The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-29
! PHILADELPHIA In IRELAND.
GeOrge III. stuart, Esq, Before the Pres
byteFian General Assembly at Belfast
HIs Reception and speech, Etc.

From he Banner Of Ulster JuneH
The report of the Continental Mission having
been appointed for the evening, and the Free
Church Deputation coming after, 1t was nearly
10 o'clock before Mr.. Stuart was called upon by
the Moderator The church was crowded 10
excess, and the enthusiasm with which the gen
tleman was welcomed on the platform as the
President of the United States Christian Com
mission was very great For about an hour
and half the immense audience listened with
such intense interest as is rarely witnessed in a
public assembly.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE IN CORRESPONDENTS WITH
FOREIGN CHURCHES.
Professor Porter brought up the report OF this
Committee, which recommended that there
should be an Interchange of deputatlons be-
tween the General Assembly and the American
Churches. He then proceeded to Introduce to
the Assembly Mr.. George IL. Stuart, oil Phlladel'
pbia-a man whose name was password TO all
frishmen and especially to Irish Presbyterlans.
(Applause) lie was not only one of the mer
chant princes of America, but one of its most
noble-hearted Christian men; and while he was
a patriot, he had never forgotten that by de-
scent he was an Irshman. (Applause.)
Mr.. g. II. stuart, on coming forward, was re-
ceived with loud applause, which was again and
again resumed. He proceeded TO express the
pleasure he teit at standing for the first time be-
fore a General Assembly OF the Irish Presby-
terian Church, being himself an Irisbman not
by descent only, but by birth. applause
There then sat before HIM some familiar faces
from whom, thirty-hve years ago, he had heard
blessed words OF Jesus. There was his venera-
BILE friend, DR. Moorehead, of Donacloney, and
another whom he had met at the baptismal font
&C. H. Shanks. But ne missed many beloved
faces in that Assembly. He missed the impress
sive form OF DIR. Edward NJ. Dill, the distinguished
advocate of Presbyterlanism. He was sorry to
think, also, that he could not get the firm
grasp of The hand, and feel the throbbiug
heart of one of their fathers, DR.. Edgar, OF
hear the silvery notes of lrelands most
distinguished minister, Dr. Cooke (Applause.)
Speaking from the bottom OF his heart and
speaking for Irishmen in America, he earnestly
prayed that DR.. Edgar and DR.. Cooke might long
be spared to throw the light of their eloquence
on Presby yterian homes. Glancng around him
he saw many familiar faces. He believed there
was then standing before him a man who car
Fied him on his back to day school-llr. Mar
tin of TulIeyallen (applause) land there was
Jonathan Simpson, OF Portrush, q name that
was well known in America. He well recollected
the sensation created when Dr. 3. NJ. Dill
and Mr.. Simpson visited America. They
brought away with them a few pounds,
but that was nothing to the good
they effected in America II might be
said that this house was at present
crowded, but it was almost empty when COM
pared with what he had seen in America when
these brethren visited 1t. He was going to
say that there were at one of these meetings as
many persons as there were III Belfast.
daughter and appiause.) They issued tickets
for admission to these meetings In America, but
when these had all been given out one man
came to his (Mr. Stuarts) office, and said he
must have ticket to hear Jonathan Simpson,
il he should walk over dead mems bodies
(AppIause.) AS he had said tickets were issued
tor these meetings, but when these were eX-
hausted, with the ingenuity of Irishmen it
was thought no harm on the part of those who
had been unsuccessful TO go 10 the printer
and get few hundreds struck Off on their
own account. Laughterl Another deputation
had visited America, consisting OF DR.. Edgar,
DIR. Dill, then of Ballymena, and now OF Derry.
and lnaE . 4alI 4
their Moderator. (ReDewed laughter.) They,
in America, did not care how often the Assem-
bly sent out such deputations, II they only sent
them three such noble lrishmen. (Applause.)
They had heard great deal that evening about
relationship about French and Scotch cousins;
but they did not clam kindred of that kind in
America. They we're their sons and daughters,
for there were more Irlshmen in America than
in Scotland and France put together; and at pre-
sent he lMr. S. did not know whether he was
an lrishman or an American. Laugh-
ter.) In the Observations he desired
to address to them he would refer to
the Church Of his land previous to the
war, in the war, and since the war. The various
branches OF the Presbyterian Church in
America number 5000 ministers OF Jesus Christ.
That was large constituency, but they we're
divided into six or seven sections, all adhering
to the Westminster Confession OF Fa tn. He
was glad TO say, however, that they were now
looking upon eacl other more lovIngly than
they had ever done before, and that the barrier
which stood between them had been taken
down. He referred to that cursed system OF
human slavery. (Applause.) God had taken
removed that barrier forever. For the first
time since 1887, the Assemblies Of the
Old School and New School Presbyte-
Iians had met together at 81. Louis-the two
Aoderators occupying two chairs on the
same platorm-and one OF the most eloquent
speeches delivered on that occasion was by
man whose name is not unknown among them
selves-Dr. McCosh. He (Mr. Stuart believed
hot nFN1N lKVNf
crisis through which the Church had passed
during the year of the terrible conflict that de.
vastated his country. When Abraham Lin.
coln-Qoud applause)-a name that would
live as long as nistory-called the nation to
arms, there was a noble response. Not less
than two millions Of men bore arms Tor the pre-.
serVatlon OF their country, and they were not
men who went out to do battle Tor thirteen dol.
lars month; for he knew an instance where
gentleman had taken a ticket for Europe,
and whose name would be accepted ior
one million OF dollars, tear up his ticket
and enlist as private soldier. (Applause) II
was night Tor liberty, and the Lord was as He
always is, on the side of the right. They never
lost hope in God, and the result was that they
had got rid OF slavery, which had ground do Wn
four millions of their black felOW-creatures
Having. referred to the labors OF the United
States Christian Commission, of which he gave
an eloquent description, Mr.. Stuart gave several
instances OF the work OF ministers during the
war-where all was earnestness, all devotion,
and burning love to Christ. The delegates OF
the Christian Commission knew no difference
between Northern and Southern soldiers
they only knew they were sufferers
The Southern wounded were surprised
at the reception they met They said, "We
cannot understand you Northern men;
when we meet you In the field you fight like
devils, but when we tall into your hands you
treat us as would angels" (Applause.) He had
seen many soldiers die, ths unbciever the
lnhdel, the general, the cololel, but he had met
none who did not feel one want, and that was
Christ. They had been constantly engaged IN