INVITED GUESTS. In addition to the Delegates from various Branches of the Alliance, the following gentlemen were admitted to the floor of the Conference by invitation of the United States Alliance. Prof. C. A. Aiken, D.D., Princeton, N. J. Rev. J. C. Backus, D.D., Baltimore, Md. Rev. Samuel H. Cox, D.D., Bronxville, N. Y. Rev. Ephraim Flint, D.D., Hinsdale, Mass. Rev. Thos. Holmes, D.D., Merom, Ind. Rev. A. S. Hunt, D.D., Brooklyn, N. Y. Rev. M. W. Jacobus, D.D., Allegheny, Penn Pres. George Loomis, D.D., Meadville, Penn. Hon. Peter Parker, M.D., Washington, D. C. Pres. J. F. Tuttle, D.D., Crawfordsville, Ind. Rev. Andrew Abraham, South Africa. Rev. C. H. Carpenter, Burmah. Rev. Justus Doolittle, China. Rev. Gulian Lansing, Egypt. Rev. S. G. M'Farland, Siam. Rev. Benjamin Schneider, D.D., Constantinople. Rev. John C. Smith, Ceylon. Rev. J. V. N. Talmage, D.D., China. Rev. J. J. Walsh, India. THE BASIS OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. ADOPTED AT THE ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN BRANCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE, IN JANUARY, 1867. Resolved, That in forming an Evangelical Alliance for the United States, in co-operative union with other Branches of the Alliance, we have no intention or desire to give rise to a new denomination or sect; nor to effect an amalgamation of Churches, except in the way of facilitating personal Christian intercourse and a mutual good understanding; nor to interfere in any way whatever with the internal affairs of the various denominations; but simply to bring individual Christians into closer fellowship and co-operation, on the basis of the spiritual union which already exists in the vital relation of CHRIST to the members of his body in all ages and countries. Resolved, That, in the same spirit, we propose no new creed; but, taking broad, historical and evangelical catholic ground, we solemnly re-affirm and profess our faith in all the doctrines of the inspired Word of GOD, and in the consensus of doctrines as held by all true Christians from the beginning. And we do more especially affirm our belief in the Divinehuman person and atoning work of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, as the only and sufficient source of salvation, as the heart and soul of Christianity, and as the centre of all true Christian union and fellowship. Resolved, That, with this explanation, and in the spirit of a just Christian liberality in regard to the minor differences of theological schools and religious denominations, we also adopt, as a summary of the consensus of the various Evangelical Confessions of Faith, the Articles and Explanatory Statement set forth and agreed on by the Evangelical Alliance at its formation in London, 1846, and approved by the separate European organizations; which articles are as follows: "1. The divine inspiration, authority, and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures. "2. The right and duty of private judgment in the interpretation of the Holy Scrip tures. "3. The Unity of the Godhead, and the Trinity of the Persons therein. "4. The utter depravity of human nature in consequence of the Fall. "5. The incarnation of the SON of GOD, his work of atonement for the sins of mankind, and his mediatorial intercession and reign. "6. The justification of the sinner by faith alone. "7. The work of the HOLY SPIRIT in the conversion and sanctification of the sinner. "8. The immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, the judgment of the world by our LORD JESUS CHRIST, with the eternal blessedness of the righteous, and the eternal punishment of the wicked. "9. The divine institution of the Christian ministry, and the obligation and perpetuity of the ordinances of Baptism and the LORD's Supper. "It being, however, distinctly declared that this brief summary is not to be regarded in any formal or ecclesiastical sense as a creed or confession, nor the adoption of it as involving an assumption of the right authoritatively to define the limits of Christian brotherhood, but simply as an indication of the class of persons whom it is desirable to embrace within the Alliance.” CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. ADOPTED JANUARY, 1867. Revised at the Sixth Annual Meeting, January 26, 1874. ARTICLE I. This Organization shall be known as THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ARTICLE II. The objects of this Association shall be to manifest and strengthen Christian unity, and to promote religious liberty and co-operation in Christian work, without interfering with the internal affairs of different denominations. ARTICLE III. Any person may be introduced as a member of this Alliance, on his own application, by signing the Constitution, and assenting to the principles, the basis, and the objects of this Association. ARTICLE IV. The officers of this Alliance shall be a PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENTS, HONORARY SECRETARIES, CORRESPONDING and RECORDING SECRETARIES, and a TREASURER. ARTICLE V. The business of this Alliance shall be conducted by an Executive Committee, elected annually by the Alliance from the various denominations