May meetings in New York, that meeting | ry organic union will be accomplished be was dropped by common consent; and since then the great Evangelical Alliance has taken the place of all other societies for the subject of Christian union, until of late. While it is admitted that the Evangelical Alliance has accomplished a great and glorious work, throughout the length and breadth of the Protestant world, in diffusing the spirit of brotherly love and union among all denominations and among Christians individually, and has vindicated the cause of the oppressed, its results have mainly been of a public nature, and it has not exerted its full influence on individual churches, and on the Christian community at large. It is believed that its power for good would be greatly augmented by some additional organization, calculated to extend its influence into the individual judicatories and churches, and among church members. Such a plan has lately been submitted to the Christian public, and the object of this Appeal is still further to explain the character of that plan, and to inaugurate measures by the friends of the Redeemer for its amendment and adoption. I. This plan is perfectly feasible, because all the parts of which it is to consist not only now exist, but are already in actual and successful operation in the Protestant world. It does not contemplate the formation of any new association or society, it requires no additional meetings of those already in existence, and involves no additional trouble or expense, except such as may arise from increased activity for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. This plan embraces(1.) The existing World's Evangelical Alliance. (2.) The several existing National Alliances: the British, the American, the German, the Dutch, the French, the Swiss, etc. (3.) The existing highest ecclesiastical body of each denomination in the United States; and in foreign nations the auxiliaries of each National Branch, which are also voluntary associations. II. This plan does not propose to interfere with the denominaţional standards and institutions, doctrinal, disciplinarian, or charitable, of the several churches adopting it; but leaves to each one the entire control over its own affairs. tween all the confederate denominations, closer than that organic union of the churches in the apostolic age. By this arrangement the great subjects of Christian duty and enterprise, which from year to year may occupy the attention of the Evangelical Alliance, will regularly become the subjects of discussion, deliberation, and action to twenty times more judicatories, and reach the ministry and membership of nearly the whole Protestant Church. IV. Finally, this plan does not in the least preclude other judicious local efforts and manifestations of Christian union, or union of homogeneous bodies, but rather promotes them. The only additions necessary to be made to the existing rules and regulations of these several bodies are the following: I. Additions to the existing Constitution and Rules of the World's Alliance; being also, in a few cases, easy modifications of them : (1.) The World's Alliance ought to consist of about one hundred delegates from the bounds of each National Alliance: to be elected, in the United States, by the highest judicatory of each confederate denomination, in equal numbers of clerical and lay delegates. In other countries the delegates are to be elected by the members of the National Alliances, or in any other way designated by each National Alliance for itself. (2.) The World's Evangelical Alliance should meet every seven years, and as often intermediately as may be deemed desirable. (3.) The doctrinal basis of the World's Alliance, and of all its National Branches, is that adopted at the formation of that body at London, in September, 1846. Nor shall any person be admitted to a seat, either in the World's Alliance or any of its National Branches, until he has authenticated himself as a regular member of some confederate church or congregation; has signed the doctrinal pledge; has avowed his approval of the Design and Constitution of the Alliance; and paid into the treasury from one to five dollars, or more, for the necessary expenses and objects of the meeting. (4.) The powers of the Evangelical Alliance, and all its Branches, are only those of an Advisory Council; and its operations are intended, not to interfere with existing ecclesiastical organizations, but to promote the same objects of common interest. III. This plan simply proposes to add to the two grades of the Evangelical Alliance, namely, the World's Alliance and the National Alliances, the existing highest ecclesiastical judicatory or body of each evangel- (5.) The design and great work of the World's ical denomination in this country, and to Evangelical Alliance is to take under its reunite them all as individual bodies into one view the general interests of