The San Francisco call., 1897-05-21
Three Thousand Per-
sons Attend the
1O9th Session.
Rev. Sheldon JaCnSon Defeats
Dr.. Minton for the
Moderatorship.
Rev. John L. Withrow's Interesting
Discourse on 1.-THE Chlefest
Grace of Christianity"

EAGLE LAKE, IND, May 20.-Three
thousand persons were present at the
opening session of the one hundred and
ninth general assembly of the Presby-
terian church to-day.
Interest in the session centered in the
selection of moderator, there being sew
eral names under consideration. Rev.
DR.. Sheldon Jackson was chosen by vote
of 313 over Rev. Dr.. II. g. Minton Of San
Francisco, who received 23S votes.
Rev. John L. Withrow. the retiring
moderator, delivered most interesting
discourse on the subject, Tho Chiefest
Grace of Christianity" and lie took as
his text, "And above all things have fer
vent charity among yourselves"-l
Peter iv:S
He first examined the nature of the
grace, saying that not few onhned the
idea OF charity to a.msgiving. But there
were more than aims d eds meant by the
Holy Spirit when he babe rs Above all
things have fervent charity among your
selves" The substantive term in the
original. translated charity in the text,
was one of two that stood for love in our
language. 1t was not love as defined in
fuckers Philosophy, nor us described in
Tennyson'e graceful verse. 1t was not such
love as that the Holy Scripture extolled
and called upon US to have among our
selves. The line of definition must be
dropped many fathom lower to touch the
bottom sense of this divinest term. And
when we did ke soundlngs in the depths
of Scripture what riches were found repos-
Ing in that one little word love. For it.
and it alone, of the words OF the language
was ample enough to prehend, COM
plete and crown our conception of God,
for God is love-"
Eliminate from the Gospel what it had
concerning the love of God, and nothing
left would serve human heart more than
an empty cupboard would a hungry man.
To make the message of Gods love i'm
pressiyeIy plain was the supreme respon-
sibility of those who knew it, N ore than to
do anything else.
Here, then, was discovered the source
and spring of the charity which the text
demanded. 1t was the deepest pulse OF
the life of the deity, which must be Kept
beating in every one who would hope to
pass the great crises which were yet to
come on Christians and the visible church.
1t was but as we '1oved one another" that
"God abideth in u.s." Thus the question
of ones tolerance toward others of oppo-
site opinion and practice OF Christian
principles was made criterion of Chris
tian character.
He next considered the greatness of the
need of this grace. and said its possession
alone proved one to be member of the
Lords body. Eloquence in Christian
profession did rot prove the possession
of Christian principles. Though he should
subscribe his belief in every vowel, point,
paragraph and portion of the Hebrew
Scriptures, and to every accent and af-
firmation of the received New Testament,
and though he were ready to drive out of
the church or to put to death any who
would not agree TO such an extreme doc
trine of inspiration, yet if his heart were
not gentle and tolerant and tenderly care
full of the faith and feelings of 9TH
ers then he was nothing-of no
account, according to PauPs estimate OF
what it took to make a Christian. Let
conscience do its perfect work and place
each where he belonged, whether inside
or outside the line of believers.