The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-12-21
BROADBRIM'S N. Y. LETTER

BROADBRIM'S N. Y. LETTER.
The mans heart must be made of stone,
or something harder, who can walk along
the streets and look into the stores and
times. l don't care whether he has child
rem of his own or not; If he has not, some
body else has, and If he is so wrapped up in
himself that he does not and cannot re-
jolce with them, mark him down as a
savage and brute, and let him 90. can
see the vinegar and the gall gradually ooz-
ing out of the tips of old Scrooge's fingers,
and milk and honey running into his hard
heart, as he listens and softens and
quickens for God and humanity at the
sound of the Christmas bells. As yet we
only catch them afar off through the cold
mists of the wintry morning, or the thick
ening shadows of the frosty night, but in
couple of weeks we shall be in the thick
sweet music of the Christmas anthem, and
the joyous shouts of millions of happy
children shall tell US of the closing OF an
other cycle as we hurry swiftly along to-
wards the end.
After term of the most wretcbed
weather we are reyeling in the bright sun
shine of a few clear days, for which those
who have been wrung by rhematism, neu-
ralgia and tic doleroux cry Glory hallelu-
jah.
won't say such sights were never seen
before, but the stores are very beautiful.
Every drY-goods window is a dazzling sea
OF color of The most brilliant rainbow hues,
and as If not satisfied with the rich display
OF their legitimate goods, many of the
stores have arranged their windows with
the most costly tableaus of fine wax figures
with appropriate scenery, costing several
thousand dollars.
This season is usually chosen for a settl-
ing OF accounts, and 1t would almost seem
to have been selected bv our Pie,b aIia
friends as an excellent time 20 o3. ,y ,
their spiritual ledger and see if some =.
improvements could not lie suggested in
their methods Of conducting business
There is no Opposition 10 call in question
the excellence OF the teachings of JOIN
Calvin and John Knox; all good Presby
terians are bound to acknowledge that
they we're the very best that could be haC
In their day and generation, but it has be
come very grave question in the last few
years with the learned fathers of tn,
Church, whether the methods advocated
by John Knox and John Calvin in tn,
sixteenth century are the very best tha
could be devised for bringing sinners to re
pentance in the nineteenth
This week the Presbyterian Synod O
Brooklyn met in the City of Churches
The attendance was exceedingly full, it be
ing understood that the question wouls
come up for the modification of the West
minister Confession. This identical ques
tion nearly shook AndoYer to pieces
couple OF years ago, and it is very eyiden
from the vote taken last week that sine
tnat time the cause of revision has not los
friends. The meeting vas rendered IN
teresting by the return of Dr. II. S. Val
Dyke, one Of the most learned and emi
nent Presbyterian clergymen in the land
He retired from the council on the oc
cation of DR.. Talmage's trial several year
ago, the council refusing to pass vote O
censure onthe great evangelist. DR.. Va
Dyke accused Brother Talmage of yiolat
ing the Eighth Commandment, and of
number of other naughty things not sane
TONED by the decalogue, but the council b
small vote brought In the Scotch verdict
"Not proven" and DR.. Van Dyke severe
his connection with the Brooklyn SyDo
and never set foot in 1t again till this week
Doctor Van Dyke is not only a scholar
but he is an old-fashioned orthodox Presb,
terian, and like Paul, the straightest of hi
sect. kind, estimable, chara.able gentle
man. but in defence of the Trinity or th
Thirty-nine Articles he could heve stoo
by John Calvin while SerYtus was burr
ing at the stake, and regarded with salts
faction the justice of that terrible AUTO d
FE. But the clouds are breaking away
Dr. Van Dyke was leading spirit anon
the reformers. Beside him stood tina
stauch old PRESBYTERIAN, Theodore Cuylel
and a score of others whose orthodox
could never be questioned.
Some shought that the sinners chane
was not ended with death, but that ther
might be season of probation beyond th
grave. This comes fearfully close to th
Catholic doctrine of purgatory. On
charitable brother thought that eve
Roman Catholics might be saved, and ur
blushinglY announced that Re PERSONAL
knew several very worthy people of tina
persuasion whose chances for heaven, h
thought were pretty good While .hi
staggering announcement did not bege
any wild enthusiasm. II provoked n
antagonism, and that Of itself Is a subjeC
Of congratulalion. The vote was nearl
three-quArters In favor Of revision, sur
indication ''dat de worl do move
Speaking sf d. TAlnAgs sOnsidsrAbl