The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-06-01
PAN.PREssYrKRIAH COUNCIL.

! the clrst freeoyteflAn Cnurcn Oh tnls
city, Ia soon to sail for Europe to be in At
tendance at the first meeting OF the Coun-
Gil of the Presbyterian Alliance, which
takes place in Edinburgh, on the I'd OF
July. The Reyerend gentleman will be
accompanied in his journey by several
members of his congregation, SAMUEL
LAyaHLIS, Esq, A. w. PAUL., Prof
BIRCH and others. We have been asked,
What is this Council?
Well, the Presbyteris churches con-
stitute numerous body, scattered all
over the civilized world. They are said
TO number fully thirty -four million peo.
pie; and as body are distinguished for
their learning and patronage of colleges
and schools. This vast body Is divided
up into some forty eight independent or.
ganizstions. These churches have hith.
erto had no bond of union; but as they
hold substantially the same creed strong
feeling has arisen that they should know
each other and cooperate tor good pur-
poses. The first formal proposal and
plan of q Presbyterian federation was
suggested by the distinguished DR..
McCosH of Princeton College,
in paper read before q
large tercentensry meeting commemora-
tive of the Scottish Reformation held in
Philadelphia. November 20, 1872 An
extract from this address will explain
the object of this meeting.
"It has long been q lsvorite ides of
mine," said the author, "that all the
Presbyterian churches might be brought
together at Psn-Presbyterisn Council,
at which each of them might be repre-.
sented. Let it be understood that do
not propose breaking up the separate
churches OF British and Continental
Europe or of this country. would no
more think of this than would of sep
srating the States of our Union. In
our general government and in our
State governments we have model
to which we might look in settling
the relations which ths several churches
might bear to the central church orgsni-
zstion. Some grand principles might be
agreed upon; let them be few and SIM
pie. Of course, there must be doctrinal
basis. But this should not consist in
new creed or confession. Let each
Church retain its own standards, and be
admitted into the union only on condi-
tion that these embrace the cardinal
truths of salvation. There must also be
certain principles of Church order pre-
supposed, such Is the parity OF ministers
and government by represent alive
councils in which ministers and elders
have joint place. But the mode of
carrying out these principles must be LETT
to each organization, in this way securing
that we have in the Church, as in all the
works of God, unity and variety" This
paper was loudly cheered at the time
and afterwards widely circulated. In
May following, motions approving of the
object were carried in the general assem-.
blies of the great Presbyterian Church in
America and of the Irish Presbyterian
Church. IN October following the
Evangelical Alliance met in New York,
and side meeting was held of persons
holding Reformed and Presbyterian
principles all over the world. This
meeting was unofficial, but sprovisionsl
committee there appointed addressed
thirty-eight churches, asking their coun'
tenahces and concurrence, and q paper
was drawn up explanatory OF
the principles and aims OF
the movement. In the summer
of 1874 meetings of friends were held in
London, Belfast and Edinburgh, and it
was agreed to organize the whole scheme
at a convention to be held in London in
July, 1876. At this meeting there were
deputies from twenty of the principal
Presbyterian churches throughout the
world. The meeting lasted only three
DAYS, but during this brief period an
agreement was come to as to the princi.
pies held in common BY the churches,
and a constitution was drawn out. 1t
was agreed that the first council should
be held in Edinburgh in July, 1876, but
it had to be adjourned till the first week
in July, 1867, in consequence of the
Americans being SO absorbed last year
with their Centennial.
The Council will meet in Edinburg on
Monday, July 2. In the evening there
will be . reception. Next day the
Council will be formally opened BY
discourse by the Rev. DR.. FLINT, Protes-
sor Of Theology in the University OF
Edinburgh-a man who has lately come
into notice in consequence of some able
philosophical works written BY him. 1t
will continue in session week or ten
days, during which time important
papers will be read and addresses de-
livered bearing on the spread OF the
Gospel in various countries. Our readers
will now see how it is that deputies from
the various Presbyterian Church in the
United States, the Dutch Church, the
United Presbyterian, the Covensnting
| churches. and most happily, the Presby-