wiii, M.A. Rot. 'WituAK Obirhaic. Rot. Chablu RaoRnmaa. Hon. Jaxm Fnam, M.L.O. Tlrinoip*! Dawwit, LL.D., F.R.S., F. O. S., Vioo-FKddent. Aldmnaa Ausxambib, M.P.F. . Mr. T. J. OulMSOK. Mr. JosBPB MoKat. Mr. HaxBT Ltkax. Mr. M. H. Oatot. Mr, Javh Oouxt. Mr. WnxiAX O muuim i aw o, Ho&oru; Trea- surer. Mr. J. 0. Bmer. Mr. Jamu Oboo. Mr. RoBiBT AmiBsoir. Mr. S. 3. Mat, and Mr. EninseiM.TATLoa, Recording Seoretaiy. WELCOME. THE OPBNINO MEETINO OF THE FIRST CONVENTION OP THE DOMINION BRANCH OP THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. Last'' evening the opening meeting of the flrHi ROMion of the Dominion Erangelioal Alliance was held in the Ameripan Presby- terian Church, en Dorchester street, west. The ' onnounoement that a meeting, the first of its kind in Montreal, and of such general interest, would take place, was sufficient to draw an audience which packed the capacious edifice to the utmost, and which was composed of all denominations in the city, and of all classes of society. By half-past seven the galleries and body of the church were "Ued, and before the hour for the commencement of the services the aisles were occupied by all who could find room therein. A magnificent epergne of flowers of all shadcii and hues was placed on a tablo in front of the dais. The following gentlemen were present, and occupied seats in and around the altar :-:- Principal Dawson, Rev. John Hall, D.D., of Ne* York ; Major-Geueral Burrows, R.A., of London, England; Rev. Donald Fraser, D.D., of London; Rev. Dr. BIihh, of tho Svrian Mission ; Fev. Dr. Mellor, of Halifax, England ; Rev. Dean Bond, LL.D. ; Rsv. Dr. Burns, Rov. Dr. Jenkins, Rev. Cinon Baldwin, Rev. Canon Bancroft, Rev. Dr. Taylor, Rev. IVincipal Mac- Vicsr, Rev. Gavin Lang, Bev. Prof estsor Cous- sirat. Rev. Charles Chapman, Rev. J. Donovan, Rev. O. Fortin, Rev. T. Laflcur, Rtv. D. Marsh, of Quebec ; -Tohn Crosley, Esq., M.P. , of Halifaz, England ; Rev. Dr. Sohaif, of N?\r York; Rev. Dr. Thornton, of Oshawa ; Rev. Mr. Patterson, of Nova Scotia ; Rov. Mr. Dobbs, of Kingston; Rev. Professor Campbell, Mr. ThanaMUUftpf Oiuoiimati : Mr. Henry Varley, of London ; RofeMor Daniel WOaon, LL.D., A th« Toronto UnlTantty, eto.^oto. The Bight Honorable the Earl of OaTan was unable to be present, aa also leTeral other eminent dlTinee rad welt known ipeakere. Frinolpal Dawmit, Fieaident of the Domi- nion Branoh of the AUianoe, occupied the chair, and called on Very BeT. Dean Bond, LL.D., to oondoct the opening serTloee. The Very Rot. Dean Boxd, of Montreal, then gaTe out tho flnt hrmn in the ooUeotion prepared for tho use of tho AUianoe, aa fol- lows: — AU people that on earth do dwell, BIng to '.iie Lord with cheerful TOlce ; Ilim serre with mirth, His "raise forthtoll, Come ye before bim and rejoice. Know that the Lord Is Ood indeed, Without our aid He did ui make ; We are Hit flock. He doth ua feed, And for his sheep he doth ua take. Oh enter then his gates with praise, Approach with joy HU courts unto ; Praise, laud and bleu His name always, For it la seemlr so to do. Fo.- why r— The Lord our Ood Is good, Hit mercy Is fc'CTer sure, Hit truth r.'. all tt - sf Orally ttood, And tball, from age to age, endure. He then read from the beginning of the 138rd Psalm, and also the 4th chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, v. I-IO, and thereupon implored tho Divine presence and blessing in these words : "Almighty Father, the Father of all Spirits, we, through Jesus Christ, bring our spirits faoe to face with Thee, tho living Ood. Qiint that we may now and OTermoro realize Thy presence. Wo believe that Thou art present to hear the cry of Thy people and to bless Thy waiting, faithful servants. Lord, help our un- belief! Lord, increase our faith! Wo ao- knowled((o ourselves utterly unworthy of the least of Thy mercies. We have sinned against Thee and have done wickedly. Wo bewail beforoTheo our manifold transgressions. Enter not into judgment with Thy servants — Oh, enter not into judgment with Thy ser- vants; but pardon all that Thy piuo and holy eyes have seen amiss, and grant to us the full assurance of Thy pardoning lovo, through tho atoning blood of Jesus! We acknow- ledge. Father, Thou Giver of every good and perfect gift, with thankful hearts. Thy infinite goodness towards Thy servants. We thank Thee that Thou hast put it into their hearts thus to meet together that they may be united in love, and united in glorifying Thee ! O Father, we thank Thee that Thou doat permit them thus to glorify Thy great name, and to bear testimony to tho world of their oneness in Christ Jesus ! Wo thank Thee, Father, that Thou hast cared for those who have journeyed to us from distant parts, that Then hast kept them in tho hollow of Thy hands over the great deep, and granted them journeying mer- cies. Blessed bo Thy holy name! Wo bless Thee, we praise Thee, wo glorify Thee, wo give thanks to Thee for Thy infinite mercies. Grant that now, and at all our meetings, there may bo present a double measure of Thy Holy Spirit, and commimicnte to Thy servants a spirit of wisdom and of understanding — a spirit of knowledge and of tho fear of the Lord; and (jrant, wo beseech Thee, that in a!' things God may bo Aiagnified.. There will camo amon'7 ii", O Father, some, it may be, with trembling hearts and stammering lips ; bo to them a moath and utterance, and grant that they may bo an honor to Thy Church in serving ond glorifyint) Thee and edifying souls. There will como amongst us those with furnished minds and eloquent tongues; grant (hut all may bo consecrated to God, and that, with humtilo hearts, they may strive to win souls to Thee, and commend the Gos. pel of