The New York herald., 1873-10-12
seIical Ailianoe-What Will Re the
Fruits


New York viii not soon forget. To the so
called religious public particularly it has been
q week of unusual excitement. New York, for
the time being, has been a kind of modern
Jerusalem, to which the tribes Of the modern
Israel have come up; and it is not too much
to say that the ancient city Of David and OF
Solomon never presented such scenes OF
spiritual excitement, coupled with high intel
lectual activity, as were during last week wit
messed at Association Hail. st. Paul's Metho-
dist church and the other centres whence the
Alliance spoke to the assembled crowds. IL
has been another and grander Passover
season-another and greater Pentecost-
an Ecclesiastical Council, which, though
not claiming Ecumenical authority or
exercising any Legislative power, is, in
many important respects, more notable
than any of the so-called Ecumenical
Councils of the past. Nicea and Ephesus
and Chalsedon and Trent will ever remain
memorable because of the ecclesiastical
gatherings with which the names are assoc-
ated. New York is but little likely to depend
for its place in history on the Evangelical
Alliance ; but New York is just as likely to
lose the high place which 1t now holds among
American cities as this Sixth General Con-
ference of the Alliance is to be forgotten by
the American people 1t is the first meeting
of the kind which has been held on these
shores; it may not be the last but no future
meeting of the Alliance can ever hope to be
crowned with more abundant success. The
United States branch of the Alliance has
reason to be satisfied with the success of its
management. The foreign delegates have no
reason to complain of the absence of large
and enthusiastic audiences. The religious
public has every reason to be well pleased,
for the orators day after day, have come up
to the highest expectations.
Now that the week devoted to the Alliance
is ended it is not improper to glance at the
work of the week and to note what has been
attempted. The proper work of the Alliance
was not commenced until Monday last for
the meetings of the previous three days were
only of preliminary character. On Monday
the work was vigorously commenced, and on
each successive day until the present it has
been laboriously prosecuted. On Monday the
ablest men of the Alliance came to the 'front.'
and series Of papers marked by great ability
were read on christianity and its Antago-
nisms," the discussion covering the entire
devoted to the general question of the ..Chris-
tian Life, Professor Porter reading an able
paper on "Modern Literature in its Rela-
ton to Christianity" and DR.. Parker, of Lon
don, and Henry Ward Beecher, two of the
greatest preachers OF this age, taking part in
the discussions. Wednesday was 'No
Popery'' day, in which all the old common
places were afresh thundered off against the
Roman Church. The one interesting feature
of the discussion was the exposition of the
relations of the Old Catholics to the Church
of the Reformation on the one hand and to
the Church of Rome on the other. ''Chris-
tianity and Civil Government was the topic
for Thursday. Canon Freemantle, of London,
gave the leading address. He was followed by
two American divines, Drs. Woolsey and
Currie, neither of whom showed any anxiety
to qualify his views in regard to the evils of
Church and State alliance. As we said in
these columns yesterday, this discussion is not
likely to exercise any high beneficial infu-
ence on the future of the Alliance. 1t was
question on which it was impossible the men,
bers could agree 1t ought therefore, 10 have
formed no part of the general programme. 1t
is desirable that the Alliance have as broad
basis as possible; but members of churches
established by law and supported by the State,
as in Scotland, England, Holland, Switzerland
and Germany, will not continue to belong to
an association in which, in open meeting, it is
possible to trample upon their principles and
to insult their belief Mr.. Freemantle made
mistake in introducing the subject; but the
Committee of Arrangements is most to blame
for allowing such theme to have place on
the programme. The discussion on Popery
showed bad taste. The discussion on the
Church and State question revealed the in
herent weakness of the Alliance. Friday was
devoted to Christian Missions" and yester-
day the discussions related to christianity
and Social Life" Such have been the sub
jects brought day after day under discussion.
With the exceptions already alluded to the
subjects lave been we'll selected, and no one
who has intelligently followed the discussions
from day to day can refuse to admit the ability
with which they have been discussed Some
of the papers will take a permanent place in
literature, and their influence will be wide
spread and enduring.
It is and it cannot but be surprise to the
practical American mind that an association
representative of so much strength and pro-
fessedly dealing with evils of the greatest
magnitude should hold protracted sessions,
discuss, deliberate, rise and dissolve without
coming to any practical conclusions. Against
infdelity, against superstition, against hea-
thenism-why do they not agree upon some
coynroon oonrce re action 2 What ig the rse