The Portland daily press., 1862-11-25

The BRITISH EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE
AND THE SLAVERY QUEsTIoN.-At the annu-
al Conference Of the Evangelical Alliance, on
the 18th ult.. .an address, was read from the
Paris committee, suggesting the presentation
of an address to the churches in America, ex-
pressive of sympathy with the NORTH but ur-
ging that the extinction of slavery should be
made more prominent object of the war In
the course of the discussion upon this commu-
nication, Sir Culling Eardley recommended
the confederates to anticipate the federal gov
ernment in the emancipation of the slaves.
We have many brethren in the south, as well as
in the north-brethren, if you please, deuded
as TO the evils and sin of slavery, but brethern
still. Now, have aword to say to thesesouth-
ern brethren; you are free traders, and there
fore you know what the word competition
means.
Now, should like TO whisper in your ears,
or rather (if you would not think it unkind or
unchristian) to thunder it out in your ears the
word competition. Compete with President
Lincolnl He is emancipating (some say) your
slaves badly. Do you do it well. He is doing
1t as an act of war Do you do il as a measure
of peace. He is doing it instantly. Do you do
it safely and gradually declares every ne
gro shall be free at the New Year Do you
declare that every child born after New Year
shall be free Do you give every negro the
right of buying his freedom, at a price fixed by
every negro who will serve in your army shall
instantly be free man. Take measures of
this sort, and not only will you turn away from
yourselves the possibility of terrible catas-
trophe-not only will you as real Christians
satisfy the exigencies of your own consciences
but you win probably lay foundation in
the respect and sympathy of Europe, on which
it is not impossible that the superstructure of
peace may hereafter be constructed.
The Rev w Arthur fWeslevanl tbonnbt
the conference should express its anti-slayery
feelings. 1t would be a delusion to suppose
that the Shareholders could be induced TO un-
do all that they had done.
The Rev. Mr.. Harris regretted the express
ion OF the sentiments that had been uttered by
the chairman, and could not admit that the
north and south were open to comparison.
Could such a meeting as that accept the high
est bidder for their favor? TO do so would be
to take part with the dishonest people against
those who, whatever their mistakes, We're with
us on this subject.
The Rev. T. r. Birks, H. A., admitted that
there was strong anti-slayery feeling in the
country; but asserted that, on constitutional
grounds, there were many who sympathized
with the south. The first mention of slavery
in Scripture was in connection with divine
promise. and in the last mention of il. bond
and free were spoken of as in the same conled-
eracy with Christ. Looking at the matter in
the concrete, they would OF course condemn
slavery in every form, including the slave
trade; but the moment they 20 beyond that.
they entered upon delicate ground, involving
difficult questions. If the Alliance entered in
TO this political question, the door would be
opened to collision on other questions
After prolonged discussion. the question of
preparing an address on the subject was re-
ferfed to a committee.
On the 10th, the committee appointed on the
previous evening submitted the following res
olutions with reference to the war in America.
which they had agreed to unanimously: THAT
the fraternal communication received from the
Paris branch be atfectionately acknowledged:
that the best thanks Of the conference be con-
veyed TO our French brethren. for their ex-
pressions OF warm interest in the operations
and success of our branch of the Alliance.
with the assurance that we participate in their
deep sympathy with our common brethren in
America in the fearful calamities which have
sprung from the civil war now raging That
this conference desire to express their deem
sorrow for the continuance OF the civil war in
America, and the fearful amount of bloodshed
and suffering to which it has led
Believing that sin is the cause of Gods sore
judgements, and that the evils connected with
the maintenance of slavery in the south. and
completely with those evils in the north. are
one great cause of this solemn visitation, they
renew their expressions of the earnest PRAYER
that peace may be restored; that these evils,
and all others, which have led to these calami-
ties, may be removed and the immense resour-
ces and energies of the American churches
be set free to promote the cause of the gospel
of peace and love. They desire further to re-
cord their conviction, as British Christians.
that the duty of our country is to read in this
war not warrant for selfrighteous pride but
loud call to humiliation and prayer and re-
pentance, lest our own ard many national sins
should draw down upon us, in tu.4l, the iudp-
ments of God. That considering further the
distress thus occasioned to large classes in our
country, they recommend that Sunday, Nov.
9th, be made an occasion for public and private
confession of sin and special prayer on these
grave subjects, so far as practicable in all the
churches of Christ and Christian families
throughout the land"