared
crumbie around till they did and It would be strength
at the heart OF childrenhe knew II, Tor he had
his forcbieness good deal oil tho boy about Orms-
ton aud when he was presiding and some
was describing good ,lder.s prayer tae big tears
| PROFESSORS.
Nearly all the New York men have a cosmopolitan
air about them ana popular style OF oratory, aud the
same may be said OF Dr. Eels Of California; but
others among the American delegation have the
| men who 1.-Two among books and better acq TAINTED
With the old reformers than with the mon they meet
or the street OF these some are eloquent, like Dr.
| Hope OF Richmond; but Others like Dr. Hodge aud
'esting, have the dry professional manner Scotch
professor told the story tina! when he was setting
preacher for Sunday. They went down the us. OF
1o aid.
l SAID, .sIts sending him; he's professor.
There evidently something TO be said for tho elders
criticism DR.. McCosh, of PRINCETON, has more ami
NATION than the majority OF college men, but It Is
| frequent remark among both The Scotch and Irish,
| AMID whom he once preached tnat America mas aged
| him rapidly and not improved MN as preacher
| HIS old friends seem somewhat Disappointed that he
has made more Of mark In the Council Though
tue professional element and the Official element
strong In the Council 1t IL Observable that they bave
not avaed to check tho freedom Of the assembly or
the ebullitions OF feeling technically disordorly bat
| really signs oil earnestnesa
| THE FOURTH OF JULY.
In his opening prayer, on the Fourth OF July, Dr.
Gooid Moderator OF tho F,o, Cuurcn OF Scotland re-
fcrrcd In glowing words to American Independence.
DR.. Prime having Immediately alter 10 MAKE busi,
ness report broke all rules order to thank Dr. Good
Tor his "knd anu tender and iratcrnal rciercnce TO
my country"-the rest being lost IN tho tumu tuous
| applause In no part OF tho world" said DR.. Primo,
shave ever listened 10 prayer that came more
toucnngly than that when today led this house Of
brethren 10 recognize before God American indopcn-
dcnco heartily petition Tor the prosperity oil our
nation' , ,,
These words excited universal enthusiasm and the
| American delegates, botn Southern and Northern.
lccitated each otncr, and some shook hands tho
fact that the Council by forckDowedge oil theirs
had spontaneously opened with Fourth o. July de-
monstraton.
| TNB VETERAN.
ANY account of the personnel oil tho Council would be
incomplete without special reference 10 DIR. William
s. pumcr Of south Carolina, ITS veteran This grand
old man--in his eiebty-egnth ycar-with ais long,
snowy HAIR ard patrlarcha beard might suggest the
Ideal RID Van winklc were mis- mind not SO evidently
wideawake. DIR. Pumer WAS once minister oi tue
Erc cks IN ID n
was the Prcsbyt terrain giant OF Virginia He was he
leading man OF a onco famous convention which met
nj Richmond to consider the educational condition oil
that state There he opposed the late Samuel NJ.
Janney, who wanted the free school system but com
~ sel on hill cannot be MD" His epgramm
tcrances were widely known as when he said as Offset
to revivalst who said he wanted 80 get up revival,
| that he fPIumer) wanted ito get down n revival"
THE CATHOLICS AND THE NEGROES.
Dr. Piumer aged as he Is, has made one Of the most
powerfuI impressions the Council. IL was when CO.
nnern,,on in WAS the subject thai ho u