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

union that interprets il be Of such character
that IL NAV he Increased or diminished by human Will OF
by human or subject TO any externa
conditions. As the Unity in the Blessed !tniy - i
for which Christ prayed that should ever
His church. In them and thou in me that tuey may
unanswered through all these Chstian centuries that
prayer has been fulfilled. Every age and generation
has witnessed 1t. The Church is one, has been made
perfect in one has failed Of unity In the darkest
days OF organized Catholicism, the Catholic Cburch
the Church universal, the Church of llviag in
Christ Jesus the Church of His love and His accep-
lance has always existed in His sight, recog-
nlzed by his spirit accomplishing HIS purpose in INA,
unity UNCONVENTIONAL distinctions are entirely consistent
Az we exhibit the loving principles 81 that plyne UNITY
becomes secondary in the thought and the children OF
God realize their absolute and eternal oneness God Dc
praised for whatever in Evangelical Alliance viii
nurture and fortfy In souls sense OF this spiritual
unity in Christ Jesus our Lord
The Rev. Z. +. Cook. b. A. of Paris, followed Bishop
Bede with paper upon the second topic of the consd
eratons OF the day, " The Communion OF Saints" IL
was devoted mainly to history Of the French branch
Of the Alliance, and is given in full below;
THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE IN FRANCE.
BY THE REV. EMILE +. COOK OF PARIS.
1t is a matter of deep regret to myself and
to many others that venerated BROTHER Pastor
Guaume Monod is not here 10 speak on the subject OF
Christian Union as had been expected. He would have
done 1t In that beautiful language OF which he possesses
the secret and with that elevation of thought and ma
turity OF talent which are the fruits his long and rich
experience Az this important theme was TO be handled
and discussed in its essential principles and bearings by
several distinguished orators 1t appeared to that the
best thing could do give short historical sur
vey OF what has been accomplished during the last 30 or
in France to promote Christian I a1Ssr a1a
1noH view n closer deal and with more
but with facts. In apology for the meagerness and
effectiveness OF this address apd In justice to
sbec Was ' nra Sse to me- Two before set of
from Paris TO come to America that have had no
had to rely only on my reecoections have also to
beg for indulgence on account OF my very imperfect
acquaintance with the English language. which is not
my mother tongue and for using In many instances
French Phraseology hope to be understood and that
ought 10 say at the outset, with heartfelt gratitude
to God, that the union OF evangelical Christians In
am able judge OF the religious condition OF other
countries nowhere so few points OF disagreement
among Christians Of different denominations, and no
where ascertain many points OF contact, 80 many
things drawing the Christians close TO one another, as
In France This may be attributed to the fact that
a very feeble minority lost, as 10 were among
the mass, and that account Obliged to draw near TO
circumstances in which Professionalism is placed, and
which created for all OF a very similar situation
but IL also be due TO the absence III the midst
OF evangelical Professionalism OF any parties pro-
Tossing extreme views. There is no Church among us
ant pastors are all on footing OF perfect
equality with regard to their ordination and fact worth
where else mat IN at least three OF the great
among the Reformed the Free United ana the Methodist
Churches, 1t is very common thing TO invite to the
ordination OF pastor in one of these Churches the pas
of the two Others who join them IN the laying on OF
scarcely been discussed yet The liturgy OF the Re
formed Church (NatiOnaD is not elaborate one, and
leaves room to spontaneous and extempore prayer SO
that with regard TO sacred worship and to ecclesiastical
modes Of proceeding land we might add with regard
to the my the are TeTT ma
alike. and IN many things almost identical have said
nothing of the Lutherans as they are IN the habit OF
standing little alOof, but alas there are but very
few OF them calling themselves French, being con-
sidered SUCH some in the pays de Montbeard and
Paris who have harmOniOusly worked together
there with pastors Of other churches.
But having said as much, cannot avoid ackuowl
edging that Christians in France have been too long
divided and in too many respects hostile TO one another
they have had too OF those secret and underhand
contests which entertain unjust prejudees ana produce
painful clashngs. The Evangelical Alliance has done
us good by bringing together it has caused the me-
of different churches to know each other and as
natural sequence, to value ana love one another.
Before IL founded as special organization the
principles which it has for its mission TO spread had
been recognized and had exercised Wholesome lntu-
ence France, well In England and in America,
by the establishment OF religious societies, the directing
committees OF which were composed Of pastors aud lay
men belonging to several denominations We had as
far back as 1880 our Bible tract missionary primary
education societies. later the Sociee du Sou Protestant,
and deserves to be noted that there was no So
cIetv Of the Kind specially connected with particular
church as is the case in England where missionary
society connected with the Establishment, another
win fhe Methodiss or the Baptists and SO on. TIE
result was this that any individual Christian vino felt
his responsibility and recognized the duty OF working
for the conversion OF the world has mad 10 choose De
tween doing nothing or meeting on common ground
with members of other churches mOued with the same
spirit with himself There is no doubt that those works
undertaken by Christians Of different churches unitedy
mad prepared the way aud that many there were who
'longed for closer and more formal alliance,
III / mistake not, IL was the Evangelical Church OF
LYONS admirably placed for this by Is intermediate
position between the Established and Dissenting
Churches which the first to address an appeal III
view OF so desirable union and Pastor Flsen, whom
we have she pleasure 10 have with u.s. took tue :" in
those who proessed love the Lord Jeses Christ the
wear before the organization Of the Evangelical ALI
ance; then committee formed In Lyons connected
with the movement inaugurated on TIE other SIDE OF
the Channel and after another IN Pans ana one at
Nismes, while similar meetings were Deing organ
lied IN the surrounding countries where French
is spoken-at Brussels, Geneva, Lausanne, Neu
SraHch Of the Evangelical Alliance. In every
Mace these committees called together pubic
meetings FOR prayer and edifcation, III which, notwh
standing what may have been sand II ana real good TO
have 10 eOnugae the lenses OF the verb 10 love- and TO
he spirit by the bond OF peace. first
good men who did not think t their duty TO associate
with this movement few Deleved tnat tnelr ndenty
TO their convictions required OF them tnat they should
stand aloof claiming the rights of truth, and refusing
10 take any part what appeared 70 them to be bane
full and injurious compromises Dut IN presence OF tne
blessings vouchsaed by God to meetings OF Alliance
they thought better OF IT, aud were one by one rress
by brought 10 cooperate with IT, and not few who had
remained strangers to the Evangelical Alliance when
commenced have become afterwsrd it's warmest friends
and supporters
Apart from the committees we have mentioned bat in
the same spirit although under different form, were
founded the sOced Conferences OF the two Charents
in he West OF which regretted brother Lucen de
Meisards the chief promoter and IN the south the
brotherly conferences OF the Coennes which embraced
large region and met in turn Sc. Hppoyte, Anduzo
Ganges, aud lie Vigan. had the privilege OF being
member the latter and present at the extraordi
nary meeting lie Vigan in 1885, where the PentecOsa
phnence was most visbly and felt. Ministers IN
the Department OF Dome c0ny0ked also IN turn Ia their
several churches general meetings OF Christians and
beautiful revival the fruit OF those meetings. One
meeting in particular will not be forgotten Tor long
rim IN MOutureyran,
Charles and BerhOlet Beldel appeared as mighty
men, and were received as apostles sent by God.
The Evangelical Alliancs had thus already brought
forth precious fruit; In many places qulckenlug
breath was pass many souls. ana 10 WHY
both the ministers aud their hocks. Ii is about this
time that shall place the foundation in France Of the
Young Mems Christian Associations and that OF the
UniOn bOtn institutions being specially
placed basis OF the Evangelical Alliance. During
the first years the Young Mems Christian Associations