The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-20

Though L cannot quite maintain the
erect figure which is becoming in an
upright man, yet the pains of lnmbago
are less acute than they We're" Mr..
Spurgeon is not an old man. But yet
it is evident from the above note that
his health is not what it once was.
Clearly, work-incessant works tell
ing upon the constitution of the taber-
nacle preacher. How could it be other
wise? His published sermons extend
at present over period of thirty years.
These mean hought-earnest work /
That strings in the Spurgeonic harp
should become untuned is not to be
wondered at. Rather let us wonder
that the harp has not gone to pieces
completely long ere this. 1t is wonder
full that Spurgeon "keeps in tune SO
long" Rightly looked at, Sturgeon
does not belong to any one Church, or
any one country. He is the property
of the Church universal-he belongs to
the world Let Christendom's prayer
then on his behalf be, "Let thy work
appear unto thy servant. Grant him
according to the riches of thy glory to
be strengthened with might by thy
Spirit in the inner man."
General Presbyterian Council at
Belfast.
The preparations for the holding of
this Council in Belfast are being pushed
forward with vigor. | see the organ
of this Council, The Catholic PreS6yte-
rtdn departed this life lately. Perhaps
this is only the passing shadow of q
greater bereavement soon to take place
What if the Council should be gathered
to its fathers some of these years Were
it condemned to be executed / could,
think, get Presbyterian Church over
here to carry out the dread sentence of
the law.
--latest Irish Evangelical Departure
This is what | maan The Irish Pres
byterian Church is devising means at
present whereby to carry, during the
summer months of this year, the gospel
to the homes of the very poorest of her
members. A fund is being organized
to provide tents and suitable evange-
lists in order that the most destitute of
our country districts may have an OPP
portunity of hearing the gospel preach
ed. Some of our Presbyterian people
are not particularly accessible to church
accommodation. Besides it is found
that the Irish poor are somewhat re
luctantto enter a church-specially if
there be any grandeur connected with
it. 1t is thought that tent services will
tend to meet these cases. 1t must,
however, be frankly admitted that tent
services have of late years become quite
popular in Ireland. In what the Church
proposes at present she is only taking
advantage Of this popularity she is
only taking the tide at the food-and
this, we think, is legitimate. Even
churches must move with the spirit OF
the age. And so it has been found that
denominations which have been acting
on straitlaced nciples-doing simply
what their fathers did before them
such denominations are going gradually
down below the horizon of existence
! Those go ahead denominations which
are acting inside Bible principles with
a due regard to what reason, judgment
and common sense dictate, it is found
that these denominations are widening
broadening, consolidating! The age
we live in says to all churches, &c
forward" If our old plans of congre
gational action are only tending tc
decimate our numbers, then / for one
would be prepared to adopt new meth
DDS. The ingathering of souls and the
glory Of our God ought to be our first
concern still if these ends can be more
readily secured by the sacrifice of per
sonal preudics, sinful predictions, old
modes Of church life, and antiquated
forms Of worship, then | would say in
that case let the sacrifice be immedi
ately made. Liberalism in Church
matters is not latitudinarianism in
Church matters. Gains in Churches
are ruinous. Even a storm in a con.
gregation often clears the atmosphere
There is rarely mildew where there is
the breath of life Let there be motion
Stagnation-a dead level orthodox
bald, lifeless, meaningless uniformity il
the carrying on Of Christian work il
worthless it is a spirit such as l com
mend here that has led to the organ
izing Of these tent services in the IrisI
Presbyterian Church. If they do moi
benefit the people, | am certain they
will confer a boon on some of the clergy
by lifting them out Of their ecclesiasti
cal ruts. Yours very truly,
DAVID MCMEEKIN