Smyrna times., 1873-10-01


A GREAT RELIGIOUS AssEMBL E.-The
Evangelical Alliance Conterence.-To- morrow
--Thursday-one of the greatest religious
gatherings that ever convened in this or any
other country will assemble in New York city.
1t is known as the Sixth Conference of the
Evangelical Alliance Association, and will be
composed of representatives from all Protestant
sects, from all the various races and nations Of
men. It will assemble in the rooms of the
Young Mems Christian Association, in the
above named city, and will last for ten days
commencing on the ID and closing on 18th
inst.
From the fact that the ministers from the diff
terent countries will speak different languages,
arrangements have been made for holding
French and German meetings while the
English one is in progress. 1t will be larger
gathering than the celebrated Ecumenical
Council which assembled in the Vatican, the
place of the Pope of Rome, two years ago, and
from all we can gather nothing will be left
undone to make this the granaest council
which has ever been held in the name and in
the interests OF the Protestant world. The
sessions Of the Vatican Council were held il
secret, but the meetings of the Alliance will al
be public.
A short account of the history and aims O.
this great Protestant association may bt
interesting to our readers, and we will give
them as concisely as may be. The alliance wa
organic ID in London in 1916, when the frs
meeting was held. 1t was inspired mainly, a
first, by the Scotch Presbyterians, under on,
John Henderson, rich Glasgow merchant
who collected and had published a number o
essays on Christian unity. This man con
tended that there was surely some common
platform on which the various Protestant sect
could meet, confer and make arrangements tt
act against what they believed to be common
enemies, and his ideas met with many hearty
responses. Since this first meeting, fou
others have been held-in Paris in 1855, a
Berlin, 1851; at Geneva, 1860, and in AmsteI
dam, 1867.
Now, as to its aims. As we have alread
said, its great aim is Christian unity-a
anxious desire to bring about among those VIII
have a common belief something like sympath
and union. A circular s.ue1 by the Allianc
says it ''endeav0rs to exert beneficial nAu
ence on the advancement of EvangeIc,
Professionalism and ou the counteractIOn
infdelity, Popery and other forms of superst
ton, error aud protaneness, especially th
desecration Of the Lords Day"
The creed is as follows: Belief in tn
Scriptures; in Christ as the son of God an
his mcljItorill intercesson for the sins
ma,.. Justification by faith immortalit
Of the soul; resurrection of the body and ii
right of private judgment to interpret ii
Scriptures. Although this is given as tn
creed, there is nothing binding in the matte
There is no disciplinary authority assumed
pledges required. 1t simply gives this out an
desires all ministers, of whatever sect, who ca
endorse it. to be embraced in the Alauce.
Although it is a Protestant gathering, it
intimated that Bishop Reinins who has iu
been formally recognized by the Emperor
Germany as Bishop of the Old Catholic churc
and Prof. Huber, will attend the neeting, an
other liberal Catholics of the Dollinger al
Father Hyacinthe school. The Alliance W
not oppose Catholics, as such, but infalibili
and other dogmas Of the Catholic Church W
be streDuously opposed.
Many Of the foreign visitors are arriving
New York. The Ledger's New York CORE
pondent says:
Many of the visitors are staying at the b
tells. but some are partakers of private hos
tality. The Dean Of Canterbury is stayi
with Rev. DIR. Schenck, of St AIMS,
Brooklyn Heights. Mr.. Beecher, Mr. Ia
madge, Mr. Duryea, and DR.. Hall, will a
open their houses to as mahy of the brethr
as they can accommodate. Wealthy lawn
of almost all denominations are also exhi
ting like liberality. saa
The number of workmen out of emnlovm,