The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-10-10

from the Phiadelphia Bulletin, October A.
The Broad Church Movement In Phil
| adelphia-Immense Meeting of all De-
| nomlnatfOns-Thlrteen Sects Repeat
| ing the Apostles Creed-New Phase
Of Professionalism.
We happened, fortunately, to be present at
epiphany Church, yesterday morning, and
were Interested much beyond our expectations.
Some time since, it appears, that number of
our prominent clergymen of different denomi-
nations signed paper, which was published in
al inc religious and some Of the daily journals,
the bearing of which was that they were
deeply concerned at the divisions among
Cnrlstans. They proposed that there should
be concert Of prayer for Catholic unity. on
the first Monday in October.
The Rev. J. W. Cracraft offered the Epi-
phany Church, Fifteenth and Chestnut street,
tor meeting of ministers at nine o'clock.
When We arrived at the church, at perhaps
twenty minutes after nine, we found it crowded
in almost every part with an audience of ladies
and gentlemen. This, of itself, at 80 early an
hour, on weekday, was exciting. Looking
around we saw everywhere clsrgymen Of ali
denominations, and we have been told that one
hundred and fifty were present. Mr.. Cracraft
presided, ministers of the churches crowding
about him in and around the..chancel. The
Rev. DR.. Boardman, of the Presbyterian
Church, 70. SD opened the meeting with
prayer. Mr.. Cracraft read from the Scriptures.
He then read letter from Bishop McIivaine,
OF Ohio, cordially approving tho object of the
meeting.
Dr.. Nott,!for half century President Of
Union College, Schenectady, New York, of the
Presbyterian Church, (Old School) then rose,
with some assistance from DR.. Jenkins and DR..
Dufield, OF Detroit-an exceedingly venerable
figure, with snow-white hair--and leaning on
his staff, for he feels the weight of four-score
years, he addressed the assemblage q few
words breathing the spirit of Christian Union.
The Chairman then called upon the venerable
Dr.. Humphrey, Of the Congregational iChurch,
late President Of Amherst College, Massachu-
sets, who responded in similar strain,
marked with much modesty as well as Chris
tian fervor.
The Rev. W. B. Stevens, D. D., of the Epis.
copal Church, who, as we understand from his
remarks, drafted the original paper, then ad-
dressed the meeting, stating that he had not
imagined, when he wrote it in his study, that
such consequences were to grow out of so simple
and unobtrusive movement. He was fol-
lowed by tho Rev. Albert Barnes, one Of the
signers of the paper, who carried forward the
meeting in the same spirit. Prayer and sing
ing were interspersed at intervals. DR.. Jen-
kinS, OF the Cavalry Church, Presbyterian IN.
S.) made very earnest speoch as to tho ne
cessity of the manifestation of the unity which
really exists among Christians, stating among
other things that there is cure for all existing
divisions.
The most Interesting incident Of the meet
ing occurred at this point, an incident 80 far
as wo know, unparalleled in the history of
Protestantism. DIR. Nevin, of tho Presbyte-
rlan Church, 20. 81 rose and stated that the
apostles creed was one of the symbols of his
branch of the church, and it might be of all
the churches represented, and proposed that
MIR. Cracraft should repeat it as the creed of
tho meeting, all standing and joining in it,
Instantly every individual of the vast as
sembly sprang to his feet. The Chairman
began: 81 believe in God, the Father AL
mighty, maker of Heaven and Earth" Ey-
cry voice joined him. Nearly two thousand
people -Epscopalians, Presbyterians, Old
and New School, Seceders, Covenanters
Dutch Reformed, German Reformed, Bap.
lists, Methodists, Lutherans, Moravans, Con-
gregatlonalsts, Independents--al repeated
with the simplicity Of children this grand
old formula which has come down to us ON
the. stream OF ages--"l believe in God, the
Father, Almighty" Even calm spectator,
not easily excited, and standing aloof from
any enthusiasm OF the moment, could not
but be moved. As the "apostles' creed," 50
called, is the only uninspred summary of
Christian doctrine in which all these churches
believe, it seemed like an act of union of the
Church Universal. 1t brought startlinrly,
and Judging from the appearance of the con
gregation, affectingly, to every individual
the idea so much lost sight of, that in all that
is essential these Christians cut up into what
are called sects, are in fact one.
Addresses and prayers followed from Rev.
DR.. Newton, of the Episcopal Church, the ven
erable Mr.. Kennard, of tie BAPTIST Church.
Mr.. Alfred Goodman, of the Methodist and
Mr.. Taylor, of the Reformed Dutch. Mr..
Cookman mado the excellent remark that the
points in which Evangelical Churches agree
are facts, while those on which they differ are,
for the most part, theories; and the latter made
q touching allusion to the funeral of the Rev.
Dudley A. Tying, the former rector of Epiphany
Church. The last speaker was Mr.. Wilder, o
Missionary from India, who dwelt upon the
interest which would be taken in this scene by
the missionaries all over the world. The large
assembly was then dismissed with the benedc-
tion pronounced by the Rev. John Chambers,
the meeting, instead of lasting an hour, having
been prolonged nearly two hours and o half.
A meeting, in pursuance of the same circu-
lar, was held at Jayne's Hall, at four o'clock,
P. N. At this all were invited to take part,
the meeting in the morning being specially for
clergymen, though others were invited to be
present. The afternoon meeting was immense.
1t can only be numbered by thousands. The
floor, platform, boxes, galleries, were nearly
everywhere filled with people. The exercises,
in their general tone, were similar to those in
the morning.
These meetings may affect our readers vari-
ously; but no one can help being struck with
them as indicative ofa general and remarkable
movement connected with the progress Of
Christianity.
The FAST YsUNa MAN.-The sale of the
horses and carriages belonging to young Lane
who, on salary Of $500 per year in the Fulton
| Rank Naw Vnrk Niku ok