Christ. There will be amongst ui those with hearts full of faith and prayer, loaging that God may be magni- fied. Give them, we beaeeoh Thee, their heart'a detire. And there wiU come amangit ua thoae out of the war— far from Thee ; in Thine infinite merer, bring then into the right way, Oauw them to jpata through the narrow gate that leadeth to Ufe eternal. There will come amongst ua thoae treking Thoo with trembling faith and atriTing to touch Thco ; Oh help them, help them by Thy mighty powMN that they may bo enabled to lay hold upon Christ and find talTation in Him. Thcru wiU oome omonnt us those who love Thee, who hare giren thehr hoarta to Thee, and who with a simple, single heart, bcUoro in Thco. Olre them Joy, giro them gbdnota in this our meeting, and grant that they may see that Thou art amongst ua of a truth. Bless, wo beieeoh Thee, Thy whole Church. Grant that the may erer be serred by faithful and truo paatort. Grant that men and women may bo raised up on ovenr hand to declaro tho Gospel of Christ in tho daric placet of tho earth. And O grant, we beieooh Theo, that she may be inttrumental in preparing the way of the Lord, and hastening His coming. We thus commit all into Thy hands, ond ask lice to accept us for the aako of Jesua Christ, and to hear us as we further coll upon Thee, ond say, Our Father who art in Hearon, Hallowed bo Thy nane, Thy kingdom come, Thr will bo done on earth, at it is in hearen. Ofre ua this day our daily bread, and forgive ua our trctpaatca as we forgire them that treepata against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deUvcr ns from eTil. for Thine is tho kbigdom, and the power, and the glory, forerer. Amen." Dr. Dawsoit then rote and taid:— Christian friends, it deToWes upon me, in the abaenoo of Rer. Dr. Wilkes, President of the Montreal Branoh of tho Alliance, to open this meeting in the capacity of Vice-Prestdent. I will just say one word in ezxilanation as to the circum- stances of this gathering. It has not as- sembled here by the authority of the Montreal Branch of tho Alliance, but in oceordanco with a wish expressed by a meeting of delegates from all ports of the Dominion of Canada, convened in New York last year. It was there decided to establish, if possible, a Dominion ETongelicol Alliance, and to us, OS tho Montreal Branch, was assigned Iho duty of summoning tho first general mec'.ing of such Alliance, at which it was to be or- ganized, and at which aa much on poasiblo of other work was to be done. Tho duty con- sequently devolves upon us here, by the re- quest of brethren everywhere in the Do- minion, of organizing the Alliance perman- ently. We have done what we could to carry out this plan. Although wo may have made many mistakes, as we have en- countered many difficulties, wo trust that tho organization will fulfil the great ends which its friends expect from it. Meny gentlemen have given much work and attentioi to this matter for several months. It is due to tho Secretary, the Rev. Gavin Lang, to express our indebtedness to liim for the largo amouat of service and oseful labor which he has given to this work. In such an assembly as I seo be- fore mo to-night, it is impossible to doubt that, in some respects, at least, our meeting will be a success. Wo have secured tho pre- sence of delegates from the mother country, and from tiie United States, and from nearly oil parts of the Dominion of Can-ida — able and emment minds, and we trust, that tho citizens of Montreal will do their part in aiding these men to do their work, m giving ns the an- rliences that we need, and die help that wo 1,1 I'll for the carrying out of this great under- taking. In looking upon such a meeting as this, we should regard it, and try to make it, u help to Christian Ufe. There is one Delegato without whose presence we can do nothing— One who has promised His presence where c vc n two or three are gathered in His name. And if so many are gathered hero of those of whom it can bo said honestly and truly, that they have come in the name of Christ, there is no doubt that we shall have that Divine Delegate from above among us. And if we have Him among us to moke us forget all « 874-1 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE EXTRA. our minor differennc*, »nd to pour out upon na nbundnntl/ of that spirit which h* pro- mind to Mnd from airavO, our maetinff i* *nre to bs • grrmt blewdnff, not only to Montreal, but to oil part* of the Dominion. Every ChriHtian heart will reapondto the thought that we do need aonh * bieeaing, and I trust that weahall all humblj hope and humbly aik that auoh a bleuing ahall be giTen to ue. I havonothing furtherto lajr except to call on tho Rov. Dr. Jenkina, who haa been appointed to reproacnt ui in welcoming our brethren from a distance. ADDRESS OF WELCOME. Kov. Dr. Jjsirxno then delivered tho addroM of wolnomo : The ploasiug duty has been assigned mo of welcoming to this nity our brethren who have oomo from afitr. I do now juni cordially welcome you, beloved, in the nnrno of tho Lord. Those on whoio behalf I now s^oak, feel that Montreal is honored by having boon chosen as the meeting-ploco of the Firat General Conference of the Evungelicul Alll- anoe of Canada,— honored by the prCHonoo nmongst us of Christian frienas from variius WaU of our Djmioion, from thti United aUktm, and from dear old Britain. Yuu who represent the Provinces of Canada aro specially welcome to your own Oommeroinl Metropolis, a city in which for thirty yearn and more. Id spirit rafher than in form, there has been' maintained a most blessed Alllanooof Christian pastors and people. You who have consented, on our invitation, to visit us from