The New York herald., 1877-07-08
PAN-PRESBYTERIAN.
Missionary Work Considered by the
Council at Edinburgh.
1 COOPERATIVE SYSTEM FORRsHADoWED
Prominent Church Members Views on
What May Be Achieved.

What May Be Achieved.
icy CABLE TO THE zEsA1p.1
EDMDUnaH, July 8, 1877.
The Pan-Presbyterian Council now assem-
bled here, in its session Of Friday. consid-
cred the subject of missions. The debate
embraced views upon the general mission
AIRY work throughout the world.
COOPERATION cALLrD FOR.
che speakers were nearly all missionaries,
and they dwelt especially on the great need
Of cooperation in missionary work, and the
avoidance of unnecessary competition be-
tween several branches of the Presbyterian
Church, in the distant missions where
delicate distinctions of faith or church
polity were inappreciable to the minds of
unbaptized OF newly baptized barbarians.
HOPEFUL OUTLOOK.
The general tone of the debate was indie
alive Of desire to found some system of
united missionary endeavor. The report
of the committee charged with the consider
alton of this matter was presented to the
Council, and gives very hopeful outlook
in this direction.
PRAYER MEETING AND REczEAr1oN.
No business was transacted yesterday
/Ca<urdox,> NV <bo Norcn;I o~nv.- o.x
ing was held in the morning, after which
social entertainments were given in private
residences throughout the city in honor of
the delegates.
VETERAN PRESBYTERIAN MINISTRIES v1xws
ON THE COUNCIL.
Tho Rev. Gilbert Gordon, OF Pleasurevtlle, KY, and
Rev. H. A. Hunter. OF Louisville, KY, possibly the
oldest Presbyterian ministers in State Ken.
sucky, woro interviewed BY tbs HERALD correspond.
ont with reference to the great Presbyterian Council
now IN session at Edinburgh In conversation con-
eerning the Council Nj. Gordon remarked that the
representatives Of forty-eight Presbyterian Church
organizations IN session q Pan-Presby terian
Council The delegates have gone from tho United
States, Canada, Australia, Cape Of Good Hope. Ger
many, France, Hungary, Italy and Spain. Righty
delegates have gone from the United States alone The
forty. .eignt Of Presbyteria represented
Edinburgh embrace IS, 10000 people The plan OF
organizing Presbyterian federation proposed at
Philadelphia in 1872, at meeting held to commemo-
rate she Scottish Reformation, and in July, 1875
meeting was held in London, at which twenty Of the
principal divisions OF the Presbyterian Church
represented.
"That think you Nj. Gordon. said tho correspond
snS ot ske Council ~ influence upon the bodies
aad lis ability grappe with the questions
that will necessarily como before lli"
III oceve," said he, ''the Psn-Presbyterian Council
promises to be composed Of men who viii very fairly
branches Of the Presbyterian Church in the world"
MAY not the gatherng, Mr. Gordon. have somo ell
iect toward uniting tho different branches OF your
the PRESBYTERIAN IDBAL
"Such meeting OF such men hardly fail to pro-
duce important results The desire Tor that union Of
Presbyterian elements throughout the world which
would give actual form TO the Presbyterian ideal will
doubtless be very mucn quickeEsd and dinused by
this meeting from time 10 time Of this Council.
But It is believed the Council will hasten slowly in
the pursuit OF formal UNION The spirit oi union is
tnat alone which would give real value TO the form.
10 manifest the "uny OF the spirit" In the
In which II exists and to cultivate and develop this
OF spirit by practical cooperation It Is believed
VIII be the leading object 70 which the Efforts OF the
Council will be directed"
''what do you believe will be its effect upon missions
and educational work at home ana abrosdY"
'sThs composition OF the C0uncil,' DR.. Gordon re-
mar4ed .Justncs the expectation that Its action viii
not ail OF beneficial results In tho educational and
missionary departments oil Presbyterian work. he
fap -Presbyte terrain Council Is itself muck Of the
strength Of the prevailing tendency Of the age toward
ecciesasticai reconstruction. Should the Of
the Council In tho attainment OF It's ends be much
more immediate aud complete than lis most sanauine
friends anticipate, the probable eject other ecccs
lsca bodies holding the fundamentals OF the PrOtcs-
liant Ialth would be largely II not wholly beneficial"
'sThe Council itself Is. continued tho Doctor, 81
think, more likely to be disturbed by the dsestablish
mcnt question than by any other The sii, mt in
uuence II not tho formal action Of the Council will 10
In Isvor Of disestabshmcnt There seems to be n
growing tendency among Presbyterians everywhere
to dsencumber tho Church OF all secular ontangle-
menS
In Kentucky Mr.. Gordon is univ ersally beloved He
has been minister for twenty-five years Prior to
uniting with the Southern Presbyterap Assembly he
belonged to the Associated Reform Church. He Is
longer an active minister, though he continues TO
preach occasionally, mostly Ohio and Oldham
counueS
A CUMBERLAND PRxsBYrERIAS's VIEWS
The Rev. h. A. Hunter OF Louisville bel longs to the
old Cumberland family. He Is also esteemed very
highly, aud Is almost as we'll known Ar. Gordon,
In conversation with him Dr.. Hunter said -"Thc ro.
presentation the gathering will be ablo and
tAL The union OF all the branches OF tho Presby
family will hardly. pc enected without some modhca-
ton OF tho doctrine OF election and rcprobaon. II
will tend TO promote dcnominational unity. will
affect favorabIy all the enterprises OF the Church Of
God"
A CLEAR AND INTELLIGENT STATEMENT.
The Row. 4. Wright, u. D., OF ST Louis. Is among
the foremost of Old School
ism in the West and far above the average preacher
In intstcuce and clerical htnesa Although orthodox
10 the In doctrines, no holds quito liberal views
In many matters OF church government, and whle op-
posed 10 that sort OF evangelism, which would luse all
hA pyaf rhu infn sboly, ~hnl~