The San Francisco call., 1897-02-09
Evangelist Munhall Scores
Modern Sensation
aliSm.
DR.. Beard Tells What Moderate
Socialists Are Doing in
London.
Rev w. Tubb Upbraids Congreg alton al
Pastors With Their Ignorance
of History.

More in a spirit of pity than of wrath,
Evangelist Munhall talked of modern sg-
Mysticism and atheism at the Presbyterian
Ministerial Association yesterday, and
dealt modern unbelievers hard blows.
He opened his remarks by quoting the
Scotch divine who said that to-day misses
who are not sure of the multiplication ta-
BILE are sure they are unbelievers, and
youths yet in their teens call themselves
agnostics, when they cannot describe the
word, nor even spell it. The evangelist
described the brilliant skeptics of the last
century, particularly Voltaire and Lord
Boiling broke, and said that the hopeful
sign of the decadence of unbelief lies in
pairing their brilliancy with the infe
riority of modern skeptics.
Abiding to sensationalism, the speaker
strongly dlsapproved of the action of some
men who 'in their desire 10 fill their
churches have turned them into play
houses, no matter whether for Shakes
peare or tor scrlptual drama, such as the
Ten Virgins. 1t has always been my
experience that the results OF sensational
ism are disastrous" The speaker said be
upheld divlnely appointed means for the
propagation of the gospel, and said that
for his part he was an old fogey, if to
believe in the Bible, in theology and in
believe that Il man who has not IN his
heart a clear-cut convictionl that the Bible
is the work OF God, will never do much
good in the pulpit, and this sentiment
was heartily applauded by the ministers
present.
When in England and Scotland last year
Rev. DR.. Beard made a special study of
the various charitable organizations, and
yesterday he read q paper on London
Charities" at the Methodist preachers
meeting. Ghe doctor stated that the an
nual income of London charities is S27,-
000, 900, but that this is much less than the
amount actually expended in charity, as
many Charitable organ cations make no
public report at all. The amount of Gov
ernment and municipal help afforded to
de pendent classes is almost appalling to
an American, and the large amounts
gwen in private charity have resulted in
serious sentimental and legal invasion of
the privileges of the upper classes.
DR.. Beard concluded by describing some
OF the work achieved by the London
County Council which he said was body
of wealthy men said to be moderate So
! cialists, using the privileges accorded to
them by the law in dealing with some of
| the problems of poverty by means of i'm
| proved housing conditions.
The meeting appointed DR.. Ollie, DR..
Case and DR.. Bovard a committee to draft
| a proposed constit utonal amendment
with regard to educational institutions
! being exempt from taxation.
! Rev. James Small addressed the Chris
tian pastors on the subject of revivals, in
the beneficent results OF which he ex-
pressed an abiding belief. He paid a
high tribute to the mental ana moral
worth of Evangelist Munhall, and added {:
81 think Professor Jordan's fling was
wholly uncalled for, though it is my opin-
ion that he Is in favor of legitimate revl-
walls. 1t was mistake to bring PERSONAL
tiles into the discussion. Professor Jor-
dams change of views, if he ever had a
change have no place IL the controversy,
4 and are only calculated TO injure his
standing with orthodox Christians. The
| question ought TO be discussed on its mer-
its. Professor Jordan had a magnificent
| standing in the Christian College In Indi-
ana, where he was an instructor"
| The Congregational Ministers Club m ct
for the first time in its new quarters in the
! Y. Nj. c. A. building Yesterday morning,
and to Rev. DIR. G. Adams of the First
Church fell the pleasure of reading the
! first paper in the new rooms. His subject
was William, Prince of Orange" He
! followed the champion of Professionalism
through all his trials and victories to his
| death.
A number of pastors discussed the paper.
| When the turn of Rev. William Tubb came
to speak he said that he regretted to find
such deplorable lack of historical knowl-
edge among the pastors present. MANY
of them" he said, 'confound historical
characters. They seem to have no clear
| idea OF history, and get mixed up in the
historical personages. If the theological
! colleges do not turn out better informed
ministers in the future than they have in
the past. l think it would be advisable to
refer the graduates back to the public
/ schooIsp ~