Christianity and voluntary advisory union or confederation, of humanity in all nations, throughout the by the adoption of certain fraternal terms entire field, which, the Saviour says, is the of association by each of the several confed-world. This comprehends, (a.) The religious erated bodies. And by this simple arrange-interests of the heathen world, the suggesment, so easily effected, if deemed wise and tion of the most suitable locations for Fordesirable, a fraternal, voluntary, and adviso-eign Christian Missions, and the proper prin present, the number of delegates from each denomination may be twenty-five, and hereafter it shall be fixed, from time to time, by the National Alliance. (3.) Each of the other National Alliances shall have exclusive power to settle the number of its own delegates and mode of appointing them. ciples of non-interference between them, | same number of clerical and lay delegates as etc.; organized efforts to prevent the intro- one of the large denominations, and each duction of intoxicating liquors and narcotic | body a fractional proportion of them. At substances among the heathen, and to promote the diffusion of Gospel light among them. (b.) It embraces all international relations and subjects, such as the discussion and circulation of the principles of Christianity on the subject of peace, and the evils and guilt of offensive war; the desirableness and feasibility and duty of Christian nations to abstain from war, and to settle all their differences, either by referring them to a third power for arbitration, or by both parties appointing ministers plenipotentiary to discuss and decide them; or by urging the nations to establish an International Court. Each nation should appoint one or two members, and the whole decide by majority of votes, adopting as their juridical code the acknowledged Laws of Nations, interpreted by the spirit of Christianity. (c.) To discuss and pro- | mote the cause of religious liberty, by adopt ing and publishing correct principles on this subject, and by appealing, on proper occasions, to civil rulers of nations in behalf of the oppressed. II. Proposed additions to the Constitution and Rules of the National Branch Alliances: (1.) The American Branch Alliance shall consist of an equal number of delegates, lay and clerical, as near as can be, from each of the confederated denominations, and shall meet triennially, and as much oftener as may hereafter be agreed on. An equal or senatorial delegation, rather than one proportioned to the size of each denomination, is preferred, in order to prevent a few large denominations from controlling the whole confederation-the fear of which would prevent some denominations from adopting the plan. Otherwise, the two largest denominations of our country (the Baptist and Methodist) would have as many delegates as all the others combined. Nor will the larger denominations have reason to complain, or to apprehend maladministration, as the ultimate execution of the purposes of the Alliance within their bounds will be effected mainly through their own judicatories, pastors, and church members; and the immediate agents of the Alliance, if any are employed, will always be instructed to act in conjunction with them. The delegates to the American National Alliance, in addition to the qualifications above named (I., 3), shall also present certificates of their election duly attested. (2.) The delegates to the American Branch Alliance shall be elected by the highest judicatory or ecclesiastical body of the several confederate denominations, consisting of at least five hundred ministers each. The smaller bodies may aggregate numerically, and when amounting to five hundred ministers or more, the aggregate shall be entitled to the (4.) In addition to the delegates above named, who constitute the proper and equally balanced body of the World's Evangelical Alliance, and of its National Branches, all such friends of the cause as see fit to attend the meetings of those bodies at their own expense may do so, and have a seat provided for them as accepted visitors; provided they first duly authenticate themselves, as the delegates do, in regard to church membership, doctrinal subscription, and contribution to the funds of the meeting; but they can not participate in any discussions or action of the body. (5.) Finally, church members, connected with any one of the confederated denominations in America, not finding it convenient to attend the meetings of their National Branch, may become connected with it, as contributing members, by forwarding to the treasurer at New York from one to five dollars, or more, together with a certificate of church membership from their pastor or from any accredited minister of a confederated church, and receive a certificate of such membership, stating the amount paid. This plan will gradually enlist a large number of church members throughout the cities, towns, and