The Washington times., 1894-10-17
PRESBYTERIANS In SESSION
Rev. George O. Little Elected Moder-
ator Of the Baltimore Synod.
REV. ". C. ALEXANDER CLERK
Address by Retiring Moderator stonecipher
on the Authenticity of the Scriptures
Popular Meeting Tonight in the Interest
of Home and Foreign Missions.

Presbyterians from all over Maryland,
Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and
portions of Pennsylvania and Virginia met in
the Fourth Presbyterian Church last night in
attendance upon the annual session of the
Baltimore synod. There were relatively few
delegates present last night, but a large num-
ber will arrive to-day. All the delegates are
being entertained by members of the local
churches.
Pulpit and platform were embowered in
palms and flowers, and the moderator's table
bore "a large jardiniere of primroses- The
church choir was present to assist In the
services, and the opening solo, "The Holy
City," was sung by Miss Edna Smith, con-
tralto, of Calvary Baptist Church choir.
Prayer was offered by Rev. G. B. Ramsdell,
of North Presbyterian Church, Washington,
and a selection of Scripture read by Rev.
Frank E. Williams, of Boundary Avenue
Church. Baltimore. Rev. ]. f. Stonecipher,
livered the opening sermon on The authen-
ITCHY Of the Scriptures" taking as his text
John xvii:17-"Thy word is truth" The dis
course was in substance as follows:
This is declaration of Christ in His prayer
to God made on the night before his cruci-
fixion. 1t referred not only to that portion
oil Gods word already written. but to ali that
should in the future be written.
"The Bible, as we have it to-day, was writ
tensb by men whom we know to have been
truthful. They were sober-minded men. such
as Peter described as holy men of God
They were temperate men. with well-balanced
minds. They did not allow enthusiasm to
get the better of their judgment. but wrote
their revelations as they came from God.
NO CHANCE FOR ooLLUsIoN.
''We know that the Bible was written by
men widely separated by time, country, and
circumstances; SO that there was no chance
for collusion between them. But they never
contradict each other. Rather, each part
supports and substa ntiates every other part.
To be sure there are some minor differences.
but they are too few and trivial to be worthy
of serious consideration. Many of the his
torical statements of the Bible are borne out
by historians hostile to Its teachings. Tacitus
affirms many OF the incidents of the Bible
authoritatively, and even admits the miracles
Of Christ.
These searches of antiquarians and arehe-
ologists in the ruined cities of the East have
also proven many of the Biblical statements
The Moabite stone relates the facts of
treaty between Moab and Israel that is also
mentioned in the Scriptures. So with many
other valuable discoveries along this line.
''These are testimonies of great weight,
and should make us all cling with greater
steadfastness to the old book. Again-many
of the predictions of the Bible have come TO
pass. Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied the
destruction Of Babylon, and for centuries its
site has been a mass of shapeless mounds.
Amos foretod that Tyre should sink beneath
the sea, and in 1888 DR.. Robinson saw its
granite and marble ruins fathoms deep in
the Mediterranean. The destruction Of Jeru-
salem and the dispersion OF the Jews was
also predicted, and it came to pass even as
foretold.
1--WE have Christ's own word that the Old
Testament is true, for he said, SEARCH the
Scriptures. for these are they that testify of
me-" The last and greatest reason is this
that the Bible is the word of God. Men were
instrumental in its production. but they spake
and wrote as they were moved by the spirit
of God They wrote only as God would
have them write-truthfully. He, the God of
infinite truth. cannot be regarded as having
put. or allowed TO be put, anything into the
| book for the salvation OF men that is false
or erroneous.
$50 let US believe it and obey it, even
though our carnal hearts would rather follow
their own inclinations. So doing, we will be
| truly clothed with the liberty wherewlth
Christ hath made US Free
After the sermon and the singing of hymn
the stated clerk, Edward H. Robbins, of Bal
timore. called the roll and nearly 100 dele
gates responded to their names.
REV. MR.. LITTLE MADE MODERATOR.
Rev. Teunis Hamlin, of the Church of the
Covenant, nominated Rev. DR.. George O..
Little, of Assembly Church, as moderator
for the coming year. The election was unani-
| nous.
The following temporary clerks were elected
without opposition Rev. W. c. Alexander, of
Washington, and Rev. John McNemoyle, of
| New Castle, Del.
Rev. Joseph T. Kelly, of the Fourth Church,
chairman of the committee of arrangements,
presented the following report:
1.-The synod will meet daily at a. m. an d
| continue in session until adjournment in the
evening, with the following recess: From
! 1890 to p. m. and from until 1880 o. m. :;
| that the last half hour of each evening session
| shall be spent in devohons; that on WedneS-
day evening, at 7:30 O'Clock, the Rev. S. W.
| Reigart. D. D., will preach the synodical SER
mon, to be followed by the celebration of the
Lords supper that the following special or
! ders be made: 10 a. m, report of committee
! on home missions and sustentation, with an
address by Rev. J. W. Ramsey, D. D.. of New
York, representing the board of home mis-
sions; 8. p. m., report of committee on educa-
ton, address by Rev. G. B. Patch, D. D.; 345
| p. M. report of committee on freedmen.
Thursday. 10 a. m, report of committee
on foreign missions, with addresses by>Rey.
| Thomas Marshall, d. D., field secretary of the
board of foreign missions. 11:30 a m.,report
of committee on publication ana Sunday
school work; p. m, report of committee on
ministerial relief; 3 p. M, report of committee
| on aid for colleges; 3:45 p. m, report of COM
| mittee on temperance.
''At 1880 p. m. a popular meeting in the in
| terest of home and foreign missions under the
auspices of the Womens Synodical Societies,
with addresses by Rev. NJ. D. Babcock and
Rev. Jere Witherspoon, D. D., of Baltimore,
the moderator of the synod to preside.
THAT the synod adopt the docket of busi-
ness prepared by the stated clerk"
The report was adopted without debate.
and the session closed with prayer and bene-
| diction by the moderator.
The synod will convene at O'Clock this
morning, and at to-nights session male oc-
| tette will render several selections.
! The Art of Proposing.
At the entertainment for the benefit of Grace
Il