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October 18, 1911. ] THE
Editorial 1
Dr. \V. W. Moore, of Union Seminary, Va., has
suggested that "John Knox" be the subject for
"Reformation Day," October 29, this date having
been named by the General Assembly for the
commemoration of th?t crr<?n+ owonf
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tory of the Church.
In Fayetteville Presbytery there are four ministers
who have about completed from forty to
fifty-three years in the ministry. The Presbytery
has determined to hold a thanksgiving service
next spring, in connection with these long
records of service, expressing its gratitude to God
for his goodness in giving the services of these
beloved brethren and felicitating them upon
their useful career.
Fayetteville Presbytery, at its recent meeting,
enrolled thirty-one ministers and fifty ruling
elders! The first thing Bnoree, Bethel, and
Mecklenburg Presbyteries know they will be left
away Denina. w nat a splendid sight it must be
to behold, that goodly company of the wise and
devoted men of the pews, gathered to consult
about the interests of the church of Christ!
It is quite noticeable that an unusual number
of Presbyteries have chosen their commissioners
to the next General Assembly. This will be a decided
advantage to the brethren appointed and
to the church at large. It will give opportunity
to study the conditions of the church and to go
to the Assembly and deliberate there with far
better understanding. "We look for good results,
and think it not unlikely that the method will
hereafter be adopted by many more Presbyteries.
The Moderator of the Northern Assembly is
made a large figure in that church. Dr. Carson
has had an itinerarv laid out for him hv tho
ecutive Commission, rivalling that of the peripatetic
presidents of recent years, embracing visits
to fifteen States, from New York to California,
and college addresses and sermons to
union gatherings galore. The itinerary began
early this month and closes at Chattanooga
November '4.
When a man says, "Every man has his price,"
put him down at once as for sale, and pretty
cheap at that. When a man tars others he does
it with his own stick. Because he sees himself in
low condition he supposes all others are like himself.
His own ideals being low, others' are low.
His own eyes being yellowed by the jaundice of
evil, the rest of the world which he looks out upon
assumes the same hue. It is the carrion spirit
in the vulture that makes its scent only that
which is corrupt.
The "Eucharistic Congresses" held by the
Roman Catholic Church are simply great meetings
held in the interest of that church's doctrine
of transubstantiation. They are designed to
'-npress upon the people of the church the heirarchy's
teaching that the bread and wine of the
sacrament become the actual body and actual
blood of Christ, that the priest works a miracle
every time he administers the sacrament, and
that the worshippers in "the mass" are eating
human flesh and the priests drinking human
blood. If this fiction of the church be true, we
wonder how the sacrament was first observed, the
night in which it was instituted, when Christ's
body was not as yet broken nor his blood poured
forth.
PRESBYTERIAN OF TBE SO
Motes and
The announcement of the death of Rev. E. B.
Druen has brought sorrow to his brethren in the
ministry and to numerous personal friends, 66AI
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pciiioiijr in me oyiiuu 01. v lrginia, wnere ins
brief ministry had been spent. On Sunday, Oct.
8, while on his way to conduct service in one of
his churches, in company with Miss Shannon of
Romney, "West, Va., both were drowned. It is
supposed that while attempting to ford the south
Branch of the Potomac river they were swept
away by high water. The distressed relatives of
both have the sympathy of a wide circle of
friends. Mr. Druen was educated at HampdenSidney
College and Union Theological Seminary.
His pastoral charge consisted of Springfield,
Patterson's Creek, Burlington and Mt. Bethel in
West Virginia. His ministry gave promise of
increasing usefulness and his early death is a
sad loss from the ranks of those who "bring
glad tiding of good things."
The divinity schools will never accomplish
their highest mission until they infuse into their
pupils the motive, the purpose the very spirit of
their master. The preacher is more than a
mouthpiece, more than a logician, more than an
expositor, moie than an ambassador. He should
~11 xl ?...x v ?ii
uc an uiese, oux ne win never appoximate the
standard of his high calling until his soul is possessed
of a profound solicitude for the souls of
his fellow men, and an unreserved devotion to
their happiness. Fenelon said, "I would have
every minister of the gospel address his audience
with the zeal of a friend, with the generous energy
of a father, and with the exuberant affection
of a mother." Such enthusiasm will relieve
the sermon of its artificial and professional aspect
and make it a glowing message that will burn
into the heart centers of those who hear. "What
we preachers need," says one, "is enthusiasm in
fYlO Yiirvliaof oonctA 1 - ?
v..u ...6uvu> oviiau, mat is, vjuu iu us awaneniiig
the soul to higher conceptions, purer instincts
and loftier aspirations. Perhaps we need
learning and polish, but we need godliness and
fervor infinitely more."