country, connected with the Alliance, co-operating with its salutary measures, and furnishing the necessary funds to carry on its operations. (6.) If the highest judicatory of any denomination, of at least five hundred ministers, is unwilling to elect delegates to the National Alliance, and a considerable portion of it be favorably disposed, that portion may, by holding a convention, or in any equitable way, appoint or elect one half the quota of delegates due to each denomination, to be duly authenticated. (7.) As to the officers and working organization of the American National Alliance, they are fully provided for in its Constitution. (8.) The grand objects aimed at by the American National Alliance, in addition to those already enumerated as originating in the World's Alliance, are such as the following, within the bounds of our own country: a. To promote harmony, non-interference, and efficiency in the effort of the evangelical churches to supply all the waste places in our land, and to proclaim the Gospel throughout the heathen world. b. To promote concert of effort in main taining the daily reading of God's Word in | ican National Branch, as detailed in their all our public schools. constitutions. c. To prepare and circulate suitable tracts and popular works on the grand objects of Christian benevolence and enterprise for which the association was instituted. d. To promote concert of action in providing for Christianizing the numerous heathen immigrants who are flocking to our land, and erecting heathen temples among us. e. To promote love and free sacramental communion, recognition, and co-operation among Christians of different denominations in objects of common interest; as well as to sustain each other's discipline. f. To devise means for correcting the widespread political corruption prevailing among some of our citizens and rulers, which threatens the destruction of our civil liberties, and can not fail to bring down upon us the judgments of a holy and righteous God. 9. To co-operate in procuring stringent laws, prohibiting Congress and state legislatures from appropriating public funds or lands to any religious denomination, or for any religious denominational purpose. es. III. The Denominational, or Primary Branch The action necessary to bring the denominational branches, or the supreme judicatories or ecclesiastical bodies, into harmonious co-operation with this Alliance or Protestant Confederation is simple, and easily accomplished. These bodies are not required to make any change in their doctrinal or disciplinarian Constitution, nor to elect any new officers; but, acting under their existing officers and rules, to pass the following resolutions: (2.) Said highest judicatory shall elect delegates to the next American National, and the next World's Alliance, and send them, duly authenticated, as hereinbefore prescribed, to attend the next meetings. (3.) It shall also assign a particular time in its fixed order of business when the affairs relating to the Alliance shall be taken up and transacted. (4.) Such judicatory shall resolve that, whatever their powers may be when acting on other matters, all their action as a Branch of the Alliance shall be merely advisory. (5.) The stated duties of these highest ecclesiastical bodies, or judicatories, as branches of the Alliance, are the following: a. To elect delegates to all the meetings of the American Branch Alliance, and also of the World's Alliance. b. To receive from their delegation, through their chairman, a written report of the transactions of each meeting of the American Branch, and of the World's Alliance. c. To discuss the topics and recommendations of these reports, and, if approved, to take such action to carry them into effect as they may deem proper, and to invite the action of their inferior bodies, of their ministers and laymen, for the same purpose. (6.) Should any denomination become dissatisfied with the influence of the Alliance, it may at any time withdraw from the connection by a resolution of its highest judicatory announcing the fact. (7.) The details of this plan are to be regarded as introduced provisionally, until the meeting of the elected delegates, who have full power to make such alterations and amendments in them as a majority of them may deem proper. (1.) Each denomination of acknowledged evangelical character, containing at least five hundred ordained ministers, desiring to enter into this confederation, shall first, through its highest judicatory, pass a resolution ap- [Signed by the Rev. Dr. S. S. SCHMUCKER, proving the Constitution and Design of the Emeritus Professor of the Theological SemiWorld's Evangelical Alliance, and its Amer-nary at Gettysburg, and many others.] ADDRESSES AND RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS. [At the concluding business session of the Conference, on Saturday afternoon, October 11th, Addresses of Thanks, from the several Foreign Delegations, were presented and read to the Conference, and warmly indorsed in brief speeches by members of these delegations. Sundry Resolutions of Thanks were then moved by different delegates, seconded and appropriately responded to by others, and adopted by unanimous vote of the assembly. The final resolution was one of thanks to the presiding officer of the Conference, and was followed by the closing remarks of the President, which are given in the "Historical Sketch," pp. 43-45.