Evening Star Newspaper, May 18, 1893, Page 2

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D ©, THURSDAY, MAY 18. 1893—SIXTEEN PAGES. THE ASSEMBLY. (Continued from First Page.) Pressive and vivid picture of the glory of the Christian Church, all Bible students are agreed. From the text then, in this, nificance and application, as subject of our consideration this morning, “The glory of the church,” as illustrated and exhibited in some of its most important and Vital features or characteristics, ‘THE FOUNDER OF THE CHURCH. And we remark: is conspicu. who ite First. The glory of the eburch easly manifest when we consider REV. W. ©. YOUNG. D.D. . founder ard head. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten and beloved Sou of God. 'He is that one “who, being in the form of God. thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation took upon Him the form of a servant and in the likeness of men, and being jonasa man He humbled bim- became obedient unto death, even the the uit bs it cross. Wherefore God also hath Him and given Him a name that name, that at the name of Jesus should ‘bow, both of things in things on earth and things under and that every tongue sbould confess Christ is Lord to the glory of God ough he lived and died asa man on earth, such a description as includes the titles given clearly reveals eame to earth i 5 ag f i Hs af MHE ae ? ness of the disguise He assumed, the lowliness of His position in a wordly point of view,served to bring into greater contrast His real glory and display more vividly His almighty power “We hav has bean traly said. but to faith through the thin red Him and what do we be- Simply Jesus, a Nazarene Jew? Jesus, the wisest, noblest of all sages and teachers? No, but Jesus, the Christ of God, the Lord of glory, the Lord mighty in battle, the heavens His throne, the earth His footstool, the lizat His garments, the thunder His voice, His strength omnipotence, His riches all sufficiency, His retinue the host of heaven and the holy ones of the earth.” Well and truly is He called in Scripture’ the only begotten Son of God, the Master of eter- nity, the Mighty God, the omnipotent ruler of beaven and earth, for while as aman He hun- gered, thirst,wept over the grave of His friend, He wus crucified and laid in asepulcher. AsG: He created bread, turned the water into win raited the dead, cast out devils, and finally burst the bonds of death asunder, ‘triumphing over the grave, and hell. and sin, the author of both, and asvended to his father’s throne. Such is the veing who is head of the church, who loved it, ga it and redeemed it with Hisown ‘ho founded the kingdom ia Hi labors and death aad now rules over it, sitting at the right hand . the Father, far above all prin- Cipalities and powers and might Tn all ages men have felt that the founder of a grent state or empire reflected upon ii sequent members some portion of bi luster. Thus the Persian gloried in subject of the empire which Cyrus had estab- lished. Th rtan felt himself ennobled by ing Under the institutions of the far-famed yeurgus. The Attic boasted of his Solon, the Daughty Roman prided himself on the posses- mon ofacity which claimed a son of Mars suckled by awoif as its founder. While we Americans rejoice and exult in a Washington, a Jefferson, an Adams as those who laid broad and strong the governmental foundations of this great republic. But how insignificant are all these founders of states earthly compared with Him who estab- lished that kingdom of which we are members, that everlasting kingdom which can never be moved. How narrow their views, how limited their ams, how feeble their ‘powers, how trifling the result of their labors, how mean their nature when compared with His. They, too, were but human, and as men they lived and died and passed away. Where are now the Roman Csars and the Grecian chieftains, where those world-renowned conquerors, beneath whose tread the solid earth seemed ‘to tremble and at whose frown affrighted nations grew pale? ‘The wonders they wrought, the conquests they achieved, the kingdoms they establishod, their very names, have passed away, or, if they sur- vive, "tis only to point some moral or adorn some tale, But He is divine, and as God is everliving and present to protect, to govern and to bless. OUR EVER-PRESENT KING. ‘Though withdrawn from earth in His visible presence, He is as reaily with us today as He ‘was with the multitudes by the Lake of Galilee, when He made the dumb to sing, the deaf to hear, the blind to see and the lame to walk. To Him, as our ever-present King, this house | in which we are worshiping bas been dedi- cated, to Him our bodies and souls have been eonsecrated; when we gather in our annual as- semblies, His authority we own: Hix precepts and promises we study; His example we con- template; His guidance and protection we in- ‘yoke; in His name we ask for all that we need, with fail assurance that we shall beheard, and on His aid we confidently rely. But secondly, corresponding with the char- acter of the founder and head of this kingdom is the nature of its object. That object is by training men in holiness to tit them for the eternal purity and bliss of heaven. What object can be conceived of so desirable or sublit this, It meets and satisfies a want and craving in men that all have felt and felt as their greatest need. Isthere one here today who does not at times groan under the tyranny of appetites and passions which he feels degrade him, long for the society of holy beings, sigh to be delivered from the lash of a chasteaing conscience. Who has not looked with dread into the grave which must soon open to receive him, and trembled at the thought of standing at the bar of a just and holy God; who has not wished for larger powers, higher sce nobler occupations, more ampie and exquisite delignts, and an eternity for their enjoyment. It is to insure all this that Jesus has estab- lished His kingdom on earth and invives to en- ter it. By His death He redeemed us from that hell to which our violation of God's laws had doomed us, and He orgunized His church that by His grace, working m us throagh the use ot of divinely appointed ordinances, we might be fitted for an eternal and holy beaven. ‘There have been many institations organized im various ages and lands for securing results regarded by their founders as desirable. To some of these men have devoted themselves with zeal and energy, sacrificing in their bebalf time, labor, wealth and even life itself. Among them all there is not one which, as to results achieved, can be compared with the church of our Redeemer. We feel as though it were almost degrading this spiritual kingdom to formally compare its object with the objects of these human institutions, those social organi- zations which profess the improvement and happiness of millions to be their aim. Grant all they claim and how far are they in- ferior. Go to the lodges of Masonry and learn the object of that society