The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-05-16
WORK OF THE CHURCH
What Presbyterians are Confronted
With The Great Fight That
Should be Made Against
Enemies of Religion.

p-.
SASNIoSA, May To- rrcs'u.l' "
al Lake Forest, III. UNIVERSITY ,hc TUT
ing moderator. delivered an address on
tbc privileges and c~onsequen obligations
81 ,he PRESBYTERIAN church. He reviewed
- =, a. ohu,ch c,c nj length.
~ y" ~ ,hso.,;,, tonic of
ms 'eie'e"'e Ns 81
fe''sioh :. n'snn ,hosn no
ileees Of the church. Among tnese' ne
said. was a clear cut. strong ana scrip
tur,l creed. Notwithstanding the few oh
sctionablc passages,th alleged inco rect
INTERPRETATIONS 81 Scripture and question
able philosophy of two or three para
graphs i'm our standards. they are a
marvel OF skill and dialectic
they have been classed amons the
hest specimens extaut Of clear thought
and cUgent reasoning. They were pre-
ymrcd in troublous times for the purpose
81 uniting i'm one church all the Christians
of Great Britain "a Ireland. Every par
agraph was heated in the fires oil contro-
yersy and forged into bars of gold, not
only by the best theologians Of the church,
hut by the ablest statesmen also Of both
houses of parliament. The shorter cata-
chism has been pronounced by many
who have had no sympathy with
lis doctrines the best coinpend
of scriptural truths this world has ever
seen, the standards are are not only clear
cut. hut exceedingly strong. They are
hased largely on Gods sovereignty. It's
no such sovereignty, however, as implies
arhiirariness or injustice, but such as
aliases the proud and encourages the
lowly. IL IL loudly proclaimed i'm these
days that doctrines Of our tandard are
destitute of the breathings of Gods love.
This Is largely true. The tender phase oil
divine character is not so clearly set
hut il must not be forgotten that the
church has been undergoing the process OF
evolution from her i~nfantile days Ia the
present time. Grace and truth came by
Jesus Christ. but these lovely qualities
could have come only after the way had
been prepared for them by the stcrner
qualities of the law which came by Moses.
Strong truths Of our C~alvanistlc creed are
moi 10 be- looked upon therefore AS mon
sirosiiies. hut as necessary a~ntecedents
10 milder and more lovable doctrines.
These doctrines nave been drawn out of
Gods word in such "A way as Ia forbid the
making OF any essential changes in
them with out doing violence To that word.
Among other privileges Of the church
enumerated and dilated upon were "A gov-
m more in keeping with the teach
ings Of the scripture than that of any other
branch of the church; championship in
The cause of education; superior mission
AIRY appliances, and conceded wealth. On
aims latter point DIR. Roberts said. in part:
at may seem doubtful at first sight
whether riches can the regarded as one Of
ihc privileg rs of the church of Christ. In
themselves considered they cannot
bp am indication of moral power or
usefulness, nevertheless, they do
ac<uirc. according Ia the best
Known principles of ethics, morality
as well as strength when viewed as a
trust for Gods glory and the good of the
wprld. Il is often alleged that our church
owns control 81 more money than any
other i'm our land. One Of the conprcpa-
mons i'm New York city is said la POSSESS
morc than a hundred million of dollars.
Prsbytcrians OF Chicago have under
their control, not in their possession,
SsanD.0D. This is a fair sample of what
is To Ie found in other communities East
and West. Il is certainly great privilege
Ia he entrusted with So much of our
Lords money. III we have grace Ia use il