the neigh- boring Republ)'), we greet not as " strange'-s and foreigners," but as " fellow-aitizens with the saiato, and of the household of Ood." True, you live under a different form of gov- ernment from that which we in Canada acknowledge and rejoice in, but " One is our Master, even Christ, and because this is so you and we " are brethren." Tou who have come to this Conference from Great Britain are linked to us, not only by the supreme tie of Christian fellowship, but also by national sympathies, by mutual love of a com- mon home. Carry book with you when you recross the Atlantic the asKuranco of Canada's undiminished attachment to the British Constitution and tho British Throne. Our friends from the United States--England'» eldest and most prov- perous daughter, now her worthy com- peer— will not nudge us this expreiision of our love for Fatherland, or of the reverence which we feel for that noble, virtuous, Christian woman, scanely less venerated by Americans than by Canadians, our gracious Queen. But I am sure we f eelj every oae of us, at this time certainly, raised far above geo- graphioil boundarleii, above forms of govern- ment, be they Monnrohical or Republican, above even denominational distinctions and preferences. These nre of " the earth, earthy." We stand to-night upon a higher platform. Lifted above both National and EoolesiaHtical form4 there are here no walls of petition to divide us. All is One ! Ordi- narily, we move on a lower level. Political dlHtinctlons, Ecclesiastical diversities. Doctri- nal differences, dissimilarity ot Ritual, are conditions of our social Christian life which wo cannot ignore. They ti-ivnmel us in our strain the outflow .' Christian love. Blessed be God, there are times when His children are lifted to such a height and carried out to such a breadth of oneness in Christ, as almost to forget tho barriers which keep them opart below. This is one of those times. The lines of division disappear. There is breathing-room for the largest charity. An hour ago, we were looking at a mixed company of Episcopalians, of Methol- prsyeu, otken wrao knaeling; mim w«n dng- ing the Psalms of Darld, otnen wot chanting mMern Chriatlan hymns. But while we gued, lo ! the aoeno changed. It wm • diioolTiag view. Kowas wolook wo And thotthe motley appe«ruioo of the group hoa ranished I The company is one ! Each alike U clothed with • pure white robe of love, and oil together etand Wore One Throne and One Saviour, crying with a loud voice : " Salvation to our Ood t Salvation to the Lamb 1" And above the peace- ful end harmonious eoene, ongela reeting on their wings, JoyoiulrwatohiOiiia Mthey wotoh Ihey itogtUekoDg, Wrewed fnmi ea(ili,7el wonbyMhigltntlieaTen; ^Bebold,1iewg(iod and bow pleasant a thing it la for brethren io dwell together in unity P " Tee, Terily 1" we respond, for '* Hero tho Lord oommaDdeth tlie blewliiv, oven life for orcrmoro I " We liavo antidpated your preetoeo Baong na, Icloved brethren, witli joyfnlneea and hope. Wu bavo prayed and have felt euro that wm ypu oump to us, jou woold " oomo in tbo f ol* noss of the blessing of the Ooepel of C! st." Wc are sure that yon have oome freighted with prayers on our behalf, and full of desire that you miy " impart to ui some spiritual gift to the end we may be establiahed ; that ia — that you may bo i^omforted together with us by the mutual faith both of us and you." How greatly we need your prayers, I cannot 9nd words to tell you. Mu»h have we to contend with in prosecuting nur Christian work. Step by step. In our progress, wo are challenged by opposing forces : On the one hand, oodesias- tioal superstition an^ christionixed error, oon- Rolidated, active, unscrupulous, wisely led ; on the other hand, commeroial prosperity with tho luxurlousness, the pride, the selflshness, the gross materialism, in a word, which ever follow.4 in its train. Here, as in other centres of trade, " riches increase." and oen " set their heartsr upon them." Then, again, the tide of Christian unbelief which long ago sst in over Europe, and which soon afterwards rejwih- od this western continent, has extended its pamioioua and dangerous influences Montreal- ward ; as is natural, it allies itself with that worldlinees of which I have tooken, and both marshal themselves against Christianity and Godliness. There is need, crying need m our Churahes, of qnickeninggrace, of the power of God, of the Spirit of Holiness. You, dear brethren, wiU kneel at our family altars, you will join US in our prayer-meetings, you will come up with us to our houses of worship, some of you will preach tho gospel ot Christ to us, and lead, at the Throno of Grace, the supplicationa of our peo- ple. Wc entreat your earnest and believing prayers on all these occasions for the outpour- ing upon our city of the Holy Ghost. I speak the mind of my brethren around me when I say that our chief desire in regard to this Con- ference, is not so much its intellectual or its numerical success (that it will succeed in these respects we have no reason to doubt), but more than all, we crave, that through you, our souls may be quickened into a higher, purer Christian life. Wo are also looking to receive from yon, during your stay amongst us, valuable suggestions as to the methods of dcorling most successfully with superstition, with error, - with unbelief, with worldiness, with all those follies and sins which here,asin other places, obHtruct tho progres»of religion. progress God ward ; they chafe our spirits ; they^ LThc holding of this Ccmferoncein acity.threO' check our efforts in Christ's work; they re- "fourthH of whose population oreBomt . . Roman Ca- tholii!, to the