The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-22 00:00:00

I, STANDARD.

THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

Yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, a public breakfast
was partaken of, in the Music-hall, by members and
friends of the Evangelical Alliance, the purpose of the
meeting being to receive and bid farewell to the brethren
from America and other countries who had attended the
formation of the Alliance, prior to their departure from
England. It was announced in the bills that a valedictory
address would be given by the Rev. Dr. Byrth, and a
valedictory prayer by the Rev. James Lister ; also that
the Rev. Dr. S. E. Cox, of New York, would reply in
taking leave of the British friends of the Alliance ; and
that other ministers and gentlemen would take a part in
the proceedings. The interest excited was, consequently,
very considerable, and the body of the room was com-
fortably filled, also most of the platform, and a consider-
able part of the small gallery. Amongst those present,
comprising members of every Christian denomination,
were a large number of ladies.
The breakfast was provided by Mr. C. Chalk, of the
London Coffee House, and was substantial but plain.

There were six tables running longitudinally with the
room, and a cross table at the top, under the platform.

Tea and coffee were served from urns, and the long tables
were amply provided with sandwich's, buns, bread and
butter, &c. At the cross table a few delicacies were in-
troduced, including chickens, ham, tongue, &c.
We observed at the head of the room, the Rev. Dr.
Cox, of New York ; the Rev. Mr. Church, of America ;

the Rev. Dr. Patters, also a foreigner ' • the Rev. Dr. Byrth;
the Rev. Mr. Cordeaux ; the Rev. Mr. Kelly ; the Rev.
C. Birrel ; the Rev. S. 0-borne ; Rev. John Todd Brown;
Dr. Massey, of Manchester ; the Rev. W. Marshall, In-
dependent minister of Wigan ; Dr. Blackburn ; John
Cropper; John Howard, Esqrs., and many others of the
clergy and laity, whose names we did not ascertain. In
all, there were present about 400 persons.
After the breakfast the gentlemen who were to take part
in the proceedings went upon the platform, and, as an-
nounced, A. C. Dunlop, Esq., took the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in a short introductory address, an-
nounced in terms of extreme regret that they were that
day deprived of the presence of an esteemed brother, who
had rendered great services in the formation of their Al-

liance—he being confined by severe illness. He besought
those present not to forget him in their prayers. He al-
luded to the Rev. W. Bevan.

