The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-16
Church Federation.


The Convention of delegates from the various
sections of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States and Canada, to determine upon measures
for the formation of representative federation OF
the churches that hold to the Presbyterian form
of faith, met on the Sd of December in Dr. eros.
by's church, New York.
There we're delegates present from the Northern
Presbyterian, the Reformed Presbyterian, the
United Presbyterian. the Welsh Calvinistic, and
the Reformed Church in America. Rev. DR.. John
Hall presided and explained that the movement
was for the purpose of uniting in close cooperation
the various branches of the Presbyterian family
on this continent and in Europe
Rev. Dr. McCosh, of Princeton, made the prin-
principal address, and the following resolutions
were adopted:
|. In the opinion of the Churches represented
at this meeting, it is desirable to form confedera
ton of the Reformed churches holding to the
Presbyterian system, in order to manifest the sub
stantial unity of these churches, and to combine
them in the accomplishment of the great work
committed TO them by the Head of the Church.
2 While furnishing to the Presbyterian church
es means of entering into closer fellowship with
one another, this confederation is not meant to
separate them in any way from other churches
which hold by Christ, the Head, with which
churches will always be ready to cooperate.
3. This confederation does not propose to form
or adopt new Confession of Faith, but will re-
quire every church proposing to join it to submit
It's Greed, and will admit only the churches whose
Greed is in conformity with the consensus of the
Reformed churches
4. 1t shall not interfere with the internal order
and discipline of any Church.
5. 1t shall hold, from time to time, General
Council, composed of representatives of all the
churches constituting the confederation.
6. The representatives to this Council shall al
ways consist Of an equal number OF ministers and
elders
7. The General Council shall take into consider,
alton only such sub ecs as have been submitted tu
the Church by her great Head.
8. The General Council shall seek to guide pub
lie sentiment Alright in varlons countries by papers
read, by addresses delivered, by information col
ected for publication by the exposition OF sound
scriptural principles and defences of the truth.
9. The decisions come to by this Council shall
be laid before the several churches, and be entitled
to receive from them respectful, prayerful, and
careful consideration.
TO- 1t will labor to promote the peace and har-
mony of the churches.
H. 1t will ever rejoice to support weak and
struggling churches. which have to carry on their
operations amid infde and anti Christian opposi.
tiou.
r. 1t will defend, by all lawful means, those
who, in any country, prosecuted for conscience
sake.
IL 1t will serve to procure for the churches that
freedom of government and of action which Christ
has given to such as their inaenable privilege.
a. 1t will employ all moral means to distribute
the nilsson work Of the churches on the foreign
field so as to prevent missionary enterprises from
interfering with or hindering each other; that mis-
sionaries be sent to every nation, and our Lord
command be fulfilled by the gospel being preached
to every creature.
10 1t will encourage the churches to combined
efforts to provide for the religious wants of great
cities and other destitute portions of the home field.
t. 1t will press upon all the churches the i'm
peratiVe duty of securing the adequate instruction
of the young in Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments.
49, 1t will make every effort to protect the Sab
bath as divine institution, fitted to convey so
many blessings temporal and spiritual.
Is. Ii will endeav0r to combine the churches IN
their efforts to suppress intemperance, and the
other great prevailing vices of the age, and gener.
ally to promote the moral improvement and eeva-
ton of mankind.
10 1t will aim to foster among Christians sys-
tematic benefcence for the urtherance of Christian
objects.
20. 1t will make systematic efforts to meet pre-
vailing forms of intidelity all over the world.
81. 1t will seek to combine the Protestant
Churches in opposing the errors and inrosds of
Romanism.
% In order to organize the federation, CON-
mittee shall be appointed to correspond with the
committees of the British churches, aud with other
churches throughout the world holding to the
Presbyterian system. This committee, in CORES.
pondence with the committees of the British
churches, shall call preparatory meeting Of the
committees Of all the churches joining in this con-
federation, to be held in London or elsewhere in