It is unfortunate that we have come to gauge
ministerial success by the criterion of popularity.
If a minister does not shun to declare the whole
counsel of God there will be much in his message
and in his office that is unpopular. Dr. Charles
E. Jefferson says, "The man who oraves popularity
should never study for the ministry. Only
men with warrior blood can preach the gospel of
the Son of God." The message which the Spirit
blesses is that which not only proclaims a father's
love and a Saviour's sacrifice but convinces
of sin, of righteousness and judgment. Frederick
Robertson asks, 1' What is ministerial success ?
Crowded churches, full aisles, attentive congregations,
the approval of the religious world, much
impression produced? Elijah thought so, and
when he discovered his mistake and found that
the Carmel applause subsided into hideous stillness,
his heart well nigh broke with disappointment.
Ministerial success lies in the altered lives
and obedient humbled hearts; unseen worth recognized
in the judgment day." If popular
ideals could rise to such a high level there would
be less of discontent in both pulpit and pew.
Suppose that by some strange magic we could
transmute the commonplace duties and incidents
of life into heroic deeds that in value and effect
would be rendered immortal! That is precisely
what is done for the Christian, not by magic but
by grace. No particle of matter is ever lost and
DIE (993) 9
Comments
the effect of every deed of loving service is preserved
and sanctified. The simple reasoning of
a little maid was a message of life to the Syrian
commander and a little child set in the midst, of
the people was an illustration of the sweetness of
humility. Says McLaren: "There is one thing
that makes life mighty in its veriest trifles, worthy
in its smallest deeds, that delivers it from
monotony and insignificance. All will be great,
nothing will be overpowering when living in
communion with Jesus Christ, we say as he said,
"My meat is to do the will of him that sent me."
Motive and fruition measure the dignity of service.
The motive of daily consecration is very
high and its product is transcendant. They who
practice "patient continuance in well doing, seek
for glory and honor and immortality," and the
crown of it all is "eternal life."
"His excellency," Cardinal Gibbons, in what
was known as his "jubilee sermon," lately delivered,
ventured boldly into the realm of
politics in which he is a well known specialist and
veteran. In this discourse he vigorously assailed
three current propositions which are attracting
unusual attention in the political arena.
These are, the eleotion of United States senators
by direct vote of the nennlp- tv?o
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which provides for the submission of legislative
acts to the vote of the people for approval; and
the recall of judges, by a majority vote of the
people, f*r actual or supposed unfaithfulness to
duty. It is not within our province to pass judgment
on the merits of these great political issues
but beyond doubt the ecclesiastical lobby which is
maintained by the Romanists in many political
centers will have a better chance of success by
dealing with political bosses than they can ever
expect to have if elections and appointments to
office are in the hands of the people rather than
in the hands of the political cliques and distributers
of patronage. It appears, however, that the
Cardinal's jubilee discourse did not have great
urair?l->4- ~ ?- *
m mc v^amurnia election, which occurred
two days after, and in which the condemned policies
were adopted by a more than two-thirds
vote.
MEN AND RELIGION MOVEMENT.
The "Men and Religion Movement" has now
been fairly launched. Its series of campaigns in
some eighty or ninety cities has begun: The
second Sunday in October was asked for as a
special day, in the communities where the movement
is expecting to work, for rallying the men
and boys and telling them, and telling the church
at large, something concerning the nature of the
movement, the principles underlying it, the
methods by which it will be conducted, the
ends in view.
This special effort took its start in the conviction
of the various organizations in our country,
some twelve or thirteen in number, of layiL.i
n? ? .
men nittt tuuy migni join rorces in endeavoring
to accomplish their common purpose. It is not
an organization at all, but a combining of the efforts
of these laymen's organizations. It recognizes
the church and the functions of the
church, and is seeking to avoid anything that will
appear to put it in the place of the church or that
will rob the latter of its work or position. It will
emphasize the local church and its work, while
it will seek to encourage nn/t Inonim oo/?v?
to devote itself more actively to its appointed
duties and will give to each one the benefit of the
wisest plans and most snceeasful methods of activity
in the effort to win more men and boys to