The times., 1899-09-28

european continent, and others asked to
read papers to seats in the alliance as cor
responding members was adopted.
The report of General Treasurer Turn
Dull, who was absent, was submitted by
brother delegate and adopted. The report
OF the executive committee was then read
and adopted.
President Lang again addressed tho al
lance. He paid glowing tribute to Wash
ington and referred to the last alliance
held in Scotland, at which DR.. Roberts, an
American, presided He then referred 10
British divine occupying the pulpit N
America. His remark On the harmony
between Great Britain and the United
States, What God hath Joined together by
ties OF blood, language, and religion, let no
man put asunder," was greeted with ap-
plause.
He said in part: while Christians may
revere the past, they should push forward
with new ideas and new plans for the work
of the Lord The Church protests against
any Christianity but that preached from
the beginning of the first century to the
present time, but the Church should grow
without changing its belief. The history
of the Church is filed with various be-
liefs and theories presented by leading
men, but they have all passed away.
We all wish to progress. but We do not
fusion. Christian doctrine is many sided
and many voiced but it is built on foun-
dation with Jesus Christ as the corner
stone The question of creation Is an open
one, but he who has faith can wait. An
absolute and blind obedience to any laws
of Church. as in the Westminster Confess
sion. IS an impossibility, and changes of
the laws have been made by many
Churches. Faith after all is better than
all ba # any -
Started With the Patriarchs.
He said the Presbyterian Church could
be traced back to the time of the pa
triachs, but he said that if it was only
traced to the New Testament he thought
its form was founded on the Church of
the time of the New Testament and suita-
BILE to all. He said the Presbyterian
Church was not opposed to priestly orders
but he thought that priests should not be
mechanical. He paid high compliment
to Dr. Patton, of the New Hebrides, and
DR.. Stewart of South Africa, saying the
garments of the apostles had fallen on
them; the compliment was greeted with
applause He advocated the idea of a
moderator, who might investigate Church
affairs that were now passed upon by the
Church courts. He said that large num-
| deal with the growing unbelief among keen
and educated business men, and that these
workers should be SO educated as to be
able to meet the arguments of Intelligent
men who were inhaling the atmosphere
of unbelief now so prevalent in large cities.
DR.. Wallace Radcliffe. pastor of the New
York Avenue Church, then made an ad-
dress welcoming the delegates to Wash
ington. He said: "The Prasbyterians
/
no matter where they came from He
referred to the fact that Presbyterians had
come from all parts of the world and were
here speaking one language and represent
ing a composite Of all that was best in all
the nations of the world. He drew pic
ture Of the original American Presbyterian
combining the physical trials of the Scotch
man, Irishman, Frenchman. Italian, Ger
man, and Dutchman which created great
deal of amusement. He said the only
minister's name attached to the Declaration
of independence was that of John Wither-
spoon, Presbyterian minister and Jeffer-
son had said that many of the principles
of the Declaration had been taken from the
Presbyterian Church. He closed with ex-
tending the invitation to the delegates to
the Presidents reception last night, to the
excursion 10 be given TO Mount Vernon by
boat Saturday afternoon, and to the recep-
| tion at the Corcoran Art Gallery Saturday
| evening, and other entertainments.
| motion was adopted to send telegram
| of greeting to the Congregational Union,
now in session at Boston
| At the conclusion of DR.. Radcliffe's re-
marks the following committee was ap-
pointed: Reception of churches, Rev. DR..
Blair, Rev. Thomas Burns, David Pauline,
Rev. r. F. Sample, Rev. David Van Horne.
| The meeting then adjourned.