The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-16
Petition Of the American Evangelical Alliance
to the Emperor Alexander for Reli-
gious Liberty in Russia.
Request to Revoke the COercive
Laws Against Professionalism
and Its Propagation.
The Gear Reminded Of the BeneAoent
Effects Of Religious Equality in
tho United States
THE PETITION FAvORABLY RECEIVED.
TELEGRAM TO the NEW YORK HERALD.


LONDON. July Is, 1871.
A despatch from Stuttgart announces the recep.
ton to-day OF deputation from the American Evan
gelical Alliance by Prince GortchakoG, who is now
soourning In that city.
The address from the Alliance to the Car was
presented and favorably received. 1t contains tho
followng:-
To HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY ALEXANDER H., EN-
PEROR OF ALL THE RUsSIA5:-
The undersigned, citizens of the United States OF
America and delegates OF the American branch OF
the Evangelical Alliance, which is an organization
composed OF Protestant Christians OF different de.
nominations and countries beg leave most respect
fully to explain the circumstances which have
prompted this appeal to Your Imperial Majesty.
by increased facilities of intercommunication the
unity OF the human family becomes more and more
a practical reality. National acts Of justice and
philanthropy exert direct Influence beyond the
boundaries OF the countries In which they originate.
The benevolent DEGREES of Your Imperial Majesty In
reference to the seris commanded the admiration
of all the friends OF humanity in our own land and
throughout the world, and had favorable effect
upon our own government IN bringing about shortly
afterwards the emancipation OF four millions OF
slaves.
Confidence in the well known benevOlence OF
Your Imperial Majesty embOldcns us to express the
profound sympathy felt by multitudes in our own
country with large number OF Your Imperial
Ma;estys subjects in the Baltic provinces, whose
condition is so emphaicalIy described in the report
made to Your Imperial Majesty by Count Bobrinskt
IN April. 1854, and who by existing laws
prevented from openly returning to the
faith OF their Lutheran ancestors. AS Americans we
venture to refer TO the results of our own national
experience as illustrating the effects OF religious lib
erty the welfare OF individuals and the stability
Ofsovernments. BY religious liberty we 40 not in
tend freedom from all authority. much less That all
opinions are equally good, but simply the right OF
every individual to believe ana worship according to
his own free consc encc. responsible only to the
tnority of God, as revealed in Ills Holy Word.
In the United States all religious denominations
and forms Of worship are equal before the law.
which, supporting none, protects all, and never in
tcrferes with their internal affairs The orthodox
Greek Church, though with the smallest as TO
numbers enjoys in every respect the same liberty az
the largest denomination. It may build churches,
propagate its opinions aud extend It's influence as
freely In the United States as IN the empire OF Rus
sa. This religious freedom we have found not only
q relief to the State from agltations and cares but
the surest pledge OF social order and national unity
by promoting mutual respect and charity among the
different denominations and by imparting sense
most sacred rights.
In view OF these considerations we respectfully
unite our request with that OF our brethren IN
Europe in behalf OF Your imperial Majestys subjects
III the Baltic provinces, that they may be permitted
TO worship God and to educate their children az
cording to the faith OF their fathers. and free pre-.
ference of their own consclenccs.
Still further in behalf or American missionaries,
distinguished by intelligence, piety and scholarship,
who have labOrel long and successfully among
ArmenanS, HISTORIANS and other Christians under
Mahometan rule in Turkey, and on the borders OF
the Russian dOminons We beg leave to ask that
Your Imperial MaJcsty's CHRISTIAN government may
be induced grant within the limits of its Jurlslic
ton, among all subjects not belonging 10 the or
thodox Greek Church, liberty OF worship and re-
ligous institutions, including circulation OF the
Holy Scriptures.
In support OF the memorial which we now earnestly
and respectfully present we appeal 20 the genius or
Christianity, which, being spiritual In It's nature,
requires mora, influence and motives; TO the sacred
rights OF conscience, which demand an outward
expression IN freedom of public worship; to the
spirit OF modern civilization which iavors religious
liberty anu seems to anticipate its universal preva-
lence, and to the precepts of Jesus Christ. whose
kingdom is not OF this world, anu who Is "the Head
all things to the Church."
In the sincere hope tina: Your Imperial Majesty
may have the high satisfaction OF adding another TO
those great acts of benevolence which have inspired
the gratitude of mankind. and devoutly invoking
upon Your Imperial Majesty anu upon all Russia the
blessing OF Almighty God, by whom kings reign ana
princes decree justice, we subscribe ourselves with
profound respect, Your Imperial Majesty's obedient
servants,
WILLIAM ADAMS. NORMAN WHITE.
JOHN CROSBY BROWN. NATHAN BISHOP.
WILLIAM r. DODGE. SALMON T. CHASE.
CHAS T.. MCILVAINE. PETER PARKER
PHILIP SCHAFF, Secretary.