Year: 1873


Sermon by tho Rev. David Mitchell on


the Evangelical Alliancc-'' One Lord,


One Faith, One Baptism"


Yesterday morning q respectable audience as
sembled in the Canal street, now the furthest
downtown Presbyterian church in the city. The
pastor, the Rev. David Mitchell preached sermon
having reference to the forthcoming conference Of
the Evangelical Alliance, taking for his text Ephe
SLAMS w., 5:-"One Lord, one faith, one baptism"


He spoke In the outset OF the arrangements which
have been made for the Conference. Such intima-
tions he said are exciting the deepest interest in
the community. Every one feels that something
great and startling Is about to occur in the city,
and this feeling is strengthened by the number Of
distinguished men-bOth clerical and lay who are
already IN our midst An exodus from every part
OF the world is taking place, which has Tor It's goal
these American shores, and especially our Empire
City. Great men In the churches and colleges Of the
Old World, in Biblical literature and scholarship,
in social standing, are promised us. People will
flock hither from every city In our broad land On
the same platform will be found the missionary
from foreign soil and the English Church digni-
tary, and not denomination exists therein as
evangelical but will have its this
great council. Mr. Mitchell then Instituted a CON-
paris0n between this Conference and the late
Ecumenica! Council at Rome: In the course OF this
week New York viii resemble Rome in embracing
within her circling waters ministers and laymen
from all the earth-men OF every nation and cline.
But there the parallel ceases, Tor in our New York
Conference we shall not depend 1or effect upon
costly ceremonas. Beyond doing what we can to
render our bospltalites worthy OF the occasion our
OF clerical costumes or IN civic and military dis
plays.


had for it's object to promulgate human dogma
but the purpose OF our New York Conference Is
higher and nobler. But the most striking point
M which Ia suU0eStiVe
radical and fundamental features OF ROmanism and
Professionalism, that, whereas the Council of Rome
OF the Evangelical Alliance opens It's doors to the
community and invites pubic sympathy and CO.
be se centemsn sas th


first thing that suggest Itself to us concerning this
Conference Is the evidence 1t furnishes as to the
place and power OF Christianity in the world. We
shall have men OF all nationaliles testliyinR their
acceptance OF the Gospel oil Christ. Their tenn
word that all will understand and that is Christ
Their languages NAV be strange, but all languages
speak alike when they employ the Messianlc name
OF our Lord. These men, differing as they do in
every conceivable point, agree in this cOnfession
that Jesus Christ is the son OF God. We have to
remember that in q sense they are representatives
of large and influential constituencies all OF whom
profess allegiance TO the same Lord and Master.
At The same time we do not believe that our re-
ligion is more true because Ii has many followers
But as q tree Is more than itself when adorned
with leaves and crowned with fruits so Chris
tianity Is rendered all the more beautiful and
glorious that 1t has its branches bending with the
fruits 1t has produced in the hearts OF men.
Another thing suggested bv this conference IS
that harmony among sects is practicable. Sectari-
anism Is engendered and fostered by looking with
a near and narrow inspection at things that are in
close contact with us. But the moment we get
away from these to look with an


INCREASED TELESCOPIC VISION


on matters of general interest, then our differences
and divisions vanish out OF sight. The Evangelical
Alliance illustrates at one and the same time the
evil and the good that pertain to sectariansnl.
Sectarianism embitters. 1t separates men from
one another by great CULTS. At the same time we
should condemn the divisions OF the Protestant
Church. They are the necessary results OF spirit
ual freedom. AS the tribal period comes first IN q
nations history, and then follows the unncation
OF tribes and genuine national life, we have the
denominational period IN the history OF Protestant
ism as an essential preparation for true and
lasting union. The chisel and the hammer must be
at work on the rough ashlar stones, removing
projections, smoothing down r0ughnesses, ere
they are ready for their place In the building. In
making the Mount Gents Tunnel one company OF
workmen began one side OF the mountain and
another on the other side, They wrought away,
they bored, they blasted, each company uncon-
scious OF the other until they met and one stroke
pierced the wall that separated them from each
other. Each section of the Protestant Church is
working on Its own lot. The preacher then spoke
Of the work that lay before this Conference, the
important questions to be considered, wise meas
ures to be adopted for the combined and harmo
NOUS action OF churches, and the advancement o.
~ .s..sls, e.Avs