The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-15
PreSidcS0 Presbyterian Body.
SERMON BY DR. FOSTER
Large Number of Representa-
 tiveS at Opening Session.
Ladies of First Church Tender Recep- tion to the visitors-Three Sessions te Be Held
 Each Day.

l The Alabama synod of the Presbyte- 1 rian Church met last night in its sew entieth annual session and elected Rev. Frank B. Webb, D. D.. of Talladega, Moderator.
 When the roll was called probably ninety representatives answered to their names, and 1t is expected that morning trains will bring in enough to swell this number to 125. For the first time in twenty-three years the Synod of Alabama met in the First Presbyterian Church of Mont eomery. From the warmth of greet ing the visiting delegates received. 1t may be stated that the members of the Synod are sorry that they stayed away from Montgomery for so long time.
 Rev. G. W. Patterson. D. D.. Rev. Neal L. Anderson. D. D., and Rev. J. T.. West, pastors of the three Mon ntgomery churches, vied with each other in their efforts to make the visitors feel at home When the representatives ar. river they were each assigned to a home which. as Dr. Patterson declared, was 'the best home in Montgomery"
 Owing to the number of arrivals on the train from North Alabama at 7:25 o'clock, the opening service last night was postponed until o'clock to give these visitors opportunity to attend the f1rst service. The neat and home- like auditorium of the First Presoyte- rian Church was well filled at o'clock when Dr. Patterson opened the ser- vice.
 Sermon by pr. Foster.
 Dr. Patterson was the retiring Mod orator of the synod. He was elected at the last meeting of that body held in ,Anniston. Owing to the fact that the present meeting Is in his own church, he waived the right to preach the opening sermon, and on his tnvi- tation this sermon was delivered py Rev. Sterling ]. Foster, pastor of the South Highlands Presbyterian Church of Birmingham.
 No more fortunate selection could have been made by Dr. Patterson. pr. Foster completely charmed the large congregation that heard his words. pr. Foster is a young man, but a man or brains and of convictions. His sermon was delivered in finished style and his words sank deep in the hearts of those who heard him.
 Dr. Foster took his text from Gala tians, iv, 1s. Until Christ be found in you" and Colossians, i, 27. Christ in you the hope of glory" He spoke as
 "Within comparatively recent years a new answer has been formulated for the first question of the shorter cate efiism, What IE the chief end of manT The answer as taught by these modern philosophers Is that mans chief end is seIf-expression: that his highest pur- pose in life should be to give express sion to his own individuality.
 Emerson may be said to have been the father of this school. for he was the first to give emphasis to this idea, and 1t Is the dominant note through all his essays; and Walt whitman. in his so- called poetry rings all the changes upon this theme. making man to be scarcely less than god. A host of lesser lights following in. their foot steps have iterated and reiterated this, as the ultimate object of mans exist ence, and one can barely hope to be held philosophical or modern who does not subscribe to the teaching.
 'aThe Apostle Paul. however. toward whom this school assumes a patronizing air, could not, If he were living. have lent the weight of his great name to this doctrine. It Is true that he taught the duty of self-expression, 1t is quite true that he believed that man by his life and conduct should give utterances to his own individuality-but he went deeper than these teachers, back to the