The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-17
Received the Votes of 300 COmmis-
Half the Total Number Cast.
DIR. MUTCHMORE'S SERMON
DUTY OF THE CHURCH. AS VIEWED
BY THE RETIRING MODERATOR.
Parkhurst's Work Comm nded, hut
Far-Questions to He Discussed.

court of the Presbyterians of the North
the General Assembly-convered here this
morning in the Third Presbyterian Church.
The features of the days proceedings were
the sermon of the retiring moderator. Dr.
Samuel A. Mutchmore, and the selection of
his successor. The moderator is Dr.
Russell Booth. of New York He was elected
on the first ballot.
The 107th Gereral Assembly was opened
at IL o'clock, with about six hundred COM
missoners in their seats, many of whom
were young and unknown men. The Third
church is well adapted to the purposes of
the meeting, both in location and historic
interest Here in 1886 was held the con-
vention and assembly which resulted in the
disruption of the denomination. One of the
greatest questions then was assembly con-
troll of missionary societies; the great ques-
tion of this assembly is the assembly control
of the theological seminaries The old and
new school general assemblies met in Pitts
burg for the last time in November, 1869,
twenty-four years ago. When they adj
journed a union mass meeting was held
in the Third Presbyterian Church. 1t was
a thanksgiving celebration and the event
is commemorated In a beautiful mural tab
let in the vestibule of the church. The
Third Church was dedicated in November,
1868. so that the quarter centennial OF the
dedication may now be celebrated well
as the quarter centennial of the reunion
mass meeting.
Among the prominent divines and iaymen
in attendance to-day at the opening were:
Rev. Robert Russell Booth, ID. D.. Rev.
Joseph J. Lampe, Rev. Charles A. Stoddard,
all from New York CITY; Elders James
Yereance and George Il. Sterry, also OF
New York; Rev. Joseph Dunn Burrell, OF
Brooklyn; General Beaver. of Bellefontainc;
DR.. Horace c. Hovey and Dr. Martin ID.
Kneeland. OF Boston; Rev. ID. Thomas G.
Easton. Washington, ID. c.; Rev. David II.
Riddle, Baltimore; Rev. George w. Max
son. Los Angeles. CAL; Or. Alex. b. Morey.
Springfield, ILL.,; DR.. Jos. W. Clokey. New
Albany. Ind; Rev. Sanford G. Fisher.
Cimarron, Indian Territory; Rev. John Cal
vim McClintock, Iowa; DR.. William n. Page,
of Topeka, Kan; DR.. John 1. Blackburn.
Ebenezer KY; DR.. Maurice Waller. Tran
sylvania, KY; DR.. George w. Barlow. of
Flint Mich; DIR. James Todd, Lake super
ior Mich
The preliminary services were begun by
prayer by DIR. Robert y. Adams. of Mime
apolis. who was spoken of by the Western
members for moderator. This WAS followed
by scripture reading by DR.. VIM. \. Page,
Of Leavenworth. Kan, after music Dr.
George Norcross, of Carlisle, Pa, read a
passage from the scriptures, followed by
prayer by Dr. W. II. Roberts. the stated
clerk.
Dr. MutchmOre's Sermon.
Rev. Dr. Mutchmore, the retiring mod
orator. then delivered his sermon, THE
Labor and Signal Services Of the Presby-
terian Church" His text was Mark xiii,
"a. He said. in part: The text introduces
us to-day into the house of the Son of
Man, who has taken a journey by His
ascension into heaven; yet that He might
be present with us, He has left an organ
lied form of religious life, which lie called
His body-the church. the foundations of
which He himself laid. He has so de-
signed ii in various departments that every
servant may have his own work. Some
portions of the superstructure have been
thrown down, and in some places it ap
pears like castle in ruins. The work
of rebuilding and restoring is constantly
going on by His servants while faith dis
Germs here and there that the walls of
salvation are even now receiving their cop
ing. The temporary transfer of authority
to the church by our Lord carried with IL
definite instructions: % He left a letter,
His Word; (2) An interpreter, His Spirit;
CD Divisions of labor, that every man
should have his work. The proportion of
the servants called must be equal TO the
growth of the church and the country, but
the fact with us is that barely enough
come from other denominations to replace
the losses sustained by waste and death.
1.-The typal form of our church can only
be continued through the covenant line of
heredty. A definite proportion OF our min
istry NAV come from the world, or from
hat from e.
nominations not of the Presbyterian type.
Let these supplies come into the family of
the first born and let US be thankful for
them: but there must be enough born from
the loins of the church to make il a fam
lily in typical likeness and identity. so as
to properly absorb those received by
adoption The mission of the church is to
4 educate the childhood of the Nation. God
gave this country TO Presnyterians when
the position. But many OF our colleges
and parochial schools were allowed TO per-
ish.
.'Who has this God-given heritage now +?
The Roman Catholics had the wisdom TO
grasp the opportunity which we threw away
|. for State schools and colleges. Now we
/ have set TO work among the fragments
| through the board of aid for academies
and colleges and to bring what oppor-
tion. The church in history was The
church that is in thine house. In the first
century, or into the second IL was more
| in the house than anywhere else. Blu. the
growth of the communities, states and en-
| pres has compelled the church TO find shell
| ter for her congregations, and so We i'm
| our times. have initiated a great agency
the board of church erection
This country is estuary into which
| the sewage of the nation is pouring fill
ing the land with moral malaria from
| which the church only save it by
reaching the children. Anarchy has it's
| antidote i'm the Sabbath school Conspiracy
| can be strangled by saving the childhood
| of desperate Foreigners Children must be
| taught that love for Jesus Christ and for
1 country are inSoparable.
| THE PURIFICATION OF CITIES.
There is no phase OF work so important
| as more systematic effort In great cities
| Cities are ulcers the body polite and
| the dangers in them TO church and state
/ are appalling. New York city has BEEN for
/ years, in the talons of vulture which
/ has consumed much of her vitals at
/ night as grew by day. Robbed debauched
| trodden under foot of the behemoth of
1 lust that which the law could not do in
/ that it was weak, was done under the lead
| OF a Presbyterian minister. In the lauda-
| tions over victory IL should not be over