New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-01
MEETING or THE EVANGELIC,sL hLLi'

ANCE.
We give large portion of our space TO-
day to the history of the Evangelical Alliance
and tn the scheme of its session which Is 10
be held in this city during this week and the
next. There is no more important WORK tiiin
that in which this widespread organization rs
employed and at the present moment i's
meeting here has an especial significance Al
the last general conference, which took pace
in Amsterdam IN 1867, the next meeting
was arranged for New-YOrk IN loo''
a date which was changed, at Che
desire of the British Branch, to 1870 But the
war between France and Germany came on
in the mean time, and the meeting was Wisely
postponed for moro convenient SEASON. Ill
every respect the postponement was adVah-
tageous. Not only has the political sltuation
in Europe materially altered during the lasI
few years. but the state OF the Church
has also sustained important and 1ar-
reaching changes. The religious quesuon
has assumed powerful influence in political
and civil affairs. 1t has frequently decided
the fate of cabinets in England, Germany, ana
Italy. The Iberian peninsula has Deeh thro"h
omen to eyangeliEatiOn, and the outer barriers
of Madrid and Seville have been invaded by
Protestant prayer-meetings and Sunday
schools. In France one of the most remarka-
HE religions revivals of modern times has fol-
lowed the war, and though it may be varl-
ously designated AS pure fanaticism or pure
intrigue, 1T is well worthy the serious con-
sideration of all who believe in the reality OF
religion.
The most important of oil the events which
have modified the position OF the religious
world since the last general meeting OF the
Alliance has been the revolt OF the Old
Catholic party of Germany from the dogma
of Papal infallibiity and its consequences.
While many imagined that this was the be-
ginning of "a movement of emancipation oil
individual opinion in the bosom of the Roman
Catholic Church itself, The TRIBUNE, 80 far
"a we know, was alone in predicting
that this would not be the case. The
Catholic Church, in its entirety, has accepted
the decisions of the Gcumenical Council, and
the Old Catholics will sooner or later yield to
the overpOwerng moral force arrayed against
them or take one step further and come out
of the pale of the unquestiOnng believers.
The number and the importance of this party
in Germany especially, give great significance
to its attitude in relation to the Evangelical
Alliance, and this matter will therefore be
sure to demand the serious and practical at
tention of the International Conference which
is about to assemble in New-YOrk.
The meeting cannot but be a memorable one
in many respects. A very large attendance is
expected Already it Is found that the spa
cious hall of the Association Building will be
insufficient for the more interesting occasions,
and Steinway Hall has therefore been engaged
for the opening session on Friday. Many of
the venerable names which appear in the
records of the first meeting in 1915 are now in
scribed upon honOred tombs, but most of
the survivors will be present, and with them
the leading persons in the evangelical move
ments of the present day. Almost every civil
lied speech will be heard among the delegates,
though the result of the variety will probably
recall Pentecost rather than Babel. There
will be little room for wrangling or scholastic
disquisitiou. The objects of the Alliance are
so broad and 80 liberal that they exclude
occasion for sectarian jealousy and suspicion.
They deserve from us all the hearticst
welcome our city and our country can give.
1t is scarcely possible for any human organi-
cation to do more good or less harm than is
aimed at in the scheme of this powerful body
of Christians, and it may safely be said that
no former religious association was ever so
free from the cruel selfshness Of bigotry.
They form propaganda of tolerance and under
every sky of the earth they have used their
weighty influence in favor of justice
and humanity to men of all creeds and all con-
ditions. In the name of Christ they have de-
Tended Jews against Christian cruelty. They
have sheltered under the Cross the followers
of the Crescent. BY their efforts for the eman-
cipation of conscience throughout the world,
they have earned the right to a cordial recep-
ton in q country which first emancipated the
citizen.