The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-08-18
Vol. ll.---NO. 4.

Tue WOrlu. Ile Hdu, luueSu, ue'eI mcb Will
Presbyterian yet who believed that the
Sabbath was an ecclesiastical and not di-
vine appointment. 1t was given, not to the
Jew alone, but to all mankind forever and ever
throughout the world, and every Presbyte-
ran believed that the whole of the first day
of the week was to be given uD to the spe-
cal observances of religion. Hear, hearll
The other matter that would occupy thei(
attention was the condition of the Presbyte-
rian Churches on the European Continent,
where in some countries they were scarcely
tolerated They would watch over these
weak Churches, SO that if a prosecuting hand
fell upon it, the members of this new Pres
byterian worldwide brotherhood would be
ready to lend helping hand, and the strong
Churches would be enabled to throw shield
over them, until the day when they could be
strong enough to protect themselves. Hear,
hear. In conclusion, alludng to the occa-
sional divisions amongst Presbyterians in
the past, he said those differences, for which
they had been much blamed, and not unfre
quently scoffed at, were the result of spirtof
| high conscientiousness; but it was time these
we're put an end TO. They must now have
done with trihing differences. Some of them
might once have been of Importance, but
they could now wait. Let them 90 by until
the millennium come, and meanwhile let them
seek only the honor of converting souls to
God. Cheers And then, when the blessed
time snould have come, and their children's
children sat down under their own fig tree,
they could well afford to talk happily about
these matters Of minor difierence-impor-
tant it might be, in certain senses as to
Church polity, but utterly trivial when COM
pared with the glory of the Redeemer.
Cheers.
N. le Pastew DecOppet, Reformed Church
of France, moved the second resolution
That the meeting has learned with much
satisfaction that it has been resolved to form
Presbyterian Alliance, meeting from time
to time in general council, and cordially de.
sires that the Divine blessing may rest on
the scheme which has been SO hopefully be-
gun" He said, | have the honor to re-
present the Reformed Church of France.
Cheers 1t is one of the most ancient of
Presbyterian Churches, since its first Synod
was held in Paris in 1859 1t is one with
which the great name of Calvin is closely
connected-of Calvin who was sometimes
spoken of as the inventor of Presbyterian
ism. This, however, was a mistake, because
it was in the Bible. Still, he did give it its
most perfect form. Our Church, l may say,
has not been able to send you delegate,
but as soon as it was known that Confer
ence was to be held, meeting was called,
and some fifty communicates charged me to
bring you their good wishes. Cheers. We
say to you, God bless you in your work.
do rejoice in the new bond of love between
you and our Church, and shall not cease to
regard this day as great day in the history
of cur Church. 7 a-n happy 70 uo7c the
second resolution. Cheers.
Rev. DR.. 1opp, Presbyterian Church Of
Canada, seconded the resolution. saying that
he belonged to the youngest Presbyterian
Church in the world, for it was only born
about month ago. Their first General
Assembly consisted of $50 ministers. 1t
was of immense advantage to them that in
their large territory they should be one
1t will give greater Importance and power to
the doctrines of grace, and he trusted the
work of Union would advance, because he
did not know Of one union between their
Churches that has not been successful. 1t
would bring the churches into closer ALI
ance, and show real unity and strength
which Rome, with all its boasted antiquity,
had never shown. Cheers.
DR.. Robertson, New Grey Friars, Edin-
burgh, supported the resolution. He thank
ed God that he had been permitted to live to
put his hands to the inauguration of work
which he was perfectly assured must rebound
to the honor and glory of God and the ad-
vancement of Divine truth throughout the
world. He did not himself expect to see the
edifce, the foundation of which they were just
laying, rise very high in his time, but be had
not the smallest donbt that high it would
rise, and that in their children's days it
would have arrived at the condition of lofty
and noble structure. He was an ardent be-
lever in the Catholic Church. That belief
was the very foundation of all his eternal
hope and the fruits of what they had that
day done they might rest assured, in the ex-
tension of the spirit of true Catholicity, their
posterity would enjoy. Differences of opin-
ion on certain matters of polity-political,
social, or religious, and they had now especi-
ally to deal with the latter-were not such
bad things as some people would imagine;
but, as to Presbyterianism, those differences
had served their purpose, and should now
rapidly be allowed to sink away into abey-
ance and to terminate. (Hear, hear. =
Though he believed in the Catholic Church,
he believed also in the communion of saints,
and therefore it was that he was so Jealous
an advocate for the present intermingling, in
the funess of true brotherly love, of all Evan
gelical Christians He had himself so inter-
mingled with great pleasure, and not little
spiritual benefit, amongst numerous sections
of Christ's Church. Abiding to his minis-
trations in Rome, DR. Robertson said he felt
some pride, which was perhaps pardonable,
in being able to say, in illustration OF the
strides which liberation was making in these
days, that he was the first Presbyterian min
lister since St. Paul who had ever preached
in that city. (Applause.) He priced Pres.
byteriansm because he was convinced beyond
all doubt that its principles were in strict ac-
cord with Scripture, and he at the same tiIne
bore an earnest love, as every true Ptesey-
terian should, towards all who preached and
all who accepted the truth as it simply was
in Jesus. He ed the grand old Church
of England, and deeply and fervently ad-
, mired it in lis purity, for oh what noble
martyrs were to be found in its history !
Oh, what profound learning! Oh, what
magnificent preaching! What godly prac-
tce had Characterised it's annals! Above
that Church, however, he loved Presbyte-