The sun., 1897-12-14

Good stories ne we'll as scrieus Topics Pre-
sented Mt the Presbytorinn Union's Dinner.

sehteo nj the Rreabytorinn Union'a Dinner.
Any one laboring under tho impression that
Presbyterian banquet is gathering Of severely
clad persons with Westminster catechisms up
their sleeves, who morosely seat themselves to-
Rether and with expressions of deep gloom In
sert frugal meal Into stern faces, pre-
paratory TO listening to u series Of didactic re-
marks bearing moro or less directly upon the
total depravity of man and similar pleasing
themes. should have been present at the an
nual dinner of the Prosbyte terlan Union, held at
the Hotel Savoy last night. The average politi-
cal or commercial banquet was a funereal per-
forinnnco compared to It, There wasn't q
long speech nor dry speech during the even
ing, and while there was enough said Of serious
import to give the banqueters food for thought,
the greater part of the time was taken up in
telling stories, which were mono the less en-.
joyablo for having certain ecclesiastical
flavor 1t was mixed dinner. the wives and
daughters and other women folk of the Presby.
present, and the room buzzed like a huge bee.
hive up to the time when the Rev. Howard
Dutfiold arose to welcome the guests in his
capacity Of presiding officer, vice President
John J; MeCook. who was unable to be present.
=, DR.. Dptiicld's remarks were general rather
the audience walked up by several good stories
he introduced Bishop Henry Q. Potter. who
Bishop Potter said that he had always consid.
cred himself affiliated with the Presbyterian
Mott, who was an eminent Presby torien divine
Then he started in telling stories. and cited, as
OF one John Robinson. an historical church
man, to whom, in view or his approved or
hodoxy allowed l23 gallons Of beer and
serious ssesrion TOPICS. he spoke Of the growing neces-
"The situation which confronts the churches
that stand for truth and freedom of thought is
sdch as must inevitably bring those churches
ns IN ees feel hs os
when We see the growth, of the tremendous
social RrSaSe%mS % Those whose inteseSts % are In
Snis sSs hnd % DID, %oa
Is just waking. the need Of concerted work.
The hope of the world is in u united Christian
=, The next speaker was the Rev. Samuel Nc.
Church. an Oxford man and an 1rlshman. He
had some excellent stories to tell. and, then
made his special plea for better churches in tho
said /. not 81 small missions 6SspeIs Sas
churches as beautiful as those for the rich con-
Robert e. Ogden. former President OF the
Philadelphia Social Union was introduced as
coming, like the man in the Bible, with an
with him Sir John Denham's amusing but dc.
cidedly uncomplimentary poem on the Preeby-
tons from it TO to the great am amusement o. his
audience. DIR. George F.. Pentecost Of Yonkers
followed with some stories as amusing as those
which had gone before; and when he changed
to serious matters II was to prophecy that there
would soon be another great revival which
would be characterized by an eNtrc ordinary
conservation of wealth.
ut will be-" said he, "the bringing of the vast
wealth accumulated and still beng accunu.
lated. under the power of God: Then God will
have justified Himself in creating gold and sill
yer and bringing 1t to be tho currency of the
world by making 1t great force in church work.
Christian benehcence will be the watchword of
| the now revival"
DR.. John Hall. the last speaker. made brief
| address Of congratulation and farewell