Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-22
DR.. RADCLIFFE HERE.
Eloquent Praise Of the American
Presbyterian.
Address Before tho Mackenzie League at the
Second Presbyterian Church : The
American Presbyterian WINS not Born in
Scotland Not an Old Fosy-

Rev. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe, of Wash
ington, d. c.. pastor of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church. delivered
an address here last night. The sub
ject was THE American Presbyterian"
and the occasion was the meeting of
the Mackenzie League in the Second
Presbyterian Church in Precursor
street.
The church was well filled by S
O'Clock. when Rev. j. T. Thacker. the
pastor, stated the object of the meet
ing, invited Rev. L.. r. McCluer TO
pray, and then introduced Rev. DR..
Radcliffe as a distinguished minister
of the Northern church.
DIR. Ratcliffe said that the American
Presbyterian WAS not born in Scotland.
Let that soak in. There is no use in
going further If we DO not get that
idea.
The eloquent speaker had the atten-
ton of the audience throughout as he
described the origin. the psychical and
physical features of the American
Presbyterian. His origin dated back
TO Abraham as To parentage, to Ply
mouth Rock as To his arrival here and
TO Mackenzie as one of the incidents in
the career of the American Presbyte-
rian.
The American Presbyterian is COM
posite. The speaker referred TO the
characteristics OF face. figure ana
moral and mental qualities which have
been gathered from Scotch, English.
Irish. Swiss. German and Huguenot
ancestors. He has the strong jaw of
the Puritan, the knotty head of the
Scotchman. full of brains: the steady
mind of the German. the keen wit of
the Irish and all of the qualities of his
various and admirable ancestors. He
is ready for all emergencies. He did
not stay In Virginia or New Jersey be-
cause there would have been II vol
cano. lie spread over the country into
100000 of people.
The speaker drew n picture of the
Presbyterian OF to-day as compared
with his ancestor OF the colonies. who
was cold and hard. but agiow with
faith and sturdy in his principles.
The simple faith of the American
presbyterian was described as a refuge
for the soul in the absolute sovereignty
of God. 1t is n doctrine which hum
bles. but does not humiiiate man.
II is doctrine which has fired the
minds Of all the great reformers.
Hence Plymouth Rock. the Declaration
of Independence. This belief in Gods
sovereignty bids Il man stand on his
feet. IT is not gorilla damnation OF
man: it is the glorification of man.
1t teachers what no modern essay can
give.
1t was in Chicago that a Universal
Church was started with three declara-
tons of faith. thus: All things gre
right; all things are wrong; 1t does not
matter.
Truth is positive to the Presbytc-
rian. He teaches his children to rely
on the word OF God that was delivered
once. There has been but one distinct
revelation. He revcrcs the names of
Calvin and others only as they agree
with Paul and the prophets. He is
not an old fogy. He believes in old
things, not because they are old. but
because they are true.
The speaker approved the revision of
the Confession of Faith, but simply for
making better expression OF the doc
trine. He deprecated a doctrine OF
caramels instead of the truth.
The word deaconess is in the Bible.
The speaker compiimcnted the women
for their work and expressed the be-
lief that the would have n larger
share in the official management of the
church.
Among other subjects the eloquent
speaker approved of organic union of
scriptural Imperialism. and said that
the question is not what the Philip
pines will do for us but what we shall
do for the Philippines. He referred to
the harvest Whitening for the sicle. and
10 The duty Of the American Prcsbyte-
rian.