Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-03
PREsBYTERIANs MEET.


An Interesting Session Of OfAIIegheny County
lIInIsters-s1biects Ably Discussed to
Promote the Veal Of the Church and
It's Members.
The evening and concluding session of
the convention was conducted by the Rev.
D. Kennedy. After the opening exercises
the Rev. DR.. II. T. McClelland delivered an
address on "Consscration-What it is and
How Secured" In substance he said that
the idea of conservation is self-dedication to
the work of God; conservation to the liY-
ing God, or serving of righteousness.
He cited the example of David before the
people, working for the creation of the
temple and asking the people, "Who this
day Is willing to consecrate himself to the
work of God?" Another and the greatest
example in the world was that of Christ,
who consecrated His whole life to the work
of His Father for the salvation of mankind.
Conservation is to be secured, he concluded,
by contemplation of the self-evident grace
of God. self dedication to the serving of
God and the use of grace which increases by
usage.
The Rev. DR.. 1. N. Hays followed with
an address on personal Works" He said
that there is a pressing need this hour for a
general revival of religion; arevival of pure
and undefled religion. For this there is
needed first, conservation, and then personal
work. Everything about religion, he said,
is personal There is a personal God, per-
sonal duty and a personal destiny, and a
great religious responsibility on the indi-
Vidual. Mans first and highest obligation
is to his own soul; nothing will compensate
him for the loss of his personal salvation.
The way to secure the salvation of others
is first to secure your own salvation. This
means personal activity, and every man
laid on Chfist's altar offers himself for
service. Continuing DR.. Hays urged indie
fatigable efforts. They should look for per-
sonal results, and the results from personal
work would be greater than by general
work, such as in the Sunday schools, etc.
He meant by personal work, standing face
to face with a sinner and helping him to
grace. The teaching of the gospel should
be followed up by personal aid.
In the afternoon the Rev. David Ken
nedy spoke on "What Glass of Themes Are
of the Church." The Rev. Mr.. McKallip
took for bis subject Enthusiasm in the
Pulpit" Other speakers were the Rev.
Matthew Rutherford and DR.. o. L. Miller.
The latter took for his subject "What is
Needed to Raise the Standard of Our Bible
School Work?" He dwelt on the prepar-
alton that the teachers need in order to
teach, and emphasized the Importance of
training them as teachers.
The proceedings Of the convention in the
morning were quite interesting. "The
points within Allegheny Presbytery where
there are good prospects of building up a
Presbyterian Church, but which are now
unoccupied," was the subject discussion
lead by Rev. j. T. Gibson. who believed
harmonious efforts and the desire of the peo-
pie most interested would be successful. He
instanced Tarentum, where the people want
s., 900 church and had $500 raised toward
it. DR.. Hays said he often felt dubious
about asking his people to send money away
when it was needed 80 badly at home. Rev.
G. NJ. Potter then spoke of "The number
and names of vacant churches within the
bounds of Allegheny Presbytery and the
cause of their vacancy" Among the places
mentioned were Glencoe, Glasgow, Indus
try, Freedom, Concord, Pine Creek. Sharps-
burg, Evans City, New Salem, Bull Creek,
Cross Roads and Plains. Rev. r. G. Totten
then spoke of the "Means for meeting the
immediate needs of weak and vacant
churches in this Presbytery."