The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-08-25
A PRESBYTERlAN ALLIANCE'
Meeting Of the Delegates Of Eu'
FOpean aud American Churches
In LOnlOn-Thc Constitution
AdODted.

Details Of the Presbyterian Council in
, London show that Of one hundred dele
gates appointed, about sixty-ive delegates
were in attendance, representing 10000
1900 or $4,000 congregations. Wher
the members came TO compare views as 4
the character Of the proposed union, Il
was found that the Americans desired
confederation closer union than Tho
foreign representatives wanted, The lat
ter proposed an occasional counsel OI
convention only. A compromise wal
effected by taking middle course, and i
was decided to have an Alliance upon the
following Constitution, which differs ma
terially from that presented by the
Americans, and published some time ago
WHEREAS, Churches holding the re-
formed faith, and organized on presbyter'
ian principles, are found, though under
variety OF names, in different parts Of the
world; whereas many OF these were long
wont to maintain close relations, but al
present united by no visible bond, wheth'
or ol fellowship or Of work; and whereas
in the providence Of God, the time mp
pears to have come when they may all
more fully manifest their essential one
ness, have closer communion with each
other, and promote great causes by joint
action, it Is agreed to form u Presbyterian
Alliance, to meet in general council FROM
time to time in order to confer upon mat
lers Of common interest, and to further
the ends for which the church has been
constituted by her Divine Lord and only
King.
In forming this Alliance the Presby-
terian churches do not mean to change
their iraternal relations with other
churches, but will be ready, "a hereto
fore, to join with them in Christian tcl-
lowship, and in advancing the cause ol
the Redeemer, on the general princip
maintained and taught In the Reformed
Confessions, that the church Of God on
earth, though composed Of many mem
bers, III one body in the communion Of the
Holy Ghost, Of which body Christ Is the
supreme head, and the Scriptures alone
arc tho infallible law.
|. DesigndtiOn.-This Alliance shall be
known as the "Alliance Of the Reformed
Churches throughout the world holding
the Presbyterian system"
9. MtmberShip.-Any church organized
on Presbyterian principles, which holds
the supreme authority Of the Scriptures
Of the Old and New Testament in matters
of faith and morals, and whose creed Ia
in harmony with the consensus Of the
Reformed confessions, shall he eligible
for admission into the Alliance,
3. The COuncR.-Q.) Its meetings.
Alliance shall meet In General Council
ordinarily once in three years. (2.( It's
Constituency.--The Council shall consist
Of delegates, being ministers and ruling
elders appointed by the churches form.
ing the Alliance, the number from each
church being regulated by plan sane,
toned by the Council, regard being had
generally to the number Of congregations
in the several churches. The delegation
as far rs practicable, shall consist Of an
equal number Of ministers and ruling
elders. The Council may, on the recOnl-
nlendatiOn OF Q Committee on Business,
invite Presbyterian brethren, not dele
gates to offer suggestions, to deliver adj
dresses, and to read papers. (4,) ltS
POwers.-'Fhe Council shall have power
to decide upon the application Of ofchlrches
desiring to join the Alliance. 1t shall
have the power to entertain and consider
topics which may be brought before It by
any church represented In the COunCil, OF
by any member Of the Council, on their
being transmitted in the manner herein.
after provided; but II shall not Interfere
with the existing creed or the constitution
of any church in the Alliance, or with IL
internal order or external relations. (O.Y
lis Obiccta.-'Thc Council shall consider
questions Of interest to the Presbyterian
community; II shall seek the welfare OI
churcIls;I especially such as are weak
and prosecuted; IL shall gather and dis
Reminate Information concerning the
Kingdom of Christ throughout the world;
1t shall commend the Presbyterian sys'
TEN as scriptnral, and as combining stint
plicity, efficiency and adaptation to all
times and conditions; 1t shall also enter
tain all subjects directly connected with
the work OF evangelizntiOn, such as the
relation Of the Christian Church to the
cvangelizution Of the world, the diStribIl.
ton Of mission work, the combination oi
church energies, especially in reference TO
great cities and destitute districts; the
training Of ministers, the use Of the press,
colportngc, the religious training Of the
young, the sanctiIicntiOn of the Sabbath,
systematic bencliCCnCc, the suppression Of
intemperance and other prevailing vices,
the best method Of opposing intdellty
and Romanism. (j,) TIA Methods-The
Council shall seek to guide and stim.
ulate public sentiment by papers read,
by addresses delivered and published, by
the circulation Of information respecting
the allied churches and their mission, by
the exposition Of scripturAl prinCi pies
and dcfenses Of the truth, by com.
municating the minutes Of Its proceedings
to the Supreme Courts Of the churches
forming tie Alliance, and by such other
action as Ia In accordance with its corr
stitutiOn and objects. (O.) Committee on
Business-The Council at each general
meeting shall appoint committee on
business, through which all communiCa.
tions shall pass. The committee appointed
nt one general meeting shall act proyis.
ionally so far as necessary in preparing
for the following meeting.
1. Change Of Condiiuiion.-No change
shall be made In the Constitution, except
on motion made at one general meeting
OF Council not objected to by a majority Of
the churches, and carriedby two.thirds
vote at general meeting.
This Constitution Is to he presented 10
the different churches for approval. Con-
cerning the place Of the first council, The
Americans readily consented that II
should be held in Europe. Three places
we're proposed: London, as the birth.
place Of English Presbyterianism; Gene
va, as the city Of Calvin, and Edinburgh,
as the home Of Knox. Edinburgh was
chosen. Then there was II choice IA
to the date OF the meeting between
October and July, the Americans prefer.
ring the latter month, which was fixed
upon. Representation In the Council was
arranged as follows: For each Church
with less than 100 congregations, two del.
egates; other churches to he allowed
representation ptoportiOnately to num-
bers; no church 10 have more than
40 delegates. Upon this basis America
will have 12O delegates; Great Britain,
! 80 delegates; and ther Of the world 81
delegates, making In all 200 delegates. II
was decided 10 leave the travelling eX.