The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-05-23
The General Assembly.
FIRST DAY.

L g.,
Long before the hour for the opening exercises of
the Assembly large numbers of commissioners had
gathered in front of the beautiful First Church of
Greenvllle exchanging hearty and ,affectionate
greetings renewing the associations of former pas
torates or of student life that had in many cases
been interrupted by the lapse of a quarter of a
century more There were many radiant faces
and manly figures in the groups that were formed
and many noble, brave hearts and towering in
tellects engaged in the informal social fellowship
On entering the auditory the young ladies of the
Chlcora Presbyterian College of this city were seen
occupying part of the church and in their stu
dent uniform, presenting attractive picture of
youth and beauty. large number of commission
ers were in attendance at the opening exercises.
The weather conditions, the complete arrangements
for entertainment and the happy and expectant
spirits of all present contributed to the comfort
and interest of ALL
The opening sermon on The Supreme and liner
rant Authority of the Bible was preached before
a large assemblage of worshipers by the Modera-
tor, DR.. ]. T. Plunkett, of Augusta. Ga. Text:
John xviii 3S-Pilate saith unto him what is
truth?
The discourse heard with close attention and
deep interest. 1t delivered with great earnest
Eess and clearness and was an able defense for
the scriptures and the confidence in their author
ity which our Church has ever maintained.
Of this very able and timely discourse our space
permits us to publish the closing paragraphs:
What is the effect of this criticism upon the
IL.
Learned = ritter at his mothers knee, and in
ehools. His memory was saturated
discourses he quoted generously
Asodus, Leviticus, Numbers Deute-
ronomy, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles Psalms, Pro
verbs, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, jeremiah, Ezekiel
Daniel Jonah, Micah, Joel, Zechariah and Malachi.
Moreover, he revered the Bible the Word of
God. That Christ fully endorsed the Old Tesla
ment cannot be called in question He traced the
Scriptures with great respect as a revelation from
GOd To MAJ IF ci1ob iD1iT and
manent value that he declared emphatically:
Think not that 1 came to destroy the law or the
prophets; l not to destroy but to fulfill; till
heaven and earth pass away; one jot title
shall in wise pass away from the law till all be
fulfilled"
1t is a strange coincidence, if nothing more that
in his discourses he touched reverenty upon those
very portions of Scripture which are most vigor-
ously assailed in these days. AS to the Pentateuch
he not only endorsed it's trustworthiness but
peatedly referred it's authorship to Moses.
AS to the science of the Scriptures, Loru
endorsed the cosmogony of Moses, and those early
records upon which rest the ethnoogy and philo-
logy of our time. AS to the history of the Old
Testament Lord put his distinct sanction
upon it, and the recent researches of psychologists
have furnished accumulated confirmation of it's
truth-if that were necessary.
AS to prophecy, he found the Old Testament full
of predictions respecting himself, and his redemp-
tive works and of predictions pointing to history
still in the remote future to the events of the last
days. Christ stood for the story of Adam and Eve,
Abel, Noah and the flood Abraham, the destruction
of Sodom, Lots wife, Jacobs ladder Moses and
the burning bush, the mama, the brazen serpent,
Elijah raising the widows son, Elisha, Naaman,
and it is not putting it too strongly to say he
adventuTed his whole ministry the historical
of the Book of Jonah. The story of Jonah
was more than a parable to our blessed Lord.
Christs endorsement of the Old Testament
Scripture was emphatic. without hesitation ex-
ception or reservation. There is no escape from
the issue If this modern criticism is true Christ