The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-09


rev D. A. Cunningham, D. D., pas
tor,of the First Presbyterian church,
yesterday morning spoke on the Pam
Presbyterian alliance, which met in
Washington, D. c., and to which he
was a delegate. The features Of this
noted gathering we're enterestingly
dweIt upon. DR.. Cunningham spoke as
follows, using as his text, Palm s7:s,
GLORIOUS things are spoken of thee. o
city Of God"
In this psalm the nature and glory Of
the church, and the increase, honor and
COMFORT Of the members thereof, are
beautifully set forth. Having been a
member Of the Seventh General Confer
enee of the Alliance OF the Reformed
Churches Of the World holding the
Presbyterian System, which met in
New York Avenue Presbyterian
church, washington. D. c., September
s7.to october Q. 1893. shall this morn
ing bring you some facts and thoughts
concerning our own family Of Presby-
terian churches throughout the world.
It was remarkable gathering in the
capital Of our nation. There are other
cities In this country, no doubt, where a
Worldwide congress OF the Presbyter-
ian churches might have been very
appropriately held, but still, in the
metropolis OF the nation, and amid It's
Presbyterian people, where the Pres.
byterian spirit burns strongly, 1t Is not
without some emotion that we met
those who represent our fellow church
men all over the world-from SwltEer-
land, the cradle Of the Scotch Reform
alton; from France, whose noble sons
did SO much to maintain and spread the
principles OF the Reformation; from
thoughtful Germany; from Holland;
from Hungary; from our own vast
American continent. where those OF
our race and language have held alott
so often the noble banner Of truth and
freedom; from Australia; from South
Africa; from the islands Of the sea and
every Christian land, our fellow
churchmen sent delegates to represent
them, to the number Of nearly three
hundred. A little after the middle OF
the nineteenth century, influential Pres
hyterians in Great Britain and the uni
ted States began to suggest the form
should include all the Reformed
churches wherever found. Chief among
the leaders in the new movement were
the Rev. James McCosh, d. D., presi-
dent OF Princeton University. United
stntes of America, and the Rev. Will
lam Garden Blake. d. D., OF the Free
Church College. Edinburgh, Scotland.
IN the year 1870, DR.. McCosh gave ex-
preston to his Views on the subject IN
sermon preached before the. general
assembly OF the Presbyterian church IN
the United States Of America, at PM"
adelphia, Pa. This was the trst as
sembly Of the reunited Old and New
School churches, and the suspicious oc-
cnsion furthered the suggestions made
by him. In his discourse, DR.. McCosh
said: "It has long been favorlte Idea
OF mine that all the Presbyterian
churches may be brought together at a
Presbyterian council. at which
each Of them might be represented It
was at this reunion assembly that Dr.
Blake, who was delegate to II from
the Free Church OF Scotland, first be-
came, according to his own testimony.
fully imbued with the desirability OF
the establishment OF that alliance, In
which he was, under the blessing Of
God. so potential and beneficial pow
CT. Action by ecclesiastical bodies In
harmony with DR.. McCosh's proposal
was taken in 1873, both in Ireland and
the United States. In the American
general assembly the following over
ture was approved, and a committee
appointed to correspond with other
churches:
whereas, There is substantial
unity In faith, discipline and worship
among the Presbyterian churches in
this and other lands.
whereas, A desire has been eS-
pressed in many lands for closer union.
among all branches OF the grent and
widely scattered family Of Presbyterian
churches: therefore,
"Resolved, That committee. con-
sIgting Of the moderator Grew. Howard
CrOsIey, D. d.. the stated clerk ClteV
Edwin F. Hatfield. D. d., and the Rev.
James McCosh. d. D., be appointed to
correspond with sister churches holding
by the Westminster standards with the
view Of bringing about an ecumenical
council OF such churches, to consider
subjects OF common interest to all and
especially to promote harmony OF &C.
tlon in the mission fields at home and
abroad"
IN the spring of 1874 was commits
stoned by our general assembly to car
~ this action OF the committee and
present Il TO the Free Church Assem-.
big in Edinburgh. which ] did. and It
was most cordially received and adopt
ed, and from that day until the pres
ent have been greatly Interested In
the work Of the Presbyterian Alliance.
Let me now call attention to the
constituency Of the Alliance. II COM
slsts Of elghty-seven different denoml-
national or national churches found on
ali IRE ave continents, and Including a
church membership Of Ave millions, and
q Presbyterian population OF at least
twenty-five millions.
The results of the work OF the Ale
lance may be briefly stated as follows:
l. The Alliance has brought about,
through It's fraternal influence. the
unification OF the foreign mission,worlS
OF Its churches In Japan, Brazil and
other places. and has also established
closer relations between foreign mission
workers in other lands.
q plan OF cooperation in home mission
work between the majority OF the
Presbyterian and Reformed churches In
the United StnteB Of America.
Z. II has brought the influence OF the
churches OF the Reformation 10 bear
upon civil governments in various
parts OF the world, In the interests OF
humanity and Of peace. For instance
Il exercised an important influence up.
on the policy Of both the British ana
the American governments for the reg
NATION OF the liquor traffic In the Is
lands OF the western Pacific, and has
also effectively supported the accept
auce Of the principle Of arbitration Tor
the settlement OF controversies between
:. Il has brought into practical sym