Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-26
THE PAN-PRESBYTERIAAs.

Concluding Proceedings of the sessron of
the Council at Philadelphia, With Adj
dresses by Prominent Members.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 25,-Revealed relig-
ion in it's relation to Science and philosophy
formed the topic of discussion in all papers
read at to-days session of the Pan Presby-
tsrian Council. After the usual devotional
exercises Henry Calderwood, L. L. D., of
Edinburg, read paper on the subject of re-
lations of science and theology, during which
the author briefly and severally reviewed the
distinctive anti theological pecularities of
the writings of Tyndall, Darwin and Huxley.
This paper was followed by one by DR.. Nc
Gosh, president of Princeton college, N. J.
Owing to restricted time DR.. McCosh was
able to read only portion of his paper, pro-
ducing in the briefest manner the possible,
great bulk OF its contents, which, according
to the title of the paper, dealt with the cues
ton of GLOW to deal with young men train
ed in science in this age of unsettled opin-
ions.''
Hon. Horace Maynard presided at the af-
ternoon session. Before regular business
was taken up q resolution was adopted pray
ing for the appointment of a committee to
consider and report upon at met council all
applications for membership in the alliance.
Hon. Horace Day then moved that the COM
mittee to be appointed have power to pass
upon applications for admission to the pres
ent council. He remarked that
the application Of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church for admission to mem
bership had been rejected, although that
church represented one hundred and thirty
thousand people who are strictly Presbyter-
ian in their policy and Presbyterian in their
doctrines, except the nine sections relating
to predestination. Mr.. Day asked how
many of the churches represented in the
council believe in those articles, and added
that if the Westminster cateohism was to
be rewritten tomorrow he believed that
majority Of the churches would favor the
omission of q great deal now in it. This
remark elected cheers and such cries as
"order," .forder," "nc," etc. After warm
discussion Mr.. Days motion was
adopted. The order of the day was paper
on "Apologetics,' by Rev. E. D. Depressen-
er, DID,, of Paris, but as that gentleman
was absent and the paper he had written
was in French, it was referred to the publ
cation committee. Prof Flint read paper
on Agnosticism." Briefly put his definition
of agnosticism was that spirit which chai-
lenges but refuses to be convinced by evil
dence. We live, he said, in an age when
large number of people insist
upon being mixed in religious matters by
exercise of private Judgment, when unfor-
tunately they have very little judgment to
exercise. We live in a critical analyctical
age. and numbers are apt to adopt agnostic
views and support them by what they term
critical methods. In the speakers opinion,
the only method by which agnosticism can
be met in a way that will have perfect effect,
is by opposing its narrow spirit of piety to
its plausible hypothesis conclusions drawn
from all classes of relevant fact; in a word
by sound, thorough, intellectual biblical
scholarship. Prof. Flint said he had great
respect for Calvin and believed in the doc
trine of the Westminster catechisn, but he
utterly repudiated the notion, and one that
was largely oauseful of agnosticism, that
the study of theology came to an end with
the production of that catechism. In con-
clusion Prof. Flint said that each individual
could by the beauties of sincere vigorous Chris
tian life present against agnosticism more
powerful argument than could possibly be
put into words.
A formal greeting from methodist minis
tiers of Philadelphia was read and resolu-
ton in acknowledgment of its receipt was
adopted by the council, which then adjourn
ed.