Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-10-04
SYNOD OF THE PACIFIC.
Annual Meeting of the Presbyteria
Synod in this City

Annual Meeting of the Presbyterian
Synod in this City.
The Synod of the Pacific met last night
in the Westminster Presbyterian Church,
and was opened with sermon by the re-
firing Moderator. Rev. n. NJ. Cornelius,
from the text: Jer. 23-29-"Is not nv word
like as a fire, saith the Lord, and like a
hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?"
He said
The Church of God was bought with
His precious blood and no weapon formed
against it will prosper. Another imperish-
able thing is the word of God. Not one
jot or title of it shall pass away We ought
to be familiar with it, appreciate it. study
it, use it so God may be glorified and show
its results in our life. When We cast our
eye down through the ages of the past we
see how grandly the word has made its
triumphal march through the ages. Had
it not been divine it would have perished
from the earth long ago., but it is as
fresh as if God spoke it but yesterday
Its mission is bound up In one little
word, to save When Christ sent out
His Disciples He gave but one commits
sion, Go, preach the gospel 1t is Gods
own instrument, but 1t is in earthen ves-
sells. Simply telling the story of the gospel
is Gods plan to save-'By the foolishness
of preaching The Word of God is His
chosen instrument to conquer and subdue
all things opposed to the coming of His
Kingdom. 1t is as a hre; nothing so rap
idly and thoroughly melts the human
heart. 1t is like hammer that breaketh
the rock. These two figures show that
there is no obstacle which the word cannot
a. i
Do not substitute anything else. The
church triumphed most when the word
was preached most plainly. All great re-
vivals were kindled at this sacred fire; that
of Luther. Knox and Wesley. II there had
been something better, or if there had been
any alternative, Christ would not have said
preach that
The question arises: DO these thins s
hold now, in the growth and changes Of
the nineteenth century? Is the hammer
to be padded; the sword edge wrapped as
some demand? especially In the peculiar
social and political conditions of the Pa
citic coast; for some seem to think that
there is one dispensation for the other side
of the Rockies and another for this
side. Shall we prophesy smooth things
discuss spicy events, essays, stories, and
ignore sin and the atonement? We need
illustrations and modern methods, but
Christ must stand il front Of them and be
held up by them; yet God did not order
men to go about quoting scripture and say
ing Come to Jesus
BY the proper use of the word of God,
alone, regulating and purifying private
life, will the world be finally freed from
inddelity, intempersnce and ali existing
| evils. The progress and ultimate triumph
| of His church depends upon His word"
After the sermon the Synod was con-
stituted with prayer by the retiring Mod
orator. Then the roll of the ministers of
| the six Presbyteries composing the Synod
and of the churches under their care was
called by the Permanent Clerk, +. II.
Babb.
The election of a new Moderator being
next in order, Rev. G. w. Lyons, of Mer-
| ced, and Rev. H. c. Minton, of San Jose,
were nominated. Bat as Mr.. Minton
asked 10 be excused, Mr.. Lyons was elected
| by acclamaion.
Messrs. f. II. Robinson of Templeton
and James Curry of Placerville were
chosen as Temporary Clerks and the or
! gan:Zstion was completed.
Rev. DR.. Wheeler gave notice of popu.
lar meeting in behalf of foreign missions
to be held in the Westminster Church, al
| which Rev. DR.. Babb, of the Occideat, viii!
preside, and addresses be delivered by
Messrs Wiutop. Kerr and Adams
The Synod resumes its session at A. NJ
| 10 day in the Westminster Church.
The ladies of the Missionary Societies
held their meeting in the NJ f. Church
across the way.