The New York herald., 1877-07-05

State churches are closely connected With the civi
government that theyc ann0t act Independently. ant
the civil government has little interest In matters
which lie beyond its political boundaries. Besides
these State Churches or the Continent sadly under
mined bv ratIonaism, and II they were asked TO SEM
delegates to Edinburgh, with or without the state nu
thorties. they might select who would defeat the
. object of the meeting, which is 10 consolidate and
make more effective the evangelical forces Of the Pres
byteran churches. In the very churches founded by
Zwingli and Calvin the old confessions ol Iath nave
beon abolished and almost any heresy as well as
orthodoxy may DO openly preached IN n.on seven rsl
Gently psssed according TO which ministers
must submit to re-clecuon every SIX years,
and each congregation the sovereign Judge OF
his iu.ure. The prevails among radical poll
ticans Switzerland thut national Church should
conform TO all existing shades OF creed and no creed
OF the people. lending minister IN Geneva told the
Rev. DR.. Schan of this city, few months ago, that
the State law allowed him 10 teach Roman sm panthe-
ism, matcriaiism or evangelical orthodoxy Tor SIX
years. and Il the congregation liked 1t they might re-
elect HIM ior years more, and SO keep as long
he lived they liked him. In this Of things
formed churches altogether or content itsei with in0
vduas invited such, from those churches, and act
Ia this respect ike tho Evangelical Alliance,
whose members and delegates have no ecclc
siusticai commission or authority. This 70
sucn individuals will, Of course. represent
fully tho evangelical portion OF the State ma
ona cnurcnss 'han any osa o,as
lives oI some sort from those Continental churches
the Council would be deprived OF most valuable ele-
msnts and would De ana become essentially an Anglo
American instead OF ecumencal alliance OF re-
formed churches. This 10 the view held by the chief
pastors OF Franco and Switzerland, as Decoppct OF
Paris. and DR.. Comm, OF Geneva, who as Indicated
above, will be present 10 represent their local
churchcs Some OF those Continental orethrcn, how
ever, think that the separation oil Church and State
ought 10 be made fundamental article Of tue con-
stiiuion OF the Council, and tney will probably urge
IL at the proper time. But this IS one OF the paDks
which the Prosby crians oil Scotland have split so
often ana for their ssKesthat IS Tor the sake OF tho
Established Church part-ihs article Will not be ad-
mitted.
RATIO OF REPRESENTATION IN COUNCIL
Az the preliminary meetng IN London. n 1915, the
constitution under which the present Council is
gathered adopted aud the following ratio o
sentation therein WAS adopted Churches having 100
congregations less send two delegates; churches
having 2uO congregations or less iour delegates and
go on Tor every 100 congregations up 10 900 two
additional delegates After that, two for every addi.
ona 600 congregations up to 500 ana then i0r 1000
congregations aud upward forty delegates might be
sont the presbyt terian Church North has few ovor
200 cong regations tho Southern Church. 1,S0O; the
Reformed Presoytsrians 1885, the United Presby
Church. $780, and other bodies here $50; The Reformed
Dutch Church, 4goi the seven ven branches IN Great
Presbyterian Church in Canada I, ITO, ana the Re-
formed churches on the Continent OF Europe about
], 600 ana the national churches $500 congre-
cations. The BRUSH colonies claim 500 con-
grcgatlons On this basis, therefore, the Pres
HSurch an IN 'no Ine@ t states ~ en-
been sent by the Mort hern Church.
follows -Drs. William Adams, George W. Musgrave 8.
William Blacxwood Charles G. Bcatte, Cyrus Dickson,
James McCosh, Philip Scha, David G. Marquis, How
ara CrosSy William H0oeTts wam s Nsxoa psxo1n'
William T.. Moore, William Thompson, missionary
in Beyroat. syria; samuel A. Campbell, James EeIls'
CHARLES Hawley, A. Alexander Hodge, Francs /. Pat
ton, William T. Beatty, Levi Parsons, Joseph E. Mas
sau, John +. Knox, LleweliynJ J. Evans, John Gies-
%ams Daniel Evans Gespes 4ss william Msaa
Eva James b. Ramsay, James Allison, John NJ. Mllard,
Matthew Newkirk, John q. Louvre, Samuel H. Hall,
Atterbury Stephen w. Dana, Edridge Mix, Charles 8.
Robinson, David X. Breed J. 9. Montiort George D.
lam 4. Dodge, William I. Booth, Aaron Beknap, Cor
neius Agnew, NJ. D., OF New YORK; Judge Allen, AL
bany, N Y; Professor Edward North LII. D., Clinton,
n. Y; Professor Eaton, Brooklyn; George Junkin,
Esq, Philadelphia; Hon. John T. Nixon, Trenton, n.
