The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-09-29

speaking enVlrely without manuscript
moving from point to point on the plat
form with that freedom from constraint
and naturalness which few speakers dis
play, there was not from beginning to
end word out of place, gesture inap-
propriate, or a movement awkward, to
mar the effects of discourse that had
been prepared with great care and was
delivered with a voice that rang with
musical cadence through the whole
building,
Horticultural Hall
At half-past two P NJ the Council as
sembled in Horticultural Hall to begin
its work. Our readers must dissociate
this in their minds from the Hall of the
same name in Fairmount Park which was
so familiar to the pilgrims of 1876. The
Horticultural Hall in which the sessions
of the Council are held is in the heart of
the city on Broad street, near Spruce, ad-
joining the Academy Of Music, and is an
oblong building with seating capacity
of two thousand. Great expense had been
incurred in adorning and decorating the
hall. AS you approach it your eye is at
tracted by the wreaths of ivy with which
the large colonnades in front are entwined.
And the interior is beautifully decorated,
not only with wreaths and festoons, but
with banners and devices of the most
elaborate and expensive character, sym
bolc of the faith and order and history
of the various Presbyterian bodies repre-.
sented In the Council, especially the old
historic churches of foreign lands.
Work of the Council
The sessions of the Council are pre-
sided over each by chairman appointed
for that special Sederae1at by the Business
Committee AS there are morning, after
noon, and evening sessions, three chair
men are required for each day, and thus
by rapid rotation in office most of those
fitted to preside over so large body will
have their administrative ability put to
the test. 1t is evident that the Phila-
delphia Committee designed two things
first, to make the members of the Coun-
Gil as comfortable as possible, for their
hospitality is unbounded, and second, to
get as much work out of them as posi-
bic, for it makes ones head swim to read
over the programme to be gone through
with. An effort was made to curtail it
on Thursday, but the proposition met
with no favor. There has been a great
improvement made in one regard over
the arrangements for the Edinburgh
Council. Then the whole time was con
sumed in reading papers and hearing elab-
crate addresses. Now after each paper
is read, the reading being limited to thirty
minutes IN every case, an opportunity is
afforded for five minute addresses, which
give vivacity to the meetings, and enable
10 L. r. IL
temper of the Council in reference to the
theme presented. The hall in which the
meetings are held is one of very poor
acoustic qualities, and the result is that
many of the readers and speakers are not
heard by the rear benches of delegates
and scarcely any by the visitors in the
back of the hall. It is a striking proof
of the interest in the meetings, that the
hall is constantly full of people looking
on even when they cannot hear. An ar
rangement has been effected by which
the Academy of Music will be opened for
the afternoon and evening sessions, and
as its acoustic properties are very fine,
the interest in the Councils proceedings
will, it is hoped, be more intelligent one
Personnel of the Council.
LAo W Ile p6ISOJt/LeG OF Jne council, 1t
may be said that it is fairly representa-
tive of the bodies from which it comes.
A visitor to the Edinburgh Council would
of course miss the forms of many in this
Council who were the recognized giants in
that, but with Principal Cairns, D B., Prin-
cipal Rainey, D. D., Prof. VIM. G. Blake,
D. D., LID, Prof Calderwood LII. D.,
and Principal Flint D. D., LID, of Ed
inburgh and many other prominent
Scotchmen, it cannot be denied that Scot
land is ably and fully represented. Then
from Ireland are Prof Robert Walls, D ID.
and Rev. Dr. Knox of Belfast, Rev. Mr..
Simpson and others; from France Rev.
Mr.. De Pressens6 and Rev. Mr.. Fisch
these with Rev. Lemhart Arnet of Brus-
sci, Rev j. Szalatnay of Bohemia, Rev.
Prof PAeider of Stuttgart, Rev. Mr.. Com
ba of Italy, Rev. Mr.. Jameson Of Spain,
&C., make good representation of Eu-
rope. Asia is represented in the person
Of Naryan Sheshadri, a converted Hindoo
of the highest class from Bombay, who
in his oriental robe and turban, and with
swarthy but intellectual face, is one Of the
attractions Of the Council to outsiders.
Africa is represented by one or two mis-
sionaries and the American Indians by
A - II