which has existed for centuries and has banded together in brother- hood its tens of thousands, vea its millions of every nation and tongue. ‘The removal of out- ward evils, the amelioration of men’s temporal condition is the highest end of this and all similar institutions. The good they aim at is bounded by the limite of this present lit How petty and insignificant is sach an object eompared with that for which the kingdom of heaven was founded. The one regards men as mortal and aims to make them as comfortable as possible here on earth. The other enlarging inflaitely the seope of their horizon, views them as immortal and seeks to, vea. does se- eure for them not only peace and comfort here, but giory, honor and immortality hereafter. Look, t60, at those political institutions, those republics of ancient and modern days, which Bave called forth so much heroic endurance ‘and so many,heroic exploits. Many an Athenian. many ® Spartan, many a Roman. Venitian and American have offered up their lives in behalf of their states. But the only object of the as- sociation for which they died was to preserve the bodies of its citizens from the voke of for- eign bondage and secure their property from the grasp of strangers. Now. as compared with this, lock at the object for which the ehurch of the living God, of which we are members, was established.” It is to break the shackles of sin, to free from the yoke of satan, to save from the pains of unquenichable fire, to confer upon us the liberty of tho sons of God, to transform us into the image of the Most High. to secure for us sn inheritance incor- ruptible, undefiled and eternal. What en un- apeakable sublime and bexeficent purpose. by a Does not the conception alone of such a king- dom prove its origin divine? THE CHURCH A DIVINE CHARTER. Again, the glory of the church is most im- Pressively evidenced by the fact that it hase divine and, therefore, a perfect and infallible charter and constitution. A charter authorizes and imparts life;a constitution prescribes the way in which that life shall manifest itse!f. To discover, at least in germinal form, the charter of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, it is neces- sary to go back into the dim recesses of a past eternity. There in that covenant of redemp- tion which God the Father made, not with us, but our surety, the Lord Jesus Christ, He Promised as the ‘reward, for His incarnation, sufferings in the p =< give pardon, grace and eternal life toall whothould believe in Him. That these justified. saved believers might have a visible, ‘Associated life, as an earthly training school and home for them, the church was organized ‘and established. It came therefore into the being by, was the essential product of, the promuse and pledge of Almighty God to His only begotten Son. Is it possible to conceive of any stronger guarantee of indestructible existence. it | wi all other chartered institutional life is yiel air, shifting sand, » breaking bubble. “God spake and the church was bern. It stands upon the rock of ages. It lifts ite head above the clouds, above the stars. Its days are the ears of God. It is immortal and cannot be i It will survive all its foes and stand erect when every idol falls.” It no more fears what its enemies can do than the rod of Moses magicians hissed feared when the staves of the around it. Yes, “On the rock of ages founded. y satvatica’s wallestrroundede™ Varden But more, far more than this, is true. Not only bas the church thus a divinely inspired life, but the way in which that life in all its grand essential principies and features shall manifest itself is also prescribed by God. In- finitely precious and beloved by its divine , $0 considerate and jealous is He of its honor. purity and prosperity that to no created being will He intrust the enactment of laws for its government. He himself will be the alone legislator, as He is the supreme autocratic king in Zion. : Gop's AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH. ‘The Presbyterian Church clearly recognizes this. In its confession of faith it explicitly re- pudiates all right and authority to legislate or | make laws for the church. Its province and functions are limited ta the far humbler and smaller sphere of interpreting d applying the law as enunciated by God. We know that sometimes our standards have been called “*the constitution of the Presby- terian Church.” The phraseology we regard a8 inexact and unfortunate, and yet no candid person who careful those standards can misunderstand the meaning of the appellation. ‘They are, they claim to be, the constitution of the church, simply and only as expressing in the most exact, uninspired language, the di- Yinely framed’ enactments contained in the Bible. The constitution of God's kingdom, like the model of the sanctuary shown to Moses on the mount, was the workmanship of His own wis- dom and love, prepared from first to last by himself. Thus originated by God, it was not given all at once, ina finished, perfected form, but in installments, each insiallment perfect in itself. It was communicated by the Holy Spirit as the interests and progress of the churci, manded. Because so imparted that perfection and infallibility which pertained to it as God conceived adheres to it still. The humax chan- nels of its transmission were so divinely di- rected and guided that the finished product, when freed from all changes and errors made by translators, transcribers and printers, is the very enactment of God. w this constitution, prescribing positively the great laws, condition and principles of the church’s life, is founded on the Bible. Indeed, the Bible is simply and only that constitution plus the history of God’s people and of the facts of redemption, which acted and reacted upon each other, and are vitally interwoven together. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH. We use words then with a fair degree of ex-| actness when we call the Bible “the constitu- tional history of the church.” The two ele- ments found im it, the history and the laws, the earthly events as recorded, and the heavenly matter as revealed. ure, to our mind, indisso- lubiy connected. ‘They are vouched for by the same authority, they dor fall together. You cannot destroy confidence in the trust- Worthiness of one without at the same time weakening faith in the divine infailibility of the other. Views radically antagonistic to these are-held and widely promulgated. Extreme foreign representatives of auew school of criticism, Which, when wisely and devoutly conducted, is most useful and valuable. Men of acknowl- edged learning and scholarship are busily en- aged in dismembering and dissecting the ble, and then rearranging and rearticulating it upon principles, in the application of whieh they widely differ. Some of these critics or teaoshers are utterly destructive, both in their methods and results. Others profess a rever- ent spirit. They draw a broad distinction be- tween the