Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-28

4
following points: THAT there kqre a
eternal reprobates, and Christ die1
not for part only, but for all p
kind. and for all in the same senee:
that infants dying in infancy are saw
ed through Christ and the sanctifica-
ton of the spirit; that the spirit OF
God operates on the world as cock
tensively as Christ has made atone
ment, in such manner as to leave all
men inexcusable."
FORMATION OF SYNOD.
The Cumberland synod was formed
in 1913, and at its session in 1916
| adopted a confession of faith, cate
chism and system of church order in
conformity to the principles an
nounced by the first presbytery. The
confession of faith adopted is a slight
modification of the Westminster con-
| fession of faith, and the catechlsm
omits some sections of Gods Eternal
Decrees.' The form of government is
strictly Presbyterian, and the denoml-
nation has 2,915 churches, 1871 minis
! tiers and membership of over 00,00O.
The United Presbyterian church, an
other of the branches, is one OF the
youngest members of the Presbyterian
family in the United States. It's ante
cedents were the Associate and Asso-
ciate Reform churches. The former
dates from 1853, when the Associate
presbytery of Pennsylvania was form
ed, subordinate to the Associate Synod
of Scotland.
The latter was founded in IVA, when
the Reformed Presbyterian church Of
America was organized. In May, 1888,
! these two bodies united and formed
1.-THE United Presbyterian church OF
| North America" Both bodies hold
| ing to the Westminster standards, they
were readopted with the following dis
tinct notifications:
| "That slavehelding is violation OF
the law of God, and contrary both to
the letter and spirit of Christianity;
that all associations. whether formed
for political or benevolent purposes,
which impose upon their members an
| oath of secrecy, or an obligation to
obey a code of unknown laws, are in
consistent with the spirit and genius of
! Christianity, and church members
ought not to have fellowship with such
associations; that the church should
I not extend communion in sealing or
dinance to those who refuse adherence
to her profession, or subsection to her
government and discipline that it is
the will of God that the songs contain
! ed in the Book of Psalms be sung to
His worship, both public and private,
to the exclusion of the devotional COM
positions of uninspired men,
RANKS FOURTH IN NUMBERS.
| In recent years this church has
grown rapidly in numbers and infiu-
ence, so that now it ranks fourth in the
| Presbyterian family in the United
| States. 1t has extensive educational
and publication interests, and is doing
f, a large foreign mission work in Egypt
and India. 1t has $50 churches, 895
ministers and a membership of about
| 125, 900
| The Reformed church in America is
the lineal descendant of that part of
| the Presbyterian church of Scotland
which refused to accept the tenets of
| the Reformed Presbyterian church of
North America, was organized in Phil
| 1909 This church adheres to the
Westminster standards, with certain
explanations of her understanding of
! that part which relates to the civil
magistrate in ecclesiastical matters. In
common with the United Presbyterian
| church, the Reformed church limits her
the use of musical instruments of any
kind in connection with public wor-
ship.
The more especial and distinctive
| principle of this church is her practical
| protest against the secular character
of the Constitution of the United
States. Holding to the universal
headship of Christ" and insisting that
| civil government is a divine ordinance
and one of the "all things put under
Christ as the mediatorial ruler of the
universe, and that to Him the allegi-
ance of all nations is due. The Re-
| formed church refuses close incorpor-
alton with the government, because
| Christ is not acknowledged in the Con-
| stitution. This church claims that the
| expression I'VE the people" arrogates
| the power and authority that belong to
God only and is therefore infdel. 1t
adherents also claim that the Constitu-
| ton does not recognize the Bible, the
| Sabbath, the Christian morality or
| Christian qualifications for civil offic-
| ials, and gives no legal basis for any
| Christian feature in the administra-
| ton of the government. For these
reasons, the members of this church
! refuse To take the oath of allepiaOca tO