number, say, of a hundred and ton thousand) will not be without its influence, furnishing, as it will, a tangible proof, that, afver all. Protestantism is not that piebald, heterogeneous thing which Romanists are taught to believe, but that it is substantially one ; that the differences which exist among us who have oome here for the purpose of es- tablishing for Ca..ada a branch of theEvange- iioal Alliance, are in finitesimal, compared with ifts, of Baptists, of Congregationalists, of 'fHhat wide divergence which, in th.e Roman Presbyterians. Each class was clearly mark- ed. Wo could distinguish the Genevan cloak and bonds, the surpUoe and lawn sleeves, the precentor and the organ, the font and the baptistry. Soma were standing while they Catholic Churoh, for example, separates the Gollicon from the Ultramontane. To me, it seems, that in the foce of on arrogant and aggressive Sacerdotalism on tho one side, and of a Materialistio Rational- ism on the other, there onght to be greater readiness omoag Protestants to forego th^ minor differences, aud to moke eemmon cause, every one of us, against these powerfol oata- Sinrims of our notestont Foita and of oa>- oly Religion. Towards tUa point of Union, in spirit and in work, the Ohwohee of Christ are happily verging. '• WWennto we hav* Inealetu already attoinea let us walk by the some ndi, let ns mind the same thiiur," praying, labor- ing, and looking for that Onvrase In Christ's Void, for which He pleaded in RU internee, sions upon earth, and whiob, we oonnot donbt, is now the burden of His aU-preroiUng prayer at the Father's right hand: ^'I pt%j not for these alone, but for them also which shall be> lievo on me through their word ; that ^ey all mo} be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in 'Thee, that they also may be One ia Us, that the world may believe that Thoa host sent Me." In the older communities of Christsndom, the Evangelical Alliance has been rallying Cund for Ohristians of every name. It has ught them into closer contact with each other ; it hre led them to compare their differ- ences, an<< to see how small they are} it has promoted the mutual investigation, by Chris- tians, of the meaning of Holy Scripture as a personally sanctifying power; it has awakened interest in the ^at work of the world's Evan- gelization, and It has joined in mutual prayers, and in blessed communion. Christians of all, names, of every color, and of all countries and olimes. We hail the extension to tho Dominion of this Evangrelical Alliance as the inauguration of a new era of Christian unity and work. It is in my heort to say more, but I dare not longer detain you from those who are to fol- low. I shall conclude with this simple prayer, written by the swoetest of our modem Chris- tian singers: " O let us take a softer mould Blended and gathered Into Thee I Under one Shepherd make one fold, Where all Is love and harmony." Once more welcom' ! A thousand times wel- come to our city, our chr.rohes, our homos and our hearts! Principal Dawsox, in calling for addresses from delegates, first introduced to the audience the Rev. Dr. Donald Fraser of London, D.D., England, who hod borne a prominent part in the formation of the Worlas Evongeliool Al- liance, and who wos well known to many citi- zens of Montreal from his former residence in this city. The Rev. Dr. Fbasbb, who was warmly greet- ed by the audience, said : I very much regret, Mr. Chairman, the absence of our noble friend, the Earl of Covon who ought to hove spoken first as the deputation from England. I pray you not to oaoribe the smollness of the deputa- tion from England to any lock of respect for the Christians of Conodo, or any wont of ap- preciation of the importance of this great Con- ference. Still less ought we to ascribe it to the least suspicion thot there would not be o hearty reception to a much more numerous doleffotion; for ywur loving welcomes on'l ample hospitality,like those of our brethren in the United States, ore known to all the world. But something is due to the distance, and to the unfortunate oinmmstanee that it is a watery distance. It is a curious fact that it seems to bo longer from Eng- land to Conada than from Canada to Eng- . land, and many of our friends regard the trip hithraword with much more concern than the prospect of it gave to such old sailors os my colleagues and myself. Then there pravoiU amongst lu the feeling thot you are quito OS wideawake on this side of tho woter OS we ore; and though it moy be pro- per to send a delegation out of courtesy and good will, yet you are quite able to con- duct your Conferences and consider your affairs without much stimulus or assistance from us. But while I hove to make this explamation there is no question at oil amongst ns as to the importance of nourishing and cherishing in MONTREAL DAILY WllNESSs [Oci. ' *''*^ tbU Tountfoouatrjrthoiwect and fruitful tpirit of OhrMka Vnitj, of •ipNMiaf thai in the ftem of aa AUlawM, of artabllihfeg that AlU- ante nr la a oonpralienaiTt loaU, and of k«ep- inf it u . IntioMta nktiona, not only with other Inportaat branchce, but alio with thn parent Aluaaea in London. Although I mukt uw the word Alllanoe, I do not me it aa eeteemlnK an AlUaaoe among Chriitlina aa at all to Mtiafy or eshauit the obligation whinh Ohrla- tiaa people and oonununltioa moit oartalnly owe to oaoh other. Wo aim at lomething mneh higher, Romething more like the fel- lowahip of belleren in the earijr life of the Churoh and which ihall be much more efteotu' an the AlUanoe in oorraoting that dianalok. . which we graduallj- become more and more aahamed,— a diaunlon wliioh we have Inherited ftom the paat, and