The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-15
Is DAYS SESSION
General Assembly of the Pres
byterian Church the Hath.
Assemblies In Fifth Avenue
Church, New York.
REVISION OF CREED
VIII Be the Most Important
Subject For Action.
1t is Expected to Come Up on
the 23rd.

New York. May 15.-The 18th general
assembly of the Presbyterian church
was opened in the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain church. this city. today. The ses-
sions will continue for Is days. The most
important business to come before the
assembly is the report of the committee
on the revision of the Confession or
Faith. This report will be debated on
May 90
At today's session the Rev DR.. Minton
Of San Francisco the moderator, deIiv-
cred a sermon on THE Enduring Mis-
sion Of Presbyterianism
DR.. AIinton said that doubtless God
could have made men wholly indepen-
/ dent Of each other, fatherless and child
less Melchizedecs. But in that case there
would have been no race, no humanity.
/ And what is true Of the race applies to
the church. All are bound together. A
/ holy and generous denominationalism
need be no hindrance to the progress Of
| the church.
| Continuing the preacher asked: Are
/ our contributions out of date? Is our
faith a back number and our type Of
! p1ety ana character unSulted to current
conditions? In answering such an in
1 quiry note first that Presbyterianism has
/ always Enthusiastically approached
men on their rational side Men are
/ thinking as never before and men think
! their way back to the eternal problems
of God Presbyterianism has ever an
swered 10 the rational call of the human
mind for the truth of God and that call
viii never die until the psychology Of
! the human heart is changed.
1T follows that our church has ever
/ placed the emphasis on education. 1t
| has always stood for an educated pulpit
! and an intelligent pew. The highest note
of Presbyterianism is that of intellect
ual conviction, of appeal to nans judg~
| ment on the sure ground of truth.
My third thought is that there are
| certain elements in the government and
| doctrine of the Presbyterian church
| which especially fit it to exert a power
( full indirect influence in the interest of
law and order and in prompting the civil
/ ization Of mankind.
Once more, the Presbyterian church
has peculiar qualifications for meeting
/ the missionary call which is the com
/ handing note in Christ's marching Or
ders at the beginning Of the twentieth
/ century. It believes in the Divine mes
sage; in the Divine sender. aud in
mans supreme need. This is the alphs
and omega OF a missionary creed.
ours is a glorious birthright hut
ours is a more glorious outlook. Many
/ prophets and righteous men have de-
sired to see the things which We see
and have not seen them: and to heal
things we hear and have not aearC
them The riches of a hallowed historS
are tributary to our service and il.
erin sOned treasure are ready at oul
command If 40 centuries looked .7owr
upon Napoleon's troops, all history wait:
for our loyalty and devotion TIE cir
Gle of all the centuries has its center
in our own. The records of patriarch.
and prophets, Of apostles and martyr:
cannot be rounded out till the loyal al
legiance, the Christ-like spirit the con
secrated energies of our generation ar,
counted in. It is glorious COMPANY
of which we are part. We Derfcln
our mission. we fill our place, we ac
complish our work in the programme q
redemption of 81 lost race covering tn
vest sweep of time and in the march 0
the redeemed of God towards the far
off goal of perfection which is eomplet
in Jesus Christ