The New York herald., 1873-10-12
spirit of the Religious Press-The
Evangelical Alliance Still the BUR-
den of Their Columns,

den of Their Columns.
With scarcely an exception our religious
contemporaries this week devote large por-
of the Evangelical Alliance with editorial
comments thereon
The Evangelist Presbyterian) pronounces
the Council success and asserts that the
prospect is, indeed, hopeful that the meeting
will not only be pleasant while it continues,
but twill exert positive and permanent influ-
ence in promoting such spirit Of unity
among those who profess and call themselves
Christians as shall advance the interests of
Protestant Christianity all over the world"
The Observer (Presbyterian) surrenders its
columns almost entirely to reports Of the pro-
ceedings Of the Convention. The editor says
''the prayer is going up continually to the
throne Of Gods grace that this General Con-
ference Of Christian minds and hearts may be
the beginning Of great revival of the true
spirit Of Christianity in the Church and Of
true religion throughout the world.
The Independent AYERS that it is not Of those
who look for any great tangible fruits of this
meeting Of the Alliance. 1t is not, according
to the views OF the editor, "a legislative assem-
bly,. 1t represents no ecclesiastical body; it
receives no delegates from association, con-
venion or conference; but it will be impos-
sible for brethren of different names to meet
together in this way and then differ with bit
terness, for the union of spirit here has been
evidently deep and real Lutherans from
Germany and Sweden have met Methodists
and Baptists from America, and have forgotten
for the moment that Baptist and Methodist
missionaries are active in Scandinavia and
Prussia, and are not complimentary to the
older Church, nor are they cordially received.
Let us hope that after the mutual recognition
here of each others Christian character their
differences may not transgress the bounds Of
Christian charity"
The Methodist suggests that ''if there is any
possibility of Christian catholicity, any COM
munion of saints, it must be reconcilabe with
the recognized liberty of thought 1t cannot
be founded in authority; it must be founded
in charity. If Protestant Christendom can
ever have ecumenical councils, or any aggre-
gate or cooperative action, it must be in ac-
cordance with these postulates. The Evangeli-
cal Alliance formulates, /" the Methodist thinks
''this idea better than any other development
of modern Professionalism In theology it Is
based substantially on the Apostles Creed, that
most simple and most universal symbol Of
Christian doctrine-a symbol which the Latin,
the Greek, the Protestant Churches concur
rently proclaim"
The Heeman's Journal (Catholic) irreverently
refers to the present Holy Alliance in this city
as the Evangelical Alliance Fandango" The
editor feels 'salmost sure that most of its men,
bers are dupes rather than knaves. Of course,
there is among them a certain set of profess
sional bummers, fellows without particle Of
principle, 'bobbing around to make some
thing out of it, The Journal looks upon the
meeting as ''insignifcant in face of general
public opinion, and as likely to be advantage
GUS to the Catholic Church which alone offers
the union in charity that this Alliance in vain
invokes."
The Tablet (Catholic) continues its advocacy
of the proposed pilgrimage of American Catho-
lies to the shrine of the Sacred Heart at
Paray-le-Monial, and quotes from various
secular journals comments upon the project
The Tablet persists in calling the Evangelical
Council ''self-constituted society for the
perpetuation Of religious disagreement
The Catholic Reoiew urges the American
Catholic pilgrimage to the shrines Of Europe,
and especially to the Vatican; scolds certain
ing 'Plea for the Cruciix."
The Christian Leader (Universalist), touch
ing the meeting Of the Alliance, remarks that
DR.. Adams was ''most felicitous in his word of
welcome, rising well up to the height of the
great occasion and eloquently summarizing
the chief points Of national and moral sig
nifcance suggested by the spectacle As we
dwell on his glowing words, however, we can
not repress suspicion that he must have been
conveniently oblivious of facts when he ven-
tured to speak for the Christian people of
this country and not altogether critical in
his choice Of terms when he made bold to
describe the Alliance as on AN elevation so
high that there is complete oblivion of all
those manifold distinctions of country, race
and name which belong entirely to lower
and heavier atmosphere We would fain
believe, however, that the large-hearted doctor
was on that occasion o prophet of not dis
tant era, when this consummation shall not,
as now, be devoutly wished, but rapturously
realized
The Baptist Weekly suggests that we shall
have national revival and has hoped that
the meeting Of the Evangelical Alliance might
be productive Of great revival OF religion in
Christendom. 1t says:-
Not only do we augur much from the dcmonstra.
tions OF unity a. 1t meets the sophstica sarcasms
on the DIVISIONS among Christian people, but vast
amount OF real Christian literature s passing all
over the land through the secular press. The
cords OF Gospel work can scarcely be read without