Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-22
SERMONS IN SUMNER.
Interest in the Qeposed COvenanter
Ministers Well Sustained.
ALL HAVE BIG CONGREGATIONS.
A PittSburg Preacher HarShly DenounceS
All Kinds of Gambling.
OTHER PULPIT TOPICS OF YESTERDAY


Rev. E NJ Milligan, one of the Young
ministers deposed from the Reformed Pres
hyterian pulpit by the Synod recently in
session, preached yesterday in the First
II. P. Church, Oak alley. The day more
than ever determined the popularity of the
Young minister's course in defense of lib
ertv of conscience At both the morning
and afternoon services the little church was
well filled with old and young, men and
women. of the Covenanter Church. Like
his associates in the recent trouble, Rev. Z.
NJ Milligan is a man of strong emotional
powers and an attractive speaker.
In the afternoon he took the widows mite
as the theme of his discourse. He spoke TO
some length on the difference between the
divine and human estimate of value, the
latter considering the intrinsic worth of the
gift, while the former took into considera-
tion the effort it cost the giver and the
spirit in which it was bestowed. In a vivid
way he described, the picture of the old
Hebrew tabernacle where Christ sat oppo-
site the door and watched the difference of
manner between the naughty and the lowly
With the Allegheny Contingent.
A large congregation gathered again at
Cvclorama Hall, Allegheny, yesterday TO
hear Rev. j. r. j. N1illigan, who, with his
congregation, is going into the United
Presbyterian Church. The list of those
who will go with him was swelled to $50
yesterday, and on "Wednesday night another
business session is TO be held at the
United PRESBYTERIAN Theological Seminary.
His text was '.What Think Ye of Christi"
He said it was a question everyone must
answer, as it was the predominant principle
Of salvation. He believed evil came more
from want of thought than from want of
heart. and skerticism was also the product
of want of thought on Christ. Those
who have high estimate of his goodness .
will accept Christ, and ones usefulness in
the world depends on the answer of this
question. Said he, one who hates Christ
will hate men and one who loves Christ
will be a friend of the world. In closing he
said Christ was worthy of the highest es-
teen and that if one loved him he would not
need to think of him for he would be ever
present.
NInIigan Draws Big Crowds.
Notwithstanding the inclement weather
of Yesterday, a large, sympathetic audi
ence gathered in the East End Reformed
Presbyterian Church at 1890 A. NJ. and at
1:45 P. NJ. at United Presbyterian Church,
Butler and Forty-fourth streets, to listen to
Rev. O. B. Milligan. The belligerent stand
taken by his flock, respecting the action of
the late synod and their decision to bolt to
the Z. P. s, together with the fact that these
were his first sermons after his expulsion
created no little interest and curiosity.
The discourses, however, were entirely
lacking Of any direct controversial matter
or reference to the trOublous times of the
last few weeks. But the least observant of
observers could have felt the electricity that
charged the sermon and the man. His text
was significant and his energetic style of
delivering gave evidence of soul pent up
with fire and indignation.
The gist of his words were contained in
Paul's words: "For 1 am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that be- |
lieves. to the Jew first and also to the |
Greek" ......-- |
Rev. Mr.. Milligan contrasted sharply the |
spirit which controlled the life of that
famous apostle and the spirit which pre-
dominates this skeptical, disintegrating age.
said hes "Men speak now of the Bible not
as being the word of God, but as contain
ing the word of God. The many high
colored stories of the Holy Scriptures and
their so-called solution of the origin of
things, are now regarded as Oriental figure,
fable and rubbish. Even clergymen must
put through such cylinders and windmills
as Andover, the canons and tenets Of the
Christian theology"
The Bible Is the Only Solution.
But with all the skepticism that per-
meates the camps of the elect, and all the |
theories advanced by men of science to ac- |
count for the existing order of |
things, Rev. Mr.. Milligan falls back |
on the good old Bible for |
his best and most satisfactory solution. He |
became quite sarcastic in speaking of the |
indeStructibility of matter, the molecu- |
lar, rotary and chemical theories of the |
earth's origin, now before scientific minds. |
He said:
IF the Bible claims too much in the |
Mosaic account of creation, the scientist |
claims too little. 1t is Just as hard to create |
a world from In the beginning was God as |
in the beginning was a molecule.' l am |
not ashamed of God and the Christian re- |
ligion because it gives us the best moral |
teachings. All the teachings of heather |
philosophers and precepts of pagan |
religions have never raised man to |
the ideal, presented in Christ Jesus |
Athens and Rome died of moral and spirit |
ual decay, even with such philosophers as |
Socrates and Seneca. Buddha and Confu- |
cius launched their followers into the |
eternal night of ignorance and moral de- |
pravity. Christianity shows its superiority |
over all other religions in its remedial |
powers. 1t has been the greatest civilizing |
agent since its advent into the world. The |
most abiect and degraded are its objects, |
and these very objects which are the de- |
spair of the so-called moral powers are by it |
lifted up into pure and upright lives.
AS a comforter 10 the SOrrOWinn and /
afflicted the sympathy of Christ finds no
rival. 1t enters the home deprived of its
loved ones and gives a solace that brings
rest and sweet peace"
Rev. Mr.. Milligan closed his defense of
his religion by claiming for it the exclusive
function Of revealing the future. Nature,
the gropings Of pagan philosophers NAV
show a knowledge of the future life. but
only in the word of God can be found the
true knowledge respecting life after death.