The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-08

The sonorous voice OF a preacher,
preaching 10 a gathering OF ministers.
rang out in the Presbyterian church last
night filing every nook and corner OF the
edifce with its tones, and carrying 10 the
90 gray-haired listeners an appeal in be-
half Of simplicity and faith in the work
Of the church.
Rev. John A. Macarthur, Of Waterviile.
Wash, was the preacher. He comes TO
attend the annual meeting OF the Presby-
terrain synod from a country where wav-
ing fields Of wheat gladdened the eyes Of
all who could see. until the harvest
brought TO the warehouses along the rail-
road lines the golden product of the
sheaves. The burden of Mr.. McArthur's
sermon. for such it was. was that the min
listers OF the day are prone to follow false
gods and TO suffer themselves TO be led by
false ideals.
The gathering of ministers was the
synod itself, whose members, clergymen
and laity, come from very large dis
trict-the largest, indeed, in the United
States, embracing the territory from the
summit of the Bitter Root mountains 20
the Pacific ocean, and as far north as the
Arctic circle. Representatives Of churches
and presbyteries were present from North
ern Idaho, Washington and Alaska.
Mr.. Macarthur was the outgoing modera-
tor, and on the assembling Of the synod his
duty was TO preach a sermon. His listen
ers were largely ministers-for the most
part solemn-faced, gray-haired men. who
have seen years of service in the cause Of
Christ.
He told them that many OF the puIpits
Of the land were filled by men who, losing
sight of the humble. appealing figure of
Gethsemane lent themselves 10 serve false
ideals. They preached good citizenship,
political reform, municipal reform. hui
manitarianjsm and other things, instead
of the living gospel OF Jesus Christ. The
modern church-going public, he said had
been taught TO expect fanciful sort of
preaching. Ministers there were, he said.
who allowed all kinds of subjects to oc-
cupy their minds. who worked for self and
the material advancement of their church
es instead OF preaching the simple gospel
Of Christ.
DR.. Parkhurst who, during the reform
movement that he led in New York. was
the Hon of the hour had seen the futility
of his course and had gone to preaching
the saving grace of the Nazarene. Z. Fay
Mills. who was once power for moving
the souls of men. had become lost in the
maZes OF humanitarianism and other doc
trines taught by Unitarians and others.
Other preachers had been so filed with
ambition 10 make a worldly success that
they had lost sight Of their true calling.
The speaker uttered a solemn warning
against this sort of thing. He said that
the true minister should preach only Christ
AN endless. exhauStless theme. Onl-- that
kind of preaching would make men better
He declared In ringing tones that men
might anathematize wrongdoing, dishon-
esty and deceit until the crack of doom,
without saving a single soul In only one
way could the true minister serve his
Master. and that was by sticking 10 the
Gospel of Jesus Christ
The organization of the synod was quick
" accomplished after Mr.. McArthur's ser
mon Rev. David o. Ghormley. of Moscow,
Idaho, was elected moderator. no other
names being presented. Rev. J. II. Rey-
nard, OF Tacoma. was chosen temporary
clerk, and Or. a. II. Laekey, Of Aberdeen.
permanent clerk. Rev. W. A. Major was
elected reporting clerk.
The Delegates.
Following is list OF The delegates;
Ministers Edmund Wright, George +.
WhltWorth, Calvin W. Stewart. Edward j.
Hamilton. Donald Ross. John Mack. W. A.
Sample, Isam Wheels. Thomas MacGuire.
J. \. Laurie, John A. Stayi, D. l. toIdney.
A. G. Boyd 4. W. Mackey. ). z; Head
Robert Boyd. b. h. McElmon, II. y. Rice.
A Il. Cort, +. J. Edmuads \. I. Fox, w.
a. Major. a. i. Hu.chison, j. W. sDorTancs.
H. w. Gilchrlst. II. I. Waaler! J. NJ. G.
F. c. Stevenson. Thomas Coyle David
Dunlap. J. Osmond. a II. Lac6ey, BenJa-
min Parsons Hiram Elwell John T. GLOW
er. Thomas G. Watson. John G Willet.
Lamont. Thomas J. Weeks. John II. Rey-
nard Robert p. Shaw, Hiram Z. White.
E r. Prfeohard. j. NJ. Pamment Angus
Mckenzie Robert A Parker. Robert Ark
lev Kenneth Brown. r. ]. Campbell. \.
n Burkholder and William Cobleigh.
Elders-R s Alexander j. y. Gtlkey. F..
VI. Brown. James Luton. l. TAFT A
vid Bronse James Mitchell. j. II. Robb,
J. NJ Buford and Willard Lennon.
The synod will reconvene at Q o'clock this
morning.
Following Is today's programme;
a. m-Devotional exercises, led by
Charles J. Codsman Rathdrum Idaho
800 a. m. 10 Y m.-BusineSs session.
II 10 .. m.-Recess and lunch.
10 3 .. m.-Busfness session
80 y. Unpopular meeting. Topics,
systematic Benefceuce" and Board Of
Ala for Colleges" To preside. Rev. Alex
ander Adatr. pastor at large OF Walla
Walla presbytery
Address 49, Systematic Benedcence-
Rev. O. VIM. Gibouey. First church Of
Spokane.
Higher Christian Education" Rev. E.
y Condit OF Walia Walla church. late
president Of Occidental college, California.