What Makes A Presbyterian?

1900

The Great Churches of Christendom

A Series of Articles From Their Several Leaders Showing What Is Required of Their Communicants in Matters of Doctrine and Duty.

By Dr. W. C. Gray, Editor, The Interior

Strictly speaking, Presbyterianism is a form of church government, but that form is an expression of great principles, principles which were implanted in the bosom of man, illustrated in divine revelation, and crystalized in the only form of government which ever received explicit divine sanction; namely government by the representatives of the people. The primitive family was at once the state and the church; the father of the family being the priest and the ruler of his household. He was the first elder. Aggregations of families were governed by councils composed of these elders. When families increased and became communities the elders ruled through representatives. Thus the ancient and primitive church of God was ruled until the time of Saul. It was a divinely sanctioned theocracy, administered through representatives of the people. The people were rebuked when they desired to substitute a monarchy, a centralized government. The local rule of the elders was continued. Christ found them ruling in the synagogue. Paul instituted them in the churches which he organized. This form of government remains today what it was when Enoch walked with God, when Abraham thrashed the kings, when, at Miletus, Paul bade a weeping adieu to the elders of Ephesus, and when the General Assembly bounced Briggs; a theocracy administered by the representatives of the people. It will continue throughout eternity. When John looked from the cliffs of Patmos into the Golden City, did he see a "prudential committee?" John was a well-posted man, as well as a sweet prophet and a sublime bard; but, to save his soul, he could not have told a prudential committee from a coroner's jury. Did he see a bunch of mitered abbots, big or little, from an acolyte to a pope; anything of that kind or variety? If he had, he would have laid down his spiritual binocular and exclaimed with a sigh, "Where am I?" Nay. He saw four and twenty elders in the exercise of their spiritual functions There were one hundred and forty, and four thousand there already — not a pope nor a prudential committeeman in the whole heavenly country. The brethren of the other communions will all come into the most ancient, the divine and the eternal church of God, at last.

Presbyterianism a Model for Governments

Allow me to assure Drs. Henson and Gilbert, who have so ably and agreeably set forth the claims of their respective denominations, of an abundant entrance. They will wake up on the other side and be in the Presbyterian Church without knowing it. It will be a case of infant baptism. When they come to sprinkle that heavenly infant, Dr. Henson, I will volunteer to hold the child.

The Presbyterian Church, therefore, stands for a government of the people, by the people, and, under God, for the people. Our federal government took Presbyterianism as its model. It does not always realize its ideal. It is the fate of all free governments to fall at times under a dictator. Caesar tramped down the freedom of Rome, the two Napoleons the freedom of France, and a little dictator sometimes bobs up in the Presbyterian Church; but he soon bobs down again.

The doctrine of the Presbyterians is in accord with his polity — the sole sovereignty of God and the perfect freedom of man. The sovereignty of God can receive no help from us, but the freedom of man may receive much. The first element of freedom is knowledge; therefore the Presbyterian who knows his calling is devoted to the education of the people. Thus it has come about that the Presbyterians possess a higher average of education than any other people. They are deeply devoted to the interests of free schools, academies, colleges, schools of every kind and grade. They are rigid in requiring thorough scientific, historical and classical education of candidates for their ministry. It is the highest ambition of father and mother to educate their children.

That men may be free they must be virtuous as well as intelligent. The Presbyterian is therefore a champion for every instrumentality and reform that will elevate the moral standard of men. They are vigorous defenders of the Sabbath, because it is essential to the intellectual, moral and spiritual enlightenment of men. They are uncompromising enemies of the saloon, because it is a chief force in maintaining the devil's institution of human chattelhood. Whatever degrades men enslaves them to their own passions, or to the will of other men is determinedly resisted. They regard the Bible, and therefore they so strenuously defend it, as the magna charta of human freedom, the charter of God, upon which a man may stand and bid defiance to any master, civil or ecclesiastical — to satan, to the pope, to the civil autocrat. We stand in this freedom wherewith Christ Jesus hath made us free. To this Presbyterians have testified with their blood on many a battlefield, with their eloquence on countless platforms and pulpits. See how our Hollanders met Alva, our Orangemen met James, our Roundheads met Charles, our Scotch Irish met George III. They have nailed their doctrine of human freedom fast to their standards.

