The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-16

to Zion on Jerusalem, feirce'nine W"
visible Church on earth. In prophetic vision
he sees Messiah coming 90 his Church: thc,
sun of Righteousness arising upon 1l'n -"
investing her with brightness th9t shaii as
peI earth's gloom. We live, he said, NJ pe-
nod when Isiah's prophecies are becoming
history and when the Christian Church Is
advancing among all the nations. we are
fully assured that all the assaults OF skep'l.
cism. infideity and godlessness made upon
the ramparts of Zion shall only serve TO
demonstrate that her walls are impreg-
nable and reign divine. In the text
the prophet presents the WORK OF tne
Church. her Almighty helper and her en-
cour~gements TO duty. Consider the churcn :
f"-~igned work This is expressed IN the
- "Arise sinner II the Church is 10
,r,,.. ffans and conquer the world
I,scinie the natc,,-------s.se. asleep, and In,
she must not remain sup.m z" IN
active Lethargv must not be manlil--~
her organism, and paralysis must not ue
shown by any of her real members. Elrst,
NAV have been obscured or eclipsed
by some OF the worlds organi-
cations. She must arise, and, emerging
from the ohscurlty Of worldly shadows, must
stand in the very focus OF heavens DAY ana
in the very van of human progress. There Is
a sad departure from Gods methods ara
substitute of human methods on the part cf
the church. How indispensable IL is that
when the church fights the Lords battles she
should wieid not the instruments Of mans
deVising, but those weapons of our warfare
which. though not carnal. are mighty, through
God, to the pulling down of stronghplds.
The Divine Word circulated, the Gospel
preached, the sacraments administered,
prayers offered and holy living on
the part of her members ATE the weapons
assigned 10 the church by God III all her
earthly conflicts with evil. but the church, IN
accomplishing her mission. must not ohly
arise from inactiOn, but put iorth her enet-
gies employ her faculties. cOnsecrate her re-
sources, and WELD exclusively ana vigoi-
Ously her spiritual weapons. she must DO
more. Second--she must shine. She must not
only be Illuminated but impaft moral light
TO The world. She must difiuse the saving
light Of knowledge, JOY and holiness. All
her Oracles, ordinances, worship ana dlsclp-
line upOn earth are designed TO enable Ilon
to put on her beautiful garment ana 10 be
presented by the Messiah ''faultless before
the throne of His Father ms Iile own peer
less bride. The work Of the church, whVh
commanded 10 shine Ii to dispci darkness,
not i'm "A few isolated spots. but throughout
the world; not for few favored lndiNlduals
or branches of the race, but for the
whole family Of man. This grand mission
of shining away earths moral darkness Is
given TO every part OF the church. Mark
now her divine helper. she can arse anG
shine. because underneath her are "the
everlasting arms and quickenlng her enei-
gies are the forces of omnipOtence, and the
cleaning fires on her altars are heaven
kindled and divinely fed. When the I)td |
commissioned her 30 preach the gospel 10
every creature he added the prom
ise: 'Lo, am with yoq always, |
even to the end Of the world Christ
has verified his words, and In every age
has shOne and worked IN and by the chulch
for promoting his glory and advancing MS
kingdom. Third, observe nnally some OF tne
churchs encouragement 10 duty, nrst, tne
church is assured, "The Lord shall rise upon
thee" when she endeavOrs TO perform her
functions in giving light TO the darkened
world. Whenever the gospel has been prehch-
tH4I Af
of God gnsO salvation. and the grand
lever for lifting humanity TOWARDS
the plane of the God head and
the glory Of n divine sOnshlp. second. Again
the Church striving 10 execute her appointed
mission. II is encouraged by thu promise
"his glory shall be seen upon thee 20
true is this that the domain of Sion now PEN
etrates every zone and girdle 10 the ehrth
while her roll cali Is responded 10 Dy
the citizens Of everY land ami the
isles which were 10 wait for the Mes
siah's law, have received the gospel OF MS
grace. and are lmparting II To olher groups
that sit IN darkness ana the snauow oi uSa'n' uS
The dark continent has felt the light Wilch
Zion brings, and Ethiopia now stretches OUT
her hands unto God," depending upon het
Almighty Helper, and encouraged oy hla
promised aid, her promised participation
In his glory, and her diNile assurance
of glorious success, shall not tie Church OF
Messiah arise To IT. ana shine amid eaftn
darkness until her Lord shall verify 10 her
the prophets grand and giadsome WorDs,
1.-THE sun shall be no more thy light by any
neither for brightness shall the moon glNo
light unto thee, but the lord shall be unto
thee an everlasting light and Thy God my
glory"
Or. J. A. Scott and Rev. Il. A. Webb as-
sisted in the pulpit services.
