Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-14
PR[SBYTERY OF washington
CLOSED ITS MEETING AT THE
THIRD PREsBYTERIAN CHURCH
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
VARIOUS TOPICS DISCUSSED
BY the Ministers in Attendance-In-
tcresting Talks BY Rev. G. b. AUS
tin, Rev. +. Ross Paden and Rev..
w. A. Willinms-A Considerable
Amount of Presbyterfal business
Transacted In the Afternoon-A
Resolution Adopted.


which was in session at the Third Pres
byterian Church yesterday. discussed
several interesting topics and trans
acted some important business. Two
sessions we're held. one in the morn
ing and the other in the afternoon, and
many ministers and lay delegates were
present. The meeting of the ministers
which opened at the church Tusday
evening was very successful.
The morning session was opened
with devotional exercises, after which
Rev. Charles b. Austin, d. d. pastor
OF the Vance Memorial Church, spoke
upon the topic, Spirituality and In
te~llectuaiity in the Pulpit" In his
opening remarks he dwelt, upon the
combination Of spirituality and intel
!ectuality, remarking:
in this age it may be said that the
natural man come first, then the in
tellectual. The spiritual conquest OF
man should follow. AS his natural
powers increase his spirituality should
advance. Christ could not lock upon
the soul of man without thinking that
the same agency which controls his
movements proceeds from God. Take
for instance, His remarks to Nicodem-
us. In the parallels there is a wonder
full combination in his teachings and
~preachings, all showing that the two
elements were joined together. In
other actions of Christ there is a
trace OF his profound regard for man
as an intellectual and spiritual being
of the highest order. Nothing is SO
strong, so persuasive as this appeal to
the heart and mind of a The false
intellectually soon makes Its presence
felt. What should be the conscience,
the amount of conservation of the
church in view of the vast increase of
worldly knowledge. The service and
love of the church should be beyond
comprehension almost in its efficiency
and intensity. The religion of to-day
should be more intelligent, more pow
erful."
In speaking of astronomy he said that
while man is not actively concerned
about the planet Jupiter, there is an
intellectual connection. There is sat
isfaction to the brainy man to realize
that he is interested Intellectually in
that great system. The church must
treat man as reasoning beings as we'll
as mortal beings. If the church is to
advance she must advance her spirit
uality through her intellectually.
During the discussion following Rev.
Austin's remarks. the Rev. Fish, OF
Claysville, Pa, described the differ
ence between what should be regarded
as Spirituality and intellectually. In
his o2iAion, il the former does not
-predominate, Re church is not exercis-
ing its best functions.
The question of improving the stand
ard of the ministry was spoken upon
by the Rev. p. R. Bigger, Phi. D.,
pastor of the church. He thought
that the seminaries have not the warm
spiritual atmosphere that is expected.
The churches desire spiritual men and
need more devotional se1dy and less
scientific study Of the Bible. In a GER
tain school, not one man out OF fifty
eight could bring a satisfactory answer
to the question: "How do l know l
am a child Of Christi"
Others expressed similar sentiments.
Some urged that there be a more de-
.eided contract between the professors
and the scholars. 1t was thought that
every theological professor should
come in personal contact with his
young men in order to do his duty.
Rev. DR.. Lester. of West Alexander,
thought that the pastor should feel he
Is the mouth-piece of God himself and
also that the word of God is criticised
too much as one passes upon and dis
seets any secular production. Rev.
d. A. Cunningham, d. D.. of Wheel
sng, said that it is the spiritual power
that counts. There is a great diversity,
however, in the temperament Of the
professors in the colleges. Their spirit
ual nature may be shown by their
teachings and preaching. Profoundly
spiritual men are comparatively few.
God makes men, creates men. gives to
one man a certain cast OF feature. and
to another a different. Hence We must
not berate our theological seminaries
because God has not made them all
alike. Too much is expected. The