Characteristics of Presbyterians To-day

Wherein does the present Presbyterian differ from his predecessors? Chiefly in that he knows more — hence he is not so narrow, turbulent or bigoted. He is more liberal with his money because he has more of it. He is more liberal in his charity toward other faiths, because he sees that they are on his side in the great war for Christ's kingdom. He is not so dogmatic and pugnacious, because the more he knows, the more he knows he does not know. He has plenty of information to acquire along that line yet. Our men who know it all are now confined to two classes — old men who stopped acquiring knowledge forty years ago, and young men who have not yet begun to acquire it. They are the fellows who stand ready to explain things to God.

The traditions of Presbyterianism are, as we have seen in the line of a broad and enlightened patriotism. This has its drawbacks so far as the church is concerned, in that our people give almost as freely to outside enterprises and charities as they do to their own, thereby earning for themselves the sobriquet, "God's foolish people." It loses for us much practical sectarian zeal. It is exemplified in the number of men of our faith who occupy positions of great civil responsibility. Our presidents are predominately Presbyterian. Of the present governors of the states there are more than twice as many who are Presbyterians as of any other type.

What is the present chief duty of the Presbyterian? I must say that it is to inform himself more thoroughly of his mission in the world, and to concentrate his strength more closely upon it. He must stop scattering. He cares little about ceremonial, the mode of baptism, etc. He does not believe in the "historic episcopate," nor in anybody's "divine rights."

Cardinal Beliefs of the Church

What he believes in is regeneration, moral reform, education, liberty, human brotherhood and equality before God and the civil law. Let him put his money and his muscle behind his own works. Let him be more watchful in spotting demagogues, civil or ecclesiastical. Let him not allow himself to be diverted from his work by controversies over non-essentials.

It is said by some that Presbyterianism stands for doctrine. No, it does not, in the sense that it is a sexton's guard standing at the mouth of a funeral vault to prevent the stealing of the dead. It stands for living principles toward man and pure worship toward God. It stands resolutely for the Bible because the Bible is its charter of rights, terrestrial and celestial. It stands for God as the universal Sovereign, for Christ as the expiatory Savior, and for man as a lost sinner, whom it is the duty of every Presbyterian to find and bring back to his Father's house.

—The Ram's Horn, Nov. 17, 1900, p. 9.

What Should Ministers Preach?

1900

An opinion as to what ministers should teach in from The Presbyterian:

Perhaps better and larger gains from the world would follow if ministers not only expected, but taught their people to expect, conversions through the ordinary preaching of the word. We have got so much into the habit of awaiting the arrival of the evangelist or of relying upon spasmodic and special revival work that we do not either look or work for the salvation of souls in ordinary church conditions.

God is not confined to extraordinary operations. He has his regular agencies. He has promised to bless them where faith, earnestness and energy accompany them. Healthy developments in Christian activity and in religious life greatly justify God and advance his kingdom.

Pastor Pleaded for Dumb Animals

1901

Rev. Dr. Spalding, Who Preached First Sermon in America on This Theme, Urges Mercy to Beasts

Rev. Dr. George B. Spalding of the First Presbyterian Church yesterday morning preached a sermon on "Cruelty to Animals" in response to a request from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which asked the ministers of the city to preach upon the topic. The sermon, which was of especial interest, was heard by a large congregation.

Dr. Spalding said that religion, in the commandments and the beatitudes, takes in God and man and every living thing.

Dr. Spalding spoke in particular of the law of Sabbath rest in the Fourth Commandment, which he said was the most tenderly humane law of the decalogue, which God intended should apply not only to "every son and daughter of mankind aching, breaking under the strain of the ceaseless toil of the week; but more than this, rest for the cattle which share man's work and strain and suffering."

Turning from the decalogue of the Old Testament to the beatitudes of the New, Dr. Spalding said the same union of heavenly and earthly relations was to be found.

"The beatitude 'Blessed are the merciful,'" he said, "stands like a queen among the sisterhood of royal blessings. There is no humanity without such mercy; there is no religion without such mercy; there is no love to God without a love which takes on this mercy towards man and bird and beast." He then continued:

"I look back to-day on forty years of ministry. It is my satisfaction that I have ministered to many a human want and spoken in defense of many of my fellows' rights, and perhaps in some way have lessened 'man's inhumanity to man,' but I rejoice with a special joy that early in my ministry I preached a sermon on 'The Rights of Animals' which has been registered as the first sermon on the subject ever preached in America.

Tail Hocking and Pigeon Shooting

"But how much, how very much remains to be done before men and even women will be truly merciful. The very hardest task still remains to be accomplished — to win society, to win fashion to humanity and mercifulness. What shall we say when the slaughter of pigeons by the thousands and the slow dying of many of them with legs and wings shot away is still the spectacle of the meetings of the shooting clubs made up of wealthy and intelligent men of the State? What shall we say when the fashion of the day demands that the horses shall be maimed and tortured before they be counted fit for public display in the market and street?

