The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-08-18

CONFERENCE OF PREsBYFE TERRAIN
CHURCHES.

CHURCHES.
Ga Tuesday evening, July 20ah, the Hall
of Regent So rare Church, Lyndon, witness
ed the commencement of series of meetings
which, throughout the week, have been at
tended with unabated interest, and the value
of which it is hardly possible to over estimate.
Tuesday evening was devoted to the recep-
ton of delegates who had arrived, not only
from all parts of the kingdom, but from dis
taDt lands; thus giving practical expression
not only to the desire amongst the various
sections of Presbyterians for closer alliance,
but making plain their substantial unity in
belief, worship, and administration. No one
could have listened to the friendly greetings
with which the brethren hailed each other,
meeting as some of them did after years of
separation, no one could have witnessed the
friendly intercourse between the venerable
fathers in the Church and those who are put
ting their hand to the plough to make their
first furrow in the field, without feeling that
the step which has been taken will be pro-
ductive of the happiest and best results.
The proceedings of Tuesday evening were
of social and fraternal character from FIRST
to last. More than an hour was spent in the
Hall over the tea-table, the arrangements
being in this respect of the most pleasant
and generous character. About one hun
dred ministers and delegates were present.
the names of most Of whom.and the Church
es represented, we gave in our issue of the
10Th ult.
WELCOME TO THE DELEGATES.
AT eight o'clock there was an adjournment
to the church, which was well filled. The
Rev. DR.. j. Oswald Dykes presided, and
some time was spent in devotional exercises
in which Rev j. NJ. Crombie, Moderator of
the London Presbytery of the Church Of
Scotland, Rev. Dr. Drummond, Moderator
of the English Presbyterian Church, and
Rev. Mr. Forsyth, Moderator of the London
Presbytery of the United Presbyterian
Church, took part.
Rev. DR.. Dykes then delivered the open
ing address, which we have the pleasure of
giving IN erteRs0. No one, however, who
had not the privilege of listening to it can
Judge of the effect produced by the simplicity
and devoutness of its tone, and the speaker s
intense sympathy with the great object for
which they we're convened.
DR.. Dykes said-We are met tonight on
an occasion of peculiar interest. Represent
ing, as we do, the Presbyterian community
of London, We are met to extend brotherly
welcome to such an assemblage of Presbyte'
rians as has never before been convened
Let me remind you how various are the
Churches represented before me both in size
and history. Brethren from Church 1.-THE
Church of the United States) which counts
its congregations by the thousands, and has
planted its Preshyteries right across the
breadth of continent, sit side by side with
the members of tiny communities, numbering
only q handful. Some Churches, again
have memories that stretch back through
many hundred years, like the venerable
Church of the Wsldensian Valleys, which
Cromwell protected aud Milton sang, bu
whose head goes far beyond Milton or CrOm
well till it is lost in uncertain fable. Others
like our young sister in Spain or in French
Canada, are birth of yesterday. The an
mails of not few have bloody pages to re
hearse hnt while they are national Church
es which have outliyed persecution, and I'm
pressed themselves on the history Of tn
State and the character of the people thrOug
all their modern history, as in the case o
Geneva, of Holland, or of Scotland, we ais
welcome others to night which are as brand
plucked out of fre-hke the brave oil
Huguenot Church Of France for example
fragment TO- day which has barely survives
the prescription, the exile, and the massscr
of three hundred years ago. Yet, smids
such conspicuous variety, We have gathere
together because we are one. We all agre
in this-that we are the children of the Re
formation, and in the exercise of our Pre-
testant freedom We have all gone to tn
Word of God to find the same glad Gosp'
of the sovereign grace of God, through on
one Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. A
of our Churches, even the youngest, haV
alike drawn from the same orscles of Hol
Scripture the same system of religious truti
which We all express in confessions that,
not identical in form, are at least identic;
in substance. Moreover, we do all alike r.
cognize in the Church of God an organize
brotherhood of the faithful in Christ Jesu
in which there are no priests and no prelate
but simple orderly administration of VOL
and sacrament through the hands of Ordai
ed elders. Surely it was high time for
to find out that in this perfect consent of b
lief and administratiorIa # life, and worshi
and confession, there 4 good ground f
some close mutual sllA for some wish
and helpful bond of intSscOurse-fOr comm,
testimony, and common eOun- el, ard eOmm