The Congregational Club.
By Editor
SEVERAL times we have noticed the sayings of the Congregational Ministers' Club of San Francisco. The following on the Millennium and the Advent we take from the report of a club meeting in the San Francisco Chronicle:— "Rev. Charles Savage of Berkeley presided at the meeting of the Congregational Club yesterday, at which Rev. Mr. Tobey read a paper on the "Second Coming of Christ," reviewing an article on that subject recently published in an English magazine. Christians generally, he remarked, believed in the personal second coming of Christ. The great point of difference was whether that coming was to be before or after the millennium. He agreed with the author of the article reviewed that Christ would come in person before the millennium; when, no one could say, but all should watch therefor. He did not think the world was ever to be converted by the preaching of the gospel. At the rate of progress made at present that would take ten millions of years, or more. "In the general discussion which followed, none of the speakers supported the premillennial view. Rev. Mr. Dexter thought the second coming of Christ was spiritual, not personal, and Rev. Mr. Pond declared he had no faith in the second coming of Christ, and no desire for it. "Rev. Dr. Beckwith remarked that the Irvingites, apostolic brethren and others who made the premillennial advent doctrine prominent in their preaching, had their Christian influence paralyzed thereby." "Rev. Mr. Tobey observed in reply that he did not make a hobby of the doctrine, but believed it and occasionally preached it." The Scriptures abundantly prove that Christ will come again; but if his coming is not personal it is because, as the minister in Chicago well said, they have no personal Saviour. To such, Jesus is mythical. But the statement of "Rev. Mr. Pond" that he has no desire for the coming of Christ, places him in a bad light according to Paul's letter to Timothy. He says the crown of righteousness is laid up for all them that "love his appearing." And he also says that Christ will come "unto salvation" to them who look for him. Heb. 9:28. The "religion of the period," the "advanced church thought," is that which says, "My Lord delayeth his coming," and scoffingly asks, "Where is the promise of his coming?" We are not surprised to see this phase of religion come to the front; it has been "advertised" by Christ and his apostles. But they who are acquainted with the efforts of those who really believe that "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh," and who have the present truth to proclaim, will be surprised at the statement of Dr. Beckwith that "Christian influence" is paralyzed thereby. But then it depends upon what is called Christian influence. We well remember the remark of one reputed to be "an earnest Christian worker," who regretted that we had held meetings in the place, as they had proved so injurious to religion; the church festivals were not nearly so well attended since those meetings began! Everybody said that more attention was paid to the Bible than before. But the Bible is a secondary matter in these times of "advanced Christian thought;" the interest in the festival is the measure of godliness. "Lord, how long?"