Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-17
PRESBYTERIANISM.
The Presbyterian General Assembly
Addressed by President
Roberts:
a MORAL POINTED ANpA TALE
ADORNED.
Senator Teller Continues His Argu-
ment Against the Silver
Bill.
MEETING OF STOCK BREEDERS
IN CHICAGO.
The Pope Issues a Circular Letter.
Railroad Accident In
Montana.
MEETING OF sTock BREEDERS
IN CHICAGO.
By Telegraph 10 the SEwsI
THE PREsBYTERIANs.
President Roberts, Of Lake Forrest
Iiis-) University, Delivers
an Address.


uIis-) University, Delivers
an Address.
SARATOGA, May l5.-The Presby-
terrain general assembly met here to-
day.
President Roberts Of the Lake
Forrest 1lls.) University, the retir-
ing moderator, delivered an address
on "The privileges and consequent
obligations Of the Presbyterian
Church, /" etc, at length. His refer
ence TO the absorbing topic of re-
vision was in enumerating the
special privileges Of the church.
Among these, he said, was a clear
cut strong and Scriptural creed.
Notwithstanding the few objection
able passages, the alleged incorrect
Interpretation Of Scripture and the
questionable philosophy Of two or
three paragraphs in our standard,
they are a marvel Of skill and didac-
tic acumen. They have been classed
among the best specimens extant Of
clear thought and cogent reasoning.
They were prepared in 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 best states
men, also Of both houses Of Parlia-
ment.
"The shorter catechism has been
pronounced by many who have had
no sympathy with its doctrines as
THE BRsT COMPENDIUM
Of scriptural truths the world has
ever seen. The standards are not
only clear-cut, but exceedingly
strong. They are based largely ON
Ged's sovereignty. II is no such
sovereignty, however, as implies
arbitrariness or injustice, but such
as aliases the proud and encourages
the lowly.
at is loudly proclaimed in these
days that the doctrines Of our stand
ards are destitute of the breathiRgs
Of Gods love. This is largely true.
The tender phase Of the divine
character is not so clearly set forth
rs it ought to be in this age. But It
must not lie forgotten that the
church has been undergoing n pro
cess 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
qualities Of the law which came by
Moses.
s'The strong truths OF our Calvin
istic creed are not 10 he looked upon,
therefore, as monstrOsities, but as
necessary antecedents TO milder and
more lovable doctrines. These doc
trines have been drawn out OF Code
word in such way as to forbid the
making Of any essential changes in
them without doing violence to that
word,
AMONG THE OTHER PRIVILEGES
of the church enumerated and dilat-
ed upon were a government more in
keeping with the teachings Of Scrip
ture than that of any other branch
Of the church; championship in the
cause of educationi superior mis-
sionary appliances, and conceded
wealth.
On this latter point, DIR. Roberts
said in part: cit may seem doubtful
at first sight whether riches can be
regarded as one OF the privileges Of
a church Of Christ. In themselves
considered, they cannot be an indi-
cation Of moral power or usefulness.
Nevertheless, they do acquire, &C.
cording to the best known principles
of ethics, morality, rs well as
strength, when viewed as trust for
Gods glory and the good Of the
world. 1t is often alleged 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 a hundred millions of dollars
The Presbyterians Of Chicago have
under their control, not in their
possession, three hundred millions Of
dollars. This is a fair sample Of
what is to be found in other COM
munities, east and west 1t is GER
tainly great privilege to he en-
trusted with so much Of the Lords
money, il we have grace to use it rs
good and faithful servants"