The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-06-09


Foreign Missions. Sir William Muir, X.
q. s. l., Principal of Edinburgh Univer-
slty, and for many years Governor OF one
OF the provinces of India, in a notable a6-
dress made on this occasion, said " He
wished to state publicly and positively
that missions had been and were great
success in India" praising among other
faithful laborers those from America, and
"that missions-the Gospel of Christ
was the strongest bond that held India
to the British Empire, and that the eff
feet OF missions upon the spirituality of
the home churches was most precious" I"
1t was re-assuring to hear this statement
about the success of missions in India, for
General of the British Army had told
me some time before that "they were a
failure, and that the worst people in In.
dia were the native Christians. a sufi-
clent explanation of his remark may be
found In the statement which he after
wards made to me, that he believed neith-
er In God nor Immortality. He was anx.
lous to believe Christianity failure, and
so could see no good in Christian missions
and all doubtless to justify his sinful un
belief.
Last Sunday we heard Rev. DR.. Nc.
Gregor, pastor of st. Cuthberts Estab-
lished church, and recently appointed in
place of the late Principal Tulloch one
OF the Queens chaplains. He is extreme.
ly popular, and speaks to a crowded
church. There is no organ, but the sing
ing ls led by one of the best trained
cholrs we have heard in Europe. and,
above all, the people sing heartily. DR..
McGregors text was, Lovers of their
own selves, Tim. iii: 2. "The selfish
ness OF all sin, was his theme, but more
especially of the sins of hcentiousness. 1t
was a most powerful exposure of the sins
OF many young men, and the Cruelty of
their conduct" 1t was the plainest dis
course l ever listened to on subjects
which are usually avoided in the pulpit.
At the same time he uttered not one
word to offend true modesty, and the ef
tect OF his eloquent and impassioned
pleading was to bring tears to many eyes
both young and old, and to make impress
slons, some OF which must be lasting. He
finally presented "Christs sacrifice the
great unselfshness as well as the atone
ment for sin.
We attended, also, the same day. a
service In the Chalmers Memorial church
Rev: DR.. Horatius Bonar, who is the
aged pastor, and the author of some of our
sweetest hymns. His appearance is most
attractive. A face, in which intelligence
and tenderness combined, is surrounded
by snow-white beard and hair, and light
ed up by as piercing eyes as I ever look
ed upon. His voice is still strong and
clear, and he speaks without notes
Though the day was rainy and cold, the
house was filled even to the galleries
with a deeply interested congregation,
who hung upon his every word. He
made no attempt at oratory, nor even at
preachlpeg, In the common use of that
term, but merely talked talked simply.
sensibly, solemnly, directly, earnestly,
and. without intending it, eloquently,
straight at the heads and hearts of his
hearers. His subject was, Satan's in
struments on earth" He said the Devil
not only used the gross, but the beauti.
tul things of the world, the beautiful in
color, form, movement, sound, thought, !
and character, to accomplish his hellish |
ends. Satan is no fool, but chooses the |
best and wisest men he can get, and dis
gulses them as angels Of light. DR.. Bonar
spoke earnestly against the tendency to |
adj ust religion to the tastes of men, and |
theology to the rash conclusions of un-
christian science. The end of all these
theories is infdelity," and lifting his fin
ger solemnly he said, leaning with one
arm on the Bible, " I am now an old |
man my work is nearly ended, but my
last testimony shall be in favor of the |
of the faith, and against that |
which ignores or denies the |
supernatural, refusing to accept any
thing which it cannot smell, or hear, or |
taste, or see. My last testimony shall be
to warn you against the fatal tendency T.
Of the new philosophy and the new the
ology.' He reminded us of the sweet T.
little poem which describes "St. John T.
the Aged, addressing words of affection
ate counsel to his Aock-his little chill
iren, before his translation to the heav-
enly sanctuary.
Just across the street from Dr. BJnar's .
church IS the Grange Cemetery, where
rest the mortal remains Of Principal Fair /
BARN, DR.. Chalmers, and Dr. Guthrie /
and many others who served their God .
and iellowmen faithfully, and went bone
10 their everlasting reward, leaving a
fragrant memory behind.
r. p. KERR.
A Correction.
Nessrs. Editor8,- Permit me to cor
Il 1 4