The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-27
NEW YORK HERALD SATURDAY 1ssrR1pLE SHEET

NEW YOR
well as to christians, and claims to have helped in
relieving Jews from unjust severity a. well as to
have been instrumental in causing the relaxa-
ton OF stringent restrictions upon certain sects OF
Christians.
THE WORKING MEMBERS
The list OF active workers In the preliminary ar
rangements for the Conference includes many
names most favorably known throughout the
United States. The President OF the American Al
lance, Hon. william Z. Dodge, and his sons Will
liam =. Dodge, Jr., and Professor Stewart Dodge,
OF Beyroot College, in Syria, Asiatic Turkey, are
devotlpg much time to the work. DR.. s. lre9nus
Prime. editor OF the observer, is one OF the NEST
active members OF the Executive Committee In
connection with Rev. DIR. Thomas ID. Anderson,
pastor OF the First Baptist church; Rev.
DIR. J. Sanford H0lme, OF Trinity Baptist
church; Rev. DR.. william Adams, OF the
Madison avenue Presbyterian church; the
venerable President McCosh, OF Princeton
Theological Seminary; Rev. William J. Buddington,
OF the Lafayette avenue Congregational church,
Brooklyn; DR.. Noah Hunt Schenck. OF st. AIMS on
the Heights, Brooklyn; Rev. G. w. Samson, d. D..
LID, President OF Rutgers Female College; Rev.
Henry d. Ganse, editor OF the Dutch Reformed
christian Inteut0encer; Rev. George g. Crooks,
editor OF the Methodist Rev. Fl. B. Ridgway, OF the
Harlem Methodist church; Rev. Howard Crosby,
Chancellor OF the New York University; Rev. s. w.
Chittenden and Rev. Henry B. Chaplin, Secretaries
OF the United States Branch OF the Alliance, and
Mr.. Caleb 7. Rowe its Treasurer. DR.. Philip
Schafr, the Acting Honorary Secretary, returned
from Europe this week, where he has been pro-
viding for the sending OF delegations by the
European branches.
f DURATION OF THE CONFERENCES.
Ten days will be devoted to the sessions of the
Conference, beginning with the evening of Thurs
day, October 2, and closing on Sunday evening,
October H. after which 1t Is arranged for the chief
onicers OF the Alliance to proceed on Monday, to
Philadelphia with their guests, to enjoy the hos.
pitality OF the Quaker City, and hold there grand
public meeting on Monday evening" October Is.
Alter this conclusion of the exercises Of the Coun-
Gil there will be an excursion to Niagara Falls. on
returning from which the European dele
gates will be sent on their return voyages, with
the parting good wishes and benedtcttOns OF the
many Christian acquaintance they will have
formed while here. Full provision Is being made
for the entertainment OF all the delegates to the
Conference Id the homes OF New York sympathizers
in the work of the Alliance. Several Of the ocean
steamship lines have trSdered TO the Alliance
passage tickets out and return for its European
delegates ana invited guests at yeduced rates.
Liberal terms have also been accorded by the rail-
road companies Tor the excurmons, which VIII
form part OF the entertainments.
A Loading Merchants Views.
HERALD reporter called on the President OF the
United States branch Of the Evangelical Alliance,
Mr.. William L. Dodge, to make inquiries about
the coming Conference. Mr.. Dodge is the well
known head OF the great iron and tin importing
house OF Phelps Dodge Co. He was found In his
counting house hard at work. He LOOKS about nifty
years old, stands q tribe below six feet, ID firmly
built and muscular In appearance, has gray hair
and an abundant white beard, pleasant, amiable-
looking blue eye, mellow voice and persua-
sive manner. He is q smooth, easy talker and
seemed highly impressed with the useful
ness to mankind of the aims and efforts
of the Alliance. He said that 1t de-
signed to unite and utilize the common sentiment
OF Christendom. Broken up into sects and denomi-
nations. its inherent power is liable to be wasted
unless there be some moral cOndensing apparatus
like the Alliance, through which 1t can speak and
act. The Alliance proposes specially to remove all
persecution, TOR conscience sake the world over
Wherever a man is restrained OF his right to enjoy
his own religion, even though that be MahOmet-
anism there the Alliance Is ready to bring moral
force to bear for his acknowledgements We nave, In
this way, been able to effect much, IN many lands,
during the TWENTY-FIVE years the Alliance has lived.
1t has worked for religious freedom IN Russia Italy,
Austria, Turkey and many other countries where
conscience was enslaved.
THE GEAR AND TIE ALLIANCE.
Russian law made very grievous religious re-
strictiOns. man who, being born OF Lutheran
HanrcS the state reii9on' ac"u,reT thereby Ger
tain privileges; but II he sought subsequently to
return to the faith and worship OF his fathers he
incurred very severe penalties. This was ex-
emplifed particularly In the case of German
colony which many years ago became nominally
attached to the Greek Church, In order to secure
grant of the land in Russian territory on which
they colOnized. lew years ago their descendants
vigorously punished. committee of the Alliance,
numbering seventy-fve members, and represent
Ing christianity OF various scots 10 all the leading
Petersburg to make representations to the govern
ment OF the Gar In behalf OF relaxing this legal
Gortschakon, Chancellor OF the Empire He said :
"Our laws this subject are on the statute book.
The Emperor exerts no special rigor against these
cuprits 1t Ia impossible that offences against
the laws should be overlooked ana though we
must fully respect the delegation OF the Alliance
manty as well on account OF the large bodies Of
enlightened Christians whom It represents yet
there 10 no way Ia WHICH ! see HIS MAJESTY can
present your request to the Gear at my earliest OPP
portunity and receive his commands In the prem
ises." There was no formal abrogatiOn OF the
oppressive laws but a short time subsequently the
German colony were quie'ly relieved from the
been molested. No doubt the Gear and his chief
Minister concluded, on canvassng the matter, that
II would be better to remit the penalties under an
old law, which from non-enforcement had almost
become obsolete, and had in this case been put in
force through the influence OF the Greek bishops,
without instructions from the central government,
rather than to incur the censure OF combined
Christendom as represented by the Alliance.
SOCIAL EVILS.
Added to the influence the Alliance exerts in
favor OF free conscience it devoes itself largely to
the reformation OF the social Ills which afrtct
mankind. 1t seeks the removal OF intemperance,
paupersm and all classes OF vice. 1t cndeavors, In
short, to do all the good that Is practicable, by
uniting Christians in efficient labor against error,
Ignorance, superstition inhdelity and vice, while
It leaves all its members tree to enjoy their diner
ing shades OF personal religious belief and TO
maintain the integrity OF their several sects. 1t
incucates Christian brotherhood, while 1t leaves
the various denominations unimpaired, and m
cites them to generous rivalry In EFFORTS for the
benefit OF the human race.
WHO WILL COME.
At the approaching conference we expect the best
men OF our own country. and q large representa-
ton of the piety learning and wisdom OF Europe.
MANY Of the hlQhest atanding are either now ar