New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-06
THE VORK OF THE ALLIANCE.

The Evangelical Alliance, as to numbers,
the dignity of character of the delegates, and
the power of the religious bodies represented,
is a more important cOnvOcatiOn than was ex-
pected even by those who summoned it.
Almost every country in which Christianity
has been preached and nearly every Protestant
sect is represented. So large a congress of
religious thinkers, meeting from such widely
diverse points of dOctrinal belief upon the
common ground of faith in the Savior, has
never perhaps been called together. The eyes
of the world, as some Of the speakers assert,
are in truth upon them. SO far the Confer
ence has been exceptionally genial and unani-
nous in aim and movement. Personally, of
course, the members are strangers, and
naturally feel good deal of curiosity
as to each other When English deans,
Scotch Covenanters, Methodists from Iowa,
and Indian converts in their native rig of
white tartan come to march abreast, they
would not be of woman born if they did not
eye each other with good deal Of amuse
ment and keenness. 1t is, too, both natural
and fitting that the first days of meeting
should be spent in the effort to make the
accord complete by an exchange of personal
information concerning their native countries,
dining and suppiDg together, or even accept
ing the Inequalities of the city or jaunting
about sightseeing here and elsewhere. Tray
elers to the same country will journey all the
better if they pause now and then to refresh
themselves for friendly greeting, or inquiry
into the habits and haunts of each other but
it would be wise to remember that this, pleas
ant and beRefcial!as it may be, is not going
to bring them to their journeys end
With all due respect for the exalted pur
nose and character of the Alliance, we would
suggest that Christian communion, even the
fullest and freest, handshaking, or even pray
ing together, is not what is expected from
them at this juncture. 1t ls not simply to
find out that they are brethren that they have
come together. That ought to go without
saving Enlisted soldiers do not spend the
time of battle in assuring each other that
they have the same captain. The eyes of the
world are momentarily turned to them, just
as they are turned wherever action is shown,
yigor, force, whether it be in great financial
movements, acknowledging, scientific discov-
cry, or murder, single or wholesale. But as for
action swamped in a multiplicity of words,
as for promises, emotions aspirations, no mat
ter how high and noble, the world is as full
of them as of fogs rising to the sun, and pays
them no more attention. II the Alliance ends
only in these, it will soon sink out of notice.
Nor, we must add, is it necessary to set up
the Roman hierarchy as common enemy to
establish their common brotherhood IL the
Pope and the doctrines of his Church are OPP
posed TO the spirit,of the highest civilization
and Christianity, as they assert, they will
speedily kill themselves for never was Cathol-
icism so self-asserting in doctrines and prac
tice as in these days of Papal Infalliblity and
pilgrimages If it is not SO opposed, why
fight against it'll
1t is quite time that we understood how
little Catholicism or Professionalism really
weigh in the matter. Railroads, the telegraph,
science, have brought the peoples of the world
at last face to face. They ask each other as
never before since the world began, the mo-
mentous questions-Why they are here7
Whence did they comet What purpose is
answered by their comingi Embassies from
countries locked up for thousands of years
visit this new Republic, to find what secret of
q higher life we can teach them. Embassies
from heather lands come to Christian teachers,
saving: 1--WE too have had the truth. You
"also can learn certain things OF us" How
are we to meet these peoplei Are we to seek
in every sincere belief for lts germ of infinite
life. or settle down more comfortably inside of