"Oh, gentlemen, oh, tender women, how long shall the awful cruelty toward these your friends escape your better thought, your natural sensibility? There are those who mock at such sentiments as weak, as womanly. They would brush it all away by affirming that no great pain is really inflicted. I know of what I am speaking. With my own eyes I have witnessed the whole awful process of torture extending through days. I have seen the sweating agony which these noble creatures suffer to make them meet the style which a merciless fashion inexorably demands.

"Is sensitiveness to such distress a turn of flabby nerve? and moral cowardice? I take refuge from such a charge in the lives of the poet, the truth of which has been proved on battlefields and shell swept decks and in the face of death in its grimmest forms:

'The bravest are the tenderest —
The loving are the daring.'"

—The Post-Standard, Syracuse, New York, May 13, 1901, p. 7.

Strike-the-Kettle Helps Missionary

1900

Strike-the-Kettle is not a romantic name, but the old Indian who bore that appellation was a leader and a Christian king among his people. For many years Strike-the-Kettle was a scout, protecting the United States mail from hostile Indians. While on this duty he was wounded in a fight with his own people.

A few years ago, when the Dakota prairies were on fire, the Indians of the Standing Rock Agency fought the flames for days. When at last it was feared the whole village would be swept away, a devoted missionary stood watching, with wagon packed, ready to flee at the last moment. In the darkness she saw some one standing by her gate. It was Strike-the-Kettle.

"I can no longer fight the fire," said the wounded old scout, "but I will stay here, Winona. Go to sleep, and I will rouse you in time." When the exhausted woman finally woke, all danger was over, but Strike-the-Kettle was still on guard. Is it strange that on Memorial days Winona lays a wreath on the grave of Strike-the-Kettle?


A One Woman Revival

The enlargement of a church in Quincy, Michigan, and its recent rededication testify anew to the power one person may exert in a community.

Thirty years ago Quincy was but a hamlet, and the Presbyterian Church being reduced to a single member, the presbytery dissolved the church and sent a committee to get the minutes. Mrs. Patter refused either to give up the minutes or to be "dissolved."

"What the presbytery should do," was her plucky answer, "is to send us a minister." Her advice was taken, and to-day the church is happy, hopeful and flourishing. It lived simply because one earnest Christian woman would not let it die.

—Youth's Companion.

The Resurrection Life of Christ

Pennsylvania, 1882

Sermon by Rev. P. H. Mowry

Note: The Rev. P. H. Mowry was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Chester, Pennsylvania.

The preacher taking his text from John 20:17, said:

In the words of Christ to Mary Magdalen, which properly translated read, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say unto them, I am ascending unto My Father and your Father; and to My God and your God." He indicates that in the forty days that lay between the Easter Sunday and the Pentecostal Sunday, his life was of a different character than the ordinary human, and that His body was in a state of transition tending toward its highest spiritual form.

The scene of the incident mentioned in this chapter, was in the garden surrounding the rock-hewn tomb, where His body had been deposited. On the morning of the first day in the week, Mary Magdalen came to look for the body of the Master. When the Lord said to her, "Woman, why weepest thou?" she thought the form before her was the gardener. This, however, gives us no right to suppose that physical appearance of Christ had changed to such an extent, that even Mary Magdalen should not recognize Him, but with her eyes dimmed with tears, her mind preoccupied, and perhaps prevented from seeing Him distinctly by the posture assumed, it was only when another sense was touched, when He said, "Mary!" that she recognized Him. And immediately following Christ adds, as if to prevent an embrace or the grasping of His hands by Mary Magdalen, "Touch me not."

Various reasons have been given as explanations of this, but the most reasonable is this, that the touching of his body was not essential to her for recognition and faith as it was later for Thomas. The special point is that the Lord tells her that He is ascending. That is in other words that he is in a state of transition or transformation from the temporal and physical state to the eternal and spiritual.

Christ's is the first instance of resurrection as distinct from resuscitation or reanimation of those who were dead, as for instance Lazarus. Lazarus was reestablished to the same condition of things out of which he had passed, to live the same life and be subject again to death. This was not the case with Jesus. When he rose, he was risen in triumph no more to die. The transitions through which Christ passed are therefore essential to us. He was the first resurrected, the first born of death and when he returned to the realm of the visible and tangible he had a body. Mary and Thomas did not see a spirit. In some respects it was the same body which is seen by Christ challenging Thomas to put his hands on the marks of the nails.

