The New York herald., 1873-10-09
At the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian
Church.

At the above church yesterday the session was
well attended. The first speaker was the Rev. G.
d. Cummins, OF Kentucky, who delivered a dis
course on 1.-THE Roman and Reformed Doctrine of
justification. His address was most deliberately
historical drawing numerous incidents from the
days OF Christ to the present time. He dwet par
tlculary on the Reformation which he justified by
showing the extraordinary condolences in the cur
rent OF events OF that period, which went to show
the truth OF the new doctrine. From all parts of
the world, at that time, came objections to the
Roman Catholic Church as 1t .hen existed. and
those who disagreed with the Middle Age doctrine
sprang into new form OF association. 1t was
strange to an extraordinary degree that the re-
forming spirit should arise in SO many nations at
the same time 1t was not alone in the land where
Luthers voice Immediately reached the ears OF his
cOuntrymen that his views began to hold sway
but also in countries where the prime movers in
the reformation were not to be seen. 1t seemed
providential that all the countries should at one
time hail with delight and accept in It's totality the
old and primitive doctrine that justification comes
by firm faith and belief in Christ and His teachings
Tue next speaker was the Rev. Pro essor George
ID. Fisher, ID. d.. OF Yale College, Connecticut,
whose subject was
.'PRoTEsTANTisM AND RoMANIsM
compared in their relation TO modern clviliZationv
The laea develol ed by tins speaker that Prot
estantism was exalting and Catholicism depress.
ing. Professionalism was liberty; Catholicism was
dcspotIsm In his elaboration OF this idea the
speaker showed Thoroughly and in detail his reasons
for entertaining sucn a view, travelling over the
history the Catholic Church to show that 1t was
nothing but bondage to adhere to the absolute dc
tatlon OF that denomination, whereas in the re-
formed religion, winch discarded the pettiness
connected with the old lalth the Christian man
gained true liberty.
The next speaker was the Rev. T. Lorriaux, OF
Paris, who cnose Tor his theme 'Ihe Evangelza-
ion Of Roman Catholics IN France" Inc Prot
estant eyangelizaion had succeeded admirably
beyond expectation. In many places lootnods
had been obtained where there had been no hopes
OF success. In some OF the very parts OF France
wnere IL was east expected the seed was sown
and brought forth fruit. The reverend gentleman
gave many incidents in support oi the truth OF
his assertion and wound up by expressing the
hope that with the spirit which animated the
Evangelical Alliance, anu which was now lelt i'll
many parts OF France, that country would be re-
reshed and reinvieorated as she was in the days
THE TRAINING or MINISTER'S
The Rev. Frank Coulin, ID. D., OF Geneva real
most elaborate paper on "Fhe Training Requti ed
to Enable Protestant Ministers Enectually TO Meet
the Intellectual Demands OF the Age" After tnis
Theological institution Massachusetts, spoke on
"Reigious Iaberty.r The remarks made by thus
gentleman were very enec'se, nc s .mough uttered
subject be considered under TWO hypotheses. One
was this, that the State take care Of secular mat
ters; the other that religious people should be
allowed TO take care OF religon-in other words,
that religion should be unencumbered by the
state. lie could find nothing in the Book
to show that God required the State to
interfere with religion. But he did ind In
the Book, as we all could hnd therein, that the
Apostles were never instructed to ask aid from
the state, and thatin many instances their preach
ing and teaching were IN opposition to the state.
The reverend speaker, as the hour was approach
ing for carrying out the programme elsewhere,
HIS hearers an opportunity Of participating IN the
fruits OF the Alliance elsewhere Then the DoxolOgy
H0 sung tee whsle copQegsuoA upitina n