The New York herald., 1868-05-07
THE ANNIVERSARIES.
the LIBERAL CHRISTIAN UNION.

The annual anniversary meeting OF the Liberal
Christian Union was held last evening at the besuti
full little Church OF the Messiah, corner of Thirty
fourth street and Park avenue. The object OF this
organization OF practical Christians Is to unite every
sect and secular denomination under one broad
heading for the furtherance OF real religion. BY
them party creeds woven together the stumbling
blocks Of bg0try and ideasm set at naught and the
whole Christian Church OF the world at large set
running the broad gauge ofrauonalism and liberal
Christianity. The secretary, Mr.. Melen, in his semi,
annual report OF the proceedings Of the Union oh
served yesterday afternoon. when the conference
preceding the evening meeting was held, that
throughout the world, and throughout this country
in particular, where freedom Of thought and free
dom OF profession enjoyed in the largest measure,
the tide or public sentiment Is very perceptby and
strongly setting In parallel II not identical lines with
that OF the Society. Deplored and denounced as rs
this tendency by some, reoced at and encouraged
IL is by Others the factis too patent TO be argued
II In attested quite az concusively by Papa encyci-
Gals, Episcopal fulminations and evangelical resou-
tions against IT, by the broader literature, the freer
spirit and the human temper which Illustrate II.
Christians OF all names are coming TO regard the
seminal ideas of the Liberal Christian Union with far
less aversion than formerly partly because they are
attaining better apprehension of them, and partly
The funess OF The time for their announcement seems
indeed TO have now come, that all that IL wanting
to their rapid di1usion, II not general acceptance,
due sense OF the Society's responsibility, coupled
with rcsolute and persistent effort TO discharge u.
Since the last meeting of the Conference only
one new field Of labor had been attempted, anu
here the working OF the Union had been equally
successful as elsewhere At Newburg the congreRa-
tion had doubled since August, 1907 and 2 new
church called by the appropriate name OF our tatne
II In process OF erection. In staten island and
Brooklyn, and In the more popuous helds OF me cty
ITSELF much had been done. The progress OF tue toci'
ETY. might seem slow but 10 sure. and In the end.
observed the Secretary would so spread Itself that
All men or all Denominations OF crceds and churches
"liberA Cnristans.- --.li .
In the evening session the Rev. Mr.. Putnam, OF
Brooklyn, presided In the absence OF DR.. belows,
and after an Introductory prayer and hymn sung
by the congregation he introduced the Rev. WIN.
sharrnan, from England, ana while rerrettlng the
absence Of many prominent gentlemen connec.ea
with the Christian Union Mr.. Putnam observed 'nat
there were still enough present To give ne 70 ne
movement and To tell 70 the congregation what hso
been done by the organization In their own re.
spective sphere. Mr.. sharman. thanking tne
President for the kind reception ne had mes
with since his arrival on these shores but lew
days since, spoke as follows on the subject OF
"Relgious Liberalism In England";--T0-hay was =
day OF change. Old things were passing away an"