which ia due in large meaanre to the narrow and defec- tive opinioni of what wui roalljr oMential in roipeot tT' external an^eement. I believe the Alliance in of verr great value for the oheriih* ing ani itrengthening by exoroiie of thoao mutual feeling* of roapeot and regard which tend to elevate the community, andfor the in- creoae of practioal oo-op«ratien among Ohriii- tian people who areother wise apt to be aepara- ted from each other. It haa been laid that Ruoh an Alliance i« leaa a neoeeaitjr in the Dominion of Canada than in the Old Country, where religious differences have taken a much deeper root, and that ia tmo In another mrniect, to which Dr .Tonkins has referred, an Aluanoo is uf greater neceenity hero, bocauw you live in the presence and under the frown of on influential and concentrated Romanism, and you aro bound in your own defence to muke prominent that spiritual unity iu truth and life which belengs to our ovangoUcal Pretestantism, and to duiprove and turn aside thoee that misrepr e s en t your various Church organizations, as if thoy were so many different and discordant relipons. Now objection ia sometimes made to theEvangelicil Auianoe, t>hat it ia an instituMon for grauiering together ministers and people to express them- Hefves in sweet, but tirraome platitudes ; but if it were so, we are wasting our pains iu acck- ing to give it a beneiicial iufluenoe. I wish to anticipate what may bo hcrcuftt-r ttdduood in greatr^r detail, and to inform this large audience what it is that this Alliance is doing. And first of all, there is ono thing whion did not seem to be prominent at first, but which has gradually come to bo considered 08 its most important work, and that is the maintenance and extension cf religious liberty throughout the world. (Applause.) In the prosecutionof that object wo liavo had many i-ommunloations with the various govemmeni« of Europe and Asia, and, thanks Ira to Ood, in- variably with marked success. At this very moment we are engaged in a very serious and iinxloua remonstrance with the Turkish Oov- cmment through our own Giovemmont, — and, I am happy to 8ay,through other Oovcmments iiUo— with a view to establish the right of a Mussulman to become a Christian by convic- tion, and to profess his Christianity without tho forfeiture of liberty or lifo. Thon, further, it ia our business to 'try to make permanent in the minds of Cbrutian men the great objects and interests of truth, iind virtue, and goodness, and usefulness that arc (!ommon to the whole Church of God. Our platform has nothing to do with small ques- tions, least of all with petty, factious rivalries. Further, our sjrstom engenders in the minds of men a kind of salutary discontent with things IIS they are. For my part I am anxious to rauke my fcUow-Cluiatians dissatisfied with t'lu pt'ca.'nt cun lition of tho visible Church aH k.own among ui<, and to kindle in men a dr- idro to consolidate Christian society, and to iwrrcct that tendency to desultoriness which is I'. con>tint Hourco of wookneas. One of tho iiblent men that wo have in tho Imperial Fnr- liiment. Dr. Lyon T 'ayfair, in speaking upon •ibe educational administration in England, i»ed this language : " Iho means for pn>gres.H In education, art and science nro ample and abundant amo.ig u;', Ivit then they aro thrown tcgcthcr :u (liC wijcljil confusion. It is time to get order out of this disorder, fur the fu- ture "— and it is thia nnrasalbB that made mo remember it,—" for the future problem of na- tiona la the orgataljiatlon of the forces it war and the foree* of peaoe in the moat intelligent manner." For my part, I am very much di(> poaed to aaythaaamethliigabout the moral and ■piritnal foroea which unite the Church of Ood. I know what can be said about tiia Chnrch'a wretched organiaation, and I heartily believe it. I know what is said about the okarms of variety, about tho healthy rivalry of variona denuminations and tho amount of spring and stimulus that they thu^ obtain, and 1 believe it. But I do not believo that the cutting up of tho Church of Ood into various aeotion* can be a blesaing. I am pet • feotlyaure that there are complex arrange- ments that might bo aimpliiled, and that thero aro very analogoua arrangementa thak might be nomoined. NeW relanDna might be estab- lished, not relations upon paper merely, but real, workable relaUon* might he eatabllshed that would reduce, «t all oventa to a minimum, the exousea for separation. The speaker exp re ssed hit conviction that the present was a very important era in the hUtory of the Church, and that systems hither- to considered aa proper and right, would not suffice much longer. Evangelieal Christianity waa never before beset by to many dangers as at present ; and if tt was to hold it* ground it- would havo to ba rejuvenated in its life, re- instructed as reiipeoti many things now im- perfectly tiiught, and become reconciled to conditions necessary to its greater strength Kot that it should over become, so to speak, centralixed . it has no ro itre, and once having cut away from tho mistaken centre ol Rome, wo should take caro that it never drifts into a similar system again. It needs to bo endued with with greater health and wisdom, else it is liublo to bo onfocbled, mt time goes on, by a perpetual prooese of disin- tegration, and when the enemy comes in upon it with force, it is liable to be beaten and crushed in detail. Lot the name of our door Lord that died for us bo to us a sign of a bond and cf Christ They manage their own sifairs, have their 'jwn internal govern- ment, and consult each nthoifs mutual in- terests, and yet aa members of tho Alliance they meet on such great