New-York tribune., 1874-12-01
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
pPrgRYTrRIAN FEDERATION.

PRESBYTERIAN FEDERATION
x,Yr COMING MEETING OF DELEGATES TO GDvASoB
TIE PROJECT OF A GENERAL CoUNCIL-GREAf
INTEREST IN THE PLAN.
The influences that have been at work TOT
years toward the federation OF the dinerent
church bodies holding to the Presbyterian form OF gov
eminent have succeeded in securing the appointments OF
O representative meeting to consider the subject THIS
will be held In the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church,
the Rev. DR.. Howard Crosby's, on Thursday morning
next aud It's sessions will be private Delegates arc
expected from all bodies Interested both OF the
United States and Canada. In the evening OF the same
day there will be q public meeting in the Collegiate
Church at Ffh-ave. and Twenty -ninth-st, OF which
the Rev. DR.. Or niston is pastor. The Rev
DR.. John Hall has been invited TO
preside, and addresses will be made by the Rev. Drs
Adams Ormiston OF this city, the Rev. Dr. Ker, OF
Pittsburgh, the Rev Dr. McPherson of Canada the Rev
DR.. McCosh. OF Princeton, the Rev. DIR. Van Gsen OF
Philadelphia, aud others. The object OF the puoIc
meeting explain the meaning OF the proposeu
federation The committee is composed OF the following
distinguished men: The Rev. DR.. james McCosh, New
Jersey; The Rev. DR.. Howard Crosby, the Rev. Dr. Will
liam Paxton OF New York; the Rev. d. A. Wallace, OF
Illinois; the Rev. Or. William :. Plumer. or eOuth
Carolina the Rev. J. II. A BOmberger OF pennsylvania;
J. NJ Dawson, LII d. OF Montreal; the Rev Dr. H. D.
Ganse and the Rev william Ormston, OF the Reformed
Church; the Rev. Howell Powell, of the Welsh Presby
G.. d. Matthews. OF the United Presby terian
Church; the Rev. DR.. Isaac Murray, OF the
Presbyterian Church Of the Lower Provinces.
The steps that have thus far been taken directly leading
to the desired result such as to give great confidence
the friends OF the measure that 1t will finally DC real
led Resolutions adopted with the utmost unan
unity IN 1877 By the General Assembly OF the United
States favoring an Gcumenca Council OF Presbyterian
Churches and committee was appointed to advance
the project. Tie General Assembly of Ireland also
passed resolutions 1871 directed TO the same end ana
last year, while the Evangelical Alliance was IN session
in this city, meeting called by the Committee OF
the General Assembly Of the United States To discuss
the subject This was composed representative
different Presbyterian bodies IN all parts OF the
world, aud resolutions were adopted anu
large committee appointed to advance the pro-
ject OF general council IN every practcaOle
Since then many things have occurred OF an en-
couraGng In Canada the action OF the several
church bodies has been altogether favorable, and
closer union there than proposed by tue
general plan. In June last the General Assembly
| OF the Canada Presbyterian and the Presbyterian
synod with the Church OF Scotland agreed
upon terms union sent them to the various pres
byteres OF Ooth cnurcues fr tAelr action, H -,
meetings OF tnese Two bodies were recently hcId 10
officially receive the answers VI the prts3y 1ellcs
Every the II presJy teres or the General Assem-
Dy approved OF tue proposed terms 21 Of the 20 ses
siOns approved all the resOIul0n- BOZ the rem".hl"S
all except resolution and Ou.y one session d!sdP-
| proved. There 233 congregations, OF "LoA
/
resolution. The vote tIe motion lndorslnS lie pre-
acton OF the Assembly and the acceptance by ne
PresDyterlcs Resulted only two dssenlln voices
Ins largest Of the Canada churches. IAe FsaHo!
t.rian Cnurcn IN connection with the Church o scot
land has IL presbyters, and Ia minister's. There Is
more opposition 10 the federation Ia tAIs tAan IN tue
nfber aithOugh the majority is larger The other two
bod es Presbyterian Church OF the Lower ProVaces
in winch there 10 presDy teres and IA minister's ana
tno Cnurcn OF scotland IN Nova scotia. winch there
! are presOyteres and 81 minister's They are under
stood favorable 10 tue union. Tacrt seems 20 nc
no doubt therefore, that the lchurches OF Canada
will form
church Will be 10000 members, and about
sHwmaird in June next at the end OF the Supreme
! Court OF the Canada Presbyterian Church.
The contemplated federation, wAcn the meetings OF
tins week are intended 10 advance involves no organic
uuion aud Will III way interfere with tue government
or Delieis OF individual bodies That Will compose IT,
Each may retain its prcuares, but the liea SIM
py is unite in work III manner that VIII insure
great saving OF strength ahd money anu Idcale te
general Christian work The first measure III winch the
federation vii he called upon % maAe practical li,
prOyement Ill be the sysIem oi - @
1 nf ne different bodies have their mission stations
ind1penIe"'a nre acting in virtual competitdn where
| one representing The united CHURCHES, would have
much greater Influence AM be enabled
! 10 act more efficiently Beside this among the many
benefits which believed tAls viii cause are these;
hv giving tLem the sanction Of large body that 1t
viii enable churches uniayoraDe to organic union TO
st holding their Individual tenes; hat II VIII make
the various churches more familiar with "e workings
| of and increase each other; that
stronger combination Will be made against erOr ana III
behalf of truth-such, Tor example, the defense OF
the Christian Sabbath II VIII also demonstrate to the
Christian world the facts the working OF the Presby-
! teran rys,em; that by ITO reasonable ponty 1T
| sists with every form Of civil government; tuat
! by the simplicity OF its usaGes II Is adapted
! to ali the varying conditions Of the Church
! upon the eGrtH," aud tnat by its mod
eSaton prepared to recognize tle knsLip Of al
beevers In proposed Council Will do for the
Presbyterian churches what the Evangelical Alliance
does for the church at large. Tie objects sought are
not such as much opposition 10 the measure,
and country almost every Wnerc else tue leei
ing IS almost unanimously IN favor No opposition has
yet made, and when the purposes are fully under
stood there Is little chance for dissent Besides those
organizations which bear the Presbyterian name, tine
Reformed Dutcb) Church Is equally interested IN the
plan.