Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-07-17

1875. This preparatory meeting convened
in the English Presbyterian College, Gull
ford street, London, on the 21st Of July, 1875.
This preparatory conference, which consist
ed of one hundred and one delegates, sixty
four of whom were present, spent two days
in arranging a constitution for the proposed
PRESBYTERIAN Council. The constitution be-
ing arranged, it was agreed that the first
meeting Of the Conference be held in Edin-
burgh, Scotland, on July 4th, 1876. In def
erence to American Presbyterians the meet
ing was postponed until July 3rd, 1877, the
reason for the change of time being the fact
that 1876 was the Centennial Of American
Independence.
The first Pan-Presbyterian Council met
in Edinburgh on July 3rd, 1877 the Sec
ond met at Philadelphia, Pa, on the 23rd
of September, 1880. The Constitution of
the Pan-Presbyterian Council consists of a
preamble and four articles. In the pream-
bic it is stated that there are churches in
nearly every section of the world which, al
though holding the Reformed faith and Or
ganized on Presbyterian principles, are at
present united by no visible bond, either of
fellowship or work. Some of these church
es, it is stated, Wefe at one time closely al
lied and that the time seems to have arrived
for all of them to more fully manifest their
essential oneness. The second article of the
Constitution states the condition of men,
bership as follows:
"Any Church organized on Presbyterian prin-
ciples which holds the Supreme authority OF
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments in
matters Of faith and morals, and whose creed IS
in harmony with the consensus of the Reform
ed Confessions, shall be eligible Tor ADMISSION
into the Alliance"
1t is evident to any one that by the church
es thus admitted into the Alliance there is
presented every possible phase of Presbyte-
rianism. It is not extravagant to say that
in the Pan-Presbyterian Council extremes
meet.
For the comfort of the delegates to the
present meeting of the Council the people OF
Belfast have made grand preparation. The
church in which the Council meets is of large
proportions, and finished, both inside and
outside, in the most exquisitely beautiful
style. The opening sermon of the Alliance
was preached by Rev. DR.. Watts, of Belfast,
by whom the Council was constituted.
1t would be utterly impossible to give in
any reasonable space even an epitome OF the
proceedings. Such being the case, shall
confine myself to those things which strike
me most forcibly. In the n-Presbyterian
Council a good opportunity is afforded OF
discovering national characteristics. 1t
would not be correct or even approximating
correctness, to say that the representatives
of all nationalities are in the Pan-Presbyte-
rian Council. Still the delegates come from
regions far separated from each other and
speak different languages. The peculiarities
Of the American, Of the Scotchmann, and Of
the Irishman, are constantly seen. In polltl-
calmeetings and in ecclesiastical courts there
are generally few individuals who seem to
think that it belongs to them to do all the
speaking. AS rule, these great babblers
are great pests. In the Pan-P Presbyterian
Council there are some men who talk too
much, unless they would talk better. The
Americans are decidedly the best speakers,
the Irish next, and then come the Scotch.
The delegates belonging to other nationali-
ties have rarely anything to say.
The members of the Council are lodged
in the families of the town. With these
families they breakfast and sup, but all
dine together in Ulster Hall. The dinner is
all that hungry men desire. The hour of
dining is 4.30. On Saturday the whole
Council will be taken to the Giants Cause
way. -@.s.z-= r. LATHAM.