occasions as this, and testify that, although separate in some re- spects, they have all one eommon interest, and belong to a great and glorious Dominion, in- croaning in power and prosperity and learning, more and more, to regara one another as brethren, and to admire in each other the (lualities and resources which belong peculiarly to each,. Excuse, Sir, this allusion, but I can- no', as coming fresh from England, help re .erring to the happy and flourishing condition of this oountiy, and, in bearing a message of welcome and congnitulaticn »om many Christians at homo, would j'jin with you in tVankfnlness to the Giver of all Good, and to ro ord my humble opinion, which I am sure is rejiprooated by mauy others, that God is blossing,and has blessed, Canadaand England, beoause they aro tho lands where the Bible is loved, whose children are taught the paths of true wisdom, and whero Christians can know how to unito and give one another tho right hand of fellowship, and yet can maintain their attachment to the respective Churches to which they belong. Nations, as well as iiidiridualt>, do not attain to this state of things at once, and I believe that with regard to thcmsclveH those Christiana usually find that they aro nearer toGod, and to tho fulfilling of His will, when they can, by His cgtacc, triUy "love ono anjther"' and unito in all good works with those who hold tho groat, essentials of our common faith, and who are, though by differ- ent paths, yet all tending to tho same centre, travelling to the Heavenly City. He stated that very probably tho next general meeting of the Evangelicid Alliance would take place at Rome. (Applause.) Rev. Mr. Dobbs, jf Kingston, said that he had been asked to make a few remarks in ans- wer to the address of welcomo on behalf of tho Frovince ot Ontario. It was with pleasure that he took port in a meetitg of this sort, and he was happy to bo able to say a word in connection with the opening of tho first session of tho Dominion Evangeli- cal Alliance. He could say in his heart that during the twenty years ho had been in thia country, he hud. always advocated Alliance principles it was impudsiblo to look on the vast assembly before him, and listen tu the eloquent addresses debvered, without re- joicing at such a united gathering of the mem-, bers of all true Christian bodies. Tho spirit of union so manifested was ono oi striking in- terest; they could from its nnspicos look forward in spiritual vision to that day when tho Lord Josm Christ would return in power ,r.y.,. KVANC.FJ.W'AI, M.I.IANCi; r;XTU'A. uiul g\»Ty. Thoru will, on thut grviit dajr, l)0 tin qiiMtionii iiakad M tit whothnr ono In nn K|)iM]np«lUDi tt PrMbjrtarlan, I>«ptiiit or what : hut tho intarrogatlim will ho m to whothor (hojr wen found In pomoMlon of th* truth. Thoro waa neror a mora imimrtant movement III Kunh a mmnentloii than that of tho Alllanoo; 1111(1 whllo the enemy waa very buiiy It waa I'lMiw for thanMulneM that thia U a move- Miont, hora In Canada, an well a« elaowhnro, to unite Oo people to^rethnr in an ajfirreMivo plmlanx, whloh will make auoroiwful and vigor- DIM warfare upon wlokednom, rife in the world »t large oa well aa the Dominion. The Hplrit of the Lord waa lifted up aa a Htandard agatnat the enemy \ and around H will (rather tTue bo- lievora from every part of the land. In thlx day, when ther neard of thouuiids in the old oonntry being converted to Qod, they might have an intimation therefmm uf the Kpraad of the glnrionx goapol, and pnder theae oimunutanoaa ther were called on more iind more to band together to meet Romaniam and all oreeda and opiniona contrary to the Npiritond mind of Chrtat Joaiu. He wonldrofer to one poiaago already referred to,that glarioua interoeMory prayer of Ohriat when he prayed, not only for Hia diHciplea, but alao for all, in livery ago, who believed on Him. Thla wna not, he waa thankful to any, nn Kcolptiinatinal Union — Ood forbid that thoy ahonld aeo audi a gigantic coalition on earth till Ho cornea whooo right it ia to roign triumphant for ever and over. Thoy ahould never forgot, however, that tho Lord'a worda wero that thoy ahould bo ono in apirit, and thia waa preached not only by tho Apoatlea, but by Ood'a lorvanta in all agoa. He then referred to the nooeaiily there waa foi a unity of action among lUl do- nominationa. He oould aay that he enjoyed tome of the happiest momenta of his life when he waa aiding in a practical currying out of the principlea of the Evangelical Alliance ; and when the members of tho varioua rdiglous bodies met in harmony ,tlms strengthening each other, tho spirit of the Lord would bless every Huoh effort. (Applause.) Dr. WiLsos, of Toronto, said it waa unfortu- nate that several of the representatives who were exited from Ontario had not yet man- ngod to join them ; nevertheless ho wos exceed- ingly glad to bo ablo to respond to tho uddro.ig of welcome, and donirod thaif they would boor with him, as lie was quite un- prepared to make an address. If they looked on the history of Christendom thoy would recognize from timo to time a stir- ring of the dry bones ; they could have seen the Crusaders seeking Christ in his sepulchre, aa if dead — in tho grave, when He was reigning in heaven. Thia groat, but mistaken, move- ment after the truth wont on with persistency iu tho middle ages, and led to far difforcnt results from those sought for by the promoters ; iind in the same manner, when, in 1453, Con- Mtantinoplo fell before besieging hosts of bar- liariana, and the triumph seemed to be with i'uganism, while the banner of the Cross appoar- (h1 to bo trodden under foot, the city 's overthrow led to n aoattoring abroad