Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-26
PRESBYTERIANS.
QUART pcEsTESxIAL CELEBRATION
YESTERDAY.
Three Able Address, g by Drs. Wilson, Wsa'
del, ana Palmer An Interesting
oeeesion-soeial Euts sAinmenN
Especial telegram 70 the Disr.A teh-l

A.
AroUsTA. GA, May a5.-AceoTdiA :,
au older previously taken The exercises
the quaffeT-ceutennial celebration tcok
The place of the Usual business Of the Gen.
cTal Assembly,. The frst Southern Gen
eral Assembly was Organized on December
4. 1851. IN the church in which the sessions
are DOW held. TIE Assembly last year, at
Houston. appointed the three offers Of
ire first Assembly 10 make addresses on
this occasion. The programme adopted by
the present Assembly was carried out.
Rev. Joseph r. W ilsOn presided. being
appointed 10 that service, be said in bis
address, because be was the pastor of tins
church " ben the first Assembly was orgAD-
lied here. He WIS then the permanent
snO i now the stated clerk.
TIE TBIEE ADDRESSES
we're al excellent. each bearing marked
characteristics. T0cUTiail them would be 70
mar them. and pot even an outline win be
attempted. They were a rich treat 70 the
Assembly. and viii doubtless De preserved
in : permanent form.
After the singing Of an opening anthem by
the choir. Rev. DT. william Adams. pastor
% the church. invited those members o. The
As-e nbly Of 1851. who are members Of the
Imme diaiely in front Of the pulpit. Prayer
wss offered by Rev. Dr. John Jone.. Of
Atlantis. and " AL Hail the Power o. Jesus
Name" va. sung by the Assembly and the
large congregation In attendance.
The first address was BY DIR. Joseph u.
Wilson. and be read from bis manuscript.
Dr. Wilson 80 reads that bis manuscript
never CONES between him and his audience.
He conveyed his thOaghts in BIZ w0ntee
fCrcibls language and cnasie rhetoric. BE
briefly reviewed the circumstances OF The
country ~ 1861. aud skeiched the history o.
the OrganizaiIou 81 the Assembly. Hi p9r-
traiiuTes q the leading men OF that BODY
Wce striking, became 80 clear cui and %
true. Re explained tle policy Of the Church
% q - various executive agencies then
wisely insucmaied and since pursued with
little occasion Tor change.
Tie next speaker was Dr. John y. Nad-
dtl the fir.t stated CLERK OF The Assembly,
now Chancellor - the Southwestern Pres
hyterisn University, at GAINESVILLE. Tenn.
Dr. " il-On introduced hfiu az zone whom
~ good men lOye-all true men admire"
Hi subject, witch b. said came spOUtane-
Ou.ly. was education. lie did not discuss
IL al s,raCily. but gave an outline 81 the
history 81 educaiiOn in the higher insti-
buttons Of learning under the control or
influence Of the southern Presbyterian
Church. lie named the leading institutions
ard stsi d tier condition az the beginning
q The war. portrayed their crippled state 81
IL close. and sk0cbed the herolc e1orts by
which they were at length revived and
pu, he'd forward until now they are gene
rally on better footing than ever before.
u advocated the com binaiion Of academic
and theological studies a. different depart
ucHts in the same university. he also
urged the Introduction OF the Bible a. q
textbook 20 be studied in colleges. IN which
the university Il Clarksville il a pioneer.
The third speaker va. DR.. y. ". Palmer.
~ New ORLEANS. Moderator d The First
Assembly This eminent pulpit orator did
not on this occasion fall below ~ standard.
lie showed hunsrd a master 81 language
and style. aud of vigorous thought and
f0rcible logic - well. He 1T forth. rst2b-
Iisbcd. and applied the great principles
governing the Church a. q divine kingdom
not q thi- world. Prominence was given
O. The doclrine OF the entire separation Of
the Church - q spiritual kingdom from the
ffaiIs q TIE -tltf. the violation Of which
principle jed 10 The orgapiZltiOu %
The southern Church. and he urged the im-
portance Of this ChLich Standing Urn
where 81 first planted Itself a. a testimony.
sin needed. 10 the world. 10 behalf Of hi.
distinctive principle. The doctrine Of
Christ. headship IN the Church would eX-
clude those who. without church authority.
usurp the functions Of the ministry. II
liriit, the Church in H. teachings 10 thai
which j. spiritual and authorized by the
Word Of God.
The Assembly and visiting ministers
wore invited by the ladie. Of the congregs-
ton % social entertainment given N the
grand building standing by The church, In
which are the lecture-rO0m, Sabtat5-scbOOl
room, and church psrlor.