The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-15

Presbyterian church, consisting OF min-
IsterS and elders representing churches
IN the four panhandle counties Of West
virginia and Washington, Greene and
part Of Beaver counties In Pennsylva-
nia, met at the First Presbyterian
church last evening. While a large
number Of the members of the body ar
rived yesterday. many more arc due to
be present to-day. While there was
large sprinklihg of venerable looking
ministers In the audience last evening,
Il was noticeable that there were nearly
as many young men. 1t was fine
looking body Of men. The exercises
last night were of rather formal char
acter very little business being trans
acted.
The sermon was preached by the
retiring moderator, Rev j. b. Miller.
Pm. D., of Dallas, W. Va II was a
forcefui discourse, holding the closest
attention Of the audience to the close.
His text was taken from John 11I-12;
pemetrius hath good report of all men
and OF the truth itself DR.. Miller said
that the reports that Will be made by
the different churches to the presbytery
suggested the text. Some VIII have
good reports, some satisfactory, and
others e may be not so satisfactory.
About Demetrius little was known. 1t
was not recorded that he was layman
or q high official In the church, but the.
fact thai he had good report OF all
men and OF the truth Itself was the
highest encomium that could have been
passed on any man. The first thought
that suggested itself was two reports or
records. The report of the men might
err, but that OF truth could not. we
win therefore," said the speaker. drop
the report OF men from the text, and the
first thought suggested is that there Is
such a thing as truth. Amidst the
mixture Of truth and error is heard the
cry what Is truth? Amidst the constant
dux Of phenomena there is something
real. permanent and abiding. This is
truth, and in its comprehensive sense
includes all that has been. now Is or
shall be in the material, moral and spir-
itual world"
plato says the existence Of a harp
implies three things. 1.-The existence
Of a maker IA design TO compass
certain end. 3.-The end for which the
thing Is made" The reverend speaker
then applied this statement to the ex-
istence OF the world. asserting that God
Is a creator had plan and a purpose,
and a plan adapted to the purpose.
What we call law of nature Is Gods
method Of working for the accomplish
nient OF His purpose. AS the light pro-
ceeds from the sun, 80 all things pro-
coed from God. As creation contem-
plates future end or purpose truth
must consist OF four sections. l. God.
2. Philosophy. which deals with causes,
relations and substances This being
directly from God is n section of the
ology. 3. Science, which Is systemat-
lied knowledge OF the phenomena OF the
world. But as this Is but the varied
manifestations of Gods plan wrought
by Him Il Is a section Of theology. Z.
History, which Is section OF theology.
There can be no conflict In these. There
must be a bond OF union in this world
OF truth, that Is Of God, man and the
universe. Philosophy and science have
ever searched for this link or bond. An
absolute pantheism Identifies all as
one. Pantheism has two forms, ma
tefial and idealistic. Two self-eXistent
infinItes and eXternals cannot exist.
Given God, and the other two can be or
are possible. Creation by God Is the
only rational solution Of man and the
universe That Is the logos incarnate.
This gives us the ground and posslbil-
fly of the existing universe and Its I'M
ion. Man becomes the revealer Of God
TO man. While the lOgos incarnnte Is
above all circumstances yet by His own
will He IS governed by circumstances in
HIS manifestation to man. The tncar-
nation as an idea in Gods plan OF the
universe existed from the beginning. Its
objective realization could take place
at any stage of cosmfcal development.
In theology the idea Is first. In the
scheme of redemption It Is first. but in
IT. execution It is postponed 1900 years.
After recltlng that sin strives to over
throw the idea OF incarnation the speak
er described the birth, baptism. cruel
flxion and resurrection OF Christ, as
sorting that the incarnate logos was
the truth, and that 1t must be appar-
ent that the whole world OF truth finds
fts right adjustment and unity in christ
ianIty. The cross Of Christ becomes the
center Of the worlds history.
what relation to truth, said DR.,
Miller. must we bear that we may re-
ceive a good report from II? j. Truth
must have the primary not the second
airy position. 2. We must love and seek
after truth. Nothing can take the place
OF truth in reforming the world and
carrying It on TO perfection. The cry
away with doEmas and creeds and give
US life Is a senseless cry. ] am the
truth and the life, said Christ. All
ehurches having influence In the worlds
history are churches with creeds, Truth
IS the best way to usefulness. Truth Is
the Irresistible force in moral eleva-
tion, II Is the only way to true happi-
ness and Anal coronation.
what relation as o presbytery must
we sustain to truth that we may have
4. good record of TRUTH We must per-
form with fidelity the trust committed
10 US, the oversight Of the education Of
the candidates. The presbytery should
have the supervision OF the schools, and
nhouId never ordaln and place in the
scored pulpits any tainted with ration
aIIsm or egnosticism."
At the conclusion Of the sermon the
audience was dismissed with the bene-
diction, Immediately after which the
presbytery was called to order by Rev.
Miller. and Professor Henry Woods, OF
washington Jefferson College, the
stated secretary, called the roll of min
iStars and elders composing the body.
The following ministers answered: JOS
eph 8 Pomeroy, W. II. Lester, Laverty
erjer. Henry Woods,D. A. Cunningham.
James A. Fleming. George Mcdonald,
A. r. Alexander, Frank Fish. James
G, Carver, A. o. Rockwell, Cyrus g.
Allen, Thomas W. Young, W. p. Allen,
j. B. Walter, Samuel Cochrane, Charles
q, Williams, Andrew T. Taylor, Harry
Nesblt. Frank Z. Armstrong. j. r, Ho-
sick, John Mcdonald, r. r, BIgBar,
Franklin orr, T. Ross Paden.
The elders present were: James K.
Mitchell. Samuel Pollack, D. 8. Thorn
burg, John II. Van Kirk, ]. N. Vance,
SIM Mcconnell, Thomas 3. Craig, j.
=, Akin, T. r. Henderson, p. Guthrie,
Phillip Minton, II. s. Cody, Joseph
Sutherland. ]. NJ. Walker ]. 7. Nor
gan, ]. /. Lyle. David Donehoe. 8. D.