of the troasures of knowledge and aownoe which had been collect- ed within its walls, and in consequence a grand revival of classic learning ^oolc place, and even- tually resulted in an open Bible, and the glori- ous triumphs of tho Koformation (applause) ; and when theohampions of the faith did liteniliy witness a good confession by enduring perse- cution even to laying down their lives in its behalf. Let them turn from that period to the epoch of a new movement, of a political and a revolutionary character, its supimrters deny- ing tlio namo of Christ ; according to them tho old nupcrstition of faith in Christ was dying out, and their infldel philosophy was claimed to be wiser than all Chnst's teooli- inga ; but theso sceptical views wero losing ground, and they could already recognize in thoncurfuturo the prospect of a revival, its signs, like those of the gUmmering light before tho daybreak, already being apparent. Social revolutions hod followed ono another with such rapidity that now it was stated tho Evan- gelical Alliance would be asked to meet at its next aeisiim nmlcr the shadow of the Vn- tican itself (loud applauan.) With such a nhaprinir oonditinn of affairs, they might 4rell believe that the Ixird relgna. One of the tend notea of the movement of theOhurahea waa exompllfled In the ory for union. Ther aaw that union waa the one thing the Churoh waa in need of. Let it not b« su p poeed that In meeting there, they wlahed ia nindar the work of their separate Churoh so, or to alight that genuine love which each one 'enteiiained for that special branch of the Church in whloh he had been brought inton kaowledfe of the truth. Might thU Allianea rather lead to the vlainii being witnessed whloh Bt. John i*w when he beheld the Bleaaed If aatar mofing amongst the Seven Ohiirohea. He tmalad that each of the separate Churohea, united together in therooogniiion of that Oeninral Aaoemoly of tho Churoh of the first born, whoaelnamaa were written in Heaven, would oheriah tho spirit of brotherly love, for, however atrong might be thf. bonds that held theu to their respective C <.unh«e, It was Inaignilleant com- pared with ^e bonda whloh held them to- gether as fel iw-Chriatiana. Let them over ohnrish the F mgellaal mlrit of junlon, which lookeu ■ -. Co minor polntsof aepiiratkm aa in- signifloM t and trivial, for when they were welcomed to tho heavenly shore they would And all th iio little barriors had utterly vanish- cwor Pwvfaiooa, tho mora they cane to know of it the bet- ter they would like It. It waa plaaoant for the delegatee from bulow to meet tho citizens of M iutroal on thU mimdon ; and he wished mor* of tho people from tho Lower Provtnoee ooi Jd see Montraal, of vhieh, a« the oommenial > letropolls of Canada, they would not bu ashamed. (Applauao.) lb wo^ proud to know the Dominion poasoMed mwh a oitr, and exprsasod the hope that the praaent AlUanoe meeting would prove a mntnai Ueas- ing both to tho citlzottii and detagatea. Ho could not but look on such national einven* tlons as a means of ovoruoming and Mm. vine the barrien between widely separated patta, whloh would oauao a pratitieal fellawsh^to spring up between ono anotlier, Theylatha Lower Frovineea eonlil not rumain maffeeted by tho power weildod by Itomaniom at thla centre of tho country, but Pntteatanta Wffo now uniting to work effectually against it* aggrossiona. He advanced tho opiaios that theae meetings of Chriattana w«m a moaaa of anbduing Ihoeo natural aaperitleawhieh oppoo' ing partlea wero witling to make xmatUm their own aggrandisement, tho AlUaaeaa thai> promoting a national aa well oa a Chriatlanr Union. . Tho Canadian Alllaaeo movement waa very cheering, and tndicatod aa bo bdiaved a special visitation of Ood's spirit. IntbaOid Testament dlspsnsatlon Ood waamada moalfaat oa tho Father; then tho Hon in tlio fleah, and after Hie di-ath and roenrruntion the Holy Shost dosoended on cU flesh . Tliis ontpoitruig of the Spirit waa monifeeteil in varioua fomwi, but in none moreso than In tho drawing io< gether of Christiana in a Spiritual Union, and their combining against tna forces ot a com* mon enemy. Let them toko their apptwpriato place among the Christian AUianoos on earth, and thus hasten ths day, whan all shall join in saying, "Olorr to God in thehighast.peaoo on onrih, good will to men." (Applausef. Rev. Db. Buss, ot the Syrian Branoh of tho Evangelical AUlonoe, raqneatad tha report- on not to take note of soma experiMM* ha was about to rolate in eonaeotioa «rifh tho persecution of native ChrlstUna in (^ - -tlUah Empin, m it might perhaps do tkv) eaoaa harm in that Oriental land. The atsdienea ' listened with intense interest *o tho unfoUiiw of a sad tale of persecution cndu;«d for CklW* sako in this enlightened ago. It may bo mentioned, however, that through tho Aganey of the Syrian Branch Allianeo <»mimttni«iting with the British Alliance, tho EnglUbOorem. ment intervened in time to aavo a poor man'a life, who was ready to suffer martyrdom rather than turn from Christ. Ttio speaker said there woro 78 young men in the 8 yrl an collegn, Druses, Mahometans, Oroek and lioman Cath< olica, Protestants, Copts, ct>r., all of whom listened twice a dar to the roadltg oit Ood'a Word, and joinod in devotional cxorcioaf, and .i'lot tbcy would go forth a band of edueatod m?n, evangelical at least inaentlinant.acfaiow. lodging but one Ood, and but one Mediator- Christ Jesus— between Ood and man. 