The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-19
THE ORGANIC LAW.
The NntiouaI Convention to secure an Amend
ment to 10 RecoSnizlnR the Dcity-ltA Pro-
CeedIBgs this Morning.


ment TO tt RecosnIzinE tho Dcity-ltA Pro-
CeedIBRs this Morning.
After the organization, in Concert Hall yes
terday afternoon, of the National Convention to
secure the recognition of God In the ConstItu-
ton, the particulars of which we published,
Rev. j. Edwards, d. d., of Baltimore, submitted
q series of resolutions acknowledging the evil
dent progress OF the cause, pledging the workers
in it to renewed zeal, and calling the attention
of the American people to the fact that the Con-
stitution was devoid of moral element; that civil
government was an appointment of God; that
ignoring Him exposed MS to the guilt OF formal
national atheism; aud that it is OF immediate
importance to public morals and social order to
secure such an amendment as Will indicate that
this is q Christian nation. The remainder of
the afternoon and the entire of the evening
session we're occupied in the discussion of these
resolutions. The convention then adjourned
until this morning.
THIS MORNINGS SESSION.
This morning the convention reassembed at
10 o'clock. The proceedings were opened with
prayer by Rev. Charles Cook, pastor of St.
Georges NJ. e. Church.
Rev. DR.. HOdgkin, Secretary of the Evaugeli-
cal Alliance, moved that committee be ap-
pointed to procure paper On the proper rea-
ton of religion to the State, to be presented at
future meeting of the convention year hence
This motion was secanded.
Judge Hamilton, of Pa, said this would
amount to nothing because when the conyeu-
tion adjourns it adjourns sine die, because it is
not an organized body. All that is done should
he done now. The way to do the thing is to
work with the national representatives of the
people. If an amendment is once before the
legisatipg body no member will dare to oppose
it, for if he does he puts himself against the
whole Christian sentiment of the country. Any
one who does oppose it will never go back to
his official position.
The resolution was discussed by Rev Alfred
Nevin, Rev. DR.. Kennedy, Rev. l. II. Terrence,
and others.
An amendment was offered changing the
words 'the relation of religion to the State"
to the words 'the relation of government to
God"
This amendment was put to the vote and lost
on account of the mover of the original resolu-
tion Temarking that he very much preferred the
original wording.
A discussion of great length then ensued on
the original resolution.
1t was moved to refer the whole subject to the
executive committee of the convention. This
motion was afterwards withdrawn because there
was no executive committee: but it was, however,
again renewed on the President stating that an
executive committee would be appointed. The
motion TO refer was then agreed to, so much of
the former resolution as refers to the creation
of the paper being included in the vote.
Professor McIlvaine of the University of
Pennsylvania, offered the following as covering
the whole ground, as prefix to The preamble of
the Constitution of the United States
1--WE, the people of the United States, ac-
kno Wledging Almighty God as the ultimate
source of all authority and power in civil gov
erDment, and the moral laws of the Christian
secure q more perfect Union, etc.
Rev. Dr. Edwards spoke on the adoption of
this resolution. He gave history of the whole
original formation of the Constitution, and how
it came to be framed without any mention of
God. He also gave a history of the present
movement for the amendment. He said that had
been decided that any action here taken should
take the form of a memorial to Congress- and that
| any amendment that should be thought desira-
| BILE should be made in the preamble of the
| Constitution, not as an amendment only.
| DR.. Edwards also stated that any resolutions
| which might be passed would not affect the
| standing OF the convention in the minds of the
| members of Congress. Anything which will go
| before Congress will be embraced in tn memo
| rial, but various motions and resolutions are
| necessary for the information of the public.
Rev. DR.. McAllister, of New York, took the
| platform to explain the resolution of Professor
! Mcllvain, but was prevented from speaking by
the passage of motion that the resolution of
| amendment to the preamble of the Constitution
! be not entertained at present. This vote not to
entertain the resolution was afterwards recon-
sidered, when the order was changed, and per-
mission was given TO Mr.. McAllister to proceed
with his explanation. In this he was prevented
by several gentlemen, who themselves went on
to explain at length. DR.. Nevio having
finally gained the aoor spoke P%anuoi In favor 9r
| was called to order as not speaking to the sub
| ject before the house by DR.. Kennedy An ami
| mated discussion ensued as to whether 1t was a
| point of order. The decision was finally
left to the Chair, who decided that
| all discussion was out of order until some dis
| tinct motion was put. The discussion was, how
| ever, continued, as to whether the point OF
! order was correct or not Several gentlemen
differed from the decision of the Chair, and gave
their views in full for the benefit OF the conyen
| tion.
DR.. Neyin attempted to proceed with his
| explanation, but was prevented by cries OF
| 'McAlister" from various parts of the house.
| Mr. McAllister was requested not to speak
| until motion was put. motion was then
made and agreed to opening the question to
| discussion. The President decided that DR..
| Neyin had the floor, which decision was not
agreed to by various persons present DR..
| Neyin was finally heard, when voice in the
| audience remarked that "if the President rules
that Dr. NeVin has the floor he should have 1t. y
DR.. Nevin having concluded Mr. McAllister
| again took the stand but was interrupted by a
| motion to adjourn, which was not agreed to.
| Mr.. McAllister then gave an elaborate argument
| on the advisability of the proposed amendment
| to the United States Constitution.
| The convention then adjourned until z. NJ,
A BUSINESS MAN VIcTMIzED, On Tuesday
evening last, two young men entered the manu-
factory of George Q. Haldeman, southeast cor
ner of Fifth and Arch streets, and offered for
sale some patent gas-burners. They expert
| mented with the same and Mr.. Haldemau con-
| sented to buy the articles. lie took from the
| pocket of his coat, which hung on the wall, the
necessary amount of money to make the pur-
chase, and then replaced the pocket book. One
of the sharpeTs offered to instruct Mr.. Halde-
man as to the proper way OF regulating the
meter, and for that purpose the two left the
| room, leaving sharper No to operate. The
| light was turned down, and then turned up, and
| in the meantime the man who had been left
| behind had taken from the coat hanging ON the
| wall pocket-book containing $3.50. Mr.. Hal
| deman did not discover his loss until some time
| after the rascals had departed.
FoUND.-Henry Eineker, who disappeared
| f.n F.lJ mar n nHar