The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-01-16

tober. II attracted a large number of
prominent representatives of the princi-
pal Orthodox Protestant denominations
from Europe, Asia and America, and
enlisted a degree Of attention that is
rarely given to a religious assembly not
pretending to authority. On reviewing
the diversity Of opinions and forms Of
worship and church government which
we're represented among its members,
the range Of topics discussed, the catho-
licity Of their treatment, the clearness
and ability of the papers which we're
presented, and the impressions which the
meeting carried with it, it may be Justly
pronounced an imposing demonstration
Of the force of Professionalism and its
substantial unity in essential. The
meeting of the Alliance was followed by
the secession of Bishop Cummins from
the Protestant Episcopal Church, and his
effort to organize new Epicopal
Church.
Aside from these movements, the year
has been a very quiet one for American
churches. The negotiations for the union
Of the Presbyterian Churches have come
to halt. The half dozen or so Luther
an bodies have been casting about tor
means Of establishing better under
standing between their respective organ
izations. One of then-the General
Council-a body of High Church pro-
clivities-has invited its fellows to a con
ference for the discussion Of the points
which divide them all, and the possibili-
ty Of harmonizing them. The scheme is
well received, although the belief is not
entertained that any material approach
TO union will result from it. The ailini-
ty of churches seems to he more opera
tive in the British Provinces, where the
two Presbyterian Churches of Canada,
and the two Of the Lower Provinces,
have agreed through their synods and
assemblies, to become one organization.
and their presbyteries are confidently ex-
pected to ratify the agreement "A SINH
lar success has attended Methodist efforts,
the Wesleyan and New Connection
Methodist Churches of Canada and of
Eastern British America having brought
their negotions for union to the eve of n
successful conclusion. The effort to
unite the Free Church and the United
Presbyterian Churches in Scotland has
been blocked for the time, but the nego-
tiations between the bodies answering to
these two in England are continued.
The Church of England has been agi-
tated with the ritualistic controversy.
The conversations of the two Archiepis-
copal Provinces quoted the dicussion
over the Athanasian Greed early in the
year by the adoption Of declaration
that that eloquent but formidable docu-
ment did not add new doctrines to those
otherwise taught. but that it was intend
ed as a clearer expression and forcible
reminder of doctrines inculcated in the
Scriptures This theme Of controversy
has hardly been removed, when the Con-
vocation of Canterbury was again at
tackled by petition from four hundred
and eighty-three "priests' of the Church
Of England, asking for the appointment
of authorized confessors. The petition
assumed tina. confession was recognized
in the formularies of the church. The
convocation was compelled to adopt an
other declaration to the effect that pen
ance and what is called sacramental con-
fession are not recognized in the formula
ries. The Archbishops were assailed in
May by petition from 6O.2Oo members
of the church, asking them to put down
ritualistic practices, or at least to enforce
the decisions Of the conrts against them.
They replied, saying that they were very
sorry the practices complained Of exist
ed; that they would do all they could to
repress them but that that was little,
and suggested to the petitioners that the
most effective remedies were with the Ia
iety, who could institute prosecutions in
all instances. Germany, Switzerland
and Italy have been in turmoil with the
conflict which has prevailed between the
civil powers and the Pope. In Prussia,
new laws have been demanded to meet
the new attitudes assumed by the Roman
Catholic Bishops. They have been freely
granted and vigorously executed. I'm
der their operation the instruction given
in the theological seminaries, the appoint
ment of pastors, the discipline inflicted
by the church upon its ministers and
members have all to be submitted to the
supervision of the Government. In
Switzerland the Pope has undertaken to
appoint Bishop in defiance of the laws
and in the face of the civil prohibitions.
The would-be Bishop has been escorted
over the frontiers and commanded to
stay there. The Roman Catholic
Churches of Geneva have been subjected
to regulations of newly-inereased strin-
gepcy, and three of them, whose cure.
would not conform to the provisions of
the law, have been turned over to the
old Catholics. The Constitution of the
Republic has been amended SO as to