revelation when it can be ascertained and the history in the Book. ‘The former is acknowledged to be of divine origin and thority, and therefore great made for fallibility in the human channels its transmission, confessedly perfect and true, while the latter is marked throughout by human ignorance and imperfection. We do not say that they consciously have this intent, but with our viewsas to the effect of such treatment of the Bible. the reverence they ex- press for the Book is the respect which success- fal revolutionists show to a dethroned and dis- crowned king. NoT INDORSED BY THE CHURCH. ‘The Presbyterian Church, the evangelical church of Jesus Christ throughout the world, has never in the past, does not now, and will never in the future, as we think, indorse these opinions. The great creeds of Christendom, honestly and fairly interpreted, give no coun- tenance to them. Our own beloved church, while honoring scholarship, courting investiga~ tion, and welcoming criticism in her standards, her deliverances, the utterances of her wisest and best ministers, has again and again ex- reseed her firm and settled conviction that no iscrimination as to truthfuiness can be made between different paris of the Book; that from beginning to end, from the opening sentence in Genesis to the last verse in Revelation, the Bible is the very Word of God. Of the same purport, and this should be con- elusive, is the clear, positive testimony of Christ. For the inviolable truthfulness, at least of all that part of the Bible which was in existence when He was on carth, His word is edged. “The Old Testament, the whole of I." save one, “even in its minutest details, He recognized as the utterance of God. He treated itasawhole. To Him it was enough. “It is written.” He considered this should be enough for His hearers. With Him “‘Seripture could not be broken.” “He accepted the nar- Tative as facts even where modern criticism sees only instructive fable or human exag- gerations. From end to end he has placed His seal of royal assent upon the Book.” THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH. Upon no other theory or belief can we, as it seems to me, claim a divine, infallible, pertect constitution for the church. If the historical events and personages.the facts of redemption, which are, as recorded, woven and interwoven with the giving of the constitution, did not transpire and exist, we cannot possibly authen- ticate that constitution as divine. But upon the divine infallibility of some of its enact- ments we confidently rest the salvation of our souls. It will securely support them, God’s in- finite wisdom, love and power are behind and in it. Heaven and earth may pass away,but not one jot or tittle of all that is written im the Book shall fail to be fulfilled. No apprehension should be felt as to the safety of the Bible. No possible harm can befall it. Here to doubt is disloyalty to God, to fear is to sin. It courts the most searching investigation. It welcomes the sharpest criticism. ‘THE BIBLE TRIUMPHANT. FM m the flaming ordeal through which it is now passing it will come forth, as it has from ail other fiery tests, in its full integrity without so much as the smell of fire about it. And when the very names of those radical foreign rationalistic critics who are seeking to destrov its historical truthfulness, its perfect infalli- bility, with their widely heralded productions, shall have been buried in a commen oblivion, the Bible, the whole Bible, history, biography, prophecy and doctrine, shall, by increasing millions of believers. continue to be received, read and prized above all earthly ions as the very word of Almighty How august, how glorious, how blessed and safe a kingdom thus governed and administered by laws framed in the legislature of heaven and revealed by the Holy Ghost. While exulting and rejoicing in belonging to such a kingdom, should we not value as above all price its divine constitution, guard it with ceaseless Vigilance, pray that_ we may understand and apply it wisely, lovingly and faithfully, both as rulers in the house of God and individual members of the body of Christ? Fourthly. The glory of the church is manifest im the privileges pertaining to it. Our time permits us to mention but two,and those very ing of briefy. this ky om. 1) Liberty is » priceless blessing of | tory. Who does not know that it is America’s Where, and only where. the | altars and not America's tatute book; Amer- spirit of the Lord, the Head of this kindgdom | ica’s Bible and not her Constitution, which has ia,there is true liberty. Of its subjects it is | been and still is the great abiding source of her a 20 ter ot received the spirit of in to fear, but ye have receive: spirit of ‘adoption whereby ye ery, Abba, ther?” And again, “If the Son make you free, then are you free indeed.” Liberty, full and entire liberty from all on earth and in hell, all within and without that degrades and slaves is offered to every member of Chi kingdom. ‘‘Perfect love casts out fear,’ fear. God does not wish the followers of His eringeing, groanin, terrified to take away that spirit ‘of oppression and servitude which sin hath engendered and give instead the spirit of happy, loving, loyal children. ‘THE FREEDOM GOD OFFERS. ‘The freedom of the city in a gold box is the highest honor which London ean confer upon England's greatest statesman. God offers the freedom of the universe. If we are Hischildren and know it nothing can harm us. We can fearlessly defy men and devils. He whom we serve and to whom we belong makes the wrath of the one to praise Him and hath ut- terly vanquished the other. He is far mightier than all that be against us. Between us and every foe He interposes the broad shield of His omnipotence. They can only reach us when they have pierced that shield and conquered Christ, We defy this world and the world to come. There can be no condemnation here and no hell hereafter for those who have been washed in Christ's blood and clothed with His righteousness. th, air, nature, fire, the be- liever defies them all.’ The rooted hills shall flee before the fiery glance of the Almighty Judge; the pillars of the universe shall tremble and be dissolved at His rebuke; but face to face and unconsumed the band of im- mortals shall stand in the mee of their God. Every element of destruction shall be shivered’ in vain against their invulnerable lives, We do not fear Sinai; its lightnings can- not harm, its thunders cannot terrify us. We are not under the iaw, but under grace; we serve the Lord Christ, no? from an iron sense of duty, but as we breathe the air, joyously, willingly, just as you love your child or wife. We defy death. It is only the key to paradise. a messenger from the Great Father caliing his childrenhome, The wondrous miracle wrought, | according to the old heathen myth, on Achilles | bas been truly, perfectly performed on every member of this kingdom. There is no spot on the Christian's soul or body that is not invul- nerable. ‘This is true liberty, freedom, not a link of the accursed chain clinging to our “Let earth against his soul engage And hell bebur ed, eu he au owning world.” And this perfect liberty is the priceless privi- lege of every member of the spiritual kingdom of the Son of God, THE IMMORTAL LIFE. Second. Immortality ia a blessing of this kingdom. All of its subjects are made par- takers of an endiess life, = life which never wither or decay. Here they are but in tho infancy of their being, but when their souls shail have been freed from their frail and corruptible bodies, when their mortal shall have put on immortal- ity, then shall they enter npon thefull maturity of ‘their powers, the complete enjoyments of all their possessions and dignities; upon a per- | fected existence that siaxil heighten and en- large forevermore. ‘He that believeth on the | Son,” saith Christ, the ruler of this kingdom, all never die,” and again, “whosoever be- ievethon Me, though he were dead. yet shall he liveagain.” The leath here mentioned in- cludes that separation from God, which, begin- ning in spiritual, is completed mm eternai death. This believers shall never experience. ‘They receive in themselves the germ of eternal life. Over them death hath no power, and because Christ, who is their life, liveth always they also shall live with Him in the world of glory. ‘Thetr existence runs parallel with that of their divine king and whatever may happen to their frail bodies, nothing can ever separate them from His wondrous love. Who among my brethren, can realize the happiness and glory which pertain in this one particular to the sub- jects of Christ's kingdom? What being lew than God can conceive the infinitude of the value of life eternal and resurrection from the death? What that the soul of man can desire and hope for is not included in these terms, Everlasting felicity in the presence of God, an eternal basking in the radiauce of his super- of tho which the subjects of Emmanuel’s kingdom enjoy. HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE. You remember the beautiful picture drawn by Edwin Arnold of the impassioned address of the bereaved young husband over the dead body of his bride. Having described the fair young body prepared for its burial he speaks of her friends leaving the room wita a shudder, glancing at its chillness and gloom, and says: je aud she—ba not speak Thoush ne kisved 10 the oud placethe quiet cheek. sini o1 ie of dea Dam) to the ea: and still to the sens But to heart and sou! distinct, intense, a {stem with heist. not ear, °! Was it the rs ‘wonder of all You could ever let life's flower fall? Did life roll back its records ory ‘You couid find out so, wha. a pleasure death is? most den 1» OF death hear; T listen as deep as to horrible hell, As high as to heaven, but yon do not tel would teil you, darling, if I was doad, hot tears on 1 own your angel who was 5 And know that though dead Thave never died.” It is ours, beloved,to know as to all the mem- bers of this kingdom and as to ourselves that though dead we shall never die. CONQUESTS OF THE CHURCH. Once more and finally, the glory of the church is most vividly and impressively ex- hibited in the conquests which it has achieved andthe destiny which awaits it. It was or- ganized and established for the one great pur- pose of making real, effective and universal the reign of Christ upon this earth. The human instrumentalities employed for ite reservation and extension were not only weak, But scemingly despicable "and mean: “The enemies agasust whom from its birth it was called upon to contend, not alone for conquest, but for life itself, were active, mighty, malignant and numerous. ‘All the powers on-earth and in hell were leagued together to destroy it. Glance fora moment at the two opposing forces, as during the early ages they are drawn up in bat- tle array for a world-wide and time-enduring conflict. Here, on the one side, are all the appetites and passions of the carnal heart; here the learning and the philosophy, the art and the science of all the schools; here “religions and superstitions venerable and hoary with an- tiquity,” the lords many and the gods many of Olympus and the Pantheon; here the might of ‘a numberless priesthood, whose influence, yea, very livelihood, depended upon the issue of the contest. Here were the fasces of the lictors, the swords of the legionaries and the imperial power of Cesar. And there, on the other side, are a few illiterate, obscure ‘men and women, with a strange story of one Jesus, who bad been crucified, but who, as they asserted, had risen from the dead, was the eternal Son of God, and offered everlasting life to all who would believe on Him. THE TRIUMPHANT CHURCH. ‘Was there ever seen in any warfare before or since such disparity of resources and strength? Confining our view simply to earthly agencies and means, was it ever more demonstrably sure vbat victory must perch upon the standards of the mightier host? And yet.as we all know, and as even infidel history records, the exact reverse ocourred. This feeble little band with their strange story, like Sir Artegal’s man of iron, Talus, with his flail, went right on through their myriad foes, shouldering aside or tramp- ling in the dust whatever opposed them until in less than three centuries they planted the banner of the new kingdom on the very palace of the Cesars, Since then, unchecked by tem- porary eclipses and defeats, despite periods of ‘weakness, disaster fear ae ba ge, pao —< on, steadily enlarging the bounds of i wenly sway. The patron of learning, the handmaid of art and science, the Jmplacable enemy of tyranny and lust and greed, the emancipator of soul and mind and body, the revealer of God, the representative of Jesus Christ, it has dried more tears, stifled more sobs, comforted more stricken bearts, done more to ennoble, purify and rejoice the soulsof men than ail other causes combined. What a vivid and eloquent object lesson does this great republic furnish of its beneficent in- fluence and power. How visible has been the hand of God, how potent for good the church of Christ in all the aiwpry~* our wondrous his- national prosperity and renown. Well aud wisely, afew months ago, in yonder Capitol, did our chief exeoutive, when “entering on the arduous duties of his great office, express his confident reliance for himself and his country upon the all-sufficient aid, ever given tous in the past, of the Almighty ‘Ruler of this king- dom. To it, above all else, are we indebted for our material, civil, social and moral prosperity and blessings. There isnot indeed a single individual throughout the whole extent of this favored land, be he a member of this kingdom or not, whose condition has not been vastly im- proved and his blessings increased by the in- luence of our benevolent religion. ‘THE SPREAD OF THE KINGDOM. Lock abroad, too, and see how widely Jesus now reigns and how rapidiy His kingdom is being extended. All