Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-18
SYNOD OF PITTSBURGH.
ANNUAL MEETING OF AN IMPORTANT
BODY.
Initial Meeting in the Second Presbyterian
Church Last Nght-Sermon BY
the Retiring Moderator
Proceedings.

NHuiNh LaSN NiSNA SSi"Sh w
the Retiring Moderator
Proceedings.
The Synod Of Pittsburgh met in the
Second Presbyterian Church OF this
city last evening, at the hour oi7..
Alter the singing Of suitable anthem
by the choir, Rev. W. q. Lester, OF the
Washington Presbytery, announced the
5l4th hymn.
Scripture was read by Rev. J. II.
Flanagan. . IT.. r...
PRAYER was offered by Rev. W. W.
Moorhead, Of the Blairsville Presbytcry,
after which the jl7th hymn was sung. .
Then followed the sermon blythe Rev.
J. II. Flanagan, the retiring Moderator.
lie took for his text, Eph. q, 10; "Final-
", my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power Of His might" The
man who would do we'll his part in life,
must know something Of his own ability.
lie must know how far he can 20 in his
own strength, and to what extent he can
trust his own wisdom. There may he
failure through an nOyer-eStimate, as well
as by an underestimate OF sell. The
/ lack OF seli-relianCe is apt To dwarf the
/ ability and destroy the energy, while
/ the over-es,imate of sell is apt to deceive
/ the pOSSeSSOr, 50 that at the time Of need
| he will surely fail. IL is well, therefore,
/ i'm every circumstance OF life, and IN
| every undertaking 10 know Just how lar
We can depend upon ourselves, and also
to be prepared, when the worst comes
to the worst, To have refuge in
/ the time Of danger, and help
/ at hand in the time Of need
/ IL is an evidence of wisdom in the
| most Seli-conlident 10 know where he
can go for aid in case Of his own failure.
SELF and sei-power are very deceptive.
The time when everything may have
/ the appearance Oi the greatest prosper
/ ity may be the time OF the beginning of
| failure. The day that opens with the
/ iairest prospects NAV close with blasted
/ hopes and withered expectations. At
/ such a time il is well to know where
/ help can he found and which way we
mnst turn in order TO get the needed as
I sistance
Ii was the aim and intention OF the
! Apostle in his letter 10 the Ephesian
/ brethren tO convince them that of them
selves they could nothing in spiritual
matters, that while religion was the
zone thing neediul," the very thing
O.. 1..pra th.ir loptiuagg ~
not all sunshine with those who EN-
joyed its healingand life giving efficacy.
II is not the teaching OF the apostle that
when the soul has been made to re-
joice M the benefits of saving grace
that all will be calm and quiet in the
future. But on the contrary he aimed
to convince them there were many trials
through which they would have to pass,
and many conflicts that would be theirs
on their way To heaven, and he would
have them know where they could 90
and upon whom they could rely. When
their faith would never waver, when
lion would seem 10 stand IN their way
It would be well for them 10 know
to whom they could apply for strength,
fOr courage and for power To overcome
them ALL So the Apostles direct them
i'm the language OF the text, "Bc strong |
in the Lord and in the power OF his |
might"
Those, therefore, who desire to be |
successful in their Christian work need |
strength. The Scriptures are very plain !
i'm their teaching; that we will have an |
enemy to contend with, one too, that is |
not Ia be- dcspiSed, for he is brave and |
powerful. The Christian service is no /
easv service. IL is not that of camp and |
drill and dress parade; it is in the midst |
Of the noise and smoke OF battle, |
in an earnest contest for the right Ii |
is rough work that pOlisheS, and il is in |
what seems hard dealing that God per |
iects his peoples graccS. People learn |
bv failure their need Oi higher aid. That |
the Christian does need the aid of a |
power higher than humanity cannot be |
denied. Ii is no childs play to stand |
MP boldly against the tide OF corrupt !
nature, to hold in check the |
impetuouS passions, to eradicate |
those habits that have grown, !
and rooted So deeply; to turn the cur |
rent Of our affections from the things |
OF time Ia things that are invisible and |
living So much by sight.
Men have, however, but little idea OF |
their own weakness. They can only |
get this knowledge through their own
repeated failures
After considering at length the needs |
OF man for savior and comforter and |
q helper, the discourse reviewed the fit |
ness OF the Christians Savior. He is
all powerful. Sickness vanished at His |
touch Devil, yielded 10 His authority.
The very elements were Obedient
to His word, the winds were still |
the waves calm and the storm ceased at
His mandate. lie is now mighty % help.
His hand is not Shortpd that He cannot
save, nor His ear heavy that lie cannot
hear. Hecn heli cur wounded spirits,
calm our troubled bOsOms, and minister
10 all our wants. lie has SAID that ''sin
shall not have dominion over MS and
Satan shall be bruised under our feet.
The sermon was mastery one, well
written, well delivered aud well received,
and we regret that we have not space
but for the above very condensed and
necessarily very faulty eXcerpta from II.
At the close Of the sermon the Synod
united in prayer, led by Rev.W. Ill. Les |
ter. The GG6th hymn was then sung,
and the benediction pronounced.
The SYNOD was constituted with !
PRAYER by the retiring Of the Moderator.
The roll was called by the Stated Clerk. |
The names oi the members present are |
printed elsewhere.
The synod then proceeded to the elcc-
ton of a Moderator The Rev. G.. VI. |
Spargrovc. and the Rev. w. W. Moor .
head, both OF the PreSbytery Of BlairS- I.
vile, were put in nomination. The roll !
was called, resulting in the choice of |
Rev. G.. VI. SpargrOve, who received the |
office at the hands Of the retiring Modcr |
utor. After expressing thanks for the |
Kindness shown him he asked the as
Sistance of the synod in his duties.
Rev. j. VI. Burnett was reelected per |
manent clerk ior the term Of three years. /
Elder K. :. Davis was elected reading /
clerk.
The reading of the minutes Oft the last
meeting was dispensed with, and the F.
printed copies OF the same were dis
tributed by the clerk.
The Committee on Religious Exercises F.
reported as follows: Synod to meet .
in the morning at $50 A. NJ. and adjourn .
at -. To meet at , P. N. and take 4 re- F.
cess at 5P. ". until : P. VI.
WHO ARE PRESENT.
M