The morning call., 1892-05-20
Dr.. Young Makes a Significant Speech
On Taking the Chair.
THE SOUTH TRUE TO PRESBYTERIlKISM.
An Excellent Beginning Made With the Work Ol
the General Assembly AeW in Session
at Portland.
Special 10 THE MoRSINs CALI.

PORTLAND, May 19.-The first days ses-
sion Of the Presbyterian General Assembly
is at an end, and the first contest between
the factions has been fought. The victory
lies with the conservatives by a vote OF just
five above a majority of those who answered
TO their names, but not by majority of the
commissioners on the roll. The question
thus settled is that of the mUderatOrShip,
and it goes to the president OF Center Col
lege, DanYille, KY. Rev. William G..
Young, DID. The fight was stubborn
one and three ballots were necessary to de-
eide the matter.
As had been announced, the Assembly
opened with an invocation by DIR. John q.
Riheldoffer of Redwood Falls, Mimi, the
oldest clerical commissioner present, be-
cause of the absence of DR.. Green Of Prince
ton, the moderator, on account OF illness.
DR.. Rufus S. Green of Orange. n. j., fol-
lowed with Scripture reading.
Prayer was then delivered by John Nee.
Holmes Of Albany. n. Y.
DR.. Green's Sermon Read.
The sermon of the retiring moderator was
read by the stated clerk, DIR. Roberts.
Isaiah xiv: Is; Verify thon art God that hidest
thyse!f. God OF Israel. the Savior"
The doctor said the Hebrew prophets were
men OF faith. God did not lnterpose 10 rescue
them from their present foes aud from The
troubles that then threatened them. DE himself
was hidden from their sight The myst ~ OF
his WAYS they were unable 10 fatbom. But thaf
lac was neyert heless perYadlng 10y directing and
controlling all they never Tor one moment
doubted. Their fam was that which Isaiah
gives utteTance in The text.
The faith thus commended I'm God unseen
is demanded OF US all. and In every sltua-
lion. Faith refuses TO admit that corp oral
senses are the sole test OF truth. or that tn in
visible and Intangible are therefore n0nexiS tent
aud unreal. Religious life is only maintained by
The constant exercise of faith IN the unseen. If
some palpable result invariably followed, which
We could trace 10 Gods immediate agency aud
associate il with our act OF worship, il would
be an unspeakable relief; but II our fAlth
Is thus maintained, what Is there 10 test the
reality and strength Of our faith IN GOd's word,
where that woTa stands simply and alone? de
demands our implicit, unreSeryed and unreason-
ing fdiIb. This absolute submission OF ourselves
is fundamental requisite OF true olSeipieShlp.
Hence It is that God hides himself God hides
himself likewise 10 his pToyldential dlspehsa'
lions.
The unequal distribution of good aud evil in
the world Is one OF the ineXplicable mysteries
connected With his moral government. But the
Most High gives no account 10 US OF his soYer-
eign dealings. This, however, answers au I'M
pOrtanI end IN the moral training and discipline
OF men. But perhaps IL is an affective dispensa-
ilOn OF GODS providence that most distress Is
felt and most pelplexlty Created by bis hiding
himself as he does.
One thing, however Is eydent-we cannot
divine The issue OF the various paths mat open
before US. Our wisdom is TO commit all into his
hands for The present and for Tie future. content
We shall know hereafter.
The Lord futIher hides himself In his relations
10 his church, which is his mystical body, and he
lis Invisible though eYer-preSent head But
when We turn from the ideal church TO the church
il actually IS and has been, how strange IL IS!
Is Ii strange thai the world fails to see Il In It's
true light2 Yet the church is the Lords, only
he hides himself from natural sight, and it Is with
each menb beT of the church as with the church at
large-he has The promise OF The Lords presence
Wi u him. Nevertheless lie sees no fTult. or III
lie tTuit, from long and faithful labor Where is
his promised helper? God has hidden himself
again. lie has not foTSaken his servant. God
IS thus training you 10 walk by faiIh But God
still hides bims II even when tie makes the
amplest disclosures and coBfers the largest beue
his. To whatever extent he makes himself
known revelation is but partial and far more Is
kept in reserve than Is shown forth.
All we have ever discovered or can discover Is
as nothing TO hat which Is bsyoHd The Infinite
must ever be Tie lutuite, and the incompreheRsi-
bic must remain the incOmpT pTehensible, and foT-
ever and forever moro the confession OF the
heavenly hosts Will Te-eehO the universal expert
ence OF this lower world.
"Nerily, thou art God that hideth thyself, o God
OF Israel, the savior"