of Christians represented in the Alliance; and the officers of the Alliance shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. The members shall hold their places until the election of their successors; and are empowered to fill their own vacancies. The Executive Committee shall meet by appointment of the Alliance, or, on its own adjournment, or at the call of the Chairman, by the request or with the consent of any five members; provided that, in case of every special meeting, due notice shall be given. Five members shall constitute a quorum. ARTICLE VI. The Alliance shall meet annually, at such time and place as the Executive Committee may appoint. ARTICLE VII. Local organizations in the United States, adopting the principles of this Alliance, may become connected with it by a vote of the Executive Committee, their members thus becoming individually members of this Alliance. ARTICLE VIII. This Constitution may be altered only at an annual meeting, and by a vote of twothirds of the members present, provided notice of the amendment be given at a previous annual meeting; unless the alteration be recommended by the Executive Committee. In Memory of PRONIER AND CARRASCO. EVERY good cause has its martyrs, but the "blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church." It is our sad duty to close this volume with an obituary notice of two eminent delegates to the General Conference, who, on their return to Europe, found a watery grave in the Atlantic Ocean, while their spirits, united in life by the bonds of friendship and Christian brotherhood, went up to the assembly of the first-born in heaven. On a visit to Europe, in behalf of the General Conference, in 1869, I met Professor César Pronier at the Swiss Pastoral Conference in Geneva, where he delivered one of the principal addresses, and the youthful Antonio Carrasco, at the Church Diet in Stuttgart, where he spoke with Southern fervor on the opening prospects of a new reformation in Spain, Count Andreas Bernstorff acting as his interpreter. I became convinced that they were the proper men to represent, at the International Conference, the one the Free Church of Geneva, the other the evangelization movement in Spain. Both were gentlemen of acknowledged ability and power, and earnest, devoted Christians. They were accordingly invited to the Conference in 1870, and again in 1873, and accepted the invitation. Their addresses before the Conference are embodied in this volume, and will be read with a melancholy interest. Professor CÉSAR-LOUIS PRONIER was born forty-two years ago, at Geneva, Switzerland, October 19, 1831. In early life he came to this country, and engaged for a short time in business in the State of New York, but returned to Switzerland, and studied for the Gospel ministry at Geneva and in the University of Berlin. At the age of thirty-two (1863), he was called to the chair of Systematic Theology in the Theological Seminary of the Free Church in Geneva, formerly occupied by the distinguished Dr. Gaussen. He was justly regarded, especially after the death of his colleague, Dr. Merle d'Aubigné (1872), as the pillar of this institution, and as one of the champions of Protestant Christianity in French Switzerland. He was greatly esteemed and beloved by his friends and pupils; all Geneva was agitated by the news of his death, and manifested its sympathy by liberal aid to his bereaved family. He leaves a widow in delicate health, and six children -three sons and three daughters-the oldest not quite fourteen years of age. Professor Pronier, when on the eve of departure, before the outbreak of war in 1870, wrote to a friend that he apprehended he would never return from America, but considered it his duty to the Alliance and to his institution to go. He had the same presentiment in 1873; he spoke of it to his friends, and hoped that something might occur which would justify him to remain at home. But he made the sacrifice; he bade his family and friends his dernier adieu, and landed, after a stormy passage, in New York, August 29. He spent some delightful weeks with friends at Princeton, and afterward visited the literary institutions of New York and New England. He was very modest and retiring, but preached several times, addressed students of theology, and performed his duty to the Alliance faithfully. At the close of his address before the Conference the following significant passage occurs: "The future is obscure, gentlemen; as obscure as those cloudy and indistinct horizons toward which, when crossing the Atlantic, I have sometimes seen the passengers on deck casting uneasy glances. The mighty ship was dashing through the trackless ocean; her prow was cleaving the foaming waves; her sails were swelling in the wind, and the heavy sound of her working engines struck on the ear; thus, with the ever-increasing obscurity, did we sail into night and darkness. So it is often with nations. What is in store for us I know not. Perhaps the future has in reserve for us strange surprises that will far exceed our hopes or fears. The horizon may perhaps clear when some kindly breeze springs up to drive away the thickest of the fog. But be that as it |