The herald., 1894-12-19
PREM|lLENN|AL CONFERENCE.
1t Is the First to Be Held on
the Coast.
Dr.. Reads Theory on Optimism in
the Bible.
Tho Golden go to Be Brought In by .
Sudden and Mighty Catsstro-
phe or Revolution.

Conference, W hioh is to last four days. took
place last evening in the First Baptist
church, corner OF Sixth street and
Broadway. This conference has been
called at the earnest solicitation OF many
devout persons who are "looking for
that blessed hope, snd the glorious ap-
pearing OF our great God and Savior
Jesus Christ" An invitation had been
extended to all those who are "looking
for and Fastening the coming OF the day
of God." and who say. come, Lord
Jesus, come quickly" and it had been
cordially responded to by those who be-
lieve that the signs OF the times indi-
cate that the Lords coming is nigh at
hand.
This premillsnnial conference is the
first to be held on the Pacific coast, and
the numerous papers and discourses
which will be delivered all bear upon
this particular subject. Last evening
Rev. Daniel Read spoke upon Optimism
Of the Bible. Tomorrow, The Second
Advent Premillennial, The Second Ad-
vent Personal, The Anti Chrlst Biblical
Interpretation. and The Lords Return
Imminent will be the topics which will
be expounded to those present at the
conference. On Tbursday the subjects
will be: The Principles of Biblical In
depreciation, The Church and the King.
dom, The Practical Power of the Pre-
millennial Advent, The Names and
Functions of the Messiah, and the Signs
of the Times, On Friday, the last day
of the conference, the topics which will
be brought to the attention OF those
present are as followe: The Holy Spirit
and the Second Advent, Charact cteristics
of the Millennium, he Rapture and
the Revelation, Is the Present Christian
Dispensation Failure The Signs of the
Times, and the Symbolism OF Prophecy.
The speakers will be DR.. Daniel Read,
Rev II. A. Newell, r. f. Harper. J. 8.
Mabie, d. D., A. @. Junkin, d. D.. Ro-
land D. Grant, d. D., I. w. Haskins,
D. d., j. P. Flint, Prof. Melville Dozier.
Revs. A. ]. Frost, D. D., Geo. E. Dye
and W. G. Stevens.
While last evenings session was but
a short one, beginning at 80, today
and the two following the meetings will
open at 10 m, 2 p. m. and 7 80 p. m.,
each one taking up some two hours.
After the objects of the conference
had been explained, a prayer and hymn
followed, and then Rev. Mr.. Read spoke
on the subject of Optimism OF the Bible.
The reverend speaker said all pagan
nations have traditions of . golden age
in the dim and distant past, the alter
glow of that glorious day whom God and
man walked and talked together in
Eden, and as such they confirm the
and expulsion. But Christians look for.
times and the best things are yet to
come. We have no sad regrets for the
paet; rather would We 70 forward to the
new Jerusalem which shall soon come
down from God.
Every intelligent Christian 10 and
must be an optimist in the radical sense
OF the word. Optimism is Q doctrine
holding that all things are for the best,
or, az Paul puts it, "All things work
together for good to them that love
God"
The speaker said that while Christians
are optimists, there is . diversity of
opinions az to the time and manner OF
making all things new. The Post
millenuialists believe that all things are
to be made new by the action OF some
inherent force in nature and in society,
a sort of evolution, by which, through
education, civilization and Christianity,
the family, the state and the church are
TO be gradually improved and perfected,
and that the material world itself by
the hands OF man will have correspond.
ing improvement, 80 that man will have
such control over the very elements and
forces of nature that he can make his
own improved environments; thus the
golden age will come as the golden har.
vest comes, from cultivation. On the
other hand another class, the pre-
millennialists. believe that the golden
age is to be brought in by a sudden and
mighty catastrophe; by a new creation
of God, rather than the improvement of
the old by man; by revolution, not by
evolution; by God Himself and not by
man.
Which theory is right? Which view
does the Bible teach and which is moet
reasonable and in closest analogy with
creation and providence? The reverend
lecturer read a number Of verses from
the Bible which, ne held. describe real
and sctual battle. The strongest OBJ
lection that can be urged against this
view is auch proceedings as would be