Year: 1877

AT tlm6 Wneu Scept1clsm lS laying
claims to making great inroads on the re-
ligious belief of the masses it is signif-
cant to note the efforts which the
principal churches militant are putting
forth to present q united front to the
enemy. Tho revulsion from dogma and
dogma-imposing authority which carried
the Reformation so far forward in short
space of time has been found, after three
centuries, to have its disadvantages. When
we see the Presbyterians, under the lead
| of their ablest and sincerest teachers,
take leaf from the book of Rome we are
safe in marking the movement as
one of great significance to Protestant
ism throughout the world. We cannot
be sanguine that Presbyterianism will
come out Of this Council unit in belief or
| in effort of any description, but we
expect to see many barriers thrown
down and a cooperation in some
branches of church effort established
which will approach unity. All this is
matter on which Christians of all denomi-
nations can rejoice, for what is possible OF
different branches of one Church may in
time receive wider application.


The great Council sitting in Edinburgh
are by this time well on with their
work. The cable special dispatches to
the HERALD last Thursday indicated
very thoroughly the tone of that body
They were not likely to waste much time on
trivial subjects or side issues after listening
to such an opening sermon as that OF Dr.
Flint. The enthusiasm manifested by the
delegates on the occasion of our national
anniversary demonstro ted how near OF kin
the whole human family is when we can
get below the surface prejudices of race,
language and nationality. Englishmen,
Frenchmen, Hungarians and Italians were
as enthusiastic in their demonstrations as
Americans.


1t is eminently fitting that the Council
should have so promptly and gracefully ac-
cepted the invitation Of Philadelphia to
meet with the Presbyterian churches there
in 1880. The Scripture reference with
which its acceptance closes expresses both
a prophecy and an assurance of the future
victory and glory of their church, as the in
vitation expressed prayer and hope that
the deliberations of the Council would be
harmonious and the results thereof benef-
cial to the churches represented. The
Council has already made grand point
in its discussion on pulpit eloquence,
concerning which there is such a
diversity of opinion. While some minis
ters of Christ preach philosophy and ''vain
ok1, coi-
ence or denounce in measured or unmeas-
ured terms the attacks of science on
religion and the sceptical tendencies Of
the age, the Council declares that the
simple preaching of the Gospel is the
truest eloquence Of the pulpit and the sub
limest work of the ministry. This is an
utterance that ministers of the Presbyterian
and other denominations may pay respect
ful attention to, emanating as it does from
so large and representative body as the
Presbyterian Council.


The real business of the Coufcil must
necessarily be transacted by committees, to
whom, after reasonable discussion, the
topics relating to the educational and mis-
sionary interests Of the churches have
already been referred. These are the most
important local questions that are likely to
come before the Council, for they affect
both the pockets and the pulpits of the
churches. Where ten seminaries now exist
to train young men for the Presbyterian
Church ministry two would be sufficient
| Where ten missionaries now labor side by
side in heather lands two might do the
work. But until some united action of the
different bodies can be arrived at the ten
must stand in the place of. two, and
the financial strength of Presbyterianism
must be necessarily impaired. The
adoption of such resolutions or min
utes as those committees may offer
by the Council will constitute the final
action of that body and the weight and
authority of those deliverances will there
fore depend upon the character and COM
position Of the committees. There have
been but three real working days in the
Council yet, and those have been given to
harmonizing the confessions of faith of the
different sections of the Presbyterian
Church and studying the polity Of the
Church in its relations to the wants and
tendencies of the present age. Of course
there will be many things said and many
papers read on which no final action of any
value can or will be taken. But the inter-
change of opinions and plans cannot fail to
be beneficial to all parties and churches in
terested.


Yesterday the Council did nothing as a
body but pray. Its committees, however


were busy for while, and the result of
their deliberations will be seen before the
middle of this week. To-day the churches
Of Edinburgh and vicinity will have an op-
portunity to contrast the style OF American
and European preachers, and to listen to
the Gospel presented by men who are peers