The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09
A Novel Religious Conference.

A Novel Religious Conference.
There has been so much loose
thinking and careless writing CON
corning the believers in the pre-.
millennial coming of Christ that the
remarkable conference to be opened
to: day in this city will be exposed to
eNaiIoW cSfticssI6 ana p0pUIaf haisA
conception. 1t may be well to state
in advance that the delegates are not
expected to bring their ascension
robes with them, and that the COM
mittee of clergymen who have called
them together realize that "whether
there be prophecies, they shall fail"
This is not a council of Second Ad-
ventists or Millerites, as those terms
are popularity used. The delegates
have not derived their notions from
the ill-digested writings ofthe leaders
Of various sects who have caused di-
visions in churches and unWh0le-
some excitement in communities
through understandable assertions as
to the time, place and circumstances
of the Second Advent. On the coun-
trary, this conference has been called
in the confident expectation that the
influence of crazy leaders and false
prophets may be weakened by clear
and Scriptural presentation of the
subject of the millennial coming
Of Christ. The doctrine is to be di-
vested of the errors with which it is
now incrusted, and set forth in its
primitive purity. The early Christ
ians Interpreted as literally as possible
the signs of which their Master had
spoken, and theologians, from
Thomas Aquinas to DR.. Cumming,
have given rein to their Imagination
in portraying the temperance of the
Lord on the earth, 1t is not the in
tenti0n Of the leaders of this move
ment to lay stress on anything that
is not clearly revealed in the Bible,
and easily comprehended. They
will not waste their breath in dis
cussing details concerning which
there are certain to be radical differ
ences of opinion. The delegates are
simDly..asked to unite upon the broad
foundation that the Scriptures teach.
and they firmly believe, that there is
to be a personal, visible, pre-millen-
nial coming of Jesus Christ to the
world. The doctrine, moreover, is
not brought forward at this time in
so conspicuous a way for the purpose
ofeXciting controversy or stirring up
strife, or making what is peculiarly
known as religious hit or popular
sensation. DR.. Tying and his a>so-
ciates have the highest ends in view.
their hope is that the revival OF this
d ctrine will promote holy living
and spirituality among Christians,
and missionary zeal and all manner
of good works among the churches.
1t is proper to add that the ap-
preaching conference is not local or
denominational gathering. 1t is to
meet in the Church of the Holy
Trinity, but the rector of that parish
is in no wise responsible for its ac.
ton. The idea of holding such a
conference is not a new one. Many
prominent ministers of various re-
ligious denomination have advo-
Gated it, and after many consultations
and voluminous correspondence, the
matter was arranged last June in
Clifton Springs, and committee was
appointed to issue call. The Rev.
DR.. Stephen II. Tying, was not
present at that meeting, but he was
subsequently made ii member of the
committee Of arrangements and gen
erously offered the use Of the church
under his charge. The conference
will embrace members of nearly all
the evangelical denominations, and
will be national in character, mas
much as all the leading centres of
population from Boston to San Fran
cisco will be represented. The claim
is made that every distinctive evan
gelican truth held by the various de-
nominations will be brought into
clearer relief by an acceptance of the
doctrine of the millennial advent.
The proceedings of the conference
will be closely and eagerly followed
by all who are interested in the re-
ligious movements of the time. We
see no reason why the session should
not prove as profitable as the one
which has recently been held in
England. The basis is broad enough
for all. The delegates will meet in
the bonds of Christian fellowship,
and their deliberations will prevent
rather than. promote divisions and
heresies. They will take counsel to