The morning times., 1895-11-19

The eloquent and learned DR.. Charles
L. Thompson of New York spoke to the
audience last night at the First Presby-
terlan Church, the occasion being the
second event in the celebration of the first
century of Presbyterianism in the City of
Washington.
As was well said by DIR. Sunderland at
the close of the address, the absentees
suffered a distinct loss in not having heard
the eloquent speaker.
AT this session Rev. A. W. PitZer. d. D.,
of this city, presided, the others on the
platform being the orators OF the evening.
DIR. Sunderland and the Rev. Adolos Allen,
co-pastor of the church.
A brief introductory address was made
by the venerable presiding officer at the
close OF which he prayed for reunion of
all the divided interests OF Presbyterianism
in this country. He spoke words of high
praise in presenting DR.. Thompson. whose
theme was Presbyterianisn and the nation.
Dr. Thompson began by quoting what
Herbert Spencer said OF the American
nation and OF the kind OF manhood and
citizenship which It's Institutions would
evolve. The prophecy of Spencer had been
fulfilled, DR.. Thompson coHtended.
CHURCH AND THE NATION.
There was no nation whose beginnings
were so interesting and important as those
of the United States. So Gladstone said
that the future of Cbristendom depended
| largely ON the future OF America.
What have Prcsbyterians done for the
nation? There were three great consid-
erations in the history of all nations.
First. its original principles; second, its
institutions, and third. the men who made
such institutions. England, France, Ire
land, Scotland and Holland were the chief
Its
and doctrines.
Some of these were founded on the
Reformation and others on the old Roman
| law. Personal liberty, rights of conscience
| free thought were developed alike in Eng
| land. Scotland. France and Holland, and
! found religious form in general where
| Calvin first revealed the nobility and dig
| nifty OF man.
Free schouis and liberty OF conscience
! and democracy are nerve ideas traceable
| to Calvip. john Knox learned III Genoa TO
say mo King but Christi
England gave us similar principles through
| the Puritans who formed the Massachu-
setts Bay Colony and which made it emi-
nent as Il coiunizer even to the western
! provinces.
The Puritans broke the power Of king
| in England and the Presbyterians broke
the power of a king in Scotland.
! LENGTHENED SHADOW OF A MAN.
An institution is the heightened shadow
of a man, the continuance of q personality.
Every people must develop their own in
stitutions. One of the first institutions
of the country was an independent church,
as all OF the States abolished Whatever
statutes they had providing for union
of the Church and state.
This was Presbyteranism and republican,.
ism. The Constitution UI the United States
| and the constitution of Presbyterians were
! twins. Stability are written on bnth.
The common school system was then Sc
| cured Connecticut led in this reform which
has become general in our day. All this,
| however. was due to CalviniSm.
What have Presbyterians done for these
/ principles? Among those mentioned Were:
| Coligny. William IF Orange, and John Knox.
/ II was pointed out thatnine of the great men
! of the revolution were of nine different
notions. Seymour, Herkimcr, Jay, Living
ston. Clinton. Morris. and Hoffman.
! Yet the Presbyterians had suffered per-
| secution here as well as in England under
| the stuarts. The dccla ration of inde-
pendence is in the hand writing of a
| Scotch-Irisbnlan and it WAS first read pub
| liciy by another Scotch-P resbyterian.
Dr. Thompson referred to q class OF
| people in the mountainous regions Il Ken
| tucl;y and Tennessee who remained true TO
| the Union. true 20 the man. next TO Wash
! ington-Abraham Lincoln. This state
ment was received with applause.
MISSION OF THE CENTURY.
| The peculiar mission Of the next century.
he said, will be to apply the doctrines Of
| the present. This is to be done. first, by
! education and by social and civil reforms:
| the staying OF the beasts Of intemperance
| and political tyranny.
A Presbyterian minister was now reform
| ing New York, and Presbyterian Prcsi-
| dent said that public office was a public
! trust.
| America Is the political and religious
| center of the world. The Anglo-Saxon race
has here its great theater. 10 redeem the
world by principles already defined
/ Referring to one needed reform, DR..
! Thompson said that the destruction Of the
| Turkish empire and its power Of abuses
| were to be desired. The audience testified
| it's approval Of this sentiment with applause
DR.. Thompson concluded ny hoping that
| the bloudless battles of the future for the
| regeneration of the world, would be fought
| with victory assured on the principles
enuncia,ed by Calvin, Knox and William of
| Orange.
DR.. Talmage will preside at the meeting
| tonight. The subject will be" "Presbyterians
and Eddcation;" the speakers. Rev. Dr..
H. NJ. McCracken and DR.. Ed. Warfield.