the civilized nations on the earth acknowledge nominal subjection to Him and own, in some degree, Hie enthorit and their superior enlightenment is eeen to b the fruit of his sway. ‘Tribe after tribe, people after people. have received and ere receiving His institutions. On the frozen shores of Greenland churches are worshipping today in His name. On the sandy plains of Africa the banner of Christ is steadily moving on from conquest to conquest. The bigoted Brahmins of India are heard lifting loud the voice of lamentation as they behold their temples of abomination falling at the sound of the gospel trumpet. The isles of the Pacitic are fast re- ceiving His law. And ail the signs portend that the time is not far distant when the songs of His believing people. as was aid of the martial airs of England, “following thesun and keeping company with the hours, shall circle the whole earth with one continuous and unbroken strain of praise to the Redeemer.” A PICTURE OF THE FUTURE. Here the thing that hath been is the thing that shall be. The past conquests of this king- dom, matchless though they have been, are but the precursors and earnests of greater and | speedily be made ready for the coming of her | divine Lord. Then shall the two divisions of | His kingdom, the earthlyand the heavenly, be | United; then shall Zion's King see of the travail | of His soul and be satisfied, and sorrow and sighing, sin and death shall forever flee away. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, and usher in this period of universal peace and righteous- ness. Amen and amen. Constituted by Prayer, When the moderator finished his sermon, which required about an hour in ite delivery, he stepped back and paused a moment. Then advancing again he said: “The assembly will now be constituted with prayer, Let us pray."” The moderator then offered up a fervent prayer. At the conclusion of the prayer the moder- ator recognized Dr. Bartlett, chairman of the committee of arrangements. Dr. Bartlett made a report from his commit- tee as follows: They recommend that the see sions of this assembly begin at 9 o'clock every morning, and that the first half hour be given to devotional exercises; that the morning ses- sion end at 12:30 o'clock; that the afternoon ses- sion begin at 2:30 p, m. and close at 5 p. m. and that the evening sessions, the popular meetings of the assembly, begin at a quarter before 8 o'clock. We suggest that when we adjourn today we adjourn till 3 o'clock.” THE COMMUNION SERVICE TONIGHT. Dr. Bartlett then announced the arrange- ments for the communion service tonight as follows: Communion on ‘Thursday, May 18, Ex- moderator to preside. Rev. Dr. W. C. Young, Rev. George H. Fullerton. D.D., of Dayton more glorious future triumphs, ‘The loftiest strains of revelations are devoted to the cele- bration of victories yet to be achieved. ‘The lunguage of inspiration is tasked to the utter most to depict the coming glories, the universal sway. the heavenly fruitage of the church of our Redeemer. ‘He goeth forth conquering and to conquer; the last enemy shall be over- come and bound to His chariot wheels. “Of the increase of His kingdom and peace there shall be no end. He shail reign'from the rivers to the ends of the earth, And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy azd gladness, and sorrow and sighing sha! y.” Phy gates shail be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring into Thee the forces ‘ot the Gentiles. and that their kings may be brought, Violence 1 no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders, for thou shalt call thy walls salvation and ‘thy gates praise, ‘Thy stn shall no more go down, neitlier shall thy moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be thy everlasting light. aud the days of thy mourning shali be ended.” And so on and on, the picture tinted and perfected till we are thrilled as with a divine ecstasy wh! our souls in the contemplation of its infinite beanty and glory. Such then is the destiny, such the honors that await this kingdom and the subjects thereof. When I borrow the thought from another, when all the pomp and splendor of terrestrial thrones shall hav passed away. when all the brightness of thix world shall be quenched, when the earth and the fruits thereof shall be burned up, the moon turned into blood and the stars fall from the heavens as a fig tree casteth its untimely fruit, this empire shail only begin its expanding progress, its never retreating march, its ever Widening circle, your happiness and ‘horizon, who are its subjects, augmenting and increas- ing with the years of eternity, till men shall marvel how sin ever had such power as to dim the sheen or dilute the splendor or diminish the attraction of things divine, unseen and eternal. ‘This, savs Robert Hall, who again and again spoke on the mighty theme. “this isa sub- ject which can never be exhausted; openall your hearts, utter the most astonishing eloquence, call for angels to assist you in celestial songs, and still fresh views Will burst upon your minds, you will apvenr forever ouly to be at the beginning of the theme; only to be stand- ing at the borders of Immanuel's land; you will be called upon to rejoice and again to” rejoice as you speak of the glories of Christ's kingdom and tell of His founder s power.” And now, embracing in one swift, compre- hensive view the features of this kingdom of the Son of God, as presented in this imperfect sketch, may we not suecessfuily challenge the world to produce anything approximating to it? What the Roman poet sang of Jupiter we may truly say of it, non viget quinquam simile aut secundum.” There is nothing that is like, there is nothing that is second to it. Pinto, the wisest of the Grecian sages, ap- colored, ed and e steep plied all the resources of his unrivaled genius to form the pian of a model republic, but be- sides its other defects it would not work. It proved an impracticable ideal, a philosophic dream. The practical statesmen, Solon and Lycurgus framed constitutions that did work, but they were tow in tucir objects and narrow tn their spirit, limited in their exten- sion and brief in their duration. ‘Their history | remains to teach us the incapacity of any mere man to organize a society that shall be elevated in its object, comprehensive in its spirit, uni- Versal in ite extension and enduring in its ex- istence. Look now at the kingdom whose features I have rapidly and imperfectly sketched and remember that it was conceived and established by Jesus of Nazareth, an un- educated Galilean Jew, who spent but three years in public life and who was put to death at the early age of thirty-three. Could the con- ception of it have been possible to such an one if a mere man, and if only a man and capable of its conception would not its realization have seemed less possible, than the wildest scheme that was ever quickened in # maniac’s brain. No, no, my hearers, from beginning to end it is divine.’ Its conception, its realization, its ehar- acteristics, its results, ‘clearly and unmistaka- bly prove that its author is none other than the Son of God, the omnipotent ruler of heaven and earth. THE TRIUMPHS OF THE CHURCH. In the light of the truths which we have con- sidered it is easy to see what are the feelings and conduct which we should cherish and ex- hibit toward the church. It is the kingdom of the Redeemer, the bride of Christ, the society which trains men for heaven, the only hope of a lost and perishing world, the institution by which unto principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known the manifold wisdom of God. ‘Then delight in its pros- perity, thankfulness for participation in its privileges, devotion to its interests, is the Supremest obligation that rests upon us. Think of its heavenly origin, recall its history; contemplate, in the light streaming from God's word, ite coming triumphs, its millenial glory, its universal extension; see under its beneficent sway darkness and sin disappear, and light, joy, holiness and love reign supreme; realize ‘that the attainment of this object, the salva- tion through His church of a lost’ race is the strongest desire in that heart that was pierced on Calvary; the desire with which it travails and 1s burdened, and then rejoice and again re- joice that you are invited, commanded by the divine Christ to be coworkers with Himself in securing these tremendous results, Do not patriotism, benevolence, philanthropy unite with piety in’ summoning’ usfrom this mount of privilege with tireless energy, flaming enthusiasm and whole-souled consecration to the promotion of this object? We cannot be ignorant of the fact. Do we believe it with fall- hearted faith that the crowning glory of ever: church is found not in numbers, taleat, wealth, but in fervor and strength of missionary zeal? Can we look abroad over this beautiful, goodly land which God has given us in this day of its gladness and blessing and see it cursed and marred, weakened and endangered by sin? Can we view the countless multitudes going down to death without God and hope? Can we | the hear the wail of sorrow and despair which comos from the abodes of heathen darkness, and shall we not for ourselves and for the churches we represent earnestly, unitedly and importunately beseech God for a new baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, in order that by and through us the triumphs of Pentecost and of the primitive church may be again achieved? Should our divine King appear suddenly in this, his temple, as He did to the apostles in the upper chamber at Jerusalem, and himself become the preacher, is it presumption to say that we know what would be the burden of;His address? Would Ho not repeat to us in substance the great com- mission? Would He not enjoin, command, us to make the extension of His kingdom, the pub- lication of His dying love and of ‘salvation through His blood, the one supreme, absorbing Dusiness of our lives? ‘This is His command to us here today. His presence, His voice, might affect our senses and stir our emotions, but they could not make clearer His will or ment in the least our obligation to obey it. O, then beloved, brother officers in this di- vine, spiritual kingdom, by all that Jesus is to, and has done for, us; by His bitter agony in the garden and His fearful death on the cross: by His victory over death and hell, and his cession at the right hand of the Father; by the splen- dors of His eternal Godhead, let us plan and pray and labor with blood-red zeal that the church, which He hath bought with His blood and for which He is head over all things, may DR, ROBERTS MAKING THE OPENING PRATER. Presbytery, Ofo, to pass the bread. Robert .. Bachman, D.D., of the presbytery of, Utica, to "pass “the wine. Elders to pass the bread are John Randolph, Washington W. P. Jewett of St. Paul pres- Bryan, Rio Grande proe- Wm. C. Wilson, — David P President E. Ty; Mr. Joseph le. Jersey City presbytery; Wm. H. Parnell, Baltimore presbytery; Timothy Parker, Utica presbytery, and 8. H. Anderson, Holston presbytery. ‘To pass the wine—E. C, Brown, Minneapolis presbytery; Robert Beggs, New York presby- tery; Thos. F. McDougal, Cincinnati presbytery; ‘dS. Green, New Brunswick presby- tery; M. Cutchings, Detroit precbytery; Thomas R. Stockton, Boulder _ presbytery; James A. Curry, presbytery of Ebenezer; Gen. E. Anson Moore, St. Louis presbytery W. H. West, Portland presbytery; cas Coombs, presbytery of Utah, and William C. Lawson. ‘The moderator then declared a recess until 3 By," and the session was closed with « prayer yy Rev. Dr. Chas. L. Thompson of New York. The Afternoon Session. The afternoon session, which began at 3 o'clock, was taken up with the formalities of calling the roll and the election and induc- tion of the new moderator. Tonight will be given to a communion service, and the business of the session will begin tomorrow. The Liberals Don’t Like It. Some of the members of the assembly who listened to the sermon of the moder- ator this morning are rather inclined to criticise him because, as they think, he took the side of the conservatives in the issues that are likely to come before the assembly. It is said he scemed to go out of bis way in order to give the liberals @ slap. On this score he was stronly condemned by the members of the liberal party. On the other band, those who hold what are known as conserva- tive views expressed themselves as being much gratified with the decided tone of discourse, This found expression they say in the applause that greeted certain portions of the discour: THE BRIGGS CASE. When It is Likely to Come Up Before the Assembly. Naturally those interested in the assembly and the questions that are likely to eome be- fore it are discussing the Briggs case, especially as to the time when it will be up before the assembly. As has been stated in Tue Stan the appeal made on behalf of the Presbyterian Church by tho prosecuting committee from the decision of the presbytery of New York will be referred to the judicial committee, That committee will probably report it back to the as sombly on Monday with some recommenda- tion, either that it be entertained or that it be not entertained. ‘The former recommen- dation is the one that is most likley to be made and then the appeal will be before the assembly. There are several courses open in the disposition of the case. The assembly may conelude that the presbytery did not act in accordance with the rules gov- erning such matters, and may decide to refer the entire matter back to the pres- bytery as else the decision may be reached that the appeal ought first to go to the synod. ‘The assembly can also conclude to hear the appeal and pass upon its merits or refer it to @ commission, the latter to report to the as- sembly. When the case comes up the parties in the case have a right to be heard before the assembly under such conditions as to time, &c., that the assembly may prescribe. ‘The