The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-05
PITTSBURGH.


PITTSBURGH, February The annua
convention Of the National Reform Asso
citation met at . o'clock to day in Librar,
Hall. An immense audience was pres
ent, embracing delegates from almost
every State In the Union and Representa-
tiveS OF oil the Evangelical denomina
tions The meeting was called TO order
BY the Hon. Felix r. Bennett, President
and Prof. j. r. Sloan, OF the Reformed
Presbyterian Seminary Of Allegheny, wa!
chosen President pro tem.
Prayer by Prot. A. A. Hodge, oil Pitts
burgh.
A Committee on Permanent Orgsniza.
tion having been appointed, 1t reported as
follows: 60.
President, F. r. Bennett; Vice Pres
ident, A. A. Hodge, Pittsburgh; Rev, N
johnson, Indiana; Rev. E. r. Craven
New Jersey; DR.. J. B. johnson, Ohio
bon. T. B. Patterson, Pittsburgh; Rev
Randall Ross, Missouri; Rev. II. KeIfFer
Pennsylvania; Rev. B. B. Cameron, Wis
consln; Rev. Joseph Barnes, Florida
Rev. D. R. Keir, Pittsburgh; Rev
Joshua Edwards, Illinois, and Rev. Dr.
Banner, New Jersey.
Rev. s. P. Stevenson addressed The
Convention on the ends we seek. He
maintained that the Union OF the Church
and State was not 10 be expected as q
legitimate effect Of the work Of the As
eociation; that the object was TO get the
State to acknowledge God before itseli
and not through'a medium OF any church
establishment.
he contended that the accomplishment OF
the objects of. the association would moi
give any one sectarian body an advan-
vantage over another, but merely pre-
serve and perpetuate Christian institu-
tutons as they have come to us from our
fathers. He said attacks were beng
made on the institutions by inlidels, and
that they were giving way before such
attacks, and the only way 10 secure them
was by the acknowledging Of God in the
manner proposed in the association.
Rev. D. McAllister, Of New York, ad
dressed the Convention on testimonials tc
the religious aspect OF the Constitution
BE cited passages from the most eminent
jurists, Legislators, professors of political
economy, and ministers In testimony o.
the irreligious character Of our nationa
charter and the dangers 10 be feared
therefrom,
Prot. David Keir, OF Pittsburgh, ad
dressed the Convention on the fesponsl.
bility OF Nations to God. BE did not sec
how any who desired the reign Of God In
their hearts could object to Him reigning
in the Nation. BE combatted the idea
that Nation was the mere aggregation
OF individuals, gaining oil its power from
them, and said that Il was an ordinance
Of God as much as the family or church.
Dr.. Brown, OF New Castle, addressed
the Convention on the relation Of the pro,
posed amendment 10 the suffrage OF CHI.
zens who oppose 1t. The amendments
he said, were designed to deprive no man
Of his rights, whether Jew, Unitarian, Of
InAdel.
Prot. 9. A. Blanchard; Of Wheaton Col.
lege, Illinois, addressed the Convention on
1.-THE Conflict Of Law" he admitted II
this matter how frequently God was ack
knoWledged in the Constitution. II woult
no more make It a matter OF religion thar
putting q pump in well 10 increase thC
supply of water. What he wanted WA
TO pump religion into our laws until theI
corresponded with the Christian senti.
ment Of the people. He was ol the opln
ion that while II was not intended tc
unite the Church and State, II would bt
better TO have the ballot.box In the
Church than In the rum shop, or thSt
some religious iest should be demanded
rather than accept the thieves and drunk
ards that now make our laws.