Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-09
The Opening Session of the
Organization.
Sermon Delivered by Rev. E. r.
Mills, of Redlands.
The Discussion of the Confession Set
for Today.
A Session of Unusual Interest-Election of
Permanent Oficers-The Order of
Proceedings for Today.

was nelu laSJ evening at the flrSu GreS-
byterian church. This organization in
cludes seventy-three churches in the six
southern counties of California. Each
church is entitled to two representa-
tives-the pastor and one elder. The
convention will last three days, today
being devoted to discussion of the re-
vision of the Confession OF Faith-a
matter which is at present agitating the
PRESBYTERIAN churches of America and
Europe.
The auditorium of the church was
we'll filled last evening, about seventy
five members of the organization being
present, many of them accompanied by
their wives A little before s O'Clock
the ceremonies opened with short
prayer by the Rev. r. H. Hartley, of
Riverside. After the singing of hymn
and the reading of the I'D Psalm, Rev.
J. j. Fackler, of Los Angeles, invoked
divine blessing upon the deliberations OF
the assembly.
The sermon of the occasion was deliv-
cred by the Rev. E. r. Mills, of Red
lands, the retiring moderator of the
Presbytery. He took as his text the
second chapter of Daniel "And the
stone thatsmote the image became a great
mountain and filled the whole earth"
The speaker said: The meaning of this
text is that the kingdom of Christ is to
become universal. This proposition may
be subdivided in this way: First. Chris
tianity is adapted to be the universal
rule of the world. Second. The condi
4 g lxa Il 4 hot oh
be. The special fitness of Christ to rule
is shown in various ways. Christ under
stood all men. He was born of an hum
bic family. Through much of his life
he was laboring man. 1t is related of
Peter the Great that he labored as ship
carpenter in order to learn his duties as
ruler. In like manner did our
master take upon himself the form of a
servant. Jesus showed his capacity to
rule others by his government of him
self. Nothing could hurry him to reveal
his power before the proper time. He
waited with perfect control until his
time should come. He was always de-
liberate, although his work was to be
limited to three years. This is strength
the power to wait Gods time. The
wisdom, power and skill of Jesus show
that he is equal to the task of ruling the
world. The love, compassion and gen.
tleness of Christ's character are suffi-
cient guarantees that absolute power in
his hands will never be misused. The
complete and perfect harmony of his
character strikes everyone, his enemies
as well as his friends, with wonder. He
is as perfect in little trials as in great
ones. He holds a position of serenity
above the clouds. The influence which
Christ has had over the minds of men
for eighteen centuries is amazing. 1t
has effected the governments of the
earth but one despotic monarchy exists
in the Christian civilized world. 1t
shows in the work of social reform now
in progress.
Christianity is fitted to be the uni
versal religion. Its principles are such
as concern all men; they set forth the
brotherhood of man, the sinfulness of
all men; they prescribe the same duties
for all alike. Christ died Precipitation
for the sins of all men. This is the
spirit OF Christianity as Christ taught it.
Results prove that it is fitted to rule all
men. 1t has overthrown series of
great adversaries. 1t holds today the
strategic position of the world. All the
leading nations are Christian. The
effects of the gospel of Christ, where it
has been received, show that it is worthy
to rule the world Its work is for the
moral uplifting of the race. q
The condition and needs of man re-
quire that the kingdom of Christ should
be universal. Mans need is the reason
for Gods help and mercy. A grand and
glorious mission is before the church
today to show that the religion of Christ
is adapted to rule the world. This gives
a practical solution to the question of
sin which otherwise would be an unan-
swerable enigma. The kingdom of
Christ will drive it away.
The roll was called and the election of
moderator was next in order. Rev. Jas.
M. Crawford of Ventura was the only
nomination and he was elected by accla-
nation. On taking the chair he ex-
pressed his gratitude for the honor con-
ferred. The Rev. John Morrison was
then chosen to serve as temporary clerk.
A request for a letter from ID. L. Lam
don, of Tennessee, was granted.
The committee on arrangements then
made its report through its chairman,
Rev. j. L. Russell. The sessions should
be from 8 40 to II, the afternoon from
to and the evening from 7 30 to 8. The
COmmlUUee prOpOseu Ilc lOllOWlIS OIucT
of business for today: At II a. M, re-
port of committee on division of the
Presbytery; 2:3O, report of committee
on the revision of the Confession; this
is to be followed by conference, each
speaker limited in time; 80 p. M, a
popular meeting and discussion of
the subject of Christian educa-
ton and Presbyterian schools
in Southern California; on Thurs
day, at 10, the election of commits
sioners to the general assembly. The
committee offered its welcome to the
visitors to the city, and announced that
arrangements had been made for the
entertainment of all members from out
side the city.
After the report there was some dis
cussion on the question of the confer
ence over the revision of the Confession
and the amount of time to be given to
debate. The report was finally adopted.
The meeting then adjourned.
OUR ORANGES IN BOSTON.