Litchfield enquirer., 1873-10-09
THE evAncELlcAL ALLIANCE.

HE EVAMG66h0AG AGStAWCEs @ TGsgreasneesiHe Of Evangelical ehfisv tians now in session in New York bids fair to meet the most sanguine expectar tions of it's friends. It commenced on Friday of last week with large attend ance and overHowed on Sunday evening into two great meetings, one as the Acad- emy of Music and one at Steinway Hall. Sunday was made memorable by the com. mon communion of the delegates admin istered by the Dean of Canterbury and various leading ministers of other denom- nations. The numbers in attendance are the largest ever known at any rsIig- ious gathering of the kind, and the qspir- it seems to be that of sacrificing minor points to the main consideration of unity among Protestant christians The papers read at the opening sessions have been mainly from the delegates present from foreign churches. We are thus given 9 better idea of how European Protestant ism seems to European Protestants than has ever been allowed us before. The grand religious contest all over Northern Europe as shown in their reports is be- tween Professionalism and Rationalism as they generally term it, on the one hand, and Protestantism and Catholicism on the other. In Southern Europe, Catholicism and infidelityre re fighting it out hand to hand without much intermediate stand ing place. as yet, for Professionalism, One of the most interesting of the reports to us was that of the Rev. Mattio Precinct, of Italy, giving us vivid idea of the re- ligious turmoil in that country. Catho- licism relies on the influence of the con- fessional to control the women; on the schools, to control the children. The vast mass of Italian men are indifferent. They generally "conform" but really care nothing about religion of any kind. The bigots are thus described < ..-
 Clustered around the priests are the good Roman Catholics, the convinced, the bigoted and fanatics, recruited une- qually from the different classes. The mo- bility and the peasantry ara largely rep resented in their ranks, and the women occupy quite prominent position, while they are the most useful instruments There are many earnest souls among.them- souls that have deep religious wants-and though perhaps not wholly satisfied with the Romish teaching and practice, yet they cling to them as the only anchor of salvation they know of. But how many also are there who, alas, are superstitious without religion-fanatics who would re- peat tomorrow the St. Bartholomew if they had the power to do it. ,, -.
 It is not within the scope of the Ali ance to attempt any accommodation of the differences between religion and science. Strict orthodoxy is the common creed of all the denominations represented. The sole design is to promote unity among the now dissident scots of Protes- tantism. If number, high standing and fervor, count for anything, the alliance will be all important movement in this direc- tion. 0-e aa r.u# uan ae
 To make their union effective, however, the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians &c, who unite for week must not quarrel the rest of the year. When the christians of small town like Bethlehem can sink sectarian differences and unite in one con- gregation, we shall see an instance of prac- tical christian union more significant than any amount of brotherly talk in ''allian- ces." ,.... -s.-...- - '-..3a
 The fact that the primate of the Eng fish church countenances the gathering at
 HIS Dean nnltes with ministers not episcopally ordained in the administration of the sacrament affords the Low Churchman strong argument against the exclusiveness of American Episcopa- liam. No doubt English Episcopacy, however, is divided, as we'll as American, on the propriety of recognizing ministers of denominations who have no bishops.
 The exercises of this week will probably be of increasing interest and the number in attendance will, no doubt, be unprece- dentedly large. +..-,