The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-08

tennial that will open In May in the city
OF Nashville. aud on the grounds given by
the managers for the purpose viii be fac
smile OF this log house In which this
church WAS organized. II now numbers
100000 members. not TO speak OF the vast
number who nave already crossed over and
gone to their reward. Many thousand were
converted under the ministry of the
fathers OF this church who Joined other
churches. Such was the zeal of these men
for the conversion Of souls that often they
did not after their great REVEALS In going
from place 10 place as missionaries, stop
to organize churches OF their own faith
They were a sacrificing body of men.
They often swan rivers and slept ON
blankets at night in carrying the gospel
to the carly settlers OF the Wee. ami North
west. receiving but little compensation for
their labors. They were men ruii OF Faith
ana of the Holy Ghost and preached the
gospel with great power.
iney were generally large and able
bodied men ana capapic OF great enuuraaoe.
'"rhe large number Of colleges and uni
yersities stand as monuments of the
church's appreciation of education. Their
ministers are generally educated we'll H.
the classicsas well as In the English.
The Confession and Book OF Discipline
requires OF all us candidates good Eng
liah education and earnestly recommends
a knowledge OF the classics except in en-
traordinary cases and to meet emergencies.
All are expected TO have a thorough classi-
cal education. Very few are ordained with
out It, While dinering in some respects
they have always had great respect for tho
mother church Our feeling is that
Judah should not vex Ephram. nor
Ephraim envy Judah" They take pride In
a Presbyterian history. We will never
be wanting in an anectionate regard for
our venerable mother.
AS an evidence that times change and
men change with them. this Cumberland
Presbyterian preacher looked on very com
placently when. at the late Presbyterian
synod. in session at this place the action
of Dallas presbytcry in licensing and or
daining a brother out in West Texas who
did not have the requisite literary qualihca-
ton to meet the requirements OF the Book.
but whose ministerial services were loudly
called for to meet d pressing demand for II
preacher In that destitute section of coun-
try. was ratified II may be that In the
providence of God IL Cumberland presby
terry had been SO tenderly dealt with as
that of Dallas, there might not have been
n separation. We believe. however, that in
the providence and grace of God the Cum
| berland Presbyterian church has had an
| important place to I'LL. Our standing as a
| Presbyterian body has for years been recog
nizcd by the Pan Presbyterian council of
the world We have for years held our
| place alongside Of the Presbytcrians OF the
world. While we have Il reformed confes-
| sion of faith. we are still accorded a posi-
| tion as presbyterians. | have not en-
| joyed greater distinction and pleasure than
TO sit few years ago as a delegate from
my own church in the an-Presbyterlan
council in the city OF London
| In our doctr,na teachings We emphasize
the fact of general aIonement for all
mankind. We love the "whoaoevor'' doe
trine. We believe strongly in the prcserva-
tion of believers.
We contend. as did our fathers, for the
doctrine Of regeneration and for the as
surances Of It,
We believe in representative govern
ment, as do all Presbyterians Each con.
gregatlon elects elders 10 whom Is com.
mitted the spiritual government OF tn,
church.
We believe in pouring or sprinkling n,
the Scripiual mode of baptism, and that /
is designed to symbolic tho cleansing o
the heart by the blood of Christ. Belev
Ing, however, that baptism does not neces
sarily consist In the mode most OF tn
ministry OF the church recognizes the va
lidly OF baptism in other modes
The church has always been conservative
in its dealings with other denomination
and recognizes n common brotheihoo
among Gods people. This church is non
sectional. II has known no East. no West
tors. II did not divide during the wa
or afterward. In our general assemb
that meets In Chicago on May hope I
: have the pleasure Of sitting by the sid
Of delegates from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
Pennsylvania Kansas. Nebraska as well n
from the Middle and Southern States W
can frcm the North and from the Sout
sing together:
I Blessed be the tie that binds
Our hearts In Christian love;
The fellowship Of kindred minds
Is like to that above
We, the sons and daughters Of those nobl
slres who In the early history OF on
church. laborcd and sacrificed for IT, hav
a glorious heritage Let us take care o
1t and initiate their example.
Tn Texas we have great mission. Will
VIC are young church, were the frs
to come TO Texas Tho first Protestant
preacher ordained on Texas soil was
Cumberland Presbyterian Rev Sumne
Bacon Tho first church organized o.
Texas soil was n Cumberland Presbyterian
church near Clarksvllle Among the horoe
of San Jacinio were somc Cumberland Pres
byterian preachers, While our church
strong In the State we did moi unit
three years ago enter this portion OF South
eastern Texas and come to Houston. bu
we have como Mt last and believe that W
Will be accorded place alongside OF tn
other churches of the city In thu evan
Foli2ation and salvation Of tho people
when we consider the growth OF the churcl
ami the blessings that God has conferrc
unon IT, we thank God and take courage
THE Lord hath done great things for us
whereof we are glad"
WEATHER IMPORTATION.