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

work. It is not, as | understand 1t, because
the promoters of this alliance desire for one
moment to withdraw from any fraternal re-
lation which may be possible between US and
other bodies Of Christians around us-God
forbid With the Lutheran Churches OF
the Continent the numerous Congregation
al Churches of English Nonconformity-
with those respected brethren who follow the
rule of John Wesley-with the powerful and
wealthy Establishment of this realm, We need
none of US be less brotherly because we draw
close to one another and say We are one
Presby yterian family. 0n the contrary be-
lieve-I daressy you believe-that whenever
any single division of Christ's army in the
field heals its rents and closes its ranks, 1t
only takes a step towards more friendly un-
derstanding and harmonious action with Its
neighboring divisions. Nor is it, if rightly
conceive this movement, that any existing
league among true Christians of various
names is to be disparaged-least of all the
excellent league which has already done so
much for Christian union-the Evangelical
Alliance. Many of you are, l dare say like
myself,) members of that Tsafal Alliance,
aud We all thankfully acSS< the value
of such nOn- ecclesiastical combinations among
Christians in their individual capacity. But
what our brethren have gathered in London
to do is not to form an alliance of individual
Christians--it is to form an alliance of Chris
tisn Churches, and that is a very different
and a much greater thing. How fast and
how strangely has this feeling spread itself
and deepened among US all But Churches
which have so very much in common as we
all have, ought as Churches to know each
other better, and to stand closer in the light
shoulder to shoulder for the sake of the COM
mon Master Surely that must be a right
feeling, for it is kind one and Christian
one Hitherto, it must be confessed, Pres
byterian Churches have been been little dis
tinguished for their unity. Rather disunion
has been our reproach. We have passed
through long and weary era of division
and of subdivision, schisms, and disputes, dis
ruptions, and arrangements. Alas have
they not made sad work among us till the
hearts of the best of US grew very sick of it !!
Ii is within the last generation that the tide
turned. 1t is not that men hold less firmly
or less conscientiously any atom of known
truth, or any of those beliefs or even opin-
ions which divided US. 1t is just now that
we are beginning to discover that we may
differ without dividing. The more impor-
tant and the less important belief are retir-
ing into their several places. Let the more
important step to the front, On them and
over them We clasp hands. Let the less i'm
portant step to the rear in these we may
differ, over these we should not wrangle.-
Amid such a number and variety of honest
thinking men as are here represented, 1t is
inevitable that there should be endless shades
of convictions on many points, and in the ex-
ercise of our common freedom and loyalty
to truth, each of US is bound to be firmly
persuaded in his own mind. Bat why must
the separate view be elevated into shibbo'
leth of division, where it is possible to live
and to work on in harmony? Another
thing has helped to bring us Together ~ ct
least to make concert posSible-steam. We
grow closer as the world gets smaller. We
cannot so easily forget our brethren over the
sea, beyond the hills. Men have long arms
to-day that stretch out to clasp hands with
far-off hands. Thus all things conspire to
bring in an era of reunion, and the time for
this movement is an auspicious one. For
though this great convention has not been
summoned to devise how Sundered Churches
may be welded into one organic whole, or to
wipe out one solitary feature which at pre-
sent marks of Church from Church, yet it
is convened, for the purpose of Union, to
make US know each other more and love each
other better-to see how we can help and
advise each other to quicken our activity
in the common cause, and combine our ef
forts against the common foe. 1t is for
these ends, think, that you meet tomorrow,
and these are the ends of all Union, of all
heart unity, of all concert and cooperation /;
with such an object we Presbyterians of Lon
don are, make bold to say, cordially and
unanimously in sympathy. All our hearts
are as one heart in this thing. We bid you
welcome on your holy errand-we wish you
all success in your pious endeaVors. (AE-
plause.) The delegates here stood up and
remained standing while DIR. Dykes continued: /:
Honored and beloved brethren, gathered
from many lands, now one in faith and In
our Lord Jesus, most heartily do We greet
YOU in the name of the Lord. We bid you
welcome to this great capital. We assure
you of our warm sympathy in the noble work
which has called you together. We pray
God TO prosper your conference, and make
your discussions fruitful in blessing May
the spirit of brotherly love and true Chris
tisn unity in the one Head and Saviour reign
among you, and may He Himself, in whom
we are one, preside over you, that the end of
all may be the coming of His Kingdom, the
salvation of men, and the glory Of the Faith
er, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
for ever, Amen.
DIR. Dykes then requested Mr.. R. 7.
Turnbull to read the Ii elegates who
had arrived. Mr.. Tu stated that
letters had been received ON the Churches
in Bohemia aud Hungary
Rsu. DR.. Norris, Moderator of the AS
sembly of the United States, and Professor
of Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati,
responded to the address of welcome from
the chair. He said that he could have wish.
ed that some one else had been asked to re-
ply to the very elaborate, complete, and gen.
erous address of welcome to which hey had
, lust listened. 1t deserved something better
than few brief, extempOraneouS utteranceS
He had observed that in the classification o.
Churches the Presbyterians of America came
| last. and this, doubtless, was for two reasons
American Presbyterianism is really CON
glomerate containing in itself all past, al
, present, and, he might say, all possible types
of Presbyterianism. daughter He ven
tured to think there was no phase of it which