Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-10-13
The Broad Church MOvemehs
in Phil1delPhia.
Immense meeting of aR Denomtinations-
thirteen sects repeating the apostles
Greed neU phase OF Protestanism.


From the Philadelphia Bulletin, Oct. 4.
We happened fortunately to be present
at Epiphany Church, yesterday morning,
and were interested much beyond our ex-
pectations. Some time since, it appears,
that a number of our prominent clergyman
of different denominations signed prayer
which was published in all the religious
and some of the daily journals, the bearing
of which was that they were deeply con-
cerned at the division among christians.-
They proposed that there should be con-
cert of prayer for Catholic unity, on the
first monday in October.
The Rev. J. w. Cracraft oferd tho EpipIl-
any church, Fifteenth and Chestnut Street,
for meeting of ministers at nine O'Clock,
When we arrived at the Church at perhaps
twenty minutes after nine o'clock, we found
it crowded in almost every part with an
audience of ladies and gentlemen. This
of itself at so early an hour on week day
was exciting. Looking around We saw
clergymen of all denominations, and We
have been told that one hundred and fifty
were present. Mr.. Cracraft presided, min
isters of the churches crowded about him,
in and around the chancel. The Rev. DR..
Boardman, of the Presbyterian Church,
70. 81 opened the meeting with prayer.
Mr.. Cracraft read from the Scriptures
He then read letter from Bishop Nell
raine of Ohio, cordially approving the OBJ
ject of the meeting.
DR.. Mott. for half a century President Of
Union College Schenectady, New York, of
the Presbyterian Church, (Old School,
then arose, 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 ad-
dressed tc the assemblage a few words
breathing the spirit of Christian Union.
The Chairman then called upon the yener-
able DR.. Humphrey, of the Congregation
al Church, late President of Amburst Col
lege, Massachusetts,, who responed in
similar strain, marked with much modesiy
and Christian fervor.
The Few. w. B. Stevens, D. D., of the
EPISCOPAL Church, who as we understood
from his remarks, drafted the original pa
per, then addressed 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
n movement. He was followed by the
Rev. Albert Barnes, one of the sighers of
the paper, who carried forward the meet
ing in the same spirit. Prayer and sing
ing were interspersed at intervals. DR..
jenkins, of the Calvary Church, Presbyte-
rian IN. S. made very earnest speech rs
to the necessity of the manifestation of
the Unity which really exists among
Christians, stating among other things
that there is cure for all existing divis-
ions.
The most interesting incident of the
meeting occurred at this point, an incident,
so far as We know, unparalleled in the his
tory of Professionalism. Dr. Neyins, of the
Presbyterian Church, 70. 81 rose and sta
ted, that the Apostles Creed was one of
the symbols of his branch of the church,
and it might be of all the churches repre-
sented, and proposed that Dr. Cracraft
should repeat it as the creed of the meet
ing, all standing and joining in it, In
stantly every individual in the vast assem-
bly, sprang to his feet. The chairman be-
gan: Il believe in God, the Fa her AL,
mighty, maker of Heaven and Earth."-
Every voice joined him. Nearly two thou
sand people-Episcopalian, Presbyterians,
Old and New School, Seceders, Covenant
srs, Dutch Reformed German Reformed,
Baptists, Methodists, Lutheraus, Moravi-
ms, Congregationalists, IDdependents-all
'epeated with the simplicity of children
his grand formula, which has come down
o us on the stream of ages-'1 believe
n God, the Father, Almightyr' Even
aim spectator, not easily excited, and
tanding aloof from any enthusiasm of the
could not but be moved. As
he Apostles Creed" so called is the on
y uninspired summary of Christian doc
rine in which all these churches believe, it
eemed like an Act of Union of the Church
Universal. 1t brought siartingly, and
ldging from appearance of the congrega-
ion, atfectingly, to every individual the
lea SO much lost sight OF, that in all that
essential these Christians cut up into
that are called sects, are in fact one
Addresses and prayers followed from
lev. DR.. Newton of the Episcopal church,
be venerable Mr.. Kennard Of the Baptist
burch, Mr.. Alfred Cookmau Of the Meth
dist, and Mr.. Taylor of the Reformed
'utch. Mr.. Goodman made the excellent
,mark that the points in which Evangel-
al churches agree nre facts, while those
n which they differ are, for tho most part
leories; and the latter made touching
fusion to the funeral of the Rev, Dudley
:. Tying, the former rector of Epiphany
iurch.
The last speaker was Mr.. Wilder, mis-
onary from India, who dwelt upon tho
terest which wohld be taken in this
enc by the missionaries all over the world.
be large assembly was then dismissed
ith the benediction pronounced by Rev.
'hn Chambers, the meeting, instead of
sting an hour, having been prolonged to
10 hours and half.
A meeting, pursuance of the same cir
lar, was held at Jayne's Hall, at four
NJ. At this all were invited 10 take
rt, the meeting in the morning being spe-
lily for clergymen, though Others were