It was the same body that had hung on the cross, but had changed mysteriously in several respects. It was a palpable body that might be touched, yet it was above the limitations of space, as proved by his appearance in the midst of the disciples through closed doors and afterwards vanishing from their sight. It was a body, which could eat, but did not need it. Christ manifested himself on ten different occasions between his resurrection and ascension. They all indicate that some change had taken place in his body, while still preserving its identity. From this we may reasonably infer that the 40 days constitute a period, measuring the beginning and consummation of the glorification, where at last he assumed the perfect spiritual body in which he was taken from the vision of the disciples.

Of the ten manifestations, five occurred on the day following the resurrection, the five others were distributed over the period; we do not know exactly how, but one was towards the close, that at the shores of the lake of Galilee, where He spoke to the despondent disciples from the shore, and when John said to Peter, "It is the Lord," Peter threw himself in the water and swam ashore. But some awful change was wrought in him, and while the disciples recognized him, they felt that he was not the same who wandered through Galilee with them, but that this was a life of manifestations. And thus he progressed, leaving behind gradually the old earthly relationships, and gathering and lifting up himself into glory everlasting.

The whole subject of Christ's resurrection life is a personal revelation of life and important for every one of us. The heart of the world was aching for this doctrine of resurrection. It is the consolation of the world, the sure, immovable corner-stone whereon to rear the glorious superstructure of our own immortality. It teaches us that there is a continuity of our own existence; that death is only apparently a chasm, and shows most surely the fact that life goes on continuously, preserving individuality. Death in the naturalistic sense of the word is the disintegration of the body, and when it does not break the chain nothing can.

Jesus arises unharmed from sin and death and hell. Behold him, the same who hung on the tree, the same as the one who held familiar converse with the disciples, indestructibly the same yesterday, today and forever. This is the truth of continuity of life in this story, redolent and fragrant with the blossoms of eternity. If Christ's life triumphed over death, ours will. And his process through new faculties of existence to the possession of a spiritual body, the spiritual element evermore assuming the ascendancy until the ascension will be a pattern of ours.

In order to participate in anticipation or reality in this, there must be a oneness of life with Christ, which will be part of us on our passage through the portals of death. Oneness with Christ is the link. Life without a personal union with Christ, how can it expect to share in the benefits he marked out for his children? The question is, are you with Christ? Then all that life of Christ from his birth — the cross, burial, resurrection and ascension — will be to you a grand object-lesson — a picture where you may read what are constituent elements in your own fate. Yours will be similar.

—Chester Times, Chester, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1882.

Birthday Surprise Party for Rev. H. P. Lane

California, 1916

Rev. Henry P. Lane, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, was pleasantly surprised Monday evening at his home, when a number of the members and friends of the congregation arrived to celebrate his fifty-eighth birthday.

In order that the pastor might forget that he was growing older, most of the guests came dressed as children. This group of "grownups" made merry during the evening, playing all the children's games that could be thought of, and in which the pastor heartily took part.

As a token of deep appreciation, N. P. Smith, on behalf of those present and others not present, presented to Rev. Lane fifty-eight crisp one-dollar bills, one for each year of his life. The gift was visibly a surprise indeed, and in his acceptance Rev. Lane expressed his sincere expression of good will.

Mrs. Lane, the hostess, had arranged refreshments, which were greatly relished at the close. Among those present from out of town were Herrick Lane and wife, of Eagle Rock and Paul Lane of Catalina, both sons of Rev. Lane.

—The Van Nuys News, Van Nuys, CA, Feb. 4, 1916, p. 1.

Clerical Idol of Young

1914

Presbyterian Minister Inaugurates "Lovers' Night" At His Church

Philadelphia, Jan. 5. — Being the product of an era in sympathy with his advanced religious ideas, the Rev. Zed Hetzel Copp, pastor of Cohocksink Presbyterian church, is fast becoming the clerical idol of the community and the special favorite of the younger generation. A distinct hit with the latter has just been made by Mr. Copp in inaugurating a "lovers' night" at his church.

The Rev. Mr. Copp recently decided there was more talk about love in churches than there was of the presence of the commodity itself. His plan is the throwing open of the church doors every Friday evening to the young men and women who are "keeping company" or desire to do so, and of providing for them suitable opportunity to make love under proper conditions.

