The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-06-14
zee aENERAL PREsBYrER1AN ALL1ANoE

L
6yte1ian:
THE GENERAL PRESBYTERIAN ALLIANCE.
This subject was referred to special com
mlttee by the General Assembly one year ago.
The committee presented its report. which was
accompanied by minority report by one dis
sentlng member. The report as adopted ia as
follows
Your committee to consider the relations of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church to the General
Presbyterian Alliance has given the matter care
fui attention and submit the following:
The Alliance was organized in London. july
ZIst' 1879, at conference of delegates from
twenty-five Presbyterian organizations. Our
General Assembly of that year appointed Rev.
w. h. Ward, d. D., as delegate to that confer
ence, but failing to be present our Church was
without representative in that initial meeting
The sixty four commissioners present organized
by adoptinga constitution which desgpates the
body as The Alliance of the Reformed Church.
es throughout the world holding the Presby
terrain system" The second article of the con
stltutlon then adopted provides that Anv
Church organized on Presbyterian principles
which holds the supreme authority of the Scrip.
lures Of the Old and New Testaments in matters
OF faith and morals, and whose creed is in har
mony with the Consensus of the Reformed Con
LESSONS, shall be eligible for admission into the
Alliance"
The first regular meeting of the Alliance
under the constitution, was held in Edinburgh in
July, 1877 but orr Church had no representa-
tive at that meeting The second regular meet
ing was held IN Philadelphia, in September,
1850. Our General Assembly of that year APP.
pointed delegates to that meeting but only two
were IN attendance The Committee on Creden
tails recommended that the Council decline to
admit our delegates, and said We are con.
strained to adopt this resolution by the absence
OF sufficient evidence that the Cumberland
Church now accepts the doctrinal basis of the
Alliance, and by the terms of Article II. of the
constitution, which restricts the Alliance to
Churches whose creeds are in harmony with the
Consensus OF the Reformed Confessions"
The question proved very serious one to the
Council, and has awakened lively interest
both In this country and in Europe. After
being before the Council for a number of DAYS,
the following was adopted in lieu Of that re-.
commended by the. Committee on Credentials
ReSotved, That the Council are unable. hoe
stdtu, TO admit as members brethren representing
Churches whose relations to the constitution
has not been explained and cannot now be con.
sidered" ~ '0l
Although the question of dootriRal difference
as stated by the Committee on Credentials. was
the main one, the final action of the Council
was oased on our not having approved the con
stitutlon OF the Alliance To remove the DIFF.
| hculty the General Assembly, one year ago. ex-
pressed Its approval of the constitution and az
we hold the Presbyterian system" the only
remaining question is whether our creed is in
harmony with the Consensus of the Reformed
| Confessions. This, of course. can only be de-
clded by the Alliance itself AS this was the
real ground for refusing to receive our DELEGATES
INTO the late Council, and as it leaves our rela
| lions to the Presbyterian family underlined he
fore the Christian world, we feel that, in Justice
| both to the Alliance and to us the decision
should be made To aid in reaching this we state
the following in regard to our doctrinal position
and our relations to the Westminster Confession
of Faith:
The founders of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, IN their licensure and ordination by the
| Presbyterian Church. were permitted 10 ex
cept the idea of fatality as thev believed il r.
be embraced in the doctrine of unconditionaI
election and reprobation, and an atonement
| limited to a definitely elected number as taugbI
In the Westminster Confession of Faith S9b.
sequently, having for this been cut off from the
parent Church, in fixing standard of doctrine
for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. which
they organized, they adopted the Westminste,
Confession Of Faith, modified in the follovyino
particulars:
!. That there are no eternal reprobates
2. That Jesus died not for part onlv but
for all men. and in the same sense
g. That at infants dying in infancy are saved
That the Holy Spirit operates on all the
"OIlu-On all lot Whom Christ died, in such a
manner as to render all men responsible, and
therefore nexcusable.
by these exceptions it will be seen that we
have an amended form of the Westminster Con.
fession Of Faith, and if this puts US out of bar.
mony with the Consensus Of the Reformed Cor.
tessons, we will be glad TO have the fact clearly
and unequivocally stated. That this NAV be
certainly done by the next Council, we recon
mend that you appoint delegates to the next
meeting Of the Alliance in the city Of Belfast,
Ireland, in 1884
"A hunter near Metz recently shot q
I raven Of remarkable s;,o l. -. II Il -