The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-16
The communion season in the First Pres

the first Sabbath in June, was a very delightful
one In several respects. For some time past an
annoying debt has crippled the energies of the
church After some preliminary preparation,
on Sabbath, May, 30th, the pastor Rev. DR. w
j. Mcknight, preached sermon on Bringing
all the tthes into the storehouse, &c. (Mal iii:
10y setting forth the law of God on the whole
subject of Christian giving, and called for sub
scriptions to pay off the debt of S., ZOO The
response was voluntary offering of over S8,-
200. This greatly encouraged the people.
Then, true to his promise, the Lord at once
began to pour out spiritual blessing upon the
church. During the next week fifteen valuable
young people were accepted by the session, and
before the communion publicly confessed the
Saviour, and nine worthy additions were added
by letters from other churches-twenty- four in
all. AT the March communion also fifteen were
received, making thirty nine additions since the
present pastor entered on his labors among this
people on the lst of January last The pastor
and people are much encouraged by these
signs of fresh growth in this old and honored
vine
The Revival Services at DR.. Talsage's
Tabernacle were brought to close on Friday
evening, June 4th. Mr. Harrison, the boy
preacher, assisted by DR.. Talmage, has held
services every evening except Saturdays for six
weeks, and as a result over four hundred per-
sons have been received into the church at the
Tabernacle On Sunday, Wednesday, and Fri
day, last week, DR.. Talmage administered the
rite of baptism by immersion to those among the
converts who had expressed preference for that
form of baptism, and on Sunday (6th) one hum
dred and fifty others were baptized by sprinkling,
Place a,lr DANES. This was the constant crv
In the General Assembly. Womans Work"
and the grand success achieved therein was the
theme of praise in many of the reports and
speeches, and the tributes were hearty and gen
erous. The ladies have purchased themselves a
good degree" and the article on " Deaconesses
by Dr. McGill in the late Pres6yte0Ga r ReUiel0.
was foreshadowing of the elevation which may
be at hand. And if there is any place where
pious and jealous women should be honored it
is in the church of God.
The Rev. ]. r. Berry, D. D.. pastor of the
Presbyterian church of Montclair, n. j., ten
years, during which time 29o persons have been
added to the church, of whom 126 were an pro-
fession Of faith and 164 by certificate The
amount contributed to religious and benevolent
objects is 100000, of which $4,000 were given
during the past year.
The Rev. A. E. Kittredge, D. D., of the
Third Presbyterian church, Chicago has had his
salary raised from $1,000 to $S,OOO
After all, the use of instrumental music is
creeping into the United Presbyterian churches
and the subject was brought before the late
United Presbyterian General Assembly by Rev.
W. W. Barr, D. D., of Philadelphia; but that
body did not see fit to take any action with
respect to it. Previous to the meeting of the
Assembly it had been intimated that resolu-
ton would be adopted directing the delegates
appointed last year to the General Presbyterian
Council which meets in PHILADELPHIA. Septem-
Der %, not to attend unless Psalms should be
exclusively used in the devotional services
resolution to this effect was proposed in the As
sembly, but it was laid on the table, so that no
action on the subject was taken We have been
told that the delegates from this denomination
are corresponding with the delegates of the
other Psalm-singing churches in reference to the
course to be pursued. We most earnerstlv hone
that the delegates from these churches Will not
refuse to cooperate with the Council-Presb,-
terian Banner.
The effect which the teachings of Prof
Robertson Smith and others, and their toleration
by ecclesiastical bodies, upon the Presbyterian
Church in this country may be learned from
the action Of the late General Assembly North
ernl in adopting the report on theological Semi
naries, which said
Another matter, suggested by the signs OF
the times, has also been presented to our notice.
AT period when. acknowledged religious teach
ers, holding high positions in Christian institn
hons In Europe, are disseminating doctrines which
are calculated to undermine the authority of
the Holy Scriptures, we deem it appropriate that
this General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church urge upon the Professors in our Semi
naries to see to it that they do, by no means
even indirectly give countenance to these fun
damental errors, by any magniiying of the
learning of these false teachers, but, on the CON
trary, that they do faithfully expose their fall
lacles, and unsparingly denounce their heresies
and that the integrity, inspiration and authority
OF the Word Of God be fully and emphaticallv
insisted upon in the instruction of candidates for
the sacred ministry. 1t is further recommended
that the Directors Of the Theological Serninaries
under care Of the Assembly, be requested to zoe
to 1T that all candidates for the Presbvterian
ministry, under their instruction, be pfepared
for an annual examination i'm the Westmineto,
Shorter Catechism"
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