J. james W. Weir. Esq, Harrisburg. Pa Hon. ". W.
Williams Pa hSn JsooO H rarrand De-
Il. L. White, Lafayette, Ind; George Drake, St Louis
Mo; H. Knox Taylor, 81. Paul, Mum. H. Nj. Knox,
ander, Hon. A. Dodd, William b. Nesey and Samuel
Q. Brown.
twenty delegates aud the other Presbyterian bodies
the remainder OF the 10O II has sent the following
named ministers to the Counc,l:-Drs Brank, 81.
Louis; Brown, Richmond, Va; Bryson. Charleston,
5 c.; hose, Richmond. Va; Hoyt Memphis, Tenn;
Ervine Augusta, Ga. McNeal and s. A. King, Texas
rlumer, Columbia, s. c., and Stuart Robinson. OF
Tho Reformed Presbyterian Church has sent the
Rev. DR.. Sloane OF Aeghahy, Pa, and the Reformed
sented in the Council by tho Rev. T. +. Morton, OF
Ohio, and Elder Gibson, OF Cincinnati Tho
Kew. Dr. BOyCC, oil SOutn CarOllna, VIII serve as ue-
egate from the Associate Reformed Synod Of the
Tns United Presbyterian Church has sent Drs J. c.
Pa Kerr. OF Pittsburg, Pa Mcclure, Of Richmond,
Va 5. Shaw OF Keokuk, Iowa, and d. shaw, OF Pitts
burg, Pa
Tue Reformed (Dutch) Church of America has sent
Drs Ormis on, OF this city, Ings, Of Brooklyn; reltz
OF New PATTI, N Y. and Hart. OF Newark, N. j.. to
represent II in the great Council DR.. Lansing Will be
present from Egypt and Rev. Andrew Murray from
tho Cape OF Good Hope. TITO Dutch Reformed Church
in Ceylon VIII also have representative and Australia
aud the Islands Of the sea will not be forgotten IN tins
Great Britain and ireland is entitled TO
1o2 the Continent to A and the colonies 10 81 dele
gates on this basis
IMPORTANCE OF THE COUNCIL.
Besides these men OF distinction and ability there
will he wise and good mon whose namcs are well
known their and otncr lands, OF the
abest best and most usetui will be those VINO have
not made themselves famous, but Will now bring
greatest Presbyterian Council that ever assem-.
bled. The importance oi the movement can
hardly be and at y !; impossible
thing, IN tact. seems 10 conduce TO this end There
everywhere closer drawing together OF all the great
Christian bodies aud earnest desire for cooper
ation IN Christian cndeavor. This IS a noticeable
feature not only IN our country, North and
South but also in Great Britain and on the of
Europe. IL is impossible for these Christian leaders
from all parts of the world ~ meet together aud clasp
hands and look into each otner's faces without feel
ing their little differences melt away, and ther hearts
beng filled with a wider spirit oil CHARITY aud their
hands st enlightened for moro vigorous, united, and
far-reachlng Work Tor CurlSt That thcy might the
better accomplish the work which has called them
together concerted prayer has been offered for the
Council in all the Prcsbyte erian Cnurches OF this and
other lands during the past Two Sabbahs preceding the
opening OF that body. But that believers might have
specific objects before their minds TO pray Tor tho
Committee oi Arrangements suggested these topics
namely. That God would make thus meeting the means
OF presenting 10 the world those fnndame ntal
truths OF divine revelation which, they the soul
aud kernel of The reformed confessions still the
power oil God unto salvation 10 every oAe that be-
lcveth; that while keeping down al rvuhy and van-
glory the brethren may SO commend and enforce the
true features oil the Presbyterian system to promote
increased purity aud ehcency ~ all their widcspfea
organizations; that through knowledge Of each olhers
methods and experience tho various churches may bc
better ntted grapple with prevailing evils
anu promote Christian work among all classes Of The
people: that the weaker and struggling churches may
derive much encouragement from the sympathies and
prayers OF the stron2er that The Council mny have an
especial blessing in considering the condition OF tho
heather world, and the.command laid by Lord on
His Church preach the Gospel unto every crcaturc
that the spirit ot Christian liberty, and at the same
time ot Christian charity may pervalc all the meet
ings; that kindly and brothorly feeling may be
shown toward other evangelical churchcs that prac
cal methods OF cooperation may be found, evangel