The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-28

abated, and we not only gladly welcome
| him, but will gladly aud thankfully listen
to whatever he may he pleased to say 10
us.
UNDER DIR. LOGAN's CARE.
As for my predecessor Dr. LOGAN,
a century, and under whose faithful min
istry the church grew and prospercd, l
may be permitted TO say, concerning him,
that he loves this scion of Zion with
most fatherly affection, and that he Will
continue to love IT, When he furgets to
love this Jerusalem, his right hand Will
forget her cunning, and his tongue VIII
cleave TO the roof of his mouth; but It
may be said with the utmost con-
| iidence, that neither of these things
| will befall him, either in lis
world or In the world TO come; for
| he cannot. and he will not forget this
church, DR.. Logan. like Dr. Parke Is
still vigorous and active, but he, too, Is
| growing old. But while the SHOWS of
| Lebanon are Upon his brow. /, is plCastn.
10 feel that the excellency of Carmel and
| Of Sharon is sim upon his liNs, ard, so.
unto him. also, we will gladly and THANK
| fully listen, on this memorable occasion
The addresses of these reverend brcth.
| ren. as well as those to which We Will
! have the privilege of listening this even-
| ing. must. I'm the nature OF things be
| largely historical and reminiscent Hence,
| instead of preparing, what might he
! called, n historical sermon, | have thought
! 1t better To notice, briefly, some points
that might, with propriety, be emphasized
| in such a sermon.
| l. Throughout its history, this church
! has been thoroughly Presbyterian in re-
| spect of its doctrine, its pOlity, ana its
| evangelical spirit. II has been true to its
peerless constitution, and, therefore, as
we believe, II has been true to the trutt.
| The Presbyterian church holds certain
Il trt, oil 4
| churches, and it maintains certain prin-
! Ciplcs which dinerentiate it from other
! churches. To these doctrines and prin-
| Ciples this church has always been loyal
and true All its ministers and ruling tl-
derS have, publicly and solemnly, de-
clared. that they believed "the Scriptures
| of the Old ana New Testaments. to be
the Word of God, the only infallible rule
| of faith and practice" They, also in
the same manner declared, that they Sin
ccrely received and adopted the Confes .
| sion of Faith of this church. as contain
| ing the system of doctrine taught in ;he
Holy Scriptures" and. further they all
publicly expressed their hearty approval
'of the government and discipline of the
| Presbyterian church in these United
| States"
NEVER AN rNCERTAI?S SOUND.
Holding last to these beliefs. the
given an uncertain sound The doctrines
here promulgated have been the doctrines
taught in the Holy Scriptures, those doc
trnes that cluster around the person
and the work of our adorable Redeemcr.
On all proper occasions, the doctrines po-
culiar to our branch of the PRESBYTERIAN
church, and embodied in our creed, have
been vigorously and successfully main.
taineo i'm this pulpit, and, by tho repre-
sentatives of this church. in the PresEy-
terry and Synod, and in the General AS
sembly.
But Christianity is a larger and more
comprehensive term than Presbyterian
ism, or than Fr scopGlia nisIn. or than Ro-
man Catholicism, or than any other ism
Recognizing this fact, our church has
throughout its history. manifested a spirit
of true brotherhood and OF broad catholic.
ity toward all other evangelical? churches
Unto those who love the Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity. this church bids God
speed. We believe. most heartily, in that
grand old motto: "ln essentials. unity: il
non-cssentials, liberty, and i'm all thing
charity We believe ana rejoice in Chris
tian unity but we have no great longing
for church uniformity. For an llustra
tion of the boasted beaut; Of church uni
formity, we have only to go to the grave
yard We will hrd uniformity there, bu
it is the uniformity of death. There hav,
been periods in the history of the church
when it was characterized by outwarC
uniformity, but the whole world knows
that, during those long and memorabl,
years, the church was spiritually dead. |
was when she was gorying the most II
her uniformity, that she was the most un
! Christian. For, at the very time, whel
she was proudly boasting of her uniform
ity she was
THAT abhorred form.
Whose scarlet robe was stiff with earthl.
pOmp,
Who drank iniquity from cups of gold.
Whose names Were many. and all bias
phemous"
History has tested and tasted Churc
uniformity, and its just verdict is, that
Is neither sweet nor wholesome. 1t is higl
, | time for conventions, and assemblies I
stop thCir discussions about the dcsn
ability Of church uniformity. 1t is hig
time for the fox 10 stop its futile attempt
| TO absorb and control larger and strong
cr and more useful bodies than himself,
UNITY AMONG FOLLOWERS.
, The unity among His followers, TO
/, | which the Saviour prayed, is unity q
Spirit, and not aiy outward uniformity /
: respect of church organization or govern
{ ment If We go into the orchard, or int
the fields and forests in the springtim'
$ and visit them again i'm the summer. an
in the autumn, we will not see uniformit
tive unity. The trees and their foliage
the flowers, and the fruits. differ widel
In respect of form, ana color, etc Thar
: H. no uniformity, but nevertheless, ther
, is real unity, which it is delightful {
= behold. And even SO it is i'm the churc
of Christ. In all these churches there dI
: trees of righteousness. in endless va
? Iety, but they are all tho planting of III
: Lord. and through them and by mean
). of them. lie Will be gllrifled.
l .. This church, being IL Presbyteria
Il Church. believes in a broad orthodoxy, Il
orthodoxy, If you please, that is as broa
as the Bible. and. at the same time. Ql'it
as narrow. We belong to most liner,
y and most rational school, but we hay
= never felt at liberty TO be more libeT,
with Gods truth than has God, llimsel
i and, while thoroughly rational, we haN
u never discovered any good reason why "
y should rebel against revelation. We al
q 50 liberal and, AT the same time, so o
- thodoX, that We love 10 say with ST. Pau
- "GraCy be- with all them that love II
- LORD Jesus Christ i'm sincerity That
n fence 50 low, that any sinner MAJ,
! he chooses. Stcn over it and enter iut
a the kingdom Of God, and unto all sue
- We are in the habit Of giving a cords
5 mvitation 10 sit down with us around II
" table of our Divine Lord provided, ou
J. ! they are In good standing IN any Cvdl
J. gciCal church.
n On the other hand, oar tidelty To Il
! truth requires Us to emphasize anoth
= signiticunl sentence of the same hp
le apostle, namely tnis; "lf any man lo'
4 not the Lord Jesus Christ lei him
: Anathema, Marauatha." That is len
u so high. and "A barrier so effective, tn
Ir II excludes from the heaven of the hol
T. all who persist In their refusal to aba
IN don their sin, and tn accept the pard,
II and the salvation which Christ 30 free