Comment: I probably should add that the phrase "to make love" back then meant something entirely different than now. It could be simply being together, sitting together without parental supervision. Or holding hands, looking at the moon together, etc. Even in the '60s, when Elvis sang "It's time to make love," he also meant these more moderate romantic exertions, kissing on the beach probably in his case, going by his movies. Although the song "Do Not Disturb," from which that lyric comes from, does say, "Hang a sign on the door," which is getting more serious. So the pastor's plan back in 1914, while apparently on the daring side, wouldn't really have amounted to that much. Sitting in the same pew sort of like a married couple.

Dr. Aked Resigning Under Fire, Bible Snatched and Torn

1914

Dr. Aked to Resign Under Church Fire

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5. — As the result of criticism directed by the Presbyterian Ministers' Association of the San Francisco Bay cities against the declaration made Sunday by the Rev. Dr. Charles F. Aked, a clergyman of international repute, he probably will resign as president of the San Francisco Church Federation, according to announcement just made by Doctor Aked himself.

A communication has been prepared by the Ministers' Association asking for Doctor Aked's resignation because of utterances from the pulpit of the First Congregational Church last Sunday.

Doctor Aked said he would not support the doctrine of the miraculous conception and birth of Christ. "My conclusion upon this question," he announced, "is that the faith of Mark and John and James and Paul is good enough for me. It is good enough for any Christian. These men say nothing about Jesus having come into the world in a miraculous way. I prefer to stand with them."


1914

Minister's Bible is Snatched and Torn

Unknown Man Shows His Hatred for Dr. Aked's Doctrines

SAN FRANCISCO, March 1. — To show his disapproval of an unorthodox minister, an unknown man interrupted the ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone of the Congregational church in this city today, and tearing the Bible from the hands of the Rev. Charles Frederick Aked, who was speaking, tore the book to pieces and denounced the minister.

The occurrence caused much excitement, but the man turned quietly away, after he had torn the Bible, and walking into the crowd disappeared. His identity is still unknown.

Dr. Aked was formerly pastor of the church of John D. Rockefeller, and resigned from it some, years ago, issuing a rather caustic charge against the rich and their religion at the time of his resignation. He has been in San Francisco for the last ten years and has written quite extensively for the press on moral and social problems.

Preacher Whips His Hearers with Sarcasm

Ohio, 1922

Marietta Pastor Recommends Jack Dempsey as Successor and Quits Job in Disgust

MARIETTA, Ohio, Sept. 26. — "They tell me when your last pastor preached his farewell sermon he said he would never recommend a preacher for this pulpit. I would not go as far as that. I think I have someone in mind who would be the right man for this church. He is a London minister and is called 'the fighting parson.' Whenever anyone disagrees with him he takes them outside the church and gives them a good licking. I recommend him for this pulpit.

"But, you say, 'Oh, we don't want an Englishman.' Then you can get someone in this country. There is Jack Dempsey; he's good enough for you. Failing him, you could get a mechanical, life sized preacher that some of the officious in the church could run."

In these words Rev. Mayson H. Sewell opened his farewell sermon in the fashionable First Presbyterian church here Sunday evening.

Before he had finished he made the arraignment of his congregation so hot that many of Marietta's "first citizens" arose from their pews and left the church.

Mr. Sewell lambasted the card players and dancers and continuing said: "There are lots of people who have lots of money, fine clothing, beautiful homes and fine limousines who are poor — poor in sympathy, poor in charity, poor in the experience of real, vital religion, maybe poor in honesty and in integrity. You think you are educated and know it all. Christ says you are blind — blind in regard to your spiritual state and your lack of spiritual vision. There is a great difference between what some people think themselves to be and what they really are. There is little hope for the man whose eyes are sanded with self-conceit and blinded to his own deficiencies."

Dr. Sewell came to Marietta eight months ago from New Philadelphia. He is an Englishman by birth and soon after coming here asked for a three months leave of absence to visit his European home. The session of the church refused this and the refusal led to an open break. The pastor appealed the case to the congregation, declared the session was autocratic and tendered his resignation.

The congregation voted nearly unanimously to accept. Dr. Sewell says he has had enough of America and will return to his native land.

—The Coshocton Tribune, Coshocton, Ohio, September 26, 1922, p. 3.

Note: The above article actually gives the pastor's first name and middle initial as "Myson M.," changed here. Other newspapers all give his first name as "Mayson" and whether it's "H" or "M" would be a toss-up. But his name appears on a Google search as "Mayson H. Sewell," being pastor at Arlington Heights Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, 1912-1913, and the same name at another place in 1910-1912. The great "sarcasm" headline is from an Indiana paper.

