American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-10-18
THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

MANY eminent diViueS from Europe
ami the East are i'll Attendance
and the New Workers are enjoying
a rare intellectual repast. The os
tensible object for which we sup
posed the Alliance was inaugurated
has not vet been developed; al
least, there has been no specific de
sign projected, either i'll its basis OF
organization, or in the addresses OF
its ora ors. Subjects common to
the pulpit, and on which most
christians are agreed, have been
discussed, with more or less ability,
but we have seen nothing from any
of the speakers that favors ecclesi-
astical consolidation, nor has any
plan been suggested by which the
various religious sects are to be
brought into closer bonds of chris
tian fellowship. After carefully
and thoughtfulIy weighing the. ut
terances of these learned divineS,
we are constrained to say that the
true keynote of christian unity and
perfection is yet to be touched.
They seem to be more concerned
about what shall constitute articles
of faith, than what shall distinguish
them as workers with Christ.
In defining its fundamental princi-
pies, the Alliance alludes to the
dogmas pertaining to the Trinity,
total depravity, justification by
faith, the resurrection of the body.
Sc, but is singularly silent on the
alI-important doctrines of personal
holiness, and constant obedience to
the divine commands. There seems
to be more solicitude about the es
Enlistment of certain abstract theO-
logical propositions, than in the
building up OF Christ's spiritual
kingdom
In some of the dlscOurses and !
lectures there is too much blending
Of philosophy and religion in 9th
RS, too great railroads.&c. tenden-
cy, even for pulpit sentimentality.
The perfection of christian life can
never be wrought out by specuIa-
tive disquisitions. The Gospel, to
be effective. must be addressed to
the consciousness of man-must
speak to the soul with the energy of
truth. and carry with it the demon
elements of its own divine
origin.
Before the great work of evan
gelizing the world is accomplished,
there must be more charity exer
cised by the ministry. They
mnst recognize the great truth,
that the pure Gospel is not confined
alone to the liturgy, to any one
of faith, or to any spe-
cial articles of religion. They must
be brought to believe that this vas
salage to creeds is detrimental to
5he spread OF christianity, and that
all humble and sincere followers
If the Lamb, by whatever name I
hey may be known, are worthy to ;
De called the children of God.
Creeds, it must he confessed, are !
Ill essential, being declarations of |
doctrine and opponents Of denomi- I
rational polity; but they may be |
10 abused as to lead to sectarian
and religious partisan
hip. Where these obtain. the pull
bit becomes the "Oracle of sects in
tead of the oracle of TRUTH" and
he priests who minister at it's al u
ars are made the teachers of a the
,lOgy whose spirit is but blending
# bieOtry and dogmatism, leaving
he minds of the hearers filled with
ARTISAN zeal instead of christian g,
unity. The great law of lOve-Obe- q
ience to which Christ made the 6,
est of discipleship-must take the
lace of bigotry and prejudice, be- r.
ore the preaching of the Word will n
ecome an evangel of good to the a
'Orld. b
We earnestly hope that this har- II
,oEious cOmminglng of ministers -
opposite creeds, and from remote G;
elds of christian enterprise, may OF
ave a tendency to arrest the pro- II
ress of this evil, and bring the >.
iffrrent religious organizations into h,
loser bonds of fraternal union. re
The meagre reports given of the al
ddresses and lectures delivered and ~
lad on the occasions referred to, j.,
re not as satisfactory as we could IN
ave wished, but are sufficient to m
low the style and calibre of the
,eakeis. OF the many who have
aimed the attention of the ALI oo
Ic". VIC are most pleased with the -,
CIV. DIR. William ArHot, OF Edin- H..
1rgh, Scotland, AMI Rev. DIR. he
,seph Parker, OF London. The Fl,
sccurse of the former, on "1'he ba