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

T., Mr.. j. ;. Crawford, M. T., Mr.. L. DICE
son, NJ. P, Mr.. R Davies, M P RevS. D.
JAS Bcgg, DR.. Dykes, DR.. LDrimer, d.
Morris, DR.. Porter, &c.
Tile Chairman said-As one of the elder
of the London Churches | wish to say no,
very heartily we welcome the brethren o
this occasion. Cheers l may say that
is with singular delight we welcome such
gathering in London, because very fey
years ago It would have been impossible fo
the handful of Pfesbyterians to be foun
here to have had such a meeting. But now
thank God we can see our brethren here il
large numbers, and bid them all heart,
welcome. (Cheers.) The Presbyterians il
London have not been inactive during tn
few years they have been here, but hav
made considerable progress. There was
time, as some here may remember, when ther
were but fve ministers and congregations il
London. Hear, hear.) Now, however, w
have ffty and it is our earnest desire to us,
the position We have secured in spreading
abroad the knowledge of Jesus far and near
especially to those dark places now filed will
R'tualism and infdeitysand irrelgion. l
is our earnest wish 90 bs' banded together fol
this great and holy purpose We are al
greatly encouraged and refreshed by witness
ing to day so many honored friends from tht
Continent and from America, and as we shal
have to resume Conference work at o'clock
we should like to hear few words from then
now.
The Rev DR.. ,Schqf, Tn on Theological
Seminary, New York, said, | am sure thai
any one of my countrymen would have done
better Justice to America, and more ably re
sponded on behalf of American brethren pre-
sent, than | can hope to do. | am sure We
all do most heartily rejoice in the spread Of
Presbyterianism in England and more espe
cially in London, the centre of the world
| (Cheers) We have no city like yours in re-
speet of size and gigantic progress, and We
do all rel in your growth and prosperity
because it is as you make progress that al
around you will receive blessing. Never,
theless, while we honor you as our mother
and feel indebted to you for all that is good
in our American culture and civilization, we
are at the same time most anxious to dis.
charge part of our debt of gratitude to you
and to cur common ancestors. And it is
under the influence of this feeling that we
came over to you. (Cheers.) One of the
most interesting and remarkable facts in the
history of these days is the wonderful effect
produced amongst you by the efforts Of two
uDeducated laymen from America. 1t is a
greater marvel to US than to you, and the
only way to account for it is at once to refer
it to the grace of God. (Hear, hear) Such
movement the world has not seen since the
days of Whitfield and Wesley, and it is a
wider movement than that which followed
the efforts of those two honored men. 1t is
most unsectarian in its character, and may
add the most unselfsh movement, known in
our common history. CHEERS 1t was for
the purpose of winning souls to Christ, and
of extending His Kingdom without any re.
gard to UNCONVENTIONAL boundaries, that these
two men came to England, and every Church
may reap the bepe6t- yas told that this
movement had fallen into Scotch Pfesbyte-
rian management, and for the reason, sup.
pose, that the Presbyterian Church is the
most unselish and the most unsectarian
Church in the world. In America the com
plant has often been that the Presbyterian
Church was too little concerned for its own
interest; that it served all kinds of societies
without taking proper care of its own. Now
believe that the Presbyterian Church exists
for the whole Kingdom of Christ in every
direction, and may the day be far distant
when we hold back from any effort that has
for its object the good of souls Loud
cheers. 1t is the unsefsb spirit of the
Church that has encouraged the efforts oi
the two American laymen to whom | have
referred, and am glad to see present to-day
some of those who have helped in this
may say that we in America have no idea
that these two men could have produced such
a commotion amongst you all; but it is JUS
the old, story of the simple fishermen o.
Gallilee over again. Cheers
N. le Pastehr Cressy, Reformed Church
of France, said it was very pleasant to fine
that the motto of Presby terians was no
every one for himself" but that their sym
pathies extended to Churches not quite So
prosperous as others. He might say tina
the Church of France looked to them fol
sympathy, for at present it was both veal
and unhappy. They have good deal o
unbelief to contend against, and they wanted
more and more to feel that they were no
alone, and that they had true friends in thei
PRESBYTERIAN brethren. Nevertheless h
could say, notwithstanding all strugglings
that they were Church. Hear, hear J.
He believed that the Presbyterian polity wa
the best, because if the pastors of Franc
had not been supported by the strong BON
which existed between ministers and laymen
they could never have endured the persecu
tion to which they have been exposed. Th
Presbyterian Church had antiquity on it
side, for the Apostles themselves were Pres
byterians; for did not all present remembe
the Presbyterian CoulNs at Jerusalem?-
And did they not also remember that whe
Stephen died his successor was elected b
the members of the Church? While claim
ing this antiquity, he would express the hop
that the Church of France, when the fac
was truly realised that she was member {
the Presbyterian body, will be stronger
frmer, and more faithful in the Christia
profession. Hear, hear.
Rev. Principal Snodgrass, D, d, Presby
terian Church Canada, said he had CON
many thousands of miles to attend this Coz
ference. They would be glad to hear thl
, the Presbyterian Church had taken kindl
, to the soil of Canada, and was already brini
ing forth fruit. There were trees that wou
5 not bear transplanting. They could nj
have the heather and the gowan on Canada
l soil without great difficulty but Presbyt
rianism seems fitted for the SOIL (Cheers
He felt it most refreshing to have taken pa
=; tbo ooot;noo of the week. Tt was OettiI