-Ed.] ADDRESSES OF THANKS FROM FOREIGN DELEGATIONS. FROM THE BRITISH DELEGATION. PRESENTED TO THE CONFERENCE BY LORD AL FRED S. CHURCHILL, OF LONDON. At a meeting of the delegates from Great Britain and Ireland, held on the 10th of October, 1873, Lord Alfred S. Churchill in the chair, it was moved by Charles Reed, Esq., M. P., of London, seconded by the Right Rev. the Dean of Canterbury, and Resolved, That the delegates from Great Britain and Ireland to the Conference of the Evangelical Alliance now assembled in the city of New York feel constrained to express collectively their grateful appreciation of the thoughtful kindness and the abounding hospitality with which they have been received by the American brethren. They do not doubt that their own feelings are shared by all the delegates from other countries; for the admirable reception which they but they have had special joy in the oppor- have met in this Conference. The thought tunities afforded by the Conference for inter- of convoking here these great assizes of our course with those who are not only their evangelical churches came from God, who kindred in Christ, but are related to them gave to our American friends perseverance by the strong ties of language and of race. in the pursuance of that purpose, and, after They earnestly desire that the labor and the a long, incessant toil, they see now their laliberality which have so largely contributed bors crowned with a success which went far to make the present assembly memorable beyond all expectations. They have been will be followed by great and abiding re-instrumental in bringing upon all the evansults; that the American churches may be invigorated for their Christian work; that Christian men in other lands may be impelled to more self-sacrificing exertions for the evangelization of the masses of mankind; and that peace and amity may, year by year, increasingly characterize the relationships of individuals, of churches, and of nations. ALFRED S. CHURCHILL, Chairman. FROM THE GERMAN DELEGATION. PRESENTED BY THE REV. DR. DORNER, OF BERLIN. gelical churches a blessing which will be lasting, as we ask God for it. The cordiality, the grandeur of their reception filled our hearts with gratitude. We shall go back to our homes and our labors much refreshed, quickened, and encouraged. The bonds of fellowship which tie us to our American brethren have been drawn much closer; we love them already - we shall love them much more henceforth. We hope that serious communion of prayer may sanctify these ties, and make them conducive of a great revival over all our respective countries. And with a last word, uttered from the bottom of our hearts, we say to our friends of this continent, God bless you. [Signed by the French delegates from the three countries.] FROM THE CANADIAN DELEGATIONS. PRESENTED BY THE REV. GEORGE M. GRANT, OF NOVA SCOTIA. The German delegates to the Sixth General Conference of the Evangelical Alliance at New York, in taking leave, desire publicly to express their cordial thanks for the exceedingly warm and hospitable reception which it was their privilege to enjoy in this country, and especially in the city of New York. As this gathering of evangelical men from all parts of the globe in such numbers was without precedent, so the hospitality extended by the representatives of Protestant churches, by numerous societies for art, science, and philanthropy, by great industrial associations, and by government officials and magistrates, was unexampled in its grandeur. We part with a deep sense of gratitude, and also with intensified consciousness of the unity which binds togeth-ilton, and unanimously agreed to: er the evangelical Christians of different nations, and we shall deem it an honor and pleasure, if an opportunity be given to us, to return to our American brethren visiting Germany, as far as we may be able, the kindness here received. May the Lord bless this country, and increase the external and inter-egates, have received at the bands of the nal happiness of its inhabitants, and shield with his protecting hand the national ban ner. At a meeting of the delegates from the Dominion of Canada, held on the 10th of October, 1873, in the parlor of the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, Rev. Dr. Green, of Toronto, in the chair, the following resolution was moved by R. Wilkes, Esq., M. P., seconded by the Rev. A. B. Simpson, of Ham Resolved, That the delegates