Where the Deaf May Hear

1896

Many an old lady goes to church of a Sunday and sits through the service in a frame of mind devout to a degree, but never hears a solitary word of the sermon.

There is a preacher in Syracuse, Rev. George B. Spalding, D. D., who has changed all that. Dr. Spalding is pastor of the first Presbyterian Church, a religious body made up in the main of wealthy folk to whom money is no particular object.

Moved at first by the lamentations of some of his aged parishioners that they could not hear his preachments — Dr. Spalding was a newspaper man before he joined the clergy, and is a practical soul withal — he arranged, for the better delivery of the Gospel to those deaf brethren and sisters, speaking tubes which ran from a large metal receiver — really a megaphone immediately in front of him on the pulpit, down under the flooring of the auditorium and up into the pews.

The megaphone is built into the front of the pulpit, so that when reading or speaking the doctor addresses it directly.

So successful did the clergyman's device prove, that speaking tubes were put into every pew in the great auditorium. Any person, who is hard of hearing and happens to be a visitor to the church, will find means at hand of hearing the sermon.

One deaf old lady, who went to Dr. Spalding's church the other day, having heard of the speaking-tube system, burst into tears when she put the transmitter to her ear and caught the sound of the preacher's voice. She said it was the first sermon she had heard in over a quarter of a century. — New York Journal.

Rev. Little to Tell Why He's Presbyterian

Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1917

Famous Wabash Divine to Speak at First Church Here Sunday

Rev. Charles Little, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Wabash for over forty-two years, and one of the leading and best known ministers of his denomination, will speak Sunday evening at the First Presbyterian church in this city on "Why I Am a Presbyterian." The address is one of the series being conducted at this church.

Dr. Little is one of the really big men of the Presbyterian church. He comes from a family of Presbyterian preachers, most of his brothers. His son, Robert, is pastor of the leading Presbyterian church in Scranton, Pa., at the present time.

Dr. Little is a splendid pulpit orator with a fine wit and sense of humor that always pleases. He is an ex-moderator of the Presbyterian church of the United States, an honor that is seldom conferred upon a man coming from a town no larger than Wabash.

—The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, IN, May 5, 1917, p. 5.

Evangelist Works In Love; "No Blacksnakes" About Him

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1904

BLACKSNAKES

Evangelist Rowland Has None Concealed About His Person, but Deals in Kindness

There were four professed conversions in the young people's meeting yesterday at the Second Presbyterian church. This service is becoming a force in East Lincoln for a Christian life that is making many glad.

The meeting of last night was a sweet, spirited one and simple, clear directions were given for entering the better life. No evangelist who ever visited Lincoln excels Mr. Rowland in ability to guide an enquirer. He was a trusted lieutenant of Mr. Moody in several of his great meetings, having charge of inquiry meetings, a work the great evangelist never entrusted to any but the ablest men. In one thing Mr. Rowland differs from most evangelists and pastors. He has absolutely no blacksnakes concealed about his person for any one. What he can not do by kindness and love and gentle persuasion he refuses to attempt to do at all. The feature of the meeting last night was the presentation of requests for prayer by people who were burdened for friends.

Rev. Long said he had the names of forty-seven in a little book for whom he was praying. Perhaps it is revealing a confidential message, but the pastor did not sleep much last night on account of some of these people whose names are in his little book. Second church people feel that they are getting back into regular work of an apostolic sort in having fifteen or twenty services a week. Back to the days of which it is said, "The Lord added to the church daily such as were being saved."

Rev. Long assured his people last night that in some one of the three services held daily some one was being daily led to Christ. The subject for tonight will be "The Man Who Lacked But One Thing."

—Lincoln Evening News, Lincoln, Nebraska, Nov. 16, 1904, p. 6.

Note: Evangelist L. P. Rowland began the evangelistic campaign Sunday, Nov. 6, 1904, at Second Presbyterian church, also called Second Presbyterian Temple, corner Twenty-sixth and P streets. The Rev. Barzillai M. Long was the minister.

The Bicycle a Means of Grace

1895

A Presbyterian minister, Rev. Roland D. Dawson, declares that the bicycle is a means of grace.

He lately preached a sermon on this topic, taking for his text the passage from Isaiah, "And their wheels were like a whirlwind." He suggested, moreover, that cobblestone streets could be made into good bicycle routes at small expense by covering them with a coat of asphalt.

