The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-05-26
THE FKIf:ElRsI ASSEMBLY
OF the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
of the United States.


| livered by Rev. 4. Templeton at the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which
was filed TO overlooking by 4 large and
intelligent congregation. The sermon
was intensely interesting aud was listen
cd to with profound attention. After
services the assembly took a recess until
8 O'Clock, At which hour it convened in
the Hall OF Representatives and formally
organized. Secretary OF State, Hon Il.
ii. Bowman, delivered the following adj
| dress: ........ ....
| Gentlemen Of the General Assembly of the
| Cumberland Presbyterian Church Of th,.
United States i-s ..-a.. t... %.
1 In the name of the citizens of Austin.
/ welcome you as visitors TO the pictures
1 que Capital City OF our state, situated
| upon more than seven hills, clothed in
foliage evergreen which beautifully typi-
| lies eternal spring time; and nestled close
upon the banks of the Colorado. whose
sparkling, ripping waters roll on DER
rocky bed, through tlOwer-perfumed
valleys to the sea.
In the name OF the State of Texas. il is
my privilege and pleasure to extend a
cordial Welcome to this large body OF
distinguished men, coming as representa-
| tiyes from almost all the states of this
=
of IA common country. ii t.
Texas, grand as she is. in eX-
tent, in wealth and population, but
grdRder still in the possibilities of the
near future, is ever ready to open her
doors TO good people from whatever CHM
they come, both as immigrants and vlsi
| tors, and challenges inquiry as to her soil
climate, productions, internal improve
mehts and the administration other laws.
/ In short, she bids them see and note the
| prosperity and cOntentment of the hardy
settlers, whose comfortable homes may
be seen on every side dOtting the broad
| prairios, and tire busy hum of whose in
dustry may be heard where but few
years ago the stiffness of nature was
] broken only by the howl of the wolf and
the war whOop OF the savage.
Our people have. forever put behind
them the recollection OF hardships and
priyaLiOns upon the frontier They re-
member no more the wreck OF fortune S,
and the desolated hearthstones which tile
hand OF war hath wrought, but are bend
| ing their energies to develop our re-
| sources, and To make Texas the grandest
| state in the American Union. In their
| name | extend an invitation to the starry
| ing poor across the waters, and TO our
| friends ofthe older and more crowded sis
! ter states. to come and east their lots with
us, aud find homes of peace and plenty, of
religious and political liberty.
| While Texans are devoted to Texas,
| land right well have they proved that de-
vOtion), they love too, the very names of
the old states from whence you came, and
| fundIy remember them as the homes of
our childhood, and the burial places of
our fathers and mothers. Yes. the hearts
of Texans beat warmly towards the states
/ which gave to us the heroes of 1886. We
Hove Tennessee and Kentucky because
they contributed their noble sons-Sam
| Houston and Sydney JOhnsOn-to aid by
| their splendid genius the struggling
cause Of liberty in the West. We feel
too, a brotherhood for the people OF the
distant commonwealth, which gave
| Thomas j. Rusk and stephen +. Austin
| to Texas.
The churches and Christians of Austin,
without regard TO name or creed, well
come you rs brethren, anG bid you God
| speed in The great work in which you
| are engaged. Did | say great work.
| Yes, the greatest which has ever engaged
| the mind of man. You are working not
| for the temporal but for the immortal in
terests of your fellows.
| IL is your work To declare unto men
the willOf God concerning them, how He
would have them live pure and blameless
in this present life in order that they
may inherit eternal life.
| The Christian minister sOws the seeds
| of truth and protects the plants as they
spring up, from the poisonous breath Of
| the nOXiOus weeds of sin, d.
| The seed may sometimes seem to fall IN
| stony places but ere long we SEQ coming
| forth.from the planting-impulses, words.
| deeds and lives more in numbers and
mightier than the armed men which
| sprang from dragons teeth. Phe Chris
| tian minister erects the banner Ofthe cross
and defends it against the attacks of the
| world and the wicked one. The banner
Il NNfN RaN Il
| its lew faithful defenders seem about to
| be overcome by the hordes of SIN, but fear
not brave hearts and strong arms will
| ever be found to bear it up, rs they have
done since the day when Christ, the great
captain, upon Calvary's bloody heights,
| with his own hand, planted its
| staff into the trembling earth. Even
here in Texas, the home of violence
aud wrong-doing, as malignors would
4 have you believe, moral and Christian
progress has been onward and upward.
| Two thousand Christian preachers are
everywhere. in costly city temples and in
rude log school houses. preaching the
1 word to five handled thousand members
4 of Christian churches, and seyenty-tye
thousand children are every Sabbath
morning being taught, by pious men and
| women, to remember their Creator in
| the DAYS of their youth - said twas
| a great work, may not say also that it is
"A common work. Truly, the cause of
| Chri stianity is common cause and all
| its workers are broibers. Comnanies
| ara tno,yn nv ,5Ifferent : letters 90
A. 60 "R 70 II, etcNtt but do
| thar not .ltoeather constitute one reSi-
me1tsY Regi nents are differently mum
bered and Otfieered and may come from
| different sections, entertaining different
mi when IN. IVorJ of c9,nmond il given
,yh.m marchin"' oriers .,rn receive,1 from
| i'a,',ianartors 10 ,hav not m,r,.h forth
a',ainSt - common enemy as nne armyY
| TIristi,ns ,Jiferas 10 articles of faith.
INT ali worshin the same God. Church.
| men NAV no knownias Bantist. Presbyte-
| r;an Ms,hndiSt ali -difrerinC in pesnect
| 70 d,..tr;na and aovernme1t lint are
| H. not oil chrf.fiens for wara NOT an
tnII ~ -" az dsiia5 T6risti.ns Of An.
| tio,Ss . $500 - = =. -
| A hriet mention of the rise-.and pro-
| sress of one branch of the Christian
| Church. one division of the Christian
| army and have done. ~
Tie CnmherIand PresbvterIan Church
| of The fjniteI states. springIn9 from the
| ola prashvfari,nr (shurCh which dates
hack to 17S9 in America, and in
| Enuland and Scotland as lar hack as the
sixteenth century had its origin as a
| separate Christian denomination i'm 1910.
| In February of said year. Rev. Finis
Ewing. Samuel King and Ephraim Nc
| Lean met to0ether Mt the residence of
| Rev. Samuel Meadow. in Dixon county,
| Tennessee. and after serious consultation
and earnest prayer over the honest differ
enees existing with the mother church
/ sbont the colsiession of faith : proceeded
| To ;, constitute. and establish the first
| Preshyfery of the Cumnerland Pres
| byterian Church. During the considera-
| tion of the question of separate
i church oro,nizstion II is related of one