Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-04

II
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
From the New York Sun.
"Pan-Presbyterian" is the popular name Of the
great Presbyterian council which few days ago
closed its sessions in London. Its official title was
"The Fourth General Council Of the Alliance OF
| Reformed Churches Holding the Presbyterian Sys-
tem." The gathering was representative one,
with delegates from every civilized country, as
well as from the heather lands where missiona-
| ries are the only representatives of Christian
| civilization. Although bearing the somewhat
| formidable title OF council, its actions were
not Official. But, considering the number OF emil
| nent Presbyterians present and their exalted
character, the resolutions OF this voluntary
assembly carry more weight than some Of the per-
lunctory del1yeranceS OF stated ecclesiastical
bodies The number OF delegates was about 800.
friends who accepted the hospitality OF the Duke Of
Argyll, numbered exactly 666. This number
happens 10 be the one mentioned in the book OF
| revelation as ''the number OF the Beast" Those
VINO study the mysteries OF unrulhlled prophecy
are wondering what is the significance OF this
was not disturbed by the wonderings OF the pro-
phetic students, for the count was not announced
until The next day.
PLEA FOR LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.
An incident significant Of the progressiveness OF
Presoyterianism was the fact that the Rev. DR.. j.
oswald Dykes was the preacher OF the opening
sermon: DR.. Dykes, who is one OF the most popu-
h as VI Lonaons ciergymfn has for three years
Inc westminster Confession or Faith. The articles
OF !alth which this committee recently adopted
ana sent TO the English churches for review and
discussion, contain some radical departures from
the teachings OF the Westminster theOlogans Of
Two ana half centuries ago. Had such teachings
as are now put forth in these articles OF faith been
puunsheu n!ty years ago the authors and pro-
mOterS would have been tried for heresy. But the
very spirit In which this great council was called
together precludes the idea OF heresy trials for the
present. Church people have found that they can
employ their time and brains better than in quar-
fenng over bits OF doctrine and formulas OF faith
DR.. Dykes sermon contained no alIusiOn to here
sizes. IL was an earnest plea for liberty OF con-
science and for the breadth OF Christian spirit
when VIII DC productive OF true unity among all
religious people.
SIMPLE MUSIC.
There was one little evidence OF disposition to
adhere exclusively to the Old style OF thought and
action. There are certain families OF the Presby
ter1an faith who sing nothing but the old Scotch
versions OF the Psalms. They consider the use OF
these rhymes to be important that they Will
not affiliate with people who sing anything else
| Ihey gave out in advance OF the meeting Of the
council that II other devotional lyrics were TO be
sung they would absent themselves. To avoid
hurting their feelings and driving them away, the
committee in charge agreed that nothing else
should be sung. This cut out the us. or ali mis-
slonary hymns, ali modern hymns, and all the
hymns On Christian work and duty with which
the hymnology OF the present day IS so rich. Or
ganS came under the same ban as uninspired
hymns. Not a note or Instrumental music was
allowed at the council.
so MANY AMERICAN CLERGyMEN
and elders were present that 1t seemed almost
like an American gathering; the more so as the
Americans were allowed very large liberty,
many OF them furnishing important papers
An American clergyman is very different sort OF
Rriton Is naturally more full or clerical pOmp and
dignity He affects clerical apparel far more than
| may be the more learned, but he is less effective
with his learning. That vigorous business air
with which so many American clergynen make
themselves lively and welcome Is stranger to the
British clerical mind. The British clergym eX-
poets 10 be listened TO because he is clergyman,
even II his discourse be as heavy as lead AS for
the men from Bohemia, Italy, France, Hungary
and the other non English speaking countries, few
OF them could make themselves understood by an
audience largely composed OF men who speak En-
gl1Sh exclusively.
THERE ARE sEvENTY-EIGHT BRANCHES
OF the Presbyterian Church. These are not neces-
sarily hostile TO each other. Some Of them have
had their origin in splits, secessons and squaboes,
many OF which were so long ago that the present
generation 1orgetS exactly what they were about
some: are different because In different lands
The Northern and Southern Presbyterian Churches
were both ably represented, although at their re-
cent assemblies they concluded that the time had
not yet come TO repair the breaches made by the
slavery scnisln OF war times The whole Presby-
terrain membership represented was about $780,
600. This does not seem very large when 1t Is re-
membered that they are the PreSDyteranS OF the
whole earth, and there are In the United states
THERE WERE NO WOMEN DELEGATES
in this All-Presbyteran Council. A proposition to
| Introduce them would have raised havoc. But the
council showed its interest in them and their work
by taking very pronounced action regarding pro-
posed order OF deaconesses. DR.. Charterls OF Edn-
burg, led on in telling speech about what wO-
men had done both in ancient times and in the
present. He traced the history Of the deacOneSSeS
or the early CHRISTIAN centuries, and OF their ab
SOrptiOn into under the influence OF priests
who wanted absolute dominion. 1t was, there
fore, proposed that the active women Of each
church should now, as far as possible, be organ
power TO do officially what they do OF their own
accord. The suggestions OF DIR. Charters were
warmly endorsed by DR.. John Hall and dozen
other American clergymen. The council passed
resolutions, which Will carry much moral weight,
In favor OF the deaconesscs. and yet, as Tennes-
see clergyman remarked, the American Presbyte-
ran Church has all that Is asked for in the dea-
coness line except the name.
one OF The subjects most effective in arouslng
enthusiasm was that OF foreign missions. The
zeal felt In this cause throughout the church is so
great that the announcement OF a missionary
always draws crowd. Famous missionaries were
the council from Calcutta, Canton, Yokohama, and
In the Pacific Islands. The veteran Mitchell, who
has been a missionary for half a century, made
a profound impression. Missionary Mecgreggor
from China, was DISTINGUISHED as the delegate
from heathenlSm and Incorporated In the alliance.
LIBERTY IN WORSHIP.
The Rev. Mr.. Bersler, an eloquent French minis
ter, made hearty appeal for liberty in worship,
both In prayer and praise He denounced the
singing OF the old Scotch Psalms, and declared it
to be the result OF miScOnceptiOn Of the duty OF
the Christian Church. He wanted more music
and more responsive service In the regular church
worship. Several other clergymen followed him
with pleas FOR more attractive service and more
lively music. or course there were some vener-
bleS who could see no good In any other service
than the old style, one composed or three hymns or
psalms, long chapter, long prayer, and long
sermon. The drift or opinion In the council was
in favor or services In which the people can take
part services which are made attractive by plenty
OF good music and in which the sermon is not The
overshadOwing attraction.
sKEPTICIsM.
The Rev. Marcus Dods DID,, of Glasgow. came
near throwing flrebraLd into the council His
paper was an inquiry into how far the churches
are responsible for the skepticism which exists in
the community. The doctor says that the accent
Of all parts OF The Bible equally inspired Is
q great stumbling block to outsiders who would
like to become Christians, but do not see their Way
clear. He claims that 1t is hardly fair insist on
well pleasing TO God the sanguinary tragedies
enacted by Joshua IL the vanquiShing OF the
original land-hoders OF Palestine. DR.. DOds
points out the difference between the teachings
OF the New Testament and the Old drawing
the contrast more sharply than It Is usually
has for generations served as theological
wrappings, and urges that the current skep-
ticiSm OF the day Is something which must lie
met with a very different treatment from any it
has yet received. The discussion which followed
Dr. DOd's essay was by far the most spirited of
rians scented heresy In the essay, and sharply re-
huked r. author The doctrine OF he ,,iarar,,