The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-10-15
THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

The Evangelical Alliance opened at Mad
ison Square church, New York, October ).
The formal opening for business took place
later in Steinway Hail. This was crowded
to excess with delegates. They swarmed
out on Hobbies and stairs at either end of the
block through which the hall extends. The
large platform was so crowded that as early
as 10 clock there was hardly standing room.
The Oriental delegates, in white tartans,
were the conspicuous objects in the vicinity
of the chair.
Hon. VIM. Dodge called the meeting to
order. After singing the doxology, prayer
was made by Rev DR.. Hodge, of Princeton.
Rev. DR.. Rigg, of London, next read por-
tiOn of the seventh chapter Of st. John,
after which there was prayer by Rev. Mateo
Prochet, of Italy, and was followed by the
Dean of Canterbury with the creed. The
entire Conference then rose and sang with
one voice the evangelical hymn of Corona
ton. The business of efecting permanent
organization was then taken up and the list
of officers read and adopted. DR.. Theodore
D. Woolsey, of New Haven, was appointed
president, and DR.. S. j. Prime general Sc
cretary. Among the vice-presidents were
William F. Havermyer, Lord Alfred Church
i'll, of England; Hon. R. c. Winthrop, of
Massachusetts Rev. A. Dooner, Rev. Mr..
Buckingham, of Connecticut; VIM. E. Dodge,
New York. Rev. DR.. Schenck and others
were appointed honorary secretaries.
President DR.. Woolsey then took the chair
amidst applause and delivered his address.
He said: ''We are here to-day because we
believe in the Communion of Saints. We
believe that man in his nature, his aspira-
tons, his sense of want, his need of re-
demption, is one, and that God is one, and
that in all the various unfoldings of Christian
character and Christian life there is one
Christian character, the spirit of love of
God and love of men resting in Jesus Christ
our Lord, in the hope of redemption through
Him.
1--WE believe in one great universal church
that has lasted through all time until now,
and is to last until the end of all things.
Notwithstanding the inefficacy of prayer has
been demonstrated by science great laugh
FER and applause the church goes on pray
ing still all the same, and as long as there
are Christians in the world, they will pray
necessarily, in spite of all logical conclusions
Thus, too, we believe in the dlfusiveness Of
the Gospel.
"Gentlemen, l need not repeat the well
come already given to you, yet, as your
president, l may once more say to you that
we welcome you all. We welcome the Luth
eran, we welcome the children of free, and
heroic Switzerland, and the representatives
of France-the much suffering and glorious
Church of France. We welcome those from
all other parts of Europe, and those who
have come, like the first fruits, from the East
ern lands.
1t was then announced that it had been
agreed upon, that pastors should make their
own arrangements with delegates as to ser
vices.
The Dean of Canterbury then read let
ter from the Archbishop of Canterbury pray
ing for Gods blessing on the efforts for the
spread of reformation. "Never," he says,
twas there a time more apt for attempting
to check the spread of superstition, and he
trusts all will cordially unite in doing So"
Rev. Mr.. Prochet, of Italy, spoke on the
condition of the church. He said: I" Plus
TX is conscious of diminished power. The
clergy cling around the Holy See for support,
and all are eager to crush the common foe
before them. All Italian priests do not be-
lieve what the Pope taught, for only few
years ago nine thousand of them petitiOned
him to abandon temporal power, but he re-
fused. For all that reformation is not to
be expected through the priests of Italy, for
they are always ready to do the bidding of
their master. The people, though Roman
Catholic in name, are Indifferent about their
religion, and instead of seeking out the truth,
prefer to remain inactive in the church in
which they were born"
He referred briefly to the various parties
in Italy, and said there were over half dozen
Protestant denominations who each had their
churches and large congregations in that
country. After paying tribute to the In
genuity of the Jesuits, the speaker said It.
aly was divided into three parties-the
Priests, the FrotestanCs, anu Cnc AuuueIs, anu
present indications showed that the evangel-
icals were making vast progress, and would
make more if they had sufficient literature of
their own.
An photographed paper, by Professor
A. Thulock, D. d., of Halle, Germany, was
next read by DR.. Willie, of Koether, Prussia,
the former having been too infrm to attend
the Convention.
At the meeting in the afternoon, addresses
were delivered by Rev. Mr.. Stuart on Relig-
ion in Holland; DR.. Krummacher on Prot
estant life in Germany; DR.. Schaff on his
visit to the Emperor of Germany; E. Reichet
on Religion in Switzerland, and others.
Fecundity of Fishes,