The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-11-05

SSAAAH ASA eeiANt
and class rooms for the Sabbath School
and industrial school. The whole ex-
pense of the chapel work is assumed by
the parent church, but about one half
the amount annually required is contrib
uted by the chapel people. The church
property is managed by the trustees Of
the parent church, and mission com
mittee, who have general supervision Of
the affairs of the chapel A committee
from the Session hold meetings at the
chapel to receive candidates for member
ship, and aid the chapel pastor. Within
two years two deacons have been chosen
from the chapel congregation who ofici-
ate as well in the parent church as at the
chapel. The work at the chapel is, with
out doubt, most effective one for good,
as is shown by the ingathering Of eight
hundred members through the chapel,
whose names are on the roll of Madison
Square church. The Identification of the
two congregations is as complete as pos
sible under this system, and yet the sep
aration is of necessity positive. Rev.
Louis Walferz, German, is co-pastor
of the chapel, and ministers to all Of his
people who can be gathered, preaching to
them in the German language in sepa-
rate part of the church building. The
successor of DR.. Tucker, who ever he may
be, will be introduced to the general con-
duct of this large work, preaching to the
congregation Of the parent church, and
entrusted also with general supervision
of the spiritual interest of the chapel.
No name has been publicly mentioned
in connexion with the vacant pastorate of
the Madison Square church. The perse-
verance mot final we hope) of Christians
of the Presbyterian faith in adhering to
particular forms of theological statement
and order of worship, is aptly illustrated
by the existence among us Of the Re
formed Presbyterian Church. who, with
real earnestness, are contending for the
faith once delivered to the saint" as they
understand the Scriptures. The secession
of Richard Cameron in 1866, from the
Church of Scotland, is perpetuated by the
separate ecclesiastical organization Of the
Reformed Presbyterians in our own day.
They claim to be in succession and sym
pathy with tie Cameronians of Scotland,
and while holding the Westminster Con-
fession with great strictness as their Stand
ard, believe and teach some other things
which compel them to a distinct ecclesi-
astical organization Holding the Lord
Jesus Christ to be King Of Kings and
Lord of Lords, they find that the Con
stituhon of the United States being or
dained l0jthout recognition Of his author
ity, save in the formal superscription Of
date (Anno Domino makes our Govern
ment ulchriStian, The members Of the
Reformed Church do not therefore exer-
else the right Of suffrage, nor do they
serve on juries in the United States
Courts or State courts. They regard
hymns as uninspired, and therefore not
to be used in church worship, confning
themselves to the versifcation of the
Psalms Instrumental music in church
they prohibit, and holding the obhga-
tions of Christians to the Church to ex-
ceed in sacredness all others, their mem
bers are prohibited from uniting with
secret societies. They teach that the
Lord Jesus "unto whom all power is
committed in heaven and in the earth, ="
is the author, in his own distinct person
ality, Of all temporal blessings, as well as
spiritual Small as this body of Presby-
terians is, they have suffered a division
as far back as 1888, on the question of
members of the church voting; there are
two Synods; the churches adhering to
one, teach the unchristian character Of
our National Government, but do not
prohibit suffrage; the churches adhering
to the other Synod prohibit voting There
are in this city three churches Of the lat
ter, and one of the former. The question
of religion in our National Government
will, in one form or another, most likely
come to the front sooner than many of US
expect. The Roman Catholic Church
would be untrue to its organization Gt
has never been this) if it did not keep be-
fore the eye Of it's faith, the exaltation Of
the Pope over the temporal power Of the
United States.
Our Reformed Presbyterian brethren
are working with faith for the achieve
ment of their idea in naming the
name of our Lord Jesus as the head Of
the Government. Apetition went to Con-
gress a few years since on the subject,
and the Christian Statesman newspaper
has for its prime object the agitation Of
the question, and from It's columns you
Will find that there are prominent minis
ters and laymen of the Methodist, Epis-
copal, Presbyterian and perhaps other
churches, who are in full accord with the
teachings Of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church on the subject.
If in time the politics of the country
shnnll enrana the nuhlic attentinn ON