from Canada to the Conference of the Evangelical Alliance now assembled in the city of New York can not part without expressing their grateful sense of the munificent hospitality which they, in common with the other foreign del United States Branch of the Evangelical Alliance, the Young Men's Christian Association, the managers of the various public [The signatures of all the German dele- institutions, and the civic authorities and gates were appended.] FROM THE FRENCH-SPEAKING DELE- PRESENTED BY THE REV. DR. FISCH, OF PARIS. citizens of New York and Brooklyn. The delegates rejoice to believe that the great objects which the Alliance contemplates have been promoted in a marked manner by this, its first session in America. While there has been a cementing of Christian hearts from MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE many lands, they can not but trust that the COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN BRANCH OF ties of common origin, language, interests, THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE,-The dele- and faith which bind together the United gates of the three countries which form the States and Canada may be especially strengthFrench-speaking branch of the Evangelical ened by the hallowed influences under which Alliance-France, Switzerland, and Belgium the Conference has held its meetings; and -express hereby their deeply felt thanks they venture to hope that the Canadian Resolved, That the thanks of the Alliance are due, and are hereby tendered to the Press in this city and elsewhere, which has given to the public, and at great expense, reports remarkably full and accurate of the papers read and the speeches uttered at these assemblies; and our acknowledgments are also made for the intelligent appreciation so generally shown of the objects and spirit of this Alliance. Resolved, That, in view of the great and manifold blessings of divine Providence vouchsafed to this meeting of the Evangelical Alliance, its members gratefully desire to record a humble and hearty expression of devout thankfulness to Almighty God for TO STEAM-SHIP AND RAILROAD COMPAhis goodness, and to commend each other to his care. TO THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS. MOVED BY THE REV. PROF. JONES, OF WALES. Resolved, That the thanks of the Conference are eminently due to the Young Men's Christian Association of this city for the use of their building, with all its elegant and commodious apartments, which has largely contributed to the success and comfort of the Conference. Our thanks are also presented to Mr. Peter Cooper and the Messrs. Steinway for the gratuitous use of their halls, and to the trustees of the several churches whose buildings have been generously placed at our disposal. TO PASTORS AND CHURCHES. MOVED BY THE REV. WM. ARNOT, OF EDINBURGH. Resolved, That the General Conference recognizes with great satisfaction the interest which the pastors and churches of the city of New York, Brooklyn, and vicinity have taken in the Evangelical Alliance, which interest appears to pervade the whole country. TO THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE ENTER- NIES, AND TO VARIOUS IN- MOVED BY THE REV. DR. SCHAFF, OF NEW YORK. Resolved, That the thanks of the Conference be presented to the proprietors and agents of the several Transatlantic steamship lines who so generously furnished facilities of transportation for the foreign delegates, and to those American railroad companies who so kindly proffered free excursions to both foreign and American delegates, thereby greatly contributing to the success of the Conference and to the gratification of all its members; also to the various institutions that have extended courtesies to the members of the Conference. TO THE COMMITTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE CONFERENCE. MOVED BY JAS. GIRDLESTONE, ESQ., OF LONDON. Resolved, That the thanks of the Conference be presented to the several committees of the United States Alliance for their labors in making preparation for this Conference; and to the officers of the Conference for their efforts to conduct its proceedings to a satisfactory result. TO PRESIDENT WOOLSEY. MOVED BY THE REV. DR. HALL, OF NEW YORK. Resolved, That the cordial thanks of the members and friends of the Evangelical AlMOVED BY THE REV. J. C. HARRISON, OF LONDON.liance, now in Conference, be tendered to the Resolved, That the most cordial thanks of the delegates from abroad are due and are hereby affectionately presented to the Christian families of this city who have with so much hospitality received us into their homes, and contributed so largely to our comfort and happiness; the memory of venerable Dr. Woolsey for the wisdom, fidelity, and efficiency with which he has filled the chair of the President during these lengthened sessions. [The resolution having been seconded, was put by the mover, and carried with marked cordiality.] |