The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-25
Pan-Presbyser Council.

HbttNO VA . Ik0NEGDk<t's
PHILADELPHIA, September A.-The ses-
sions OF the second day OF the Pan-Presby-
terian Council were opened this morning in
Horticultural Hall with the usual devo-
tionsl exercises, which consisted Of the
Offering OF prayer by Rev. DR.. Phelps, OF
Holland, Mich, and Judge Strong, OF
Washington, the reading Of a portion OF
the scriptures by Rev. A. r. BuscarIet, of
Switzerland, and the singing OF sppro-
pirate hymns. Rev. ID. A. Wallace, u. d.,
LII. D., OF Wooster, Ohio, presided over
the morning session. From the Business
Committee was reported a resolution d.
recting that papers written by delegates not
attending the Council should be referred to a
member OF the Business Committee, not
more than five minutes to be consumed 10
stating the substance OF each paper; that the
30-minute rule be rieidy enforced In the
reading OF papers. and that freedom OF dis
cussion be allowed on the papers. every par
ticipant In the discussion TO be limited to five
minutes. A number OF invitations to visit
various places were read and accepted with
thanks, and the order OF the day, paper
on the /" Inspection, Authenticity, and To-
depreciation OF the Scriptures" was pro-
ceeded with. DR.. Humphreys paper.
which, he stated, had for its object the pre-
sentation Of a convenient method by which
the younger members of the ministry might
expound the Scriptures, was an analytical
examination OF the different results OF reve-
lalion, inspiration, and spiritual discern
ment in The production OF the Scriptures.
Revelations, he commended, had OBVIOUSLY
been the operation OF the Divine Spirit in
the making known OF the essential facts OF
religion, while inspiration had served to
formulate the plan Of the history Of re-
demption. A point emphasized by Dr..
Humphrey for the encouragement Of young
ministers ana those just coming into the
ministry, was that, while the Bible contains
the names OF about 1000 persons and places,
not in single instance had modern dis
covery through explorations In ancient
places shown one OF those 1000 names TO
have been myth, or one OF the ruins to
have been misplaced. The same subject
was discussed by Professor Robert Watts,
ID. d., OF Belfast, who recited portions OF
the Scripture, analYZed and compared them
with definitions from the original Greek.
for the purpose OF answering criticisms
usually made against the portions OF
the Scripture selected by HIM. Among
the critics answered directly by Pro.
lessor Watts was Canon Farrar. At
the conclusion OF Professor Watts's
address a general discussion was
begun on the first paper placed before the
Council, according to the resolution adopted
during the morning. Professor Calder
wood, OF Edinburgh, opened the discussion,
which was upon the views contained in DR..
Hitchcock's paper, and it was participated
IN by Rev. Drs. Hatton Of Paisley. Sloan
OF Allegheny, Bruce OF Glasgow, Milligan
OF Allegheny, Breed OF Philadelphia. Grant
OF Kingston, Mitchell OF Montreal, Person
OF Detroit, and Hofmeyer Of Cape Of Good
Hope. The general tone OF the discussion
was in approval Of DR.. Hitchcoek's paper,
and an acceptance OF lis conclusions that he
Presbyterian Church service would doubt
less be improved by the Introduction Of
biological features. The session was con-
cluded by discussion OF Or. Humphreys
paper on "The Inspiration, Authenticity,
and Interpretation OF the Scriptures"
At the afternoon session a paper was read
on "The Distinctive Principles OF Presby-
teriansm" by Samuel j. Wilson, ID. d.,
LII. d., Of Allegheny city, whose paper was
devoted to proving that Presbyterianism Is
apostolic and scriptural in its form OF gov
ernment, and that presbyteTs and not pre-
latte bishops are bishops in tie true sense.
This was followed by paper by Rev. John
Dewitt, of Philadelphia, on "The Worship
Of Reformed Churches" which, in the main.
was a plea for the divorce OF the artistic
from the spiritual in the Church services and
the subordination OF material e>tbetic ele-
ments TO the higher intellectual and moral
powers in giving expression to the Worship
OF God. The remaining paper was by Rev.
DR.. Charles II. Read, Of Richmond, Va, on
the subject OF "Ruling Elders"