The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-05-18
DIVISION INCHURCH
Has Not Solely Resulted From Doc
trinal Differences.
SERMON BY REV. DR.. SAMPLE.
contsnds the Presbyterian Church
Has Progressed Notwithstanding
Occasional Eruptions-Many Prob
lens to Solve.

81. LOUIS. Mo. May 17.-At the Pres.
byterian General Assembly to-day, tbs
Rer. DR.. Robsrt f. Sample, the retiring
moderator. outlines the privileges and
duties Of the church, and speaks IN
part Us follows;
The text wasi
Speak unto the children of Israel
that they 80 forward" Exodus ~; l5'
Noses waved his mysterious rod over
the sea, and down the long line of Is
rael sent the divine command, "For-
ward" Israel obeyed. and having de-
scended the shelving beach, the waters
divided as they went on.
Thus God triumphed gloriously and
the pursuing hosts of Pharaoh, horse
and rider alike, were overthrown in
ths sea, and Israel saw thsir enemies
no more. The typical scene of the text
suggests our duty,and God through His
Word and works and girdling provis
daRcss, bids US 60 on to the worlds con-
quest Itself under the caves Of the Mad
cline and Notre Dame In Paris, and en-
tered many of the cities of France. In
Russia religious liberation has been
greatly extended and Protestant
churches have been erected in st. Pc
tersburg near by st. Isaacs Cathedral.
Professionalism builds its sanctuariss IN
Home, and the Bible House on the Corsl
looks across the Tiber on the towers OF
ST. Peters and Vatican. In Spain, lib
erty of worship has found place. In
South America, in the old homes Of the
AzlecR In Madagascar and the Onet
pagan islands of the Pacific, the truth
has been joyf9lIy received.
Church Increased in Numbers.
To limit our views to the last decade
we observe this significant fact that
during the year 1894, IN which the
church was occupied with two impor'-
ant ecclesiastical trials, there occurred
the greatest number Of additions in
confession of faith In the entiTe history
of the denomination. The year follow
ing, publicity having been given to doe
trtnal errors, and confidence in ths eE-
seg,taIs OF Christianity have been weak
ened, there set in a period of spiritual
decline. Yet the net increases of our
church in 1899 was about 1900; that of
The Conversational church being about
1900; whilst the Methodist Episcopal
church, north, had net loss of 1900.
Z In later years in great majority OF the
Christian denominations there has been,
so fur as indicated by conversions
marked religious decline, and for this
condition, some general, not local Gauss
must be assigned.
= Here let 1t be observed that divisions
in our church have never resulted solely
from doctrlnal differences, but mainly
from opposing views of administration,
or questions Of national government.
This fact indicates the prevailing and
steadfast loyalty Of our church to it5
doctrlnal standards Notice some OF
the problems that confront us'
Urban Population has Increased.
The problem of the city. The central
ization Of population rapidly advancing.
has bsen a marked feature Of this coun-
try. one hundred years ago per cent
of our population was urban, now near
ly 30 per cent. Wee is sure to stimulate
Vice, and crime begets crime. Here we
ind general and moral corruption; the
idolatry Of wealth. devotion to sinful
pleasure, wickedness in high places. the
baastliness OF open impurity eioseted
skeletons Of virtue, every shameless
form OF inlqulty, and absolute Indlffer-
cnce to all woe. save Its own.
The problem of lntemperaHc2, most
appalling in great cities, SIN waits a
solution, Liquor interests dominate
legislatures, corrupt courts, bride ex"
ecutyes, debauch rulers, desscrate tho
sabbath. and turn many away from the
house OF prayer. Just now the traffic
in lntoxicants, as in Manila, Havana
Puerto Rico and Alaska, misrepresen's
Christian civilization. ana sets the
worlds galvatlon far down the years.
Another problem demands solution.
The most thoroughly organized HER
,rehy In the world, Rome excepted,
aides among the mountain ranges OF
Utah. builds It's harems In secluded
valleys, defies the government which
would suppress It's crimes, seeks to es-