Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

Feb. 1,1893.A FAMILY PAPEE.JAMES R. McKEE.Pittsburgh, Jan. 28th, 1893.John W. Pritchard, Editor Christian Nation:Dear Sir: Death has again entered ourfamily circle, and taken away brother J. E.He was only confined to the house about twoweeks with that terrible typhoid fever, thespirit returning unto God, who gave it, at 2.10p. m., yesterday. His end was very peaceful,having passed away so quietly that we scarceknew at just what moment dissolution tookplace. He was in bis 48ch year, and leaves awife and four children, the youngest (Edna)being 11 years old.He was at the Winter home, No. 75 CedarAve., Allegheny, when he was summoned, andthe funeral will take place from there on Mon­sense the father of the scheme to establish aday afternoon, the SOth, at 2.30. Faithful Dr.fund for the support of the widows and orphansMcAllister was with us before and also at theof miuisters : and the recent movement to providea Home for Aged Women, had in him atime of his departure, and certainly ministeredmuch comfort and consolation, both by hissubstantial friend.presence and prayers. And whilst we mourn,In like manner did he abound in interest inwe do it not as those who have no hope.the general activities of church life. The workPoor boy, he tried st hard to speak when theof tlie Sabbath School lay near his heart.Dr. quoted the words, "Yea, though I walk inWhen he removed from the vicinity of thedea;h'a dark vale," etc., and asked him if hischnrch school he secured the erection of aSaviour was not with him, sustaining him inmission chapel near his home, where he andthe dark valley. He was so weak, however,his family worked and worshipped in the afternoon,after attending the forenoon services atthat he could only answer by holding up hishand a little and closing the fingersseveralBeaver Falls Iq the annual Sabbath Schooltimes against the palm, which we took as aconventions of Pittsbur'^ Presbytery, he wassubstitute for a nod of the head. The samealways a leading spirit.God that gave, has taken him away; and weThe Ladies' Missionary Society of Pittsburghpray for the Christian resignation to say, "GoodPresbytery had in McKee, a tried and faithfulis the will of the Lord " For if we believe himfriend. When that remarkable thank-offeringas we should we ought to know that "He doethservice was held iast June it owed much of itsall things well." We ask yon to pray for us allspiritual fervor and its financial succees to hisin our sorrow. Yours very truly,enthusiastic support. Indeed it seemed as ifJohn C. McKee.THE LATE JAMES R. McKEE.Eev. Prof. E. J. George, D. D.open hand has provided the home for the missionary,and the churoh home for the strugor-bearerhas fallen! Nay, rather, a brave he­shortening his days. Now he is gone. A coiglingmission congregation. Tears will fall for roic leader of the hosts of the Lora has beenhim in every one of our mission fields—Foreign,Home, Southern, Indian and Chinese. memory of such a man, while ahe stands withpromoted. Well may the church honor theuncovered head and streaming eyes beside hisgrave.With the same consecration he entered intothe Eeform Measures of the church. He waslong a member o^. the National Eeform executivecommittee, and generous in support of thecause. When the laat synod decided lo enterupon a more aggressive work, the movementreceived his most cordial support and he accepteda place on its committee on testimonybearing.With like interest he gave himself to the developmentof the church's Benevolent Schemes.The fund for aged ministers he sought to enlargeand render more effective. Ho is in ahis pleasant saintly face beamed on every assemblygathered for church work or for Christianenterprise.Second, his Fidelity. He was broad, aud intelligentin his conception of the principles ofthe Covenanter church; devoted in hia attach­The tidings of the departure out of this worldof Mr. J. E. McKee, of Pittsburgh, Pa., willcarry sorrow to the outmost limits of the ment to them; and bold and courageous in theirchurch's organization, aud to the inmost heart I defense. When the lite of the church was asoflier people. Two things gave heavenly worth \I sailed he proved himself one of the noblest ofto the character and life of Mr. McKee.her sons. When the elders' convention wasFirst, his Breadth. Tiiere are one-sidedcalled, although not at that time an elder, hemen, meu of one idea, who enter intensely into j attended the meeting, and sought opportunitysome one of the many lines of church work, I to enroll himself as one of those who wereand win prominence by devotion to a single I ready to bear reproaches for the testimony ofscheme. Sucli men are deep because they are Jesus. When in the bitter conflict that followednarrow. But, such was not Mr. McKee. There an effort was made to crush the Christian Nationwas no department of the church's work thatbecause it was doing valiant service in thedid not enlist his sympathies and co-operation. defense of the churcb, Mr. McKee came forwardHe was inlerested in the educational uorkwith moral bupport and material aid. Itof the church. He was among the foremost is to his clear perception of the importance ofof the men who gave to the church Geneva a crisis hour in the church's history that weCollege, its buildings and endowment. The are indebted for t!ie stenographic report of theTheologicai Seminary, and the interests of the row historic events of the bynod of IByl.students of Theology, were to him objects of Through his unswerving devotion to thesolicitous care.cturch's interest he sfood at his post of trustHe had fqual concern for her Missionary as the Treasurer of Synod's Invested Funds,enterprises. His heart and hacd went withevery movement for their enlargement. Hiseven at the peril of his life, and in the face oftbe warning of his physicians, that he wasThe church has few such men to lose. Lookingat it from the earthly side it is one of thedeepest mysteries of divine providence thatsuch a worker, in such times as these, sbouldbe taken away in the noon-tide of life. Butfrom the heavenly side it is all clear. Suchmen are fitfor Heaven. We need not thinkit strange that our Lard should say of our deardeparted brother: "Father, I will thathe bewith me whete I am, that he may behold myglory."See Edilorial on page six.THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA CAN HAVE WHAT­EVER THEX "WANT.[bditoeial.]The Chrittian people of this nation possess k powerfor good which it is criminal not to exert in favor ofmorality and righteousness in law making. A lalepaper states that the revolution in favor of openingthe World's Fair on Sabbath is not likely to be reportedto the House, Many Congressmen who wereinclined to vote for a repeal of the Sabbath law at thebeginning of the session, have since heard from the religiousportion of their constituents and have changedtheir minds. It is not hard for a Congressman tochange his mind, we know, and we give him whatcredit is due when he changes it for the better ; butthe point we wish to make is this : the Christian peopleof this nation can have a Constitution that insuresthe enactment of laws in accordance with the law ofGod if they want it ; and instead of blaming their legislators,they ought to blame themselves. As long asthe will of the people is the supreme law of tho land,we may expect that human corruption wili often leadto the trampling of God's law under foot.[ebitoeiai,.]It is currently reported that Professor Henry Drummondhas expressed his desire to modify certain sentimentsthat were written by him in his work uponNatural Law in the Spiritual 'World. The writer hasoften expressed the opinion that the book does notrepresent such a profound sentiment as is commonlyascribed to tbe Professor. The work has been uniformlyexaggerated. It contains a rich vocabulary,beautifal analogies, often however overdrawn, audespecially it displays a very refined intelligence. Theauthor's opinions taken as a whole have been aphoristicallyexpressed with mneh truth in the saying, "AGospel without a Gospel." The whole tendency ofthis book taker; in conjuuction with the other bookletspublished by Professor Drummond, lead me to concludethat the tendency of thought is in a directionaway from the pure and simple Gospel of Christ.Besides there is a tendency, strongly imbedded in thepoetic spirit from which Drummond largely draws,towards a pantlieistic conception of God. If onewould emphasize any two facts as essentials of aChristianity that can stand the test of time, thesewould be the personality of God separate from andyet revealed in all He has mnde, and the self revelationof Jesus Christ, not merely as an example, butas a living and a suflfericgSavior dying to remove sins.These DR. J. points R. W. are SLOANE the antidote : to Drutnmondism.We have five more copies of the hfe of Dr. J. K. W.Sloane. TLe.'^e fivebooks bave just come into ourpossession. They are packed ready for mailing andwill be forwarded immediately on receipt of price,$3.00, with 28c. extra for postage.