The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-30
Sadsrson gntsltigeneer.
GRowTM OF paEsBfTERIANfsM.
An interesting Sketch OF tho History and
Progress of tile Presbyterian Church.

GROWTlF OF PRESBFTERIANHStI.
An Interesting sketch Of tho Hls.ory and
Progress of tile Presbyterian Church.
The volume lust published i'm Edin.
burgh containing the proceedings of the
great Presbyterian council Of last wear
In that city furnishes much interesting
data by which we can measure the pro-
gress of Presbyterianism and its pres
ent status in the world. We claim no
monopoly OF Christianity We heartily
rejoice 10 the growth and expansion Of
every branch of the evangelical Protest.
ant Church. We arrogate nothing for
our own denomination which it is not
justly entitled to as staunch witness
aud defender Of the faith once delivered
to the saints. But no intelligent mau,
and certainly no Presbyterian, can read
this volume without seeing that Presby.
tcrianisn, is living power in the world
that it's everlasting, saving influence
has gone forth among the nations and is
felt around the entire globe.
The history of the Presbyter or rs
it is called in Continental Europe, the
Reformed Church, since the great re-
formation of the sixteenth century has
been an eventful and wonderful history.
If we reckon from It's beginning at
Geneva under Calvin in 1541 or from
its beginning at the formation of the
first General Assembly OF Scotland under
Knox in 1860, it has now extended
through period of a little more than
three centuries. To-day it is great
family of churches scattered through all
Christian lands, and even among
heathen nations. The number Of sepa-
n nt Mt he
council either by delegates or official
communications, was little short OF fifty.
The youngest OF these, and probably the
smallest. was the newly formed Presby-
terian Church OF Norway. Some of the
lesser bodies represented were the Pres
byterian Churches Of Australia, Of South
Africa, and several missionary fields.
The largest Presbyterian organization
in the world is our own Northtrn Pres
byterian Church, with IT'S 5,G0O congre-
cations, its $4,000, members, aud 40
delegates at the council. The next
largest is the Presbyterian Church Of
Hungary and Pennsylvania, numbering
together 2,007 churches, and 2,017 minis.
ters. Next in order stands the Presby-
tcrian Churches of our country, the Es.
tablished Church of Scotland, the Pres
byterian Church of Wales, the free
Church OF Scotland, the Reformed
Church (Gorman) of our country. Pros
byterian Church at Canada, the Cum
berlend Presbyterian Church Of our
country, each having from 1850 20 1000
ministers or particular chui Saes.
The number of communing members
in all the branches of the Presbyterian
tables, more than one million, with
about 5000 ordained ministers and H..
900 particular congregations. The whole
number in other lands is not fully re.
ported. 1t is, however, stated that there
are In Scotland 10000 ruling elderp, and
it is estimated that the number holding
that Office throughout the world cannot
be less than 100000 noble army truly
of intelligent workers for Christ and
helpers of tho ministry. We trust ori
faithful ruling elders, If ut any time
they feel discouraged, will not forget
that they belong to- goodly cnmpEhy
Surely with 100000 elders and to say the
least 10000 ministers, our Pan. .Presby.
terian Church is we'll offlcered and
equipped for the conquest of tho world
1t is stated in this volume by one OF
the speakers ut the council that the
Frotestantism of the world now numbers
l07 100000 souls, including, of course,
the whole population, old and young,
converted and unconvertcd. OF this
vast number, 34,000,000 are Presbyteri-
ans, as distinguished from other Christ
ians, aud 20,500O 900 are Lutherans, WIZ
held essentially the same Presby terian
and are SO sar Presbyterian az distin.
guished alike from Preraltists and Pa
pists. If, the"eipre, we put these to-
gether, we have the enormous aggregate
Of 1900, ,00G p-otes:aats who stand
agreed as TO all the fundamental points
of church government and oil the essen.
tial doctrines of salvation. Thus the
Presbyterians, including Southern, out
number all other Protestant Christians in
tho world. AL this progress of Protest
antiam, this growth of Presbyferianism,
hss been realized in the space of little
over three centuries, or since tho three
great reformers, Luther, Calvin and
Knox, left tho world.
Some high Prelatists of our day, with
lar more of Ronish ritualism in their
souls than of the gospel, heve pronounced
Professionalism failure, and Presby.
terianism an exploded system. If the
great reformers could come back to the
acenn. of their life toll they would nave
no cause to think It failure. They
would find some things greatly changed;
ha. shey .scs.!d end Ac.! Ac.! p.,.ee. :s:s:
and Presbytefianism amoEs the most
vital forces in the world. 7,.Aey would
find 1t a living power at work in every
civilized land under the snr, in a thou
sand missionary stations all around the
globe, in ten thousand Of gospel preach
ers, and hundreds of thousands of men
and women who follow them even ns
they follow Christ The Interior.