The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-09
suner, for dc truth which Il firmly up,


held.
/ wish, further. to say that the Prea-
byterian church Is o cosmopolitan
church-lt Is not provincial church; i
Is not q church only numbering among
its adherents those who speak one lam
guage, OF are descended from one raee.
Over an lands, among all tongues, and
among nations OF all habits and Gus
toms IN the world, the Presbyterian
church "a to be found.
Here let me say that the organic
structure Of Presbyterianiam Is admir-
ably adapted to give It stability and
enlargement. Not only does the OUT
ward ecclesiastical structure Of our
church give Il these facilities for eH.
panslon. but there are some elements Of
It's inner life and spirit which give as
surance Of It's future growth and In
ner life and spirit which give assurance
OF It's future, growth and influence for
good. Among these characteristics 1
mention. the fidelity and feaylessness
with which the authorized expounder Of
divine truth for the most part, whether
In our pulpits, In our theological
schools. or in their contributions to
our Christian literature through the
press. have ever manifested in pro-
claiming and defending all the teach
ings Of Gods Notwithstanding which
some suppress, which others qualify,
and which others repudiate But while
in the belief that the true, invisible
Catholic church Is composed Of those
who hold to Christ the head. and who
by that connection are incorporated in
His body, and so made members one OF
another thus constituting the sacra-
mental host over which he relgna on
earth. and who shall one day reign
with Him In His contaminated King
dom In Heaven. We believe that there
Is this blessed unity existing among all
true Christians, whatever their
church-organizat or forms Of wor-
ship, because all such, derive their spir-
itual life from one source. each one In
the confidence Of a joyful trust, able to
sing;
my faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb Of Calvary"
And oil together ready to unite In the
ascriptIpn:
Bring forth the royal dladem.
And crown Him Lord Of all"
cherlBhlng such sentiments as
these, we can therefore, with
out doing any violence to our
principles or preferences, In the most
cordial way, unite with Christians Of
other names In the publication and
circulation Of the Holy Scriptures. And
when It pleRses God to pour down the
Holy Spirit In such coplous effuslon
that whole communities are moved,
and all hearts burn together, and all
eyes weep together. we can labor with
others in the promotion of genuine re-
vivals Of religion. We can invite them
to our communion table, and SIT at
theirs, as at one Of the meetings OF the
Evangelical Alliance In New York,
when, at the celebration Of the Lords
Supper, a Baptist and Methodist
brother, and q Moravlan, and the Dean
of Canterbury. and a converted Brah-
min from India. and the Presbyterian
pastor Of the church, all together could
sing:
"How sweet and awful Is the place
With Christ within the doors"
Here is another Illustration Of the
facility with which Presbyterlanism
can adapt itself to every new provlden-
tial opening and opportunity for useful.
ness: and this facility must be an ete-
ment OF progress and expansion, for
while our church believes itself to be
based upon the foundation OF the pro-
phets and apostles, while 1t glorles In
It's orthodox creed and scriptural form
Of government, It can, at the same time
practically demonstrate Its regard for
the communion Of saints, by extending
the hand Of fellowship to ministers Of
other denominations, by laboring with
them in every good word and work, and
rejoicing In the success Of oil who are
tOiling to advance the kingdom Of truth
and Righteousness In the world.
And now, In conclusion, q church
which has borne such fruits, Is deserV.
ing Of our grateful love-of our most
heartfelt devotion. And what remains
to us, but to make our admirable sys-
tenn Of doctrine and government more
efficient than ever, by properly working
II. How to promote this efficiency is
one great object Of the gathering OF the
council, II we have practically illus
rated the expansive character OF Pres
5yterinnIsm and shown Its adaptation
g every locality on the earth. and to
very cxlgency that might arise In that
locailty-with such an organisation,
with such facilities for extension. II
we have not made the progress that
might be reasonably demanded OF US,
then the failure has not been due to
my defect in the theory and constitu'
ton OF our church: the fault is not In
the system, but in the men whose
business It was to make It operative
and efficient.
What we now need is a new, sweet
and heavenly JUNCTION from on nighttime
effusIon OF that quickening grace ana
power which will arouse the slumber,
inc energies of our whole church, ana
so,,,o avor1y MAN TO do his duty at his