The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-28
Presbyterian Ministers Hear an
Address by an Episco-
palian.
METHoD1sM AND POLITICS.
Resolutions Against Closing Napa
College - A Strong Paper by
DR.. H. C. French.

The Presbyterian Ministerial Association
took new departure yesterday morning
IN hearing an address by the well-known
Episcopal missioner, Rev. Mr.. Weber.
Rev. DR.. Farrand introduced the speaker,
who chose as his subject, "Christ's Hope
fulness and Helpfulness." incidentally
he described mission work among Episco-
palians, both in this country and IN Eng
land and Australia, and treated MS SUBJ
ject along the broadcast lines of Christian
fellowship.
IF any infidel remarks that he sees
something glorious in Buddhism or Brah-
mlnism l simply say, yes, 1t IS a glo-
rious thing. God is not without witnesses
even here, but in Christianity all truth and
all light are gathered in. They have par
tlal truth, but Christianity has the whole
truth" Speaking of the Presbyterian and
the Episcopal churches Mr. Weber said:
II rejoice in the thought that God has
only one church in San Francisco. There
may be divisions among the children, but
there is but one church"
Mission work in the slums in England
was described, the hearers being told that
the clergy and Bishops parade the streets
under banners and crosses, pausing for
i've minute addresses at the street corners
in order to bring in the people.
Our church in England is going down
into slums that the Salvation Army can
not reach. In proof of this statement the
missioner described the work done by st.
Peters, London docks, church which has
revOlutioniZed the slums of Whltechapel,
district which formerly no policeman
dared walk alone ST. Peters has not
only magnificent church building, but
also hospital, deaconess' home and a
coffee-house. The excellent work done by
st. Bartholemew's New York, was also
described. Mr.. Webber concluded by ex-
pressing the hope that eventually all Sec
tartan boundaries would melt away and
that religion would consist OF GUST
Christ's church and nothing more"
Row. Mr.. Moreland of St. Luke's accom-
panied the missioner to the meeting.
The meeting concluded with some re-
marks on mission work in China by Rev.
Mr.. Mccarthy.
Rev. J. E. Henderson addressed the
Methodist ministers yesterday morning on
ministers and citizenship. tine TWEEN
tieth century preacher" he said, us fir st
a citizen and was a citizen before he be-
came preacher. He will continue to be a
citizen and will die loyal, patriotic citi-
Zen."
The speaker pointed out how preachers
could extend the sphere OF the church by
lected. 1.-The saloon" he said, "has a mo-
nopoly on one of the cleanest the most
scientific games played, and that is bill
lizards. The theater, the opera, these
things will last as lorg as the churches, "
and he pointed out how these amusements
could be turned to the ends of religion
through institutional charches.
In the discussion Rev. NJ. Baher said he
did not believe in preachers going into
politics. Rev. J. B. Chenowith thought
there was not enough money TO run insti-
tutional churches. Rev. t. Urmy thought
it would not pay to keep the churches
open like the saloons. DR.. Carroll said ::
Il think there is a good deal of humbug
about institutional churches"
After the discussion Rev. e. M. Hill in
troduced the following resolutions, which
were laid on the table Till next week:
WHEREAS, The trustees of the University of the
Pacific have decided to close Napa College at
the end of the present session and to take steps
Immediately toward selling the college prop
erty al Napa; and whereas, this action seems
premature TO large part OF the membership
of this conference, and also unjust, since a
great part OF the money given in the late can
vass vas subscribed with the idea that it WIS
10 aid Napa College equally with San Jose Col
lege, instead OF for the purpose OF destroying
prosperous institution for the doubtful puT-
pose OF trying to rehabilitate bankrupt one (;
and, whereas, this action is of intense inter
est to all California Methodism and ought
vote of the California conference, since such
decision means eventually the com plete sur
render OF our educational work in this con-
ference, therefore be 1t
ReSOlUed, That we petition the trustees of the
university to take no steps toward selling the
property at Napa before the next session of
the California conference.
Second-That we ask that the college be
opened as usual this fall
Third-That we deprecate the centraliZing of
our educational interests in San Jose, under
the very shadow of Stanford
Fourth-Thatf any change be made the only
safe and sure thing is to shut up both institu-
lons and concentrate the work i'll San Fran
cisco.
AT the Congregational Club the attend
ance was not large, but those who were
present were kept interested by stirring
paper by Dr. II. G. French dealing iJh the
duties OF ministers and others in tue church.
The paper commenced by outlining the
sacredneSs of the ministerial office, and
laid much stress upon the necessity for
entire conservation TO religious work on
the part OF all who embrace it. A COM
parlson was made between a minister and
Waterman, and entire fidelity insisted
upon as a necessary quality for each.
The essayist was unsparing In his con-
demnation OF those ministers of religion
who allow themselves to be dominated by
worldly spirit, and said that by their
false and misleading Interpretation of
scripture, ana Dy their unlalInlulneSS TO
their sacred trust, they sink by degrees to
lower moral level than that of the sinner
whom they would save. BY trucking to
the evil spirit of so-called "higher criti-
cism" they undermine, as far as they are
able. the very foundations of the church,
making themselves spectacle of wonder
and contempt to all mankind, and trailing
the banner of the cross beneath the I'M
hallowed hoofs of sneering world.
a SIeeDIQQ wdtchman DIR. French con-
tended, was worse, or, in any event, as
bad as DEAD one. The true and faithful
sentinel, keeping his unceaslng vigil on
the watch towers of Israel, should, he
said, be always on the alert. He should
endeavor with all the energy and wisdom
of his nature to save his charge from all
danger OF assault from without and cor
ruption from within. Above all, he con-
cluded, did it behoove all Christians to
arm themselves by prayer and watchful-
ness against the curse of secret wicked
ness IN high places-a curse which hourly
threatened the church and the world.
DR.. French's paper, by reason of its
straightforward manner of dealing with
matters ecclesiastical. called forth no