'th\» work had alarmed the pneota of the faUo prophet, and ao m Turkey thiT^ hod combined to atop the progrcsa of the Froteatant faith ; but Christiana need not fear with an open Bible tr give the nations Let them prepare thomaelvor to m forward awl preach tho troth. "Ood 00 loved the world tluit bo gave Hta onlT becotten Son, that wboaoerer bo- lieveth in Him ahonld not perish, but havo overUsting life." It Inolnded all. (AppUuw*.) Rev. Dr. Pniup SoBAvr, of New York, miiA i I am very happy, dear friends and brethren, In connection with my belovedooUeaguo, Dr. Hall, to deliver to you tho fraternal aalutationa of tho United States Branch of tho Eraagelieal Alliance. On thia pUtform wo reoognlM no MONTREAL DAILY WITNESS [Oct dIvUoa o( MtioiuUty, im*. dmomitwlion or M)^t. It la oar priTilaffo to mMt h«r* ulroplv M br«itbmi in Chrlit, our oomn on Liinl and Saviour. It i* • tutv fP^at privlli munionofour aoulii with Cbriat our Head and of union and oommnninn with all who ara living mcmbara of hia body and foUowera of Hia example. Suoh maotlnga aa thia oanuot but rafrean our npirita, itimnlste ua to our work, in cr aaae our xeal and onr fervor, and raiaa our hopaa in the Anal triumph of Chriati- anlty. Suon meeting* aa thia, alao, oannot but have a vary happy affect upon tha unbelief of tha world, lou remember that our Lord prayed for a perfect union of all Hia follow- era In oidar tnat the world might believe that the Father a«nt him. And you remembar, alio, that the heathen Mid of the fathem, in time* of ancient penocution, How theaa Chri*tiana love one another, and how they are ready to die for one another ! And thu very fact of their love unto death waa ona of tha moat powerful meana of converting tha heathen to Chriit Jo*wi. The power and theinilunnae of the Evangeli- cal AlUanoo muit not be meaaured by the number and the extent of the organiaationa bearing that name. It extend* much farther. Tha iMk of an inter-denominational, interna- tional and inter-oontinantal conference, an ulUanoe of brethren in Ohriat without inter- fering with their denominational organixa- tiona, prefeiencoa and loyalty, ia one of the greateat ideaa of the 10th century, and haa taken root in aoma of the piofounde*t and noblcat minda o.' the age. That great Rtatea- man of France rho haa juRt gone from time to eternity in his 87th year, Ouizot, the deicen- dent of theae Huguenot*— he waa filled with the pwndeur of this idea, a* I hoard from M* own lip* only two year* ago. And I could ■how yon letten from Home of the most pro- minent atateamen in Europe, who have no par- tionl<«r intereit in what yn^ call Evangelical religion, but yet *ec, and poroeiye, and acknowledge the far-reaching power of thia EvangelioM Alliance. It ha* already, leaven, like, penetrated the leadintr mind* of all the Protaatant denominaUon* ; and thi* very meeting thi* evening i* an overwhelming proof of the power and vitality of thi* idea. Whenever a conference ia held, es- pecially a general conference, then the conatituency of the Alliance certainly oomes to the lurfacc. We have *een that in the Qeoeral Conference of New York, laat fall, whoae pow- er and iufluenoe and aucoees *urpaaaed the boldaat and moat languine expectation* of it* frienda; then we aaw what, pernape, never waa ■aen bctfore in eooleaiaaticol hiatory, that the aeoular pre**, without any exception, multi- plied the *peeche8 and action* of that meeting by million* of copiee throughout the United States, and throughout the world. (Applanae.) I had,inmy 8tudy,at that time, a half-dozen reporters of one leoular paper in New York, to copy the documents and speeohee which I did not feel at liberty to allow to go ont of my atndy, and they were buar day and night in multiplying the idea* of the Alliance, and a hearty raaponac. It certainly *trikM our fancy, if not uur aiiber Judgment, to ara the Epiatle of Nt. Paul to the Ho* man* rvpubliahad in that oity by the united power of Kvaagelical (;hriat«idom. Vario«i* alluaiona havu oean mod* to tha at- titude of Vrotaatantiam toward Kowaniaw , and I think it right to any • aingU word npon that aubjact. The Impraaa t onlaon tha mind of many of our Uomon Catholio faUow-eitiienatkat thia Hut allow ma to aay that before that maatin>^ lorgaaiaationwaaoalladintobaingapaoifltiallyto in Itoma ahall take pUoa, ir which I ahall pippoaa Homaniaa. Let it ba borne in mtnil greatly rajoioe, I hope, not only thit wa ihall that that atatamtnt ia not correct. Wa rrgani itKJ liave a lorga arangaUcal con*tituaiiay in that ra-VWty itaalf, but " heard at the office of that very paper that, bC' sidea their daily issue, whioh amounted to many thousand — 30,000 or more, — they sold of their Alliance extra, which contained the prin- cipal speeches, not le** than 200,000 copie . And that was before the official voltmie con- taining all the proceedings waa issued. Now it is said that the next meeting of the General Conference is to be held in Some, and tiie id^ seems to take here, and to meet with have a li Wtv itaalf, but 'that the Popa of Home, old Piua IX., or hia aucnaaor (chaara), will Join onr rank*, ao that we may make him Praaidant of tha Alliance. (Loud oheent.) And I believe that if ha la raallv what ha chUma to be, tha sucoeaaor of Mt. Peter, he ought to be converted. Ha aught to weep bitterly for having denied hia Lord and Huviour more than three time*, But whether we ahall meet in Roma next year or not, or tan yaarahenca, or twenty yeora hanno, I am very aura that tha Evangdioal Alliance will meat, from tima to tima, oa a pravailln^ KvonMlist, in all the large oitiea of tne world ; and wnan the proper time comea it will aluo meat in Home, and will also meet in Jerusa- lem, and, loat and beat of all, it will meat In a better world. (Applanae.) Wh»r« talnU n( sllaiiMin hanaiinjr mmt, Wh*ra Davloar and bnlhren «llh tFaiwiMirl alinll anat, Whara antham* of npliira iinMailnaIr n>ll, A nