The San Francisco call., 1896-07-26

of Thomas Chalmers, and there are giants
there now. The world has heard of Pro-
fessor Drummond, who is chfonically i'll,
having been away from home for months,
and his convalescence is painfully slow.
Here are such weIl-known men as Profes-
sors Bruce and 6. A. Smith and Principals
Card and Douglas, and many like them.
Rev. DIR. John Watson (Ian MacLaren)
now of Liverpool, was once pastor OF the
church of which the scarcely less known
DR.. Stalker, whose hospitality / enjoyed,
is now in charge. Watson was booked
for an address before the council, but
measles in his family quarantined him at
home.
The council was success. If any evil
eyed prophet foresees the decay of that
section of Christendom he would do well
to consult his oracle once more. No more
can / see the symptoms of decline else
where. Brains and heart and money and
energy and enthusiasm always count, and
in these much slandered latter days Chris
tianity has them all.
The people of Glasgow were deeply in
terested in the meetings throughout The
daily papers not only reported every ses-
sion but also had able editorials ppon its
doings. Papers were read and discussed
in the morning and afternoon sessions:
'sederunts" and popular addresses were
delivered in the evening. The papers were
expected to be close and careful treat
ments of themes assigned in advance.
The church that honored me with place
in the council is the largest in the Alli-
ance and presented three papers-one by
General Prime OF New York, one by Pro-
fessor Zenos of Chicago and one by the
mem Der from San Francisco.
Principal Dykes of London was perhaps
the most colossal intellectual figure there.
DR.. John Hall was heard often and eagerly.
The new president, Rev. DR.. Lang of
Glasgow, is an easy talker, who has the
enviable knack of saying good things
without seeming at all to try. DR.. Hoge
of Richmond was counted Prince among
American orators. Professor Comba of
Florence is eloquent, and DR.. Cochran of
Canada is, as Hancock said of Phil Sheri-
dan, a Cyclone with spurs" We can out
talk them over here but am not so sure
but vhey can outthink US. They are
scholars certainly. Professor Salmond of
Aberdeen is keen and clear cut, and DR..
Orr of Edinburgh is the worthy successor OF
grand ola 1rlnclpal CalrnS.
There was a genera. harmony of tone
throughout. No one who knows Presby-
terians, especially Scotch ones, would ex-
pect entire agreement in everything
Some were predicting in advance that
Glasgow would be storm-center, hut it
was not Presby yterianism has not lost its
bearings nor forgotten its faith. 1t has its
face turned toward the future while it has
its hand fixed on the past. Without doubt
they are more advanced over here than we
are in America along certain lines, but
there is an evident reaction from the ex-
treme position of few years ago, and any
suggestion is quickly resented that they
are departing in any essential principle
from the faith for which Scotland was bap-
tized in the blood of the fathers.
Nor was Glasgow's hospitality of small
sort. A reception was given to the Council
by the Lord Provost and Lis wife. Lady
Bell, who are good Presbyterians. Satur-
day was given to q delightful excursion
among the famous lochs near by. Wednes-
day afternoon Lord and Lady Overtoun
gave a reception at their country house
near Dumbarton. They provided
special train for their 800 guests, and met
them at the station with thirty or forty
three-ho-se brakes to convey the party to
their magnificent home two miles distant.
We could have refreshments any time
and almost anywhere. A band of robust
Highlanders, with kilt and bagpipe, en-
tertained the guests on the grounds.
and at o'clock in great tent the W hole
company was seated and bountifully
fed.
Lord Overtoun,. handsome, generous
and popular, is, as he says, Presbyterian
to his flnger-tips, but was the first to give
$4,000 to pay off the debt on the Y. M.
G. A. building. for which he gave the lot.
was told that he pays the entire salary
($6C0Q) of q minister, whose fame is world
wide, and gives HIM rowing commission
to go where he can do the most good.
Scotland is safe as long as she has many
men like Lord 0vertoun, and no man be-