Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-10-15
The Evangelical Alliance.

1uc EvaUstilCal AlllduCc.
Last night brought to an end the proceed
| ings of the Sixth General Conference OF thu
Evan .elical Alliance, which has been largely
attended by attentive and interested audi
ences. Indeed, no similar gathering in this
country has been the occasion of such exten
slve preparations for furthering the objects OF
the religious bodies who were represented 10
the alliance. The number of able and learned
men in attendance was unusually large,
and their views on the subjects they discussed
are entitled to the respect which is due to
earnest and able expositions of themes oil
great interest to religious and thoughtful
people There were good many papers
rea 4 by theological scholars on the class OF
subjects that usually occupy the attention Of
religious conventions, anu there is no deny
my that the ideas and sentiments inculcdted
were such as few sensible persons would
object to. Of course Roman Catholics would
hardly accede to the ideas of the German pro-
lessons who defended the policy pursued by
their Government toward the Church any
more than radical thinkers and men OF
science would relish some of toe representa-
tons which were IN tde OF their position to-
wards religion, but we apprehend that few
of them would object to the general ideas
advanced in the conference. The only obec-
ton that might be urged to these proceed
ings is that they were,too much in the nature
OF dissertations, which would hardly impress
the masses, whom it is primarily the busis
ness of the conference to reach.
There can be no doubt, of course, that
these will be of good service in interest
ing the people in the subjects before the
conference, and in stimulating inquiry into
the methods of promoting the cause OF
Christian truth as it is understood by menu
bers of the alliance. But whether the union
of the Protestant sects will be close and
strong enough to deal effectively with the
problems which are of vital importance to
| Christian truth is another and more difficult
question. Will there be snch union among
Protestants as there is among the societies
and orders of Roman Catholics? Has the
alliance done much to unite Christians in
more earnest effJrts for the removal OF hea-
thenism at home, as well as of heathenism
abroad? The latter, as missionaries have
often acknowledged, has been difficult to
combat on account of the divisions in the
ranks of its opponents and the lack of sim
picity in their doctrines. Bewlldered by
the theological dogmas, and repelIed by the
/ uiNlS vi 10 uOt obIttbraC Sua'
the progress of conversion is slow among the
heathen Of distant lands. The same cause;
/ tend. also, to create heathenism at home
and one great object of such bodies as the
Evangelical Alliance should be to quicken
the moral and spiritual nature OF the people
without depending too much on their adhe
SION to the forms or modes Of belief.
We do not doubt that the alliance ha,
done good in bringing the members OF differ.
ent sects cl ser together, but there can b(
little doubt that the principles of Cnrstlanl
ty require a more extensive application thar
can be accomplished by such meetings
winch are necessarily limited IN their scope
! There must be broader field of the dutie
OF Christians towards each other. and towards
science; a rec ignition oil the essential unity
of truth, and disposition t. favor all faith
full efforts In its behalf. The tendency 0
the alliance is favorable to more and NOR
IberalIty in this respect, and we may reason
ably hope that the future Will witness TIL
consammatlon OF which this meeting is tn
iorerunDer.
We could have wished that the conference
had dealt less in generahtles about specula
tive and scient fc infielity and paid NOR
attention to the practical atheism which ha
grown up in our modern society within til
shadow and even within the very walls .
our churches. There are Il ustrdtlons OF Cor
rupuon and demon il,z ttion OF Christians II
high standing whlcn have done more {
throw dlscredIt on the cause they prQtsse'
than any attacks on the theological d0gmt
OF the church. There is no fear that theorle
| of Development In natural lje will weakc
the essential principles of Chr isGianity, 10
Truth is broad enough to include science AM
Religion in its folds, and between them Their
can be no real antagOnsm. The danger
that unchristIan deeds will be con Toned whel
| committed by men who mask their immoral
ity with religious professions, and repro &c.
De thus cast upon religion more InJuriuu
than any that science or ratl lnalism can liz
ilIct. The bert minds OF e Evdngelica
Alliance recognize the necessity OF ineetln
the advance or modern inquiry IN liberia
spirit, aud there is hope that the growth o
tnis spirit will be Commensurate with th
progress OF the age in religion aud morality
-Monddy's Boston Globe
The proceedings of the Alliance, covering
week, were conducted in three divisions an
lanything like a detailed report would occup
much more space than we have t. give Sex
eral OF the papers read will doubtless CIV
rise to interesting discussions OF which W
may her alter make note.