Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1961 - Rparchives.org

18 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THE
buses were licensed and 81,536,726 drivers. In one year, 1955,
there were 7,929,186 passenger cars sold besides 1,249,090 trucks.
And now our depression not only gets devoted attention but seems
to be less serious. The amounts spent for churches are wonderful.
Our own College and Seminary show the Covenanters have material
blessings. Church memberships for Protestants increased only
half as much as those for Catholics, but the enrollment in Sabbath
Schools went up four times as much as the Protestant gain in
church members.
But how are Christians responding to Christ's words, "If ye
love me, keep my commandments" More churches have only one
service; and more professing Christians turn the rest of the Sabbath
into a holiday, far from a holy one. The chief issue among
denominations seems to be church union, but not by study of the
Bible but simple dropping of old beliefs. Sunday newspaper circulation
for the same paper is usually one-half over that of the weekdays,
and a good many Christians listen to more than sermons on
the Sabbath day radio.
Christ said, "Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is
come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses." Again, soon after
that, we read, "When they had prayed . . . they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
So many Christians, including Covenanters, either have not prayed
earnestly enough, or they have not prayed for the right things, for
they do not all speak the word of God with boldness.
We recommend:
1. That the days appointed in the U. S. and Canada for thanksgiving
be observed with a religious service.
2. That a day in the annual Week of Prayer be made a day of
repentance and prayer, and of as much fasting, to concentrate
thought on repentance, as the thanksgiving day was observed with
feasting, to concentrate thought on thankfulness.
Submitted by
George S. Coleman
Robert Fullerton
Merlin Wing
Rev. George Soltau of the Enon Valley Bible Presbyterian
Church brought greetings to the Synod from the Bible Presbyterian
Church.
Synod took recess in prayer by R. J. G. McKnight.
THURSDAY, 7:30 P.M.
Synod reconvened in prayer by R. W. McMillan.
The roll was caUed.