The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-04-12

N-~"N Jul 4AooSNNAy NOUA0 NV SN~
a delegate to it We might ask the writer
to consider the long official correspondence
held by the Presbyterian General Assembly
with all the Congregational Associations
Our own Assembly might do the same now
so far as the mere organization of those bo-
dies is concerned. Now how much do those
bodies lack of being voluntary Associations!
They have not particle of Church-pOwer.
Again, we might ask if the Synod of Vir'
GINA did not for years sustain some official
relation to the American Board of Foreign
Missions?
But we are not shut up for reply within
the limits of these illustrations. Our ALI
ance is not Church Court, nor is it Vol
untary Association. Then what is it! The
answer is that these delegates are in their
nature simply Committees of conference, and
the constitution under which they act is an
arrangement by which they may meet and
conduct it in the manner agreed upon. The
most material points in this agreement are
"Any Church organized on Presbyterian
principles, which holds the supreme author
ity of the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments in matters of faith and morals,
and whose creed is in harmony with the con-
sensus of the Reformed Confessions, shall
be eligible for admission with the Alliance.
?. 1t shall consist of delegates, being
ministers and elders, appointed by the church
es forming the Alliance.
8. Its powers These have already been
recited.)
/. It's objects. "Tho Council shall con,
slider questions of general interest to the
Presbyterian community it shall seek the
welfare Of Christians, especially such as are
weak or prosecuted it shall gather and dis
seminate information concerning the kingdom
of Christ throughout the world; it shall
commend the Presbyterian system as scrip
tural, and as combining simplicity, efficiency,
and adaptation to sll times and conditions
it shall entertain all subjects directly con-
nected with the work of evangelization, the
distribution of mission work, the combination
of Church energies, the sanctl,
fcatiou of the Sabbath, systematic beuefi
cence, the suppression of intemperance, and
other prevailing vices, and the best methods
of opposing in6delity and Romanism. ;"
5. It's Methods. The Council shall seek
to guide and stimulate public sentiment BY
papers read, by addresses delivered and pub
lished, by the circulation of information re-
speeting the allied churches and their mis-
sions, by the exposition of Scriptural princi
pies and by defeuces Of the truth, by com
municatiug the Minutes of its proceeding
to the Supreme Courts of the Churches form
ing the Alliance, and by such other actor
; as is in accordance with its constitution am
} Objects
Il will be admitted that all the subjects t
be considered are such as properly come IN
der the cOgnizance of Church Court, an
such as may be properly assigned to com
} mittee for its consideration.
This embodies all that is essential or in
portant in the arrangement, and we respect
t fully ask any one to point out anything
{ it which our Assembly may not constitution
5 allv appoint its committee of delegates
: consider. Is it not competent for them
t appoint such committee to confer with ott
b er committees appointed in like manner 2
2 Would any man say that it would violate th
Constitution, if our Assembly should max
Just such an arrangement as this with othe
: Presbyterian bodies to circulate the Bible
g supposing there was some peculiar conditio
) of ChristendOm making such measure de
q sirable? If it might do that, the very sam
principle applies here, provided all the sui
Q iects entertained are in themselves prope
: for such a body; and that will not be di'
D puted here. If some things in the arrange
ments are peculiar, they grow out of tn
r fact, readily admitted, that delegates frOi
l so many independent bodies require then
but upon examination nothing in them wi
, be found Inconsistent with the view her
8 presented-that in their whole nature an
functions they are neither Church Com
, nor voluntary asaociation, but simply com
) mites ad interim, appointed by their re
/ spective judicatories, and assembled in thi
Council for joint conference and joint re
port. And we respectfully but cOnfdentl
ask if this view does not take away all weigh
from the objection urged as to the want o
Constitutional power in our Assembly t
make such an appointment.
There are some miscellaneous remarks t
be made beforg this important subject is dis