The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-17
OPENING SERMON
BY DIR. CECIL
Richmond Minister Deprecates
the Spectacular in Religious
Work-Reports of Four Ex-
ecutive Committees Re
ceived = Finances of
Church Considered.
Especial % The Times Dlspatch.l

bly, OF tn- Southern Presbyterian
Church IS Rev. Thomas 5. Clyce. -. D..
o. sherman, Texas. member Of Dallas
PEesby,tery, In the Synod Of Texas He
! Is president Of Austin College. in Shcr-
man. and is at this time in tn. prln .
Of lie. He IS the third man TIE Cen
ersl Assembly has elected moderator
from the Synod OF Texas. both Of the
others having been elected from the
preSbytery OF Central Texas.
| The enrolment Of commissioners TO
the General Assembly as announc ed
to-day shows that almost 200 wera
present on this the first day of the
| nifty second meeting OF the assembly.
Promptly at II o'clock Rev. Russell
| cecil. -. D. Of Richmond. retiring
moderator. called the assembly to or
der. The opening session began with
the singing OF the doxology. followed
rs the Invocation. led by Rev. c. c.
| Carson. pastor OF the First Pr sbyte-
rian Church. IN which this meeting of
the assembly is being held. Or. Cecil
! read the tenth chapter OF Luke the
scripture lesson.
Sermon by Or. Cecil.
After other hymns and a prayer, led
by Rev. r. 9 Reed, Of Columbia. 5. G.
, Or. Cecil announced as his text the
words found IN Lake X. 90: "Nevertae-
less in this rejoice. not that the spirits
are subject unto you; but rejoice that
your names are written IN heaven"
, His subjec: was: The Assurance of
Faith In Christian Work" and he
treated It unde. the following divl-
s!ors:
L The supremacy of Jesus in all
affairs Of the kingdom.
:. The estimate of Jesus as to the
value OF results.
9 The judgment of Jesus as 10 the
essential thing IN the worker.
Depreciation OF the spectacular in re-
ligious work and sensational methods
in the pulpit. and an appeal for con-
servative Christian activity By humble.
spiritually minded men, were the key
notes Of Dr.. Cecil's sermon. What are
known as magnificent successes. the
finest effects OF eloquence. temples
overlooking and thousands apparently
converted. are not always evidences OF
the growth OF the kingdom" DR.. c cell
declared. NO doubt Gods Spirit has
often been present in such scenes dur
ing the past history Of the church. and
great revivals are without question one
OF the divinely chosen methods for the
enlargement OF the kingdom. But
such manifestations are often decep-
tive and need 10 be carefully scruti-
nized.
We arc living in an age which is
clamorous for results at all hazards.
The humble. spiritually minded man
who is not mad over new methods and
is reluctant TO adopt the latest novelty
is regarded too conservative and
reactionary and as an obstructionist
in the way Of progress. Only the big
movement, the spectacular. the sensa-
tional should claim serious attention.
Casting out demons and working other
miracles--that was the coveted power
in our Lords day that was what drew
the multitude together and flied the
minds OF men with amazem.nl. In the
exercise OF such power the disciples
experienced much joy and satisfaction.
They felt that they were doing some
thing. they Were accomplishing results.
hut Jesus perceived that they had the
wrong view OF it,"
DR. Cecil called upon his hearers %
recognize the supremacy OF Christ in
all affairs of the kingdom, and 10 oh.
serve the estimate of the Head of the
church as to the value of results.
Christ did not encourage the spectacu-
lar in religious work. he said. and the
pofer to perform miracles was grant
ed only temporarily to only a few in
the apostolic age.
Commissioners Enrolled.
After the close of the sermon. Rev.
T. II. Law, the stated clerk. an
nounced the number of commissioners
enrolled by the number of creden-
tials that had come into his hands.
The next business before the as
sembiy, and the principal business 10
be transacted by every assembly on
the first day. was the election of the
moderator for this meeting.
Four commissioners were nominated
TO receive this honor of the church
Rev. j. a. Wallace nominated Rev. II,
G.. Reed. of Columbia; j. +. Kerr nomi.
mated Rev. w. r. Dobyns of st TO-
seph. Mo. q. u. Booth nominated Rev
J. ]. Vance. of Nashville. and Rev. c.
c. Weaver nominated Rev. T. S. C,lvcc
of sherman, Tex. Each of these noni-
nations was seconded. The hour for
recess having arrived, the election ~
moderator was deferred until ,bc
afternoon session.
Cordial words of welcome to the as.
sembly were spoken by Rev C. C. Car.
son and by DR.. L. r. Cannon. Mavor
| of Bristol.
DIR. Cecil responded to these ad
dresses of welcome.
DR.. Law announced AT the onenire
| Of the afternoon session that he had
received Information that the Pres
bytery of Dallas and tho Presbvtery
of Sherman. in the Synod of Texas
had been consolidated under the name
! of the Presbytery of Dallas. and thnt
the Presbytery of Chesapeake and the
Presbytery CT Maryland. in the Synod
of Virginia, had been consolidated
under the name of the Presbytery OF
Potomac.
The election Of the moderator in
Keeping with the customs of long
standing was by vote In answer to the
calling of the roll Of the commissions
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