PREFACE. THE Executive Committee of the Evangelical Alliance of the United States, in making arrangements for the Sixth General Conference, confided the preparation of the Programme and the selection of writers and speakers to a special committee, consisting of the following named persons: REV. WILLIAM ADAMS, D.D., REV. JAMES M'COSH, D.D., LL.D., REV. S. I. PRIME, D.D., REV. G. W. SAMSON, D.D., REV. NOAH HUNT SCHENCK, D.D., REV. E. A. WASHBURN, D.D. The Committee on the Programme having, with protracted deliberation, matured the plan of the Conference and chosen the themes to be discussed, sought the men best fitted in their judgment to treat these subjects, for the defense and advancement of evangelical truth. About one hundred men, from various parts of the world, eminent for learning, ability, and worth, holding high rank in theology, philosophy, science, and literature, were thus brought together, with the richest fruits of their labors, and animated by a common impulse to contribute each his part to the power and usefulness of the great Conference. The result was far beyond the expectations of the Committee. These essays and orations, discussing almost every important theological, religious, and moral question of the age, were eagerly listened to from morning till night, for ten consecutive days, by thousands of sympathizing hearers in this city, during a season of financial distress, and then were multiplied, through secular and religious periodicals, among millions of readers. It is safe to say that the utterances of a religious assembly were never received with more profound respect by so great a number of attentive minds. It was, therefore, an immediate duty to gather into a permanent volume the productions of the Conference. To this end the Committee on the Programme confided the preparation of this volume to the General Secretary of the Conference, Rev. S. Irenæus Prime, D.D., and to the Honorary and Acting Corresponding Secretary of the United States Alliance, Rev. Philip Schaff, D.D. To the former was committed "the charge of the general arrangement and typographical character of the volume, the preface, historical sketch, and general index;" and to the latter "the charge of the papers delivered before the Conference, their classification, and all the details pertaining to their introduction into the volume." This devolved on Dr. Schaff the labor of translating papers from foreign languages, revising them all, and the greatest care in see ing them accurately through the press. In some cases it was necessary to send the proofs across the ocean, and then to reset the essays, to embody the numerous alterations made by the authors. The editorial labor performed in making these repeated revisions has been immense. No one can comprehend the skill and patient toil involved except those who are acquainted with the work, and the Programme Committee desire to put on record here their appreciation of this great and gratuitous service. The papers contained in this volume give, however, but a faint idea of the character and spirit of the Conference. Its principal charm was the personal intercourse of Christian brethren from all parts of the world, and the secret of its power and success, we believe, was the presence of the Holy Spirit from the opening social reception in New York to the sublime close in Washington, when delegates from every clime made the Rotunda of the National Capitol resound with the praise of Christ, and joined with one voice and heart in professing the Apostles' Creed, repeating the Lord's Prayer, and singing the doxology. The Spirit of God alone could subdue all human passions and discords-national, sectional, sectarian, and personal-and make them tributary to the universal harmony. He alone could impart such devotional fervor and intense enthusiasm as thrilled the crowded assemblies from day to day. Under His blessed influence, the Conference was truly a communion of saints, a foretaste and pledge of a higher and better union, which the same Spirit will bring about in his own good time. The blessing of this Conference is seen in the general encouragement of faith, hope, and zeal in the Master's service. The delegates from abroad have carried it home and disseminated it in their respective fields of labor. The echo of its quickening power comes back to us, in reports of public meetings. in the capitals of Europe, in published discourses, and private letters-all overflowing with gratitude to God for what the delegates had seen and heard in those memorable days of October. Christians of the Old and the New World, separated by the ocean, feel now as never before the concentrated power of evangelical Protestantism, and the inestimable value of mutual sympathy and willingness to learn from each other, and to work and pray for each other. May God hasten the fulfillment of the prophecy of the one flock and one Shepherd! The Committee wish to express their acknowledgments to the Recording Secretaries, Rev. Messrs. H. B. Chapin and S. W. Crittenden, for their assistance in the preparation of this volume. Great credit is due to the Publishers for the patience, enterprise, and liberality which they have shown in bringing out the volume at their own risk, without expense to the Alliance. And with earnest desires for its wide and permanent usefulness, it is sent forth to the members and friends of the Evangelical Alliance throughout the world. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE SIXTH GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. Held, New York, October 2-12, 1873. IN the month of August, 1867, the Fifth General Conference of the Evangelical Alliance was held in the city of Amsterdam, Holland. At that meeting a request was presented by the Evangelical Alliance of the United States of America that the next General Conference might be held in the city of New York. At an informal meeting of Delegates to that Conference it was suggested that the United States Alliance should enter into correspondence with the various branches throughout the world, with a view to the acceptance of the invitation, should it be found practicable and desirable. The General Conferences had been held at intervals of four or five years; and as it was not expected that a very large number of members would cross the ocean to attend a meeting in America, it was the decided opinion of European members that the New York Conference should be held within two or three years after the one at Amsterdam, and that another should be convened in Europe at the usual time. As the result of correspondence, it was determined to hold the Conference in New York, in September, 1869, and an invitation was issued accordingly. At request of the British Organization, the time was changed to September, 1870. The Alliance in the United States began to make preparations for this Conference in the year 1868, and in the summer of the year following the Rev. Philip Schaff, D.D., was deputed to visit the several Alliances in Europe, and to extend a personal invitation to men of learning and ability |