Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-16
THE PRESBYTERIANS,
Meeting of the General AS
sembly at Saratoga.
An Important Era in the
History of the Church.
President Roberts Delivers Re-
markable Address.
Privileges and Obligations of the Church
Reviewed-Strong Anti-Catholic
Sentiments Expressed.
Associated Press Dispatches. |

Associated Press DISPATCHES
SARATOGA, N. Y, May 15.-The Pres
byterian General Assembly opened with
prayer-meeting this morning The
business session begins this afternoon.
President Roberts, of the Lake Forest
university, Illinois, the retiring mod
orator, delivered an address on "The
Privileges and Consequent Obligations
of the Presbyterian Church." He re-
viewed the work of the church, etc., at
length. His reference to the absorbing
topic OF revision was in enumerating the
special privileges OF the church. Among
these he said was clear-cut, strong and
scriptural creed. Notwithstanding the
the few Objectionable passages, the al
legged incorrect interpretations of the
scripture and the questionable philoso-
ply of two or three paragraphs in our
standards, they are marvel of skill and
dialectic acumen. They have been
justly classed among the best specimens
extant OF clear thought and cogent rea-
soning. They were prepared III troublous
times for the purpose of uniting in one
church all the Christians of great
Britain and Ireland. Every paragraph
was heated in the fires of controversy
and forged into bars of gold, not only by
the best theologians of the church, but
by the ablest statesmen, also, of both
houses of parliament. The shorter cat
echlsm has been pronounced by many
who have had no sympathy with its
doctrines the best compendium of scrip
tural truths this world has ever seen.
The standards are not only clear cut but
exceedingly strong. They are based
largely on Gods sovereignty. 1t is no
such sovereignty, however, as implies
arbitrariness or injustice, but such as
aliases the proud and encourages the
lowly. 1t loudly proclaims in these days
that the doctrines of our standards are
| destitute OF the breathings of Gods love-
This is largely true. The tender phase
OF divine character is not so clearly set
forth as it ought to be in this age But it
| must not be forgotten that the church has
| been undergoing a process of evolution
from her infantile days to the present
time. Grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ, but those lovely qualities could
have come only after the way had been
prepared for them by the sterner quail
ties of the law which came by Moses.
"The strong truths of our Calvanistic
creed are not to be looked upon, there
fore, as monstrosities, but as necessary
antecedents to milder and more lovely
doctrines. These doctrines have been
drawn out of Gods word in such wav
as to forbid the making of any essential
changes in them without dving violence
to that word"
Among other privileges of the church
enumerated and dilated upon were a
government more in keeping with the
teachings of the scripture than that of
any other branch of the church; cham
pionship in the cause of education; SUI
perior missionary appliances, and con-
ceded wealth. On this latter point.
DR.. Roberts said in part: 'Tt
may seem doubtful at first sight whether
riches can be regarded as one of the
privileges OF the church of Christ. In
themselves considered, they cannot be
an indication of moral power or useful
ness, nevertheless they do acquire ac-
cording to the best known principles of
ethics, morality as well as strength,
when view as a trust for Gods glory and
the good of the world. 1t is often al
legged that our church owns and controls
more money than any other in our land.
One OF the congregations in New York
city is said to possess more than hun
dred million dollars. The Presbyterians
OF Chicago have under their control, not
IN their possession, three hundred mil
hon dollars. This is a fair sample of
what is to be found in other communi-
ties east and west. 1t is certainly a
great privilege to be entrusted with so
much OF our Lords money, if we have
the grace to use it as good and faithful
servants"
DR.. Roberts said that the obligations
arising from these privileges came under
the text, "Unto whomsoever much is
given, OF him shall much be required, I"
and spoke at great length on the duty of
the church. Following are some of his
points: "There is an evident looseness
not only in admitting men into our
ministry, but also in giving church
sessions unlimited license to supply
their own pulpits. In many congrega-
tions ministers are hired by the wear
like clerk. The communities in which
they live regard them not as permanent
factors in their social or religious life.
The value of the permanent pastorate
is beyond all computation.
Not few OF our vacant churches are
allowed to be overrun by professional
candidates. Our worthy ministers are
frequently set aside for men who are
after the loaves and fishes. They have
a few tlashy discourses that catch the
ears of the people, but when they are
delivered they have nothing left worth
listening to. Under this practice piety
languishes, activity ceases and Christian
benevolence is LETT uncultivated. X X
The Presbyterian church must watch
with the greatest care the entrance into
her ministry. The number of candi-
dates who reject some of the Fundamental
doctrines of our creed is said to be on the
increase. At thepresent rate of increase
the doctrinal status of our church will
certainly be impaired. If growing lax
ity goes on, a loud cry will presently be
raised for a creed that will bind no min
lister to specific system of belief. The
presbyteries should exercise more vig-
lance in the direction of preserving the
congress of faith in our ministers and
elders.
"The Presbyterian church is called