The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-10-21


eigners. The native population has dc.
creased over sixty per cent. in forty
years.
The Evangelical Aiiiance-What of 1t
This most remarkable series of meet
ings is now an accomplished fact Of history
No Christian assembly in modern times
has attracted such widespread attention
or SO profoundly interested the public
mind Its grand elimination in the fare
we'll exercises of last Sunday evening,
which crowded the Academy Of Music,
Cooper Institute, Steinway hall, Tam
many hall, the four largest audience
rooms of New York, sent thousands away
who came too late for ingress, was one Of
the most impressive popular demonstra-
tions that has ever occurred in this, or
indeed, in any city Of the world.
And now the question comes-Cui J9.
no? what docs it amount to? In the
first place, the question can only be an
swered in part because the tidal waves of
influence that this conference started have
only begun to roll. They surged against
some OF the New York pulpits, last Sun
day, aud some Of the Dame Partingtons
got out their brooms One Of the excel.
lent things about it is, that it has not at.
tempted to settle anything by votes and
resolutions. Its authority is simply that
OF the influence that rightly belongs to it
through the light it has disseminated aud
the conviction it has established
Another good result is, that it has
taught good lessons as to,the best methods
cf polemica discussion one of them. re-
spect toward the opponents of evangelical
Christianity, whether on the Romanist Or
rationalstic side. Some of the ablest
minds from European countries came pre-
pared with the best results of their pro-
foundest investigations. They showed to
us their sort Of armor, and their most
skillful weapons, and how in long aud
hard encounters, they arc wont to
use them, aud that it is altogether in vain
to think of putting down great supersii-
tions or mighty unbelicfs with superficial
assertions. or DID, worn out stock areu-
ments.
Our preachers too, have had abundant
homiletical lessons. In the carncstness,
simplicity aud scripturalness OF thes for
eign preachers and the waJ to preach cx-
posltorily and eloquently and yet ehoc.
lively, they have been taught something
worth knowing. We know also, very
much better, exactly what Christianity
has to contend with throughout the world
at the present moment,-thc actual tac-
tics OF its opposing forces, and that the
most powerful Of them is unbclief in its
various forms rather than Romanism.
We have still further learned throul b
this uprising Of popular interest, constant
y increasing to the end Of these meetings
that the people are not SO Indifferent a5
we might have imagined to the vital
themes >f Christianity, and that there is q
remarkable eagerness of the public mind
attending such discussions when carried
on with real thoroughness and ability.
One of the best of the indirect results
has been and will be the great amount Of
good that has been generated in the meet
ing together of so many thoughtful aud
influential men from such diverse parts OF
the world. Permanent and valuable
friendships have been formed, that will
tell on great variety of human interests
While we Americans have been benefited
in return for noble hospitalities by all
this general intercourse of thought and
kindness, reflex influences will 90 abroad
to France, Germany, Italy, England and
other nations represented. LISA matter
Of much significance in respect of these
international relations that the Emperor
William of Germany took such special
pains to convey his good wishes to the
conference, and that the Old Catholics
were careful to be represented in it by
their remarkable letter. There were, too,
several other communications from vari.
Gus countries relating to very important
International subjects, such as war, arbi-
tration, the slave trade in Egypt and else
where, the opium trade, etc, which will
have a place in the published reports ol
the Alliance
But the best Of all were the humani.
tartan aspects of the meetings, the deep
and earnest philanthropic impulses that
pervaded them in the elaborated discus
sions of social evils and ratormatory
measures, missions, home and foreign, the
labor question, and all the methods by
which Christianity seeks to enlighten and
uplift mankind.
II the conference did not DO everything
that might be expected of it, it certainly
has done much more than its best friends
dared to hope for. II keen.eycd critics
shall discover great deficiencies, they
we're keenly felt and frankly acknowl.
edged by the conference itself. But hopes
were enkinded for better things in store,
there was liberty of thought, and free
scope for manly sentiments and noble as
pirations, a singular harmony prevailed,
and strong impulses were given to mpuy
noble charities.
A POINTED QuEsrIoN.-A lady was
stopping recently at Chicago hotel with