Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-24
PRESBYTERIAN CENTENNIAL.
President Cleveland Tells the Delegates at Philadelphia About His Early Teach ings and Advises Unity.

A AOoAuchS SAcVcA0uu Aehb tuo DclcSbtes
 at Philadelphia About His Early Teach
 ings and Advises Unity.
 PHILADELPHIA, May 2-At yesterdays session of the Presbyterian general assembly the committee on bills and overtures pre- sented a report. The centennial celebration of the assembly began in the afternoon with a reception at the Overbrook homestead Of MT. and Mrs. Wistar Morris, where the pres ident and Mrs Cleveland were entertained, together with the commissioners from tha Northern and Southern general assemblies of the Presbyterian church. The president and Mrs. Cleveland reached Overbrook about S:30 p. m-, where they were met by Rev. and Mrs. Charles Wood, of Germantown, and were immediately conducted to the residence, where the reception was held. They wers followed shortly afterward by the commis- sioners of the Southern assembly, who also came on @ special train from Baltimore
 The reception took place between and 6 o'clock. The delegates were welcomed in Q short speech by Mir. Morris.
 Rev. Dr. Bullock, the moderator of the Southern assembly and ex-chaplain of the United States senate, offered prayer.
 President Cleveland then made an address as follows:
 1T am very much gratifled by the opportu- nifty here afforded me to meet the representa- tives of the Presbyterian church.
 "Surely a man should never lose his inter- est in the welfare of the church in which he was reared and yet will not find fault with eny of you who deem it a sad confession made when acknowledge that must recall the days now long past to find my closest re lation to the grand and noble denomination which you represent. I say this because those of us who inherit fealty to our church, as did, begin early to learn those things which make us Presby all the days of early teaching, by which we are grounded in cur lasting allegiance, are especially vivid md perhaps the -h>-t- at- tendance upon church service three times each Sunday, and upon Sabbath school dur ing the noon intermission, may be irksome enough to a boy 10 or 12 years of age to be we'll fixed in his memory; but have never known a man who regretted these things in the years of his maturity.
 Speaking of these things and in the pres ence of these here assembled, the most tender thoughts crowd upon my mind-an connected | with PreSbyterianism and its teaching There are present with me now memories of kind and affectionate father consecrated to the cause, and called to his rest and his re- ward in the midday of his usefulness sacred recollection of the prayers and pious love or a Samted mother and a family circle hallowed and sanctified by the spirit of Presbyterianism. "I certainly cannot but express the wish and hope that the Presbyterian church will | always be at the front in every movement which promises the temporal as we'll as the | spiritual advancement of mankind In the | turmoil and the hustle of every day life few men are foolish enough to ignore the pract:- cal value to our people and our country of the church organizations established among | us and the advantage of Christian example l and teaching.
 | ''The field is vast and the work sufficient to | engage the efforts of every sect and denomi- | nation; but am inclined to believe that the church which is most tolerant and conserva- tive, without loss of spiritual strength, will soonest find the way to the hearts and affec- tions of the people,"
 ''I am here to greet the delegates of two | general assemblies of the Presbyterian church | One is called North" and the other .tSouth ' The subject is too deep and intricate for me- but cannot help wondering why this should be. These words, as they denote separation and arrangement should be obsolete. Even the soldiers who fought for the north and for the south are restored to fraternity and unity. This fraternity and unity is taught and en. joined by our church. When she herself shall | be united, with all the added strength and | usefulness, the. harmony and union shall ensue.n