Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-28

James Buchanan, Edinburgh. Scotland;
Rev. James Renne. Western section, Rev.
DR.. Ellinwood, New York city. 3. Papers
on the Results Accomplished by Our
Churches in Foreign Mission Work During
the Nineteenth Century" Rev. DR.. w. W.
ert Buchanan, BID, Edinburgh, Scotland.
| Discussion. 4. Reflex influence of Mis-
sions on the Life of the Church. Rev. DIR.
w. McF. Alexander, Memphis, Tenn. Dis
cussion.
Two o'clock, afternoon-Papers on: l.
Women's Missionary Societies. Rev. DIR. j.
Mr. Howard. Waynesburg. Pa. 2. Mission
airy Methods, Rev. DR.. Beatty, Belfast, Ire
land. Discussion.
Eight O'Clock, evening-Missionary ad-
dresses.
DR.. Lang's Views on Church Attitude.
In the opening address before the Pan
Presbyterian Council yesterday afternoon
by the president, Rev. DR.. j. Marshall
Lang of Glasgow, Scotland, he said:
THE churches which this council repre-
sents will command the attention of the
age only in the measure in which, without
lowering either their testimony or their
ideals, they recognize and make room for
its trends and habits of thought and its eX-
pansions and complexities of life. We are
not worshipers of the past. But If it is
a false liberalism which ruthlessly tears
the present from the past 1t is an equally
IdlSe COISeTNdtlsiH WHICH IiSiSlS tadt liiC
molds into which the conclusions of by
gone period were cast shall remain fixed
and rigid for all futher periods.
I'm Christian theology there is the word
which endureth forever Chr1stendom,
eastern and western, Greek. Latin. reform
ed, stands on the great verities declared in
the New Testament and embodied in the
Apostles and Nicene creeds. These veritieS
are the content of the faith once for all
delivered to the saints And in the end of
the nineteenth century, as in the end OF
the first the church faces the world with
the protest: If any man preach any other
gospel unto you than they ye have receiv-
ed let him be anathema.' But whilst the
center is the same yesterday and today and
forever. the circumstance Is ever extend
ing.
Growth, but Not Change.
Let there be growth to the greatest ex-
tent, but not change Of the faith. We all
wish to progress, but we do not wish to
rush down steep places into confusions
in which the integrity of the faith might
be lost. We all wish the amplest develop
ment within the truth as it is in Christ;
but we do not wish to part with historical
continuites. And our confessions remind
us that the truth of God is not mere
chameleon; that though Christian doctrine
is manysided and many-voiced, 1t Is built
on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone.
statement Of councils or any dogmatic
formula whatsoever is impossible. Even
IN regard to the announcement of the gen.
eral councils Of the church 1t was always
held that these must be afterward approx
ed Of by the church. In the words of the
same standard. we use the statement or
formula not as rule Of faith or practice,
but only as help to both Faith, after
all, is better, larger. loftter than even the
best confessions of it,
The council directed the president to send
a telegram of fellowship and greeting to
the Congregational Union Council, now in
session at Boston. An effort was made to
so amend the motion to include the ap-
pointment of joint committees looking to
coalition of the bodies, but this engendered
opposition. 1t was deemed too great a
matter for hasty consideration.
Business Committee Named.
A business committee of fifty was named,
the committee subsequently selecting Rev.
DR.. Kerr of Richmond, Va, as chairman.
Rev. Drs. Blair, Sample and Van Horne,
Rev. Thomas Burns and Elder David Pau
lin were appointed committee to consider
applications of churches for admission to
the alliance.
Presidents Reception.
The reception to the delegates by the
President at the White House, last evening,
was an event that will probably be put
down as one of the notable experiences of
Cards were issued by the President to the
delegates, and also to a large number of
those whom 1t was desired 10 have meet
them and the result was that a congenial
crowd assembled. Owing to the repairs now
In progress in the parlors those three apart
ments were closed, the reception taking
place In the east room and supper being
| served in the state dining room The Pres
ident and Mrs. Mckinley were assisted in
welcoming each guest by Mrs. Hitchcock,
the wife of the Secretary of the Interior;
Miss Margaret Long, daughter of the Sec
rotary of the Navy, and Miss Wilson,
| daughter Of the Secretary Of Agriculture,
| these three ladies being the only cabinet
| hostesses now in the city.
DR.. Radcliffe presented the delegates to
General Bingham, who in turn made the
introductions to the President. Mrs. Nc
! Kinley received seated, and wore a gown
| of white silk. Mrs. Hitchcock was gowned
| in lavender silk. with duchesse lace access
series. Miss Long wore mode colored silk,
| embroidered in red, and Miss Wilson a
| handsome and becoming gown of white
satin. -
The cabinet officers now in the city were
| all in attendance The Marine Band, sta
| toned in the second r corridor, played
| throughout the evening, while the conser-
vatories and red corridor served as a de-