New-York tribune., 1880-09-24
RELIGIOUS CONFERENCES.
THE PAN PRESBYTERIAN COUNCIL.

| THE PAN PRESBYTERIAN COUNCIL.
| TIE OPENING SERMON BY DR. PAXTON. OF NEW
YORK AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO THE LATE
| DIR. ADAMS THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY
THE REV DIR. BREED-oPFfCgRs ELECTED.
| PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23.-The delegates to
| the Pan-Presbyterran Council assembled this morn
| ing In the Chambers Presbyterian Church. at
Broad aud Samsousts.. and, forming in couples,
marched to the Academy OF Music, where the opening
sermon was preached by the Rev. DIR. william NJ. Pax
| ton. OF New-York.
After interesting devotional exercises at the church,
| General Hartrantt ana Colonel A. Louden snowdeG
sisted In organizing the procession which to march
TO the Academy. The latter building crowded from
parquete dome and close attention paid TO the
marks Of Dr. Paxton, who took his text from Matthew
viii, III And say unto you that many shall como
from the East aud West. aud sit down with Abraham
| aud Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom OF Heaven
The speaker after an eloquent opening, dwelt at
length upon he past history and future mission OF Pres
byteranism and closed with feeling reference to the
| death OF the Rev. DIR. william Adams, who delivered
the last prayer and pronounced he last benedicton at
the OF the first meeting OF the Alliance Edin burgh
| In 1877
At the conclusion of Dr. Paxtons address prayer
offered by the Rev DE-. Jenkln, Of Canada and hymn
sung by the audience, after which the Rev Dr.
Paxton closed with the benedcto and the meeting adj
journed until D. II not until nearly O'Clock
that the vast audience filed the Academy Of Music
had entirely left tho building.
Later in the afternoon the delegates assembled in
Horticultural Hail. the Academy. and there organ
ized tine business sessions OF The Council Tie
formal address of welcome TO the delegates
was made by the Rev. DR.. William r. Breed of
this city. wortny the late Rev. DR..
Beadle originally selected deliver the address Of
welcome and upon his death the Rev. Dr. II. A. Board
chosen. DR.. Bnardman also died, and the Rev.
DR. Breed was then selected.
In his address this afternoon the latter made fitting
alusion to this fact in welcoming the Council which he
said collectively represented great crowd OF wit
nesses-thirty millions-yes. forty millions of them III
every land aud ia cline" After successfully
welcoming tie several foreign delegations and making
fitting illusions to memorable features OF the religious
history OF their several countries Dr. Breed referred to
the fact that the first American Presbytcy was formed
in Philadelphia I75 years ago. and to-day" he said,
Oi the $50 900 people Of Philadelphia nearly 100
Presbyterian Ministers 12O Presbyterian congregations
with communion roll which there A. 600
and adherence OF some 100000, Join in giving
you genuine Presbyterian welcome"
At the conclusion Of Dr. Breeds address the Rev. Dr.
Caderwood, OF Edinburgh, elected chairman of the
session. and the Rev DIS. Matthews and Blakie were
elected clerks of the Council. The Rev. De- Prime, of
NewYork referred to tic deaths OF the Revs DR. WILL
lam Adams OF New-York, and E. K. Beadle and H. A.
6oardman. OF this city, since TIE last Council AMI Of
fered Il suiable minute, which adOped, expressive
OF the regre, of the Council and its OF the loss felt
Dr. J,nkD Of Montreal suggested that It might nc well
shorten the programue as he felt convinced that an
attempt carry in is fuLess wOuld deprive the
delegates OF tne that could be yalnaby spent IN coun
selling together matters dear to tner hearts. After
an extended for and against this proposition
which was participated IN by the Rev Drs Knox, OF
Belfast Murray Mitchell, of EdiLburgh and Prime, OF
New-York the amendment withdrawn. ana The re-
port OF the committee oI arrangements was adopted
with s recommendations, among which is one that
provides Tor the publication ot ihc proceedings OF the
council in suitable youne, whicn Is to be sold by the
Presbyterian Beard Of Education.
Tue Rev. Or. Baike, from the Committee on
Statistics. reported that lie had a tabular stale
inent which u would be imTrLeticaolo 10 read
TO the Coulcil, but which would be published IN
the Journal Of the proeeedings The statement
the Continent of Europe, nine IN the United
Kingdom, SIX the United states aud Elk IN the British
Colonies. After TINS report had been submitted and
adopted the Council adjourned until $50 y. III.
THE EVENING SESSION.
At the evening session. which opened by prayer
offered by the Rev. DR.. Joseph Stratton, Of Nachez
MISS there were three papers read. The frst, on
the subject OF The Ceremonial the Moral and the
Emotional in Christian Life and Worship" was read by
Professor Roswell D. Hitchcock OF New-York. THIS
a plea for less Purtanism and more liturgy in the
had tccomc so cssusted win the manner III which
calendar had been crowded with festivals and the
hurgy WIN ceremonies that they uicafded them al;
but that great as Pnrltansn bad been as factor in
modern Chrs.au v 1t was liable to he harsh and
.r. aud II. fellow hip stern and ntOleraut
The abuse OF the Liturgy snOuid De against
ian whose carly leaders were Hturgs1s II nas been
sad that liturgy Is Tor children but the speaker would
H.
aud e expressed the beief taat the safety Of
Presoyter anism requires that the whole subject OF
SuuGay-scnOols shuil be taken In hand. He
believed also that there would be a revival
O.! old Christian year. In this country Christmas
leading the procession ana Coed Friday ana Whit
suntde he thought. not Tar behind.
PRINCIPAL Robert iuy.Oi Edinburgh. read the second
paper the subject OF which MOarrn TheO.ngIcal
Thoughts" This IN the consideration of thO
general pressure of the oca tloueats of the day.
which the speaker characterized Ueine getlc in
tone owing largely to the critical attack upon the foun
datiOu aud contents Of Cnrtsfiluity.
Prlucipl g. NJ Grant. OF Kingston, Canada. read the
tn rd and last paper o. The evening, the title being
Religion IN Secular Lie D.. Grant corterded nat
religion, in secular matters. the Prob
able wall not do ground OF belief.
Religion. he vital, be foun-
aajiUn of spiriua! certainty. His conclusions
that the relation or religion TO the secular not
arbitrary but natural with absolute freedom
successful working, the test being Obed
eHce to Christ and hudiHg HIS commandments
Joyous, irksOme portion OF this paper
VAS devoted Z" II aresy Hunters" WHO,
sail DR.. Grant. substitute passion for
and necessate resolutions the results OF Which,
however valuable certain respects, be measured
by the remark OF great about Victories They
are the saddest thngs in the world except defeats"
TIE closed az 9:l5 wIfh the heuedction,
wnicn PRONOUNCED by the Rev. DIR. StrattOn.