The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-10


are in all the churches, not to speak OF
men prominent in our own church, In
this country. IT is safe to say that
there was no more remarkable hgure IN
ali the gathering than the preacher Tor
the occasion-Rev. William Caren, ID.
D., principal OF Knox college, Toronto.
After devotional exercises Rev. Princi-
pal Caren delivered the opening ser.
mon-subject, 1.-THE Spirits teaching
Indispensable in the Study OF Theology"
John lG: IS, "Howbeit when He the
Spirit Of truth is come, He will guide
you into all the truth.
DIR. Caren's discourse was admirably
adapted to the occasion. The subject
selected and its mode OF treatment COM
mended themselves to all who were
there, and that is saying good deal
when il is taken into account that the
audience was probably one Of the most
critical before which any man, certainly
any preacher, could appear. DR.. Craven
showed how essential is the guidance
and direction OF the Holy Spirit for adj
vancement in the Christian life, for the
revelation OF truth and for making the
revelation contained in Scripture intel
ligible. He pointed ont that
THEOLOGICAL AND CRITICAL INQUIRY
arc necessities OF the human mind. that
men must inquire and must speculate,
and that the aid OF the Holy Spirit is
necessary Tor progress in the right di-
rection in the search after truth. His
references to the higher criticism evil
denced his comprehensive grasp and
calm Judgment OF the questions that
are agita;ing mems minds ut the present
day. IL is evident that he is keenly
alive TO the dangerous tendencies ofun-
sanctified scholarship, but no admits
that in its own sphere and at its proper
work scholarship is indispensable to
the advancement OF mans highest in.
terests. He has no disposition to dis
courage full and free investigation into
every department oil theological
science. While not IN SYM
pathy with much Of what goes
under the name OF higher criticism, all
lie desires is that reserch should be con-
Quoted and subject to the leading ofthe
HOLY Spirit, While many timid souls
arc apprehensiye about the future pros
poets OF the church, he does not seem
to entertain any serious misgiyings.
IIiaconfdence in the stability and per-
manence OF truth sustains him in TAX
ing hopeful view OF the church's fu-
turc.
The proceedings OF the council were
resuncd OH tho second day in another
church tCooke's) the largest in the
city. Three sessions were held during
the day, and long programme OF most
interesting topics was discussed by the
delegates who had come from the ends
OF the earth. The addresses and the
papers read were for the most part linn
tied to twenty minutes, with five min
utes to each speaker Afterwards torgen-
eral discussion.
The Rev. DR.. Matthews, general sec
rotary. in presenting his report on
statistics, said that "they stood there
with at least 20, 100000 OF people at their
backs. This, / think, is enough" he
continued, ito make US realize that the
gathering here to-day is the most i'm
portant and impressive that our family
Of Presbyterian churches has been
called upon to witness" In
the report were embraced the
churches OF the European conti-
nent, the United Kingdom, Asia, Afri-
Gu, North America, South America,
Western Islands, Australia, New Zea.
land. Summarized, the statistics showed
Il grand total OF OF Reformed churches
HOLDING THE PRESBYTERIAN SYSTEM,
with l,249 PresbYteries, 236 synods,
%, 437 pastoral charges, 1891 minis
tiers, l20,033 elders, 69,S05 deacons,
1854 licentiates, 4,l69 theological stu
dents, 4,O92, 965 communicants, 25.70s
Sabbath schools, 4O5, 9S5 Sabbath school
teachers and officers. and Sabbath
school attendance OF 3,020,765. DR..
Matthews incidentally remarked that
the rules OF some OF the Reformed
churches on the continent were so
strict, that pastor could not leave his
parish for twenty-four hours without
obtaining the consent OF his ecclesiasti-
cal head, or for fourteen days without
the sanction OF what is practically the
general assembly. Nor could he occupy
more than an hour in the delivery OF
his sermon. "a very good thing"
added the doctor, amid applause.
We come now to the great day OF the
councils proceedings = the Foreign
Mission Day. The Romance OF Miss
ions might fifty have been the title to
the interesting proceedings OF the day.
Not that there was any romance in tho
statements made. The outspoken state
ments of heroes OF the miss
ion field. men who could,
in apostolic style, say, I'VE speak
that we know, and testify whereof we
have seen" are not to be uainsaid. The
The story OF their labors and triumphs,
led Mary to exclainl, "What hath God
wrought"
The Rev. DIR. McKichan, vice chance-
lor OF Bombay university, gave an ad-
mirable address on the topic. "a Cen
fury of Missions" The year 1892, he
said, was an admirable year Christian
missions are now 100 years old. In
England and America the simultaneous
movement began. Eloquent was the
tribute he paid the Baptist missionary,
William Carey. A missionary society
with subscription OF S65, 900, was the
father OF the present extended work.
Nearly thirty years passed before the
Presbyterians followed in the wake OF
their Baptist brethren. With true elo-
ouence the doctor sketched the subse.
quent career wonderful success OF mis-
sionary work. Only few lands are
closed to the Gospel, andthere are signs
that they will be open soon. Presby.
terianism, he maintained, igrepresented
by one-fourth Of the whole mission
field. In an eloquent preparation he
said that the spirit OF missions is the
very breath OF the church's life. The
grandest apologize OF the church was
her mission victories. =
The speaker closed his eloquent and