He said wheelmen would be welcome to come to his church on their machines, and the bicycles would be cared for during service. As a means of giving women strength and independence and "freeing them from the slavery of the skirt" there was nothing like it.

The bicyclists ought to patronize his church in great force, for he called for the universal construction of wheel routes. He predicted that before long the bicycle would be the common means of transit, and every one not physically incapable would ride it.

New Pastor Makes Bow — 'Don't Talk About Me To Others'

Ada, Oklahoma, 1922

Rev. E. O. Whitwell, new pastor of the Presbyterian church, desires to make his bow to the citizens of Ada and the surrounding community in general and to members and friends of the church in particular.

"In beginning the active work of shepherd of the flock permit me to say a few things to be remembered.

"I am not here only to serve the church, but to use the church as a force in serving the city and community and thereby make the church popular by reason of the good it does to as many people as possible.

"To accomplish this we must first become well acquainted with each other and with the needs of the field of operations, thoroughly organizing ourselves to give each worker plenty of definite tasks to keep him so busy with valuable services that there will be no time to make trouble in idleness.

"I most cordially invite the full co-operation of the members and friends of the Church, specially in the following ways and as many more as you may think of.

"Talk to me about what you think I should do and do not talk about me to others regarding the things I fail to do.

"Call me, write me, send for me when you or your friends are sick, in trouble, in love, or for any other service of a minister. I am not a mind reader and do not communicate with spirits to find your needs.

"Let us all be boosters not knockers, workers not shirkers, soldiers not slackers, seeking by all possible means to prove worthy of the honor of citizenship in the country in which we live and the kingdom of God.

"To do my duty among you as a Christian and a citizen shall be my every day purpose, but my highest ambition will be to inspire and lead as many people as possible to victory in the battles of life thus helping to make our city and country a better place in which to live the life that now is and prepare for the life that is to be.

"Command me when it is possible for me to serve you and be ready at all times to assist me in serving others; thus may we be coworkers together with God and with one another in being the friend of man. Remembering that he is the friend of God only who is the friend o£ his fellow men, let us seek to be greatest of all by being servants of all.

"Hoping to see multitudes of you each Sunday morning in the City Hall taking part in the Bible school and the church services, I ask the privilege of subscribing myself your humble servant in Christ.

"E. O. WHITWELL,
"Minister Presbyterian Church."

—The Ada Evening News, Ada, Oklahoma, May 6, 1922, p. 6.

Novel Use for Phonograph — Dictates Sermons

1909

Dictates Sermons Into Machine and Then Listens to Them

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 6. — Rev. R. G. Ramsay, pastor of the Northminster Presbyterian Church of this city, has evolved a brand-new idea which he finds so helpful in the preparation of his sermons, that he believes other ministers will adopt it as soon as its real utility becomes known.

It is nothing more nor less than to dictate his sermons into a phonograph, then turn on the machine and listen to the reproduction of his own voice. Not only does he then get a clear idea of just "how it will sound" when his congregation hears it, but he saves time and labor writing out his notes, and by listening to the repetition of the sermon two or three times has it fixed in his mind so that he does not need a manuscript in the pulpit.

"I have entirely escaped the feeling of physical exhaustion that always followed writing out a sermon with pen or typewriter," said Mr. Ramsay. "I find, too, that my memory retains better what comes into my ear than that which I merely read. It is a great saving on the eyes, as there is no strain on them whatever. The phonograph records provide an easy way of retaining a record of each sermon, and if I do not want to preserve any sermon, I can shave the records off and use them again and again. The expense is no larger, I believe, than paper and ink would be for the same number of words. I believe that if ministers generally knew what a help the phonograph is they would all use it."

No Girl Teachers, Chinese Quit

1909

No Girl Teachers, Chinese Quit; "Christian" Chinks Shown Up

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Chinamen in Pittsburgh are deserting the Christian religion because the Second Presbyterian Church no longer permits a female instructor for each pupil in the big mission conducted by the church. Since the Elsie Sigel murder, prominent members of the church have been urging that the schools have one male teacher. The church now has decided that this plan shall be enforced, and the Chinese, highly indignant, are deserting the mission. Yee Teng, who has been active among the Chinese for thirty years, was appointed Superintendent of the Mission. He disapproves of the plan now in force.

"Chinese must have individual instructors," he said. "I can't see how I am going to teach my countrymen the religion of Christ if I don't give each one a teacher.

To which we fervently and piously say: "Oh, Rats!"


CONVERTS BUY POOL TABLES

WELLINGTON, Texas — The Reverend Peter Cartwright, gambling crusader, has been so successful with a revival here that his converts raised $750, bought out all the pool tables in town and burned them in the street. The preacher also is conducting a fight against dancing.

Revival A Success, Many Souls Saved

Pennsylvania, 1921

REVIVAL A SUCCESS

The revival services at the Eleventh Street Methodist church are increasing in interest with every meeting. The pastor reports many souls saved. A cordial invitation is extended to all to attend the meetings at which special sermons are being preached.


FIREMEN WILL ATTEND CHURCH

The Clearfield fire department will attend the Presbyterian church in a body Sunday evening, when Dr. Reeve will preach the annual sermon to the department.

—The Progress, Clearfield, PA, Jan. 15, 1921, p. 3.

Note About Some of Our Town Folk

Stevens Point, Wisconsin, May 22, 1907

Information has been received by local friends from Rev. L. J. Pescinski that he sailed from Europe on May 11. He intends to stop at some of the larger cities enroute from the east and is expected here the last of May.

The ladies of the Presbyterian church will give a baby show on Tuesday, June 4, in Mr. Andrae's vacant store in the Opera House block. All babies entered must be under four years of age.

The vestrymen of the Episcopal church have extended a call to Rev. E. M. Thompson to take charge of the Church of the Intercession, but no formal acceptance has as yet been received. The reverend gentleman is now located at Wausau.

The Epworth League will give a "Rubber Social," Friday evening. May 21th, at the M. E. church. Everybody cordially invited. A program will be given. Admission fee: bring old rubbers. Refreshments, 10 cents.

—The Gazette, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, May 22, 1907.

In The Churches Tomorrow - "Building a Skyscraper"

Warren, Pennsylvania, 1928

GOSPEL TENT MEETING

Franklin St. Ext. and Conewango Ave. First service of the Sabbath Day will be at 3:00 P. M. Robert S. Conley will conduct the singing and give special selections. At this service Evangelist A. L. White will preach a special message on "Building a Skyscraper." Prayer and Praise service at 7:15 P. M. Regular preaching service at 7:45 P. M.


SWEDISH CONGREGATIONAL

Market Street Near Third, J. H. Lundgren, pastor. Sunday school 10 A. M. Main school theme: "Joseph's Humiliation and Elevation." Chas. Waterbrant, superintendent.

Morning worship, 11 a. m., and evening service, 7:30 o'clock. After the morning service the Lord's supper will be observed. Rev. A. G. Nelson from Sugar Grove, will occupy the pulpit at both morning and evening services. The choir will sing.

Wednesday evening, 7:30, prayer service.

Thursday afternoon, the Ladies Aid will meet in the church parlors at 2:30 o'clock. Mrs. Chas. Waterbrant will entertain.

All are very welcome to our different services and meetings.


NORTH WARREN PRESBYTERIAN

J. C. Howenstein, pastor. "The Great I Am," will be the subject of the sermon at the morning worship service at 11 A. M. The choir will render an anthem.

Sunday school precedes this service at 10 A. M. This is the best place for the entire family on Sunday mornings.

A series of sermons begins this Sunday evening at 7:30, on the general theme, "What Protestants and Roman Catholics are saying about each other."

The subject on this Sunday evening is "How Many Sacraments Are There—Seven, Two or None?" On subsequent evenings the topics will be "Material Objects as Aids in Worship," "The Question of Infallibility," "The Church and Government Control," "The Church and the Political Situation."

The regular meeting of Presbytery occurs on Monday and Tuesday at Erie in the Sarah Hearn Memorial church and the pastor is to attend.

Wednesday evening meeting of prayer and conference at 7:30.

The church makes no apology for its existence; will you be a worshipper Sunday?

—The Warren Tribune, Warren, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1928, page 9.

Missionary Minnehaha Finney Shows Egyptian Curios

Iowa, 1903

Egyptian Social Is Unique

Atlantic, March 12. — Miss Minnehaha Finney, an Egyptian missionary, who is home for a year's vacation from her labors, assisted the numbers of the Y. P. C. U. of the United Presbyterian church in giving an Egyptian social, which was a very unique affair.

Miss Finney conducted the visitors on a tour through Egypt, being assisted by many pictures representing the country, cities, and the employment, customs and habits of the people. A native bride, a peasant girl and a boy, also one wearing the usual street costume, were present and assisted.,

Another attraction was the table of curios containing specimens of dress, literature and articles used in their superstitious customs.