The morning news., 1899-05-19
DR. RADCLIFFE's SERMON.
Presbyterian Church of the United
states in Session

states in Session
Minneapolis, Mimi. May lS-At noon to-
day the opening services of the nth an
nua. assembly of the Presbyterian Church
Of the United States were celebrated in
Westminster Church, this city Nearly
'o0 commissioners were present. and the
galleries were crowded with specta. tors.
After impressive musical and responsive
services. the Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe
OF Washington, D. C. retiring moderator.
delivered the opening sermon, taking for
his text, Where There Is No Vision The
People Perish" Prob. 291S. He said In
part:
Ideals rule the world. Spain had dreams
ana she reels toward chaos. America had
visions. and she marches To glorious des
t'hy' everywhere, man moves from mean
ness 10 nooleness, from limitations to en-
laI IA semeht, from subjusation TO freedom.
from SIN TO graCe-not so much nv syrIo
slsih ana argument as by the distinct and
iauiant vision. The redemption of human
Ivy Is IN the awakened perception and vivid
redhzatlon of the Christ Apostolic CON
quest was because Of inspired vision.
w nen me disciples say one to the other
we nave seen the Lord their hearts burn
WltIih Them, and their Ives glow with
service and sacrifice
II mere be anxiety or fear, IL there he
iack IN faith and faithful service if ma
teriahsm threatens and chius our no ar
lnlluehty IN new forms insinuates doubt or
IuaIShais mighty attack if in any vav
me OF doctrine or ordinance have thraat
oI anxiety, the redress must stin be in tbe
restoration of the divine vision. Look unto
me and be We saved
We must not popularize the doctrine of
Hioai hatloh at the expense of the truth of
oso,ieineii' redemption only prophetic is
o"ly mar redemption. Our pulpits must
protect themselves against the inein,a.
'ioil Oh error or perNersion of the direct
ana piain redemption. a moral Wow can
nol hldsheuze men into holiness No
SotSnee' even profcssedly Christian can
ieueem which makes Christ moi q nars,,
Du' olVihe principle sin only an nm
s,o" prayer only desire, and immortality
''N'o heaven OF the Buddhist
church Must DO Her Pnrt
our, our national life has new impulse ana
dazzhng ambition. We are looI,ing hoyona
from our provincialism. We bo,a -
war Tor humanity We have cononered
Ior humanity. The victory Will be n do
lea1 ana that endowment a povertv ana
destruction, save as through ,bese oner
doors the church shall immediateIv ana
enthusiastically carry the vision of Tesus
INST see peace, white fields, inviting
uOois OF commerce, liberty and enlighteu-
W l"ceS! OUT see them all beyond the
cross. There is no other WaV Than b,,
Calvary. ! believe in imperialism hnt on
imperialism that is benefcient renubl
canism. l believe in a war for humanity,
nut N a war for humanity that carries IA
humanity the enduring peace and good
VIII OF the Gospel of Christ We can NOT
escape responsibility. This is not the
time for swollen ease. If we daily another
Will dominate. If we evade the scentar
viii fall from us. We have come lnto the
kingdom for such a time as this Hawaii
Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippnes-theen
are the summons of our mediateriaI king
| The Man Of Macedonia waves and Calls
This is not the day for microscopic vision.
I'VE have waited long over material
considerations and delicate distinctions
| ana refined determinations. We are tempt-
ed TO see and consider only the little cir
| Gle which bounds the domestic the COM
Portable. the polite. II is the day for
telescope vision. A wide horizon. high
achievements, beatihc prospects, stars of
| magnitude and brilliance, worlds of spir-
| itual wealth await and invite our enter
| prise and conquest 1t is not the time for
| retrenchment To retrench is to retrograde
| Our Mediaiorial King commands now
ms never before. Opportunities gleam with
! the glory OF His presence. Indifference is
| dstoyalty Apathy is sin There is es-
! pecial obligations upon us. American re-
| pubhcanism has its mould and inspiration
! from Presbyterian republicauism Ameri-
| can Imperialism must have its counteTpart
| in Presbyterian Imperialism, which Will
awaken to the significance of Itself; which
will recognize its own fitness and oppor-
tuniGy. and in the distInctness and re-
| sponsibliiies OF its own life go forth and
carry its republican beneficence, its spir-
itual republlcanlsm. It's divine spiritual
| ness to the end of the earth.
viii Make Presbyterians.
Patriotism is not provincialsm. either
in church or state. We will make Pres
byterians If we can. If Presbyterianlsm
is not suitable to the Philippines, it is not
| suitable to America If il does not belong
everywhere, il does not belong anywhere
! If IL is not adapted 10 all chmes it Is not
adapted to any cline. 1t is not a narrow
or provisional or local idea but broad
catholic, comprehensive. But if we are
| not to carry Presbyterianism we must
carry some Christianity thiiher. not a
mongrel thing, not false promise, but a
| Christianity, which works by love, which
| purihes the heart which oVercomes the
| world which, having seen Him, sees the
Father. which illumines its path by the
light from His word, which is washed in
the blood of Calvary and halls Him Lord
Of all. When enterprise. wealth, morality,
glory and patriotism, when opportunity
calls. woe, woe 10 us if we stand by and
wait and criticise. Woe to us If with
hearts of courage we do not leap TO duty
end opportunity"
After the sermon a recess was taken
until 2S0 when the organization of the
assembly was taken up.
During the morning there was much
canvassing in the interest of the several
candidates for the moGeratorship. The
election of the moderator was the first
taken up after roll call in the afternoon.
The vote stood: Sample, 1888; Haines, 127;
| Coyle 1873. Necessary TO choice, 300.
SOUTHERN PREsBYTERIANs.
Dr. Cannon of Missouri Led the Race
| for MnHPrat0r.