parties are the prosecuting committee and Prof. Briggs. ‘The members of the New York presbytery can be heard, and also any member of the assembly. It is thought likely that the time that will be fixed for the hearing of the case will be next Thursday morning, and some think that it may be brought up as eariy as Wednesday next, If the assembly con- clude that Dr. Briggs is guilty then a peg must be imposed. He can be either deposed from the ‘ministry or suspended, cengared oF admonished. Tho New York presbytery may be directed to impose the sentence, HE PLEADS HIS OWN CAUSE. As has been the rule in all past trials Prof. Briggs will conduct his own case. There will ‘be no one to speak for him except himself until ibly the time comes for the members of the Kew York preabytory and of the assembly to take part in the discussion, and then no doubt the voice of his friends will be heard. Dr. Briggs, however, does not stand alone in his defense from any necessity, but from choice. He prefers to be his own spokes- man, and those who have heard him in the revious trials of this now famous case do not ave any doubt his ability to take ample care of his cause in the face of all op- ponents. No one questions nis brilliancy and his great intellectual force and it is generally thought that his case is in competent hand: Most of the members of the assembly, in fact it may be said that all of them, are more or less familiar with the main points at issue, as the arguments made in the former hear- ings have been printed and widely distribsted. Allthe members of the prosecuting commit- tee are here and are ready for the hearing. Owing to the regular matters of business that will claim the attention of the assembly it 1 not though that the desks will be cleared for Briggs case before next Thursday morning. plana aNiaibg ‘The Cheap Ice Movement. The capitalist who proposed to organize a co- operative ice company in this city that would supply citizens with ice at 25 cents per 100 pounds has just returned from a visit to Maine and reports that he saw all the whole- sale ice dealers in that state, and without an ex- ception every one of them ‘refused to sell him ice at wholesale prices to be shippec to Wash- ington, and for the alleged reason that the Washington ice combination had se- cured the monopoly of all such purchases from their establishments, But this gen- tleman has, he declares, positively determined that Washington shall be supplied with pure ice at a reasonable price. And, therefore, ho has made arrangements, he says, to erect in this city, within the ’ space of sixty days, an ‘ice plant of the largest capacity, one that will supply Washington with hygienic ice, made from distilled water, at thirty cents od 100 pounds. In the mean time he will, 1° says, within the space of ten days, be prepared to deliver to citi- zens that quality of ice, brought from the north, at the above-named price. He declares his willingness to enter into long- term contracts that will bind him, sal torily to those with whom he deals, to supply this artificial ice at 30 cents per 100 pounds f long periods. [SOME NOTABLE MEN. A Glance at the Delegates to the Presbyterian Assembly, WISEST OF THE CHURCH Are Here to Discuss and Determine Matters of the Deepest Interest Not Only to That Denomination, but to the Entire Protestant Faith, OEE “In the old days, custom Isid aside with breeches and cocked hats, The people sent their wisest men to make ‘the public laws.” This custom may be one that has been laid aside in the sphere of national politics. So, at least, the poet says. In matters of church government, certainly in the Presbyterian Church, the tame cannot be said with any degree of trath. Judging by the appearance of the commissioners to the general assembly, as well as by the records of the work they have accomplished for the church and for humanity, it is not only a represente- tive body in the general acceptance of thet phrase, but it is a body of men who are the representatives of the best brain and thought of that great denomination. From far and wide they have gathered for a fortuight’s Inbor in the interests of the church, Nearly six hundred men, every 3. RANDOLPH. one of whom is well known in the com-| and munity from which he comes, many of them with reputations for scholarship and eloquence as broad as the church to which they owe their allegiance,verily, it is a goodly assemblage, and one in every way capable of good work. DELEGATES POURING INTO THE CITT. For days past they have been speeding to- ward the capital, all aiming to reach this city just about the time of the opening of the as- sembly. The result is that during the past twenty-four hours there has been a per fect flood of commissioners pouring in through the two channels of the railroad sta- tions. The committee on hospitality is made up of men who are accustomed to hard work, but they have had their hands full this time, and have bad about all they could possibly attend to in the way of receiving the strangers and secing that they were properly started on their way toward their respect- ive stopping places. This morning the com- mittee, which has heretofore had its head- quarters at 1410 G street, opened « branch office in the Sunday school ro.m of the church, which {s located in the basement of the building. There they have been busy all day attending to the wants of the late comers, REY. JOSEPH KELLY. The scenes about the church this morning wereof the liveliest description, The com- missioners began to gather at an early hour to look over the field and to get their bear- ings. ‘There were many pleasant meet- ings among old friends and many new ac- quaintances made that are sure to prove very pleasant for them all di the two weeks of their stay in this ci hotels that are the principal headquar- ters for the commissioners there were very few to be seen this morning. The de- lightful weather and the charming prospect of the tree-shaded streets were all that were necessary to draw them out for a little morning stroll before the actual labors of the day should begin. About the city in all directions were to be seen ministers and lay dele sof their coats the white silk badges that them as members of the one hundred and general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the U. 5. A. CANDIDATES FOR MODERATOR. There may have been a little quiet eleo- tioneering going on all the time for the all-im- GEO. D. BAKER, D. D., PHILADELPHIA. portant matter of the election of the new mod- erator to succeed Dr. Young, which comes off this afternoon, and has naturally aroused the greatest interest on all sides. Just who the man would be was a question that no man could answer this morning. There was ageneral feel- ing that he should be a man who should not be too strongly identified’ with any particular faction of the church. One of the men most prominently and frequently, « mentioned for the position was Dr. W. H. Rol his connection with the faculty of that ——— with close term this spring. . Roberta formerly a resident of this city at a time when he was connected with the library of Congress and he has many friends in Washing- ton who would be very giad to see him honored by an election to the important place of mod- etator of the assembly. 