Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-10-08
EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
Meeiing OF the Theological Section
Paper Read on .CounteractlEg Mod
ern Infldelity.
The Philosophical Section on the Doc
trines Of DeVelOpment-DarWin-
ianism COnfuted.
Religious Thought and Action In Ameri-
ica-Similarity Between Barba.
rOus and Christian Rites
and Ceremonies.
MONDAY.

MONDAY.
New YORK, October 6.-The theologi-
cal section of the evangelical alliance
commenced its session in the association
/ hall this morning; DR.. WoOlsey presid-
| ing. After devotional exercises, the gen.
eraI secretary announced that delegates
| from foreign lands were each to receive
from the American bible society a copy
of the Holy Bible in English, as an ex :
preston of the interest felt by that
society in every effort TO counteraet the
influence of infidelity and superstition.
! Delegates We're also informed that the
American institute fair was free to them,
and that on Wednesday next carriages
would be at their service for visit to
| Greenwood cemetery. DR.. Tiffany, the
president, had deferred q much-desired
visit to his old comprehensive arms of
| the Army Of Tennessee, to await the ar
rival of delegates. An announcement
which was received with great applause.
| Papers ON the best methods of coun-
| teraeting modern infidelity, were read
/ by Professor Stanley Laths, of Kings
college, London, and Professor TheO-
dore Cristiebla, of the university ofBonn
The latter protested against the ex-
| aggerated idea of the inspiration of
| the books of the Scriptures, mas
much as no prophet or apostle had
even stated when the canonical books
were to be treated with reverend
criticism, and said that isolated dis.
crepancies are unfoDnded, and therefore
had hetter be let alone. A paper which
was prepared by Rev. DR.. Cairnes, of
| LoHdon, was handed in for publication.
/ President Warner, of Boston univer-
sity, made the closing address on Amer
ican infidelity, and its theological sec
| tions, after which the usual recess was
taken.
The philosophical section met
in st. Paul's church, Rev. DIR. Fass
presiding. DIR. McCash made an ad-
dress on the religious aspect Of the
doctrine of development, and was fol-
| lowed by Rev. DR.. Weldon, of
London, DIR. Brown, of the Cape of
Good Hope, DIR. Hodges, of Princeton,
and DIR. Dawson, of Montreal. The
last named gentleman directed him.
self chiefly to a confutatiOn of the the
ory of Darwinism and the Darwinian
development. Invitations were then
extended similar to those already Civ
en- by the Theological section, and re-
cess was then taken.
The conference reassembled in
the association hall at two O'Clock
this evening. The hymn commencing
Jesus shall reign" etc, having been
sung, an address was made on faith and
reason by Rev. DR.. Washburne, of New
York. In speaking of religious thought
and action in America, the speaker re-
ferred to Unitarianism as a reaction
against scholastic divinity, which, like
that of the middle ages, created the
movement that opposed it. Mr.. Bonet,
of Neuchatel, Switzerland, delivered
brief address in French on the same sub
ect. The congregation then sang the
bird and fourth stanZas of the Rock
of Ages" Rev. DR.. Paul Zimmerman,
of Leipsic, spoke on the controversy be-
tween faith and reason. A paper pre-
pared by Professor J. J. Van Oosterzee,
of the university of Utrecht, Holland,
was read by DR.. Cohen Stuart, of Rotter-
dam. The doxology was then sung, and
after the benedictiOn the conference ad-
jOurned.
The philosophical section of the alli-
ance reassembled at two o'clock at st.
Paurs church. Professor Arnold Henry
GuyOt, LID, spoke on the subject of
geology and the bible, and throughout
his discourse reasoned to show that the
discoveries of geology and the bible
were not antagonistic. Speaking about
the creation of the world, Professor
Guyot makes the twenty-four hour
day begin with the placing o. lights to
divide the day and the night, and for
signs and seasons for days and for years;
hence the seventh day is of tweLry-four
hours.
Principal Dawson, of Montreal, said
that while the seven days were indefi-
mite, God finished creating, and the
time (indefinite) of rest began. Man
fell, aud was ordered to observe and
keep holy the seventh day as type of
the rest which he had lost. The Lords
day, first, is the type of the rest which
the Lord introduces. Professor Guiot
makes the first days, so-called, of crea-
tiOn indefinitely long periods. The days
of twenty-four hours in length began
with the placing of lights ''to divide the
day from the night, and for signs and
seasons, and for days and years." Gen
esis, first chapter and fourth verse.
Hence the Sabbath day is Of twenty
four hours.
The next paper was christianity and
Humanity" by DIR. J. Williamson New
in, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Professor Edmund Speiss, of the uni
versity of jena, spoke on Theology
and Philosophy" He dilated at some
length on the different races and relig-
ions, and their relation to each other.
He ended by hoping that the whole
would at some future day become united
in their religion.
A gentleman in the aisle of the church
arose and proposed the following ques-
ton to Principal Dawson: ftIs there q
necessary antagonism between the Oar
winian theory and the christian church?''
Upon rising Principal Dawson said
it was rather hard question
and it would take q well-prepared
Treatise to respond satisfactorily. He
said, however, he would do his best.
The Darwinian system is as follows:
That all forms of vegetable and animal
matter are the result of undesigning
force. Darwin reasons to tie possibility
of the development of the species, but
doesn't produce any scientific facts.
There may be a modified variety of
truth in the Dsrwinian system, as to
the various varieties of races, but il
doesn't at all accord with scriptural
revelation.
A missionary from China, DIR. At
kins, spoke for some time on the simi-
larity of some portions of the religion OF
barbarous nations, especially these Of
China, to the forms of the Catholic
church.
Another speaker spoke enthusiastic
ally in opposition to the Darwinian sys-
tenn.
The president announced that the
time allotted for the evening session
had expired, and the ninth hymn was
sung, after which the benediction was
pronounced.
There will be a meeting of the confer
ence tonight in st. Paups church. II
will be re-umed in Association hall,
where the proceedings will be conducted
entirely in the French language.
At meeting of the Alliance at As
sOciation hall tonight, thirty attended.
NJ. Bret, of Paris, presided. Rev. DIR.
Scaf welcomed the French delegates in
behalf of the American branch of the
Alliance, closing with the hope that
France would soon exhibit blessings,
genei al education and morality. Prof.
Chartre responded, after which speeches
were made by NJ. NJ. Decoppet Lelieure,
u