The stated clerk (Dr. Joseph X. WILSON,
and the permanent clerk ODE. Robert i. Far
ris) were at their posts. The clerk an
nOunced the names of three Presbyterles or
ganiZed since the last Assembly. and now
entitled TO representation. The election OF
moderator being the first business in or
der Rev. j. |. Vance nominated Dr. &.
Il. Hemphll, of Louisville; Rev. J.. "A.
Ramsey nominated DR.. James Park, OF
Knoxville. and Rev. ". ii. Graves nOmi-
mated DR.. u. o. Davis, Of Paducah. Dr.
James Park was elected. Rev. L. \.
Ramsey and Rev. WA. Alexander were
elected temporary clerks. The pastor OF
the church, Rev. w. :. u. Bryan, extended
an invitation to the members OF the assem-
bly to a reception given by the church AT
the Battery Park Hotel at =. NJ, and also
10 the wives of members and other visiting
ladies to reception at private residence
from 10 7'P. NJ.
Letters have been received from num-
ber Of gentlemen invited 10 attend the meet
ing of the Assembly as visitors. Among
these are John II. Inman, OF New York
Rev. DR.. Peyton Hoge, Messrs. W. W
Henry and B. G. Wherry and Judge Il. X
Wexford. Jr., of Richmond, Va.
A grand reception was given at the as
sembly in music hall Of the Battery Parh
Hotel. After a good deal of informal intro
duction and hand-shaking the members o
the assembly and other invited guests
enioyed a delightful repast. There wer'
delicaces for both body and mind. The
tables were arranged for three hundred,an'
| few were the seats not occupied. W hei
the tables had been cleared the compan.
was treated TO a most choice feast Of reasol
and flow of soul.
The first course was served by Goyerno
FOwle. Of North Carolina, who IN mos
entertaining style welcomed the assembl,
TO the sacred soil Of the ''Old North state
Rev. 4. \. Wharton, of the steele Creel
Church, gave "A most cordial welcome to th
assembly. in the name Of the Presbytery q
Mecklenburg.
Mr.. T. ii. Cobb, Mayor Of the city, wei
coined the Assembly in the name Of tn
city Of Asheyile. Capt. ;. +. Nenabl
spoke in behalf of the First Presbyteria
Church. Responses were made by ID
moderator, Rev. DR.. Parks, on 9Th
Church," by Rev. 7. W. ThomT
son, ID. d., on "The lllstorl
Past;" by Rev. {. X. liemphll
ID. d., on 'srhe Faith once Delivered TO tn
saints BY Judge j. a. Orr, on ''ihe Eide
ship;"by Rev. j. X. Wilson, ID. d., ON "lll
Institutions Of Learning;" by Colonel l..
Perrin, on ''1he Work of Today" by Re'
X. =. Farris. ID. d., on "The Religion
Press" by Rev. ID. o. Davies, d. d., 0
( ..The Outlook"
These speeches were such that no repoI
OF them would do the speakers justice, bi
all were most heartily enjoyed by the a
tentiye audience.
SOUTHERN METHODlSTS.
Yesterdays Proceedings OF the IT. Lou