3NO. 3. M'COOK, NEW YORK. Another man who was freely talked about in connection with the position this morning was Rev. Dr. Charles A. Dickey of Philadel- phia, Dr. Dickey has been ten times s com- missioner to the general assembly and has been foreighteen years the chairman of the board publication, He is thoroughly familiar of | with the workings of the general assembly and | With all the important questions that sre to | Come up before it this veur, . George D. Baker, D. D., of Philadel; would probably not get ‘out of ‘the wecitme choice for moderator ehould come in his direc tion. Other men who were much talked about and who could have counted their friends and adherents by the score were: Rev. Dr. Willis Green Craig of the McCormick Seminary at Chicago, Rev. Dr. James H. Brooks of St. Louis and Rev. Dr, Calvin W, Stewart of Sumner, Washington. ‘MAY BE 4 PASTOR OF 4 CHURCH. For some time past there has been « feching that this vear the moderator should be « pastor of a church, in view of the fact that Rev. Dr, Green, the moderator at Detroit, and Rev. Dr. = REV. L. H. ANGIER, BOPTOR, Young. the retiring moderator. have lege professors. ‘This will, how- ever, have no weight with some of the members, and one of the names mentioned is that of Rev. Dr. Cal. W. Stewart, president of Whitworth jashington state. Dr. the pastor Penn: sylvania and took charge college & little over two years ago. The institution is under the control of the state synod and belongs to the moderate conservative school, which embraces almost the entire west. Rev. ‘Dr. Brooks is known personally in the Mississippi valley, as his pastorate of over thirty years at st. Louis has brought him in contact with many Presby- terians of that section, while his writings, which are voluminous, have had wide circulation. Rev. Dr. Kerr of Omaha bas declined to allow of, ire inia-Ken- at the BEY, WILLIS ‘CRAIG, ORICAGO. McCormick University, he still maiataics his Proud of its representatives in the 4 for it is represented by Mr. John Ran- dolph and Hew. Joseph T. Kelly. Mr. Kelly is the alternate in the place of Dr. Bittinger, who is in attend- — of the country, and his felt toa considerable extent, notwithstandi: the fact that his piace 1s so well filled. beginning of ore in the gathering that familiar to almost every one in the chi Almost as interestinga figure as Dr. Rev. Dr. Seminary, Cincinnati. He has recency tried on charges similar to those made against Prof. Briggs, but, unlike him, convicted in the resbytery. An ap has been taken to the synod, where it will be heard in October. LITERARY LIGHTS OF TEE CHURCH. The literary lights of the church shone in full measure upon the assembly. There wore, besides those mentioned, Prof. J. B. appointment the gen- eral assembly will be asked confirm; RM. Patterson, editor of the Presby- terian Journal of Philadelphia and author of the famous “Portland Inerrency Deliver- *” teachings: Presbytery. and Dr. Me- lenson's president of Lake Forest ee aie Colored biy, were the members of the committee who prosecuted Prof. Briggs before the New York resbytery. It included Reva. G. W. F. Birch, foseph J. Lampe and R. F. Sample, Prof. J. J. Stevenson of New York University and Elder z J._MeCook. The latter is one of the famous family of “Fighting McCooks,” which sent nine brothers into the war of the rebellion, two of whom survived. He is a cousin of Gen. Anson G. McCook, secretary of the Senate, and « dis lawyer of New York. He is an elder in Dr. John Hall's church. Bevs, Birch and Lampe and Elder MeCook are the talking members of the committee, and will up for consideratios " Prof. Briggs, also from New York, but from the western end of the state, Bufidle, Ag far as the east is from the west, so far ie Fears, when gastos of an Illinois church, he attracted attentagn by Fw m4 a re ry authority on ‘The big Sunday school room in the basement was the general gathering place and this sented @ busy spectacle all the with its crowds of commissioners friends circulating about. ‘There was plesty to do and the members of the local REV. GEORGE L. SPINNING, D. were kept very busy attending to the thousanll ‘and one little things that must be cleared upat the last moment before the assembling of sash a large body. ° ‘One corner of the room has been fitted npat, “bureau of information, with « post office, telegraph office and varions other convenienom The post office is is charge of ME James T. Harver, assistant superintente ent of the Georgetown branch, and he is om sisted by Carriers Philip H. Branson and CG. @ Crouch. Mr. . Lewis P. Clevbane ba ates the telegraph insirnment, and Charles W. La Porte s charge of the The post office be from 8 am. until 10 p.m. i except Sunday. Conveniences for writi about the church and forming the maitifarious duties of pages: number of handsome young boys, the ‘nent members of the Presbyterian C in this city. They were Masters. William Galt, Willie "H. Somervelt, Waloott D. Ba vi = se Garley, Ralph Jobuson Macalester Moore. TRE MUSICAL FEATURE. An interesting and attractive feature of opening services this morning was the the program and arrangements for which been prepared by a commitiee under leadership of Rev. Dr. T- 8. Wenkoop, The choruses were rendered by « cheir Dr. J. P. Caulfield as conductor and Mr. Toof as organist. The choir consisted of following ladies and gentlemen: Sopranos—Mrs. AL. Johnson, Mrs. J. grader, Mrs. W. E. Parson, Miss A. X. cock, Miss Lilian A. Norton, Mra. Lewis Mauro. Mrs. C. B. Smith, Mrs. L. ¥. Ellis, L. M. Bittinger, Miss K. Van Ness, Miss AtLee, Miss M.’ A. Soule, Altos—Miss Amy ©, Leavitt, Mra J. Church, Mrs. E. RK. True, Miss Helen B. Miss Bain C. Westcott, Mrs. Herndon Rueckert, Miss B Mra. W. B. Hazard. sed Ehjah, introducing the r Ye Israel,” followed by the chorus, “Be Not Afraid.” jo, “Behold and See if Three Be * sung by Mr. W. J. Caulfield; the ‘He Was Cut Out of the Land of the I ing;” soprano solo, “But Thou Didst Not Las® Her Soul in Hell,” sung by Mrs. W. E. . “Lift Up Your Heads, 0 3 Gates.” The hymns will be congregational, , cording to the usual practice in the Presbyt? Tian service. —— A Washington Boy Honored. Mr. John F. Wilkins, a son of Mr. Berth. ‘Wilkins of this city, who isa member of ®* junior class at Princeton College, has recently been elected to the board of editors of Princetonian, the coliege daily paper. This # considered quite an honor, as the positions a® to competition to the students generally, bd success comes only after ‘corer work, ‘The Wonders of Nature, From Puck. Gladys (from Wellesiey)—Ob, Uncle Rates! do look at these tadpoles in this pool, and te think that some day all those borrid wrigglitS things will be butterflies!