The evening times., 1899-09-27

About $50 delegates were present at the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church at
1890 o'clock this morning when the open
ing session of the seventh meeting of the
Pan Alliance was begun. The
delegates present represented Presbyterians
in every quarter of the globe and present.
ed distinguished appearance. Among the
delegates were the ablsst exponents Of
Presbyterianism from England. Scotland.
Ireland, Wales, South Africa, the New He
brides. Australia China. Canada and from
every part of the United States. The dele
gates occupied about half of the centre
pews Of the church, while an immense au-
dience. largely composed of women. filled
the remainder Of the auditorium and the
balcony.
The services this morning were of
devotional character and opened with the
doxology sung by the choir Of the church,
the whole congregation joining in. The
invocation. ending with the Lords Prayer,
was delivered by DR.. William Hutton.
moderator of the Church of England the
Old Testament lesson from Psalm 19 was
read by DR.. Stewart, moderator OF the
Free Church of Scotland, which was fol-
lowed by hymn by the choir and congre
gation. The New Testament lesson, from
the first chapter of First Peter. was read
by DR.. Robson, moderator of the United
Presbyterian Church of Scotland; an an
them. g [ Am Alpha and Omega" by Stain
er. was sung by the choir, and then the
sermon was delivered by Prof. John De
Witt, of the Princeton Theological Semi
nary. on The Bible and the Reformed
Churches"
The preacher said that it was with sin
gular propriety that the Council OF the Re-
formed Churches throughout the world
was met in the Capital of the United
States of America, for these churches in
operating In America had had powerful
influence in securing an Independent lille
for its citizens and in organizing the Eel
eral Government. He then touched on the
attitude of the Reformed Churches toward
the Bible and of their secession from the
Latin Church because they thought the
Bible had been misinterpreted by that
church. He said the Catholic Church was
also strong in its attachment to the Bible
but had placed tradition alongside OF the
Bible. He also acknowledged the indebt
edness of Christendom to the Anglican
communion, but that the Reformed
Churches preached the Bible alone with
out claiming priestly character for their
clergy or magical virtue for their sacra-
ments. He said that the Reformed
tDuTcUeS III NOTSulpluS the DlplS d.OuS
had produced a distinctive type OF Christ
ian character which he was justified in
calling the intellectual type. which did not
employ the material fine arts as means to
excite or to express religious devotion.
He said that the Reformed Churches from
the time OF John Calvin had endeavored to
strictly interpret the Scriptures and that
they had defended the Bible against all as
saults and that in the wonderful growth of
civilization and Christianity in the last
three centuries they had played a conspic-
uous part. In regard to the possibility Of
the Deism of England of the eighteenth
century being attributed to Protestantism
he said 1t was impossible to tell what De-
ism started from and that it ought not to
be charged to Protestantism He said that
the new criticism Of the Bible which had
arisen in the church was serious matter
not to be lightly touched on but to be con-
sidered by the churches of the Alliance
now in session. He believed that Biblical
history should be included in the mission
10 secure the religious infallibility of the
| Bible. He closed with an appeal for pray
er for deeper faith In the Bible and that
they might revere it more highly, study
ing it more devoutly, and believe it more
implicitly and obey 1t more heartily"
Prayer was delivered by DR.. Lang. presi
dent OF the Alliance, ana moderator OF the
Established Church OF Scotland, followed
by hymn and benediction by DR.. Sample,
moderator of the American Presbyterian
Church.
The council was formally organized at
o'clock, and an address of welcome de-
| livered by Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe. The
| opening address was made by the Rev. J.
Marshal Lang. D. D.. president Of the coun-
| Gil. DR.. Lang is a resident of Glasgow,
Scotland, and is recognized as the leading
man in the Scottish Church, having been in
| the ministry in that country since 1S43.
| The session then adjourned for the day.
| This evening President Mckinley will re-
| ceive the visiting clergymen at the White
| House.
| The large crowd was admirably handled
| by the following members Of the church.
who acted as ushers: John D. McChesney,
| Frank o. Beckett Lewis p. Ciephane, Ben
| jamin C. Somerville, Lee D. Latimer, Ed
ward Tarring, C. S. Goshert. Alan o. Clep-
| hane, Charles F. Nesbit, J. Henry Wurde
man. Charles S. Bradley. Dr. James A.
| Freer Walter c. Clephane, and George A.
| Provost.
SISTER BEATRICE'S FUNERAL.