A. hymn was then sung, " Come, let us join our cheer-
ful songs ;" after which the Rev. Mr.Cordeaux pronounced
a brief prayer, which he followed up by reading most im-
pressively the 17th chapter of St. John. The same
rev. gentleman then offered a powerful prayer, em-
bracing general subjects, and in behalf of the several
religious institutions of the country. He prayed in a
feeling manner for the conversion of the Jewish people,
and implored a blessing on every society whose object was
to propagate the truths of the Gospel—on all Christian
missionaries—and especially on the Evangelical Alliance,
to render its members kind and loving towards each other.
If this movement emanated from the Lord, which they
believed it did, he prayed that His influence might fall
upon those Christians who had not yet joined them, and
bring them amongst them.
The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to briefly address the
meeting. He said they had met there that morning to
greet their dear foreign brethren who had come to this
country to take part in the formation of the Evangelical
Alliance—an Alliance which he believed was calculated to
produce effects which few had contemplated. A few years
ago if any one had ventured to predict what had now
taken place, he would have been thought a wild enthusiast
little better than mad (hear, hear). What was then the
state of affairs? The dissenters were endeavouring to pull
down the Establishment as if no Christian could belong
thereto, whilst the members of the Established Church
on the other hand were branding Dissenters as if to dissent
from the Established Church was virtually to deny Christi-
anity altogether. (Hear, hear.) Now all who loved the
Lord Jesus Christ were joined together in one holy union.
He need not allude to what had taken place last year, as
he trusted its hallowed influence was still felt on their
minds, and what he had lately witnessed in London
would not he easily erased from his mind. Then
about nine hundred ministers of different denominations
had united in prayer and praise, and in consultation
together how they might best manifest to the world that
union in the Lord which must exist in all the members of
his mystical body. (Loud cheers.) It was to greet those
foreign brethren who had come from the Continent and
America—all of whom were now about to return to their
own land. (Hear.) Had the breakfast taken place on
Friday, there would have been more present. In this they
were forestalled by their Manchester friends, and several
who would have been there left on Saturday by the Hibernia
for America, and the remainder were about to take their
departure to-morrow by the Great Britain. He felt sure,
however, they would go forth with many a heartfelt prayer
from the brethren in this land. (Hear, hear.) After a
few other remarks the chairman concluded by calling on
the Rev. Dr. Byrth, Rector of Wallasey, to deliver a va-
ledictory address to the foreign brethren.
The Rev. Dr. BYRTH, on rising, was greeted with loud
applause. He commenced by saying—Mr. Chairman and
Christian Friends, Many a large meeting have I attended
in this room, connected with some of the most important
objects that can engage the attention of Christians, and
yet I hesitate not to say, that I was never was here upon
any occasion so deeply affecting to myself as the present.
(Hear, hear.) The circumstances connected with this oc-
casion are of no ordinary character. That we have here
some of the most distinguished members of foreign
churches, and that we are about to bid them farewell and
God speed in the name of the Lord, is a matter of no com-
mon interest. (Hear, hear.) Christians from America
and other parts of the world have visited our shores upon
former occasions on errands of Christian philanthropy;
but I believe I speak the truth:when I say, that upon no
occasion before the present was there an assembly convened
from all portions of the Christian church in order to
greet them, or address unto them a valedictory ad-
dress. (Loud cheers.) And assuredly, if there was no
purpose but that, which is the object of this meeting,
there is much which is calculated to produce a strong im-
pression upon every Christian heart; especially would it
be so, if, Mr. Chairman, like yourself and many by whom
you are surrounded, all had had the opportunities we have
lately possessed, of witnessing the holy zeal, listening to
the fervid eloquence, and partaking of the devout affec-
tions of those individuals. (Loud cheers.) Never will
there be obliterated, the impressions made upon our minds
—(I venture to speak for you, Mr. Chairman, as well as
myself)—by our intercourse with our American friends.
(Continued applause.) To the last day of our lives, whe-
ther we see them again in this world or not, we shall
cherish them amongst our best and holiest associations,
and look forward to that meeting where there shall be no
more separation—to that alliance which shall be perfected
in the presence of our common Lord and Master. (Im-
mense cheering for some time.) And yet before I pro-
ceed to the direct object which devolves upon me in ad-
dressing them, I feel that I may be permitted—nay, ham
expected—to say something, at least, respecting the occa-
sion which has brought us together to-day. (Cheers.)
As a member of the Church of England, yielding to
none in my attachment to that Church, whatever may
be thought of my association with my Dissenting
brethren by those who understand not the real nature of
Christian charity,—(Cheers).--I anticipate no danger to
my communion by having the cords of Christian union
drawn towards the members of other Christian commu-
nities more closely, and I will bear my testimony in the
high places of the earth, that I have not met with any in
this Holy Alliance (as I shall call it),—that i have not
met with any member who has a hateful disposition
towards the church to which I belong. (Hear, hear.)
And I will add, I know that my attachment to that church
has not been diminished. (Cheers.) Indeed, I am fully
convinced that in my own congregation there has been a
more manifest improvement, and my efforts in that church
have been more useful and blessed since I gave in my
adhesion to that blessed cause-. (Applause.) It -can be
no called objection to our measures that on the one hand
we are calumniated, and on the other hand left alone.
We will meet the former,lthose who calumniate us, with
the Christian weaponsof charity and forbearance. (Cheers.)
If it be that some with a malevolence beyond knowledge,
should endeavour to sow dissension in our holy assem-
blies, we will not return reproach for evil ; praying even
for our enemies. (Cheers.) And at. to those who are in-
different, and would bring no charge against us, we ven-
ture to believe that the time is not remote when they will
be surprised at their own apathy, and come in numbers to
swell the ranks of this blessed cause. (Cheers.) Mr.
chairman, I have no fears for the Evangelical Alliance.
No cause ever appeared more promising than this ; and
our American brethren will cross the Atlantic and tell far
and wide that they have met with a response to every invita-
tion, and that there is a bond cemented between the
two countries more powerful than any political compact—
lasting beyond the existence of both countries ; and con-
tributing, perhaps, at some future day, to allay angry dis-
cussion, and even to snatch the weapons raised against
his Christain brethren out of the hands of man, and
place them at the foot of the cross. (Hear, bear.)
this appears to me to be no over sanguine view of the
objects of the Alliance, judging from the records of what
has recently passed. (Applause.) I shall, however,
take the liberty of referring to what has been said respect-
ing our recent meetings. It has been said there was much
disputing. No doubt there was much discussion, because
we were a deliberative assembly, and in what deliberative
assembly is there not ? We met morning after morning,
and evening after evening, to the number of about one
thousand. There were persons present from all parts of
the earth, and of every Christian denomination, and could
there be anything but discussion in the formation of our
plans ? (Hear, hear.) Blessed be God, there was discus-
sion, but such as the world never saw before—eager,
earnest, and sometimes warm discussion, but at every
meeting I attended I never witnessed any temper, or
one word, which was unbecoming a Christian speaker.
(Cheers.) And I ask, is not such an effect as this an evi-
dence that there was presiding over us a spirit better and
more holy than our own—even the Spirit of the living God.
(Hear, hear.) Nay. more than all this. The Evangelical
Alliance exhibited in the midst of its most agitated
occasions Christian union preserved entire. (Cheers.)
We were unanimous upon every thing in which unanimity
was desirable. We met together as a synod, or what they
pleased to call it ; but without pretending to Tridentine
infallibilty, they had more than Tridentine unanimity.
(Continued cheers.) The world has never before seen
this, and I am endeavouring to set the world right with
regard to our Association. As I believe that a holy peace
will be the conclusion of this assembly, so I believe it was
the besetting influence in all our assemblies. Vse never
parted without being prepared to give to each other the
right hand of fellowship ; and no individual has gone
away from those meetings without feeling he was a better
man, better prepared to love his fellow-Christians—more
convinced of the evil of his own heart, and more fully con-
vinced that they might all retain their respective differ.
ences, and yet continue together in the prosecution of one
common object. (Loud cheers.) In order to proceed to
the more direct object—our address to our American
brethren—l ask, should we allow them to depart without