The Hawaiian gazette., 1873-12-24
The Evangelical Alliance.
NEW Yonk. October 90. 1873.

New YoRK, October 90 1873.
The noblest religious gathering ever held 10
the United States was the Conference of the
Evangelical Alliance just concluded in this city
1t was remarkable for the number of eminent
men assembled from different lands, the variety
of fresh topics discussed and most of ALL for the
vast multitude which thronged with increasing
enthusiasm the sessions during ten days A word
as to the organization itself. The Alliance was
formed in London in 1886. The object of it is
to manifest and to promote the substantial unity
which exists among the evangelical denomina-
lions of Christendom. The sessions have been
held at intervals of years with some irregularity,
but hereafter they will occur biennially. The
New York meeting was. in important respects,
the most successful ever held 1t requires very
large affair to take possession of the busy and
splendid metropolis of the country, bat this the
Alliance fairly did, by the acknowledgment even
of those little friendly to it. Its proceedings
were the one prominent and absorbing thing
while the sessions continued. The secular pa
pers surrendered large portion of their space to
reports of its discussions and even the financial
paric as a topic of general conversation was
largely superseded by this theme.
The physique of the conference was impressive.
A large proportion of the members we're elderly
men, ripe IN scholarship, abundant in labors and
of wide repute. Yet the fire of youth seems not
to have abated whit in any of them. They
are men of faith, hope, and enthusiasm they
have labored all their lives for progress they
believe in the "good time coming" and have
entered into this great movement with eagerness,
aud feel that they have reached an altitude full
of promise and comfort after years of striviDgand
aspiration. 1t was refreshing to see the vene-
rable Drs Krummacher, McCOsh, Hodge, Schaff,
Angus, and many others of that class, represent
iUg all varieties of Christian doctrine, and usage,
together with younger men, in perfect fellowship,
ardently asserting, We ARE ALL One IN CHRIST
JESUS. Here is manifest a union more real, spi-
ritual, precious, :han Rome ever dreamed of, or
can comprehend. The assemblage was composed
of strong, noble, scholarly men.
The central session was held in the hall of the
fine building erected and owned by the Young
Mems Christian Association at the corner of
Fourth Avenue and Twenty-third streets but
to accommodate the vast numbers in attendance,
three and, at times, four other meetings were in
progress at the same hour IN different churches.
The venerable DR.. Woolsey, ex-president Of Y ale
College occupied the Chair at the central meeting
and guided the proceedings with rare dignity
and courtesy 1t was q noble scene. The hail
itself was appropriately decorated. Flags Of the
different nations represented were hung in fes-
toons along the front of the galleries, and in the
rear and upon the sides of the spacious platform
were notices expressing Christian unity, togeth-
er with the names Of the leading church reform
of Christians.
Some of the eminent men who had been expect
ed from abroad were hindered from coming, still
Europe sent some noble representatives Of her
theological learning and sacred elOquence. From
Germany came among others, DIR. Dorrer, perhaps |
the most eminent of living theologans; from
England the Dean of Canterbury together with |
DIR. Parker, the famous author and preacher.
Scotland sent Dr. ArnOt of Edinburgh, noble |
specimen of the brain and heart of his native |
land. Dr. Fisch of Paris appeared in behalf of
Protestant France. The man who attracted |
more of curious interest than any other was |
converted Brahmin from India, Sheshadrai by |
name. He wore peculiar costume Of which |
the most conspicuous part was an enormous white |
turban. He was 10 many respects very remark
able man, aud for one thing, the command of the
English language he exhibited, was wonderful.
He spoke with hardly trace Of foreign accent
with disiinctness, huency and unlang ac
curacy, equaled by few of those to whom Eng
lish is the mother tongue. He was in con-
tinual demand as a speaker and upon all the
various occasions, seemed always to discern and
utter exactly the ilting sentiment.
Mention should also be made of another name,
which though little known before his coming to
the moses before the meeting, was upon every
tongue after he bad once appeared This was
Prof. Christlieb of the University of Bonn, Ger
many. The paper read by him upon the subject
of modern infdelity made the most profound i'm
preston of all those presented before the Alliance
1t was masterpieces Of solid argument agow
with lofty eloquence. A single brief letter will
not permit any report Of the proceedings of this
noble meeting. During the ten days in which
the sessions were held, elaborate essays were pre-
scented upon great variety Of topics in which !