The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-23

-
the enclosed slip"
The Independent in reply cites the evolu.
ZIONIST teachings Of most Of the prominent
scientists connected with the institutions
mentioned. 1t also asks the ObNrrsr why
the President Of Harvard College has not
been asked for his opinion, and closes by
saying:
1--WE challenge the Obarrcr to find three
working naturalists Of reputo in the
United States-or two III can find M In
Canada)-that Is not an eVOluttonist.'
A FEW weeks ago the Rev. Henry Losch,
Nretired Presbyterian clergyman, renounC.
ed that creed and was admitted into DR..
I)lenson's Baptist Church, Philadelphia.
subsequently his name was stricken from
the rolls OF the Presbytery. On Thursday
afternoon there was a breeze ut a Baptist
Ministerial Council which met at Dr.,
Il%enson's church to consider the propriety
Of ordaining Mr.. Losch to the Baptist min.
lstry. The candidate stated his reasons
for seeding, and explained at length his
present belief. Then Rev. DR., Wheaton
Smith created a sensation by Introducing
the following:
WHEREAS, Our brother, the Rev. Henry
LoFCh, a regularly ordained Presbyterian
minister, has been brought to believe in
tho SC%ripturalness OF those views which
we hold distinclively as Baptists, attesting
the earnestness Of this belief by uniting
with a Baptist Church, on profession Of
his faith in Christ by Christian baptism;
and,
WHEREAS, lie has related to this conn
ell not only the story OF his change, but
also of his Christian experience, his call
from God 10 the ministry, and Of his view
Of those doctrines which he has held here
tofOre in common with ourselves; there
fore,
Resolved, That we congratulate the Chris
tian brethren from whom he comes on
their wisdom with their views in ordain-
ing him to their ministry, and that now we
heartily adopt him into ours, commend.
ing him TO any Baptist church who may
invite him to be their pastor.
This started a warm discussion, several
Of the brethren being opposed to congrat'
ulating the. PresbYterians.
Rev. Z. G. Romine contended that the
council had only been called with a view
Of ordaining Mr.. l.osch to the Baptist
ministry.
Rev. DR.. Smith said that it was because
he was q Baptist he recognized the minis.
try of others. Did the Baptists desire to
turn round and unminister all Christen.
dom but themselves. This would be a loss
immensely from the right,
Rev. DR.. P. S. Henson thought a Baptist
ordination was the proper course to pur.
sue, although he did not entertain the be-
lief Of the Episcopalians that the pulpit
should be occupied only by a sacerdotaI
class Of men.
Rev. L. u. Thomas did not believe there
was a disposition among those present to
nnchurch other ministers. He did not
wish the impression TO go abroad that the
Baptists are Recommendations. They con-
sidered, however, that it was expedient to
rGordain n minister coming from any de-
nomination.
Finally the resolution Of DIR. Smith was
lost, the vote being almost unanimous in
the negative, and the ordination pro-
gramme was agreed upon as follows: To
be held on Monday, January IL, 1850, the
sermon by Rev. DR.. P.S. Henson, prayer
Of ordination by Rev. |. D. King, hand of
fellowship by Rev. B. D. Thomas, charge
by Rev. ]. B. G. Pidge.
Mr.. WILLIAM G. PRIME, IN author Of
some celebrity and brother, we believe, OF
DR.. Prime Of the New York Obscrrcr, is in
the habit every autumn Of making excur.
sions in his W carriage through the more
attractive rural districts OF New England;
stopping over and attending church wher.
ever Sunday happens to bring him. In a
letter to the Journal of Commerce describ.
ing the latest OF these tours, AR. Prime
thus touches al interesting and important
subject:
81 confess that year after year l grow
more and more 10 wondering why it is
that New England country people DO not
seem to have much interest in the church.
es. Whatever the denomination, we al.
ways find empty churches on Sunday
mornings and very small groups on Sun.
day evenings. ln villages OF considerable
size, with surrounding farms on which
the population is not small, it never hap
pens that we find a morning congregation
OF moro than forty or fifty persons at
church, and usually the number is much
less than that; while at evening service it
is almost invariable 10 find only ten or Gt-
teen females and rarely more han two,
three or four men. In large towns the at
tendance is pt%oportionately small. The
proportion OF the people OF parts OF north.
ern New England who are regular church
goers would seem 10 be small, even small.
or than in our large cities, il one can
judge from personal observations during
the past few years IN pleasant September
and October Sundays.
at was not SO once. | know country
churches which once gathered in on Sun
day morning pretty much all the popula.
ton around, and which are now full OF
emptiness. | see plenty OF churches be.
hind which are sheds for horses and
wagons, which by their extensive size, in.
dictate that they were once used BY many
families, and which are now not only
empty, but roolless, shabby, and useless;
nor could | learn that the building OF
other churches had led away the cougre-
cations.
Probably the same is true oil parts Of
New York and other states"
The relative merits of bag and plate as
receptacles for contributions is a minor
subject Of discussion in English church
circles. In an article in the Spectator, a
n..L.i- E---.-- .