A Historical Sketch of the Reformed Presbyterian Church General Synod

'U KhKORMt-.U PRESBYTk KIAN CHURC H OlNl . KAI . SYNUU r>. Most college!* and seminarian are not training young men ami women for any service except the one that will bring in the beat snlary. Most young men want to be considered a first class preacher if they follow that calling. Anything below a thousand dollars a year Is third class. Second class brings one up to $2,000, and all others above that are first fela».a. The small organisation can not for this reason get more than third class preaching, if even that. So this world says and acts. li. Many who with patience and hard labor win second place by and by. get discouraged and run from place to place, and in the end fail to reach their goal. It would not at all be polite to “cry aloud and spare not” ; it would not do to condemn a prevalent sin, for there are so many wtio are guilty, and might not come again; it will never do to preach a long sermon, some nue might get weary or go asleep; it will not do to be short, for some one might think they did not get the worth of their inite placed on the plate, etc. Really, we hear little any more about the common and special sins of the day, and yet the rhetoric an;! style may he faultless. The people may be to blame some­ what; they all have their likes and dislikes; but the Captain’s orders are, “Cry aloud and spare not.” Paul was the greatest preacher (except Jesus Christ), and he is a good example. He did the planting, and others were to do the watering. 7. Many have not been true to their Master or to the de nomination that they have solemnly promised to serve. Oth­ ers have used poor judgment, and made havoc wherever they went. They had a good education and thought at least that they were pious, but they lacked good sense. 8. There were more organizations than could be supported. Some could have been sustained by half time preaching, hut were neglected. Even the Presbyteries were often negligent in giving proper oversight. The Home Mission fields have not re­ ceived the consideration that they should, and the home churches have been growing smaller. The Foreign Missions are too ex­ pensive for the gi owth attained. The mistakes of the past are evident. What can be done to change these conditions and give us new life, vigor, hope, and make us a real evangelical denomination and fulfill our Covenant obligations?