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

snip between the different cnurcneS ndo
been increased through the agency OF the
alliance, but the knowledge Of each other
had advanced, and now Presbyterian nc
longer looked upon their church as small
affair, but as an organization extending
throughout the world. He spoke OF the In
formation obtained through the alliance OF
the missionary activity Of the churches.
DIR. Mathews also made special reference
to the churches in the eastern section. and
had something to say Of cooperation In
missionary work, and emphasized the i'm
portance of such policy.
Upon the conclusion of the reading of the
report vote of thanks to DR.. Mathews fol
his able paper was adopted.
The suggestion was made that report
be prepared by Rev. DR.. Roberts on the
churches in the western section, which
should be printed as an addition to the re-
port on the eastern section read by Dr
Mathews A resolution to that effect was
adopted
Scriptural Authority.
The next paper was presented by Rev.
DR.. George B. Stricken of Richmond, Va.
on the subject of the "Scriptural Authority
of the Presbyterian System
The author of the paper is a man about
forty years of age. with a clean-shaven
face. He stated at the outset that he would
confine his remarks to the government OF
the church. He said that for the officers of
the church there was unQuestioned scrip
ton to the elders there were other officers
The elders were both officers and rulers,
and In this latter respect differed from the
other officers Of the church. The speaker
discussed the Scrptural sanction for
church officers. and gave an exhaustive
account of the origin of this feature of
church government, accompanying his re-
marks with numerous citations from the
Bible. He maintained that in the early
days the elders were the only rulers of the
church. and he reached the conclusion that
Christ had confided to such officers the
government of churches. He emphasized
the plurality of the elders, and pointed out
that it was not in harmony with the form
of government of congregational churches,
and of what the speaker referred to as
preatical churches.
In both these instances, he said, the
ruling authority was intrusted to one elder,
who was the minister or the bishop. He
also said that In the early churches the
people were given a voice in the choice OF
the church officers.
Paper by Mr.. Samuel Smith, NJ. p.
A member of the English parliament. Mr..
Samuel Smith of London, presented the
next paper, his subject being the gradual
growth of sacerdotalism in doctrine and
teaching in England. Mr.. Smith is a tall
man, of rather spare figure, and wears a
full beard, which is growing gray. He spoke
without closely combining himself to his
portance in his own country of the ques-
ton he was discussing, and said it was
also coming to the front in this country.
He spoke of the two schools now prevalent.
and said one rested on faith in Christ and
the other on the SacramentS of the church.
The speaker referred to the movements
some years ago in England. headed, re-
spectfvely, by Pusey and Newman, the lat
ter, he added. reaching the logical result of
his belief in the Romish Church. while DR..
spoke of a doctrine advocated by what he
termed the ultra ritualistic party, and said
the Anglican Church had been honeycombed
with the teachings of that party, which
such that of the Holy Cross OF late
years, however, he said these societies
had been uncovered, and the people knew
about them He said the bishops had at
first struggled against the movement, but
now many of them were going with the
current, and, in his opinion, q majority of
the Anglican bishops had gone over to sac
erdotalism.
In the theological schools, he said, Rom
ish doctrines are taught, and the advocates
of these doctrines are making use of the
opportunities to reach the young. when pre-
pairing for confirmation. He read a quo
tation from one of the catechisms used
the one prepared by the Society of the Holy
Cross-where it was taught that the for
giveness Of sin was through the priests.
Possessed of Miraculous Power.
1t was also taught that Independent of
personal character the priests had miracu-
lous power because of their being ordained
to the priesthood. He maintained that in
the Anglican churches, very largely, 1t is
now taught that salvation depended on the
priests.
The speaker quoted further from the
catechism to show that the doctrine of the
changing of the bread and wine of COM
munion into the flesh and bloou Of Christ
was taught in a multitude of the Anglican
churches. He spoke of the controversy
now going on in England on this subject as
largely sophisticated. and said this was due
to the retention of Roman Catholic doc
trines and the introduction Of Protestant
doctrine in the prayer book. the latter,
he said, was the result of compromise in
the time Of the revolution.
Policy of Silence Abandoned.
Mr.. Smith said the agitation of this ques-
ton in England was now in progress, and
while he did not anticipate that there
would be any violent measures resorted to,
there would be a campaign of education.
The policy of silence, the speaker added,
had been abandoned and the contest was