The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-20

EXTRACT IRON DR., CGNNtN0HANs SER.
MON LAST EVENING IL rHr FIRsr PRrSpY.
TRR1Ag 'OHuRcH-PTeaehed IN YIep Of tie
GMsral Pres6vteridi. Colineilto Meet IN PhiiG,
dtipIiia on Thsrsday Of this IReek.-The text
was Psalm 81; 2, 8. "The Lord loveth the
gates Of Zion more than all the Dwellings
81 Jacob. Glorious things are spoken oil
thee, o, City OF God"
Alter an exposition OF the text, and a
suitable introduction, the preacher said:
/ wish TO speak tonight Of that branch oil
the church Of Christ commonly known as
Presbyterian. Il lis fitting that ] should
doso, as the Second General Council Of all
the Presbyterian Churches OF the world,
will meet In the city Of Philadelphia, on
Thursday the 23d day Of this month. And
as It will be impossible for you all 10 be
there, Iwish to give you such information
beforehand as shall prepare you TO read
with interest and with intelligence the
proceedings OF that great meeting. The
first idea OF a General Presbyterian Coun'
cil has its origin In an address delivered in
the General Assembly in 1870, by Rev. DR..
MusQraye, by whom so many of the i'm.
portsnt movements Of the Presbyterian
Church Of this county have been origina.
ted and carried TO successful issue.
Alter the meeting OF the Evangelical
Alliance, held in New York in 1873, the
idea was taken up by DR.. McCosh, Presi::
dant Of Princeton college, and others, and
a preliminary meeting was convened in
London, in which arrangements were
made for the first regular council, which
was accordingly held in Edinburgh in
| 1877. The plan is to hold triennial meet
inss-the one about to assemble being the
second. tits expected that some three
hundred and fifty delegates will be pres.
ant. coming from all branches OF the great
Pyesbyterian family, and from all parts Of
the world. There are some ten or Q doz.
an snb-diyisions In this family, holding TO
the general Calyinistic system Of faith and
and the PRESBYTERIAN polity, differing
among themselves in the minor and less
essential points.
According TO recent statistics, there
ara some $4,000 parishes belong.
inc 10 the different organizations
in the Presbyterian brotherhood.
On the continent OF Europe, five
tbousand and twenty three; in England,
Ireland. and Scotland, FIVE thousand and
thiriy.eipht; In the British Colonies, six.
lthousand,) and in the United States about
ten thousand. To these must be added
several hundred churches on the great
mission fields. The ten thousand parishes
lin this country include membership OF
over a million, and represent at least one
tenth OF the population OF the coun-
try, Two.thirds OF the population
| of Scotland are Presbyteriana. She
carries the banner as land Of Presby-
terians, and, judging from her history, no
Presbyterian need blush for his denomt:
nation. She has ever been the advocate Of
an open Bible, and the friend OF civil and
religious liberty, and she can point to the
graves OF her martyrs in attestation oil
what her principles and religion cost her,
Delegates to the Council are expected 70
come from England, Ireland, Scotland,
/ Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Australia,
I Canada, India and China. That NOBLE
convert and Christian workman IN india,
Rev. NeraYan Sheshadrai, who made such
an impression at the meeting OF the Evan
gelical Alliance In 1879, is expected al the
Cocncil. Rev. DR.. Scha1, oil New FORK,
. has travelled extensively through Europe
, aud has been successful In securing dele
gates OF great learning and ability from
the various continents.
|. An extensive schedule Of subjects, bear
ing on the practical life and work Of the
Christian church, has been prepared, and
papers will he read upon these subjects by
the various delegates from the different
parts of the world. These papers and dis
cussions cannot fall to be profoundly In
sructiye and interesting, and OF great per
manent value. Much new light will
doubtless be thrown upon many subjects
OF practical importance.
The council does not contemplate doc
trinal discussion so much as practical mat
tiers. There is no design to hurry about
organic union between the different de
nominations OF this great brotherhood oil
churches. This might not be desirable
: even II possible; immense organi'
cations are not always the most
manageable, harmonious or effective
There Ia a higher union and fellowship
than any organization can produce, unity
OF the spirit in the bonds Of peace, .
unity of love, confidence, fellowship and
earnest cooperation,
The council will bring information from
all parts of the world concerning the lie
and work OF the churches and what ID
necessary to their greater efficiency. Il
will bring about better acquaintance be.
tween tEe different branches OF the church
in different parts OF the world, more mu.
tnal confIdence and fellowship and enable
he various churches 10 work together
with a better understanding, while in
The freedom Of true Protestantism, differ.
ences will not be covered up OF concealed.
We shall nee how broad and deep is The
underlying unity, aud the phurohes will
DOUBTLESS Be greatly stimulated to more
/. earnest co.operatioIi In eyangelistic efforts,
|, The effect OF these councils cannot be
otherwise than deep and far.reaching,
Ifrhey will enable us 10 see where tbe
PRESBYTERIAN lie ia pulsine NEST vigorous.
lIy. ana where II Il strong ior work and
warfare In The conflict with sin and evil.
Thew will show us where The life ia flles.
erins ieebIy and almost ready 10 90 ont
under adverse influences. To the strong
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