The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-26
PRESBYTERIAN HISTORY.
N ELOQUENT RETROSPECTIVE
VIEW BY DIR. NICCoLLs.
Since l7o5 the Church In America
Hos Worked Uninterruptedly for the
Benefit OF Mankind and the Kingdom
OF Christ.

The Rev. DR.. Nccolls preached TO |
large and attentive congregation at the
Second Presbyterian church yesterday |
morning. The sermon was an historical |
discourse OF evangelism and Presbyterian
ism, giving history Of the workings OF |
the Presbyterian church, The preacher |
began:
Somewhere between the years l1O5 !
and ITO the Presbyterian church in
America had its first official organization
in general presbytery. Since that time
IL has continued its work unintorruptcdly
to the present with what efficiency, faith
fitness and benefit TO mankind and the
kingdom Of Christ its history must tell.
II must accept the universal test and be
Judged by its fruits. In the light OF the
past Il is not difficult to point out some
OF it, leading characteristics. Unqucs-
tionably its history forms no unimportant
part OF the history OF our common country.
That church, viewed simply from secular
standpoint, has been one Of the mos, potent
factors in organizing our national life and
Shaping It's development. Its testimony
principles and government, and It's doc
irinal teachings have entered into the lie
blood of the nation, 10 abide there 50 long
rs republican institutions shall endure.
That presbyterianism has been the true
and stendiast friend OF civil liberty and
fre institutions, aud faithful lab0rcr for
the enlightenment aud elevation Of the
people Is written 80 plainly in It's history
that all may read 1t. As II was beyond
the ocean in the old world so has II been
in the new. Its adhorcnts were among the
foremost Of the heroic and self-sacriicing
patriots of the revolution. Controlling nj
that time, at least in thecentral and SOUTH
ern States, the best thought OF the people,
II helped 20 shape public ailar ~
none other. OF Ike character has
been It's career since then. Planted
among the people, with lis representa-
tiycs coming not from n hierarchy, but
from the people themselves, II has always
been involved, directly or indirectly, in all
great moral and social questions affecting
the welfare and progress OF society. From
lis very constitution Il cannot he the
church Of silence or Indifference. Its tes-
timonics for more than q century aud a
half are all recorded, showing where aud
how IL has stood on great vital and public
questions. Equally manifest Is its witness
bearing with reference 10 the great doe
trincs 81 grace by which II Is character
izcd. Il has magnifcd sound doctrine,
which has been rs persistent course. IL
las dared 90 write ont and teach tn men
the most elaborate and complete system Of
scripture doctrine that has been formed In
the evangelical church, and II has claimed
unrompromisingly for this system the au-
ihoriiy IT the Word of God.
"Nhile Prtshytcrianism Is known Tor
iis attachment 10 orthodox doctrine and
~ friend of religious liberty there Is q
third feature, which h IT, active and ug-
Crssiyc work IN extending the kingdom Of
Christ, or prcshytcrianism and evangelism.
This il the supreme test OF true spiritual
life and power in the church. When an
historic church has nothing moro than a
fair statue, Il Is 30 the scpulChrc at whose
entrunrc u stands memorial OF van
quishcd life. The church TO bc complete
must have missionaries as well us FCriptural
creed. lis divine head has given 10 It
glorious oyanrrl saying. Go 80 into all
he world and preach the gospel 10 every
creature Obedience io this demand Is
the ttst 81 loyalty 10 Christ, and q SURF evil
dcncc ON the part oi the church 81 true
spiritual lie. what shall Boz done TO pro.
paeatc It's lnithT That something has
been done Ia this direction Is evident from
the fact that the assembly, which 100
wears ago upon ilR organization, contained
la8 ministers and 1900 communicable.
holds nov In Its three branches
5000 minister and $4,000 COMMITMENTS.
Tie work OF the church can be better up.
prcciaiud hy noticing tlic effort she hns
put forth toward cynngchmtiun. From IT,
inciponcy u WIS Intensely missionary In
is spirt Missionaries went gladly when
called and when opportunities Offered. As
early ~ l7i7 a fund was established for
ldqis us,s. chiefly Tor the support of those
Who were to preach the gospel w DIES iiuic
places. On the opening pagJs of the
churh's history the names ul such mon
as Jonathan Edwards aud Jonathan Dick.
cns, the Tcuncnts, father and sons, John
llugc and Mcadcn. nminnrl. apostle lc
the Indians, Blair and Davies, are o. bJ
found. These are iNusiriouH names, slim
ing like slnu IN the heavens. nut tlirl
arr men renowned iur their evangelist,
Ecal and sell sacrificing lHhou m spreading
the gospel. representing ihp early mission
nry spirit Of lhc chuwh. Il b. significant
thai ihc hrt general assembly at iis or
gauiUlion In l1sn, appointed o. missionary
committee TO consider thC needs o
The frontier settlements This action
WIS followed by the d.Wcu0n iu
annual contributions in an thr ChuUhC
Tor home missions. IN 100 oyul
81, 9UO WAS given by the Chuch Tor Oh,
cause Of missions among the Indians and
negrDOs OF lhc older and frontier settle
mcnis ID must also hc remembered that
ni that period thc country had just emerged
from the long aud cNhnutiing var Of th,
revolution, which no doubt Ind iis effect
ON the church. The migration was abe,
large Of this period aud with faith undis
mayed The church sent missionaries amonl
the pioneers, amid drsolaic pwirics when
now stand nagnit,Cnigudp opu.ous town.
Despite harhhips, poverty. toll and expo.
urp 30 the mranpst weather. the misiiou
aries. who were men ui marked iudiNidu
ally ol character worked with rusulut
will, aud soon became leaders among th
small communities IN which lhcy wlric.
The tendency In Che frontier s1t,lcmci
was strong towards COarcnus, blrhariFl
and vicious living, but clear judgment an
stendiisi Perseverance prevailed with Oh
missionoB Who were working succC,
fully. We know what the ncglgClc
and uncyangclIzcd frontiers OF on
own country arc to- day, an
thoir characteristics were just ns strong
marked seycnty-hye years ago. Nor "
hard 10 tell what the results would hay
been Il the gospel, With H. puriiyin.
restraining and educational powers, hn
never boon brought 10 the frontier tcltll
npnfa IL Il not with illitrfntg Xiciut