The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-09-15

respondence, and, by way of most cOnven-
iently suggesting their amendments to the
proposed constitution, prepared new draft
on the basis of that presented They also
appointed FIVE commissioners to the confer
enoe, with our last Moderator at the head.
Owing, however, to the shortness of the no
tice, and other causes, was the only dele
gate appointed who was able to 60, though
at some inconvenience. But the more we
had investigated the matter, and the more
fully we corresponded with the American
committee, the more / was impressed with
the Importance of having our Church repre-
sented in the conference, and therefore con-
cluded to 90 forward.
REPRESENTATIVE IN ATTENDANCE.
There are scattered in all parts of the
world some forty to fifty distinct Presbyte-
rian bodies. Of these, some twenty-four
were represented in the council. Of these,
there were representatives from seven Pres
byterian bodies on this side the Atlantic !;
from eight bodies in Great Britain from the
British colonies, besides the Dominion Of
Canada, representatives from New Zealand,
Australia, and New South Wales. From
the continent of Europe there were repre-
sentatives of the Reformed Church of France,
the Missionary Church of Belgium, the Evan
gelical Church of the Canton De Vaud, the
Evangelical Church at Neufchatel, the Wal
densian Church of Italy, the Protestant
Church of Spain, the True Church of Ger
many, and the Old Reformed Church Of
Bethelm, East Friesland.
That so large number of these Pfesby-
terisn bodies should appear at the first call
for CONFERENCE.-THE these comprising all
the large Presbyterian Churches of the world
indicates how strongly and widely the feel
ing has spread among the scattered children
of the martyrs in favor of more intimate
connection between the various children of
the great Presbyterian family. That part of
the family represented in the conference
numbers more than twenty thousand cong e,
cations.
Among the men composing the conference
were found some of the most distinguished
names in the churches of Great Britain
The great and venerable DR.. Duff was there,
and several other eminent pastors and pro-
fessors of Scotland. So also from the
Church of England. Among the ruling ell
ders present were the noble Matheson and
four other members of Parliament with one
or two members of the House of Lords ;
though the elders were only occasionally in
their seats.
THE METHOD OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
The good Presbyterian people of London,
who have increased from five to somewhere
near fifty churches within the last few years,
were most lavish of their hospitality, and
had prepared homes for any number who
might come. In accordance with British
fashion, the Conference on two separate oc-
casions was invited to dine together at the
large hotels, where the great purposes of
the conference could be discussed in a social
way after dinner.
The business proceedings of the body
were wholly conferential, not forensic. And
it was one of the clearest evidences of the
real unity of views among men 80 widely
scattered over the world, that, though the
conference adopted the cumbrous parlamen-
tary machinery of the British assemblies,
and, though DIR. McCosh, the president, as
ne confessed, was singularly unacquainted
with the duties of chairman in dellberstive
assemblies, the earnest discussions were car
ried on for three days, canvassing every
phrase of the constitution without any jar or
unpleasant debate. The conferences, how
ever, were private-that s the proceedings
and debates were not published-aud this
may have had much to do with the spirit of
the discussions. The method of procedure
in framing the constitution was this: Three
drafts of constitution were laid before the
body. 0ne of these was that proposed by
the American committee; another, consti-
tuition proposed by the British churches,
which was the blending of two constitutions,
which had been framed, one by the English
committee, the other BY the Scotch; the
third was the draft in manuscript, which our
committee had prepared as an amendment to
that of the American committee, but which,
as the committee failed to meet after this
draft was received, the secretary carried to
London with him and laid before the Confer
ence as an original form.
1t was rather surprising to notice the sim
iliarity, and, in some places, the identity of
the British form with the form suggested by
our committee. Aud in general the points
made in these two met the views of the con,
ference, and form large part of the consti-
tuition finally adopted. Of this constitution
it is needful only to say here that it is diff
ficult to see how any serious objection can
be made to it. 1t guards jealousy the in
dependence of the churches who enter into
the alliance. Indeed, it was found that some
of the Scottish churches were far more eau
tions to watch the independence of the sever
al bodies composing the council than any of
our American churches. 1t may well be
doubted whether the constitution should not
have given, under proper limitations, an ad-
visory power to the council to recommend
measures of general interest to the several
courts of the churches.
In regard to the matter of representation
in the triennial council, our committee had
proposed small body-say one hundred
to be composed of ministers and ruling ell
ders, chosen on the basis of combined ratio
of ministers, congregations and commuu:-
Gants But this proposition was overruled,
and the scheme was adopted of council of
three hundred, chosen on the basis of the
number of congregations only in each body.
Special mention is made of the fact that our
committee was overruled on this point of the
basis of representation because the basis
adopted gives greater preponderance to the
American over the British churches, and es-
pecialy gives the Southern church the
second largest epresentatiOnsin the council.
On the basis of ministers we would be en-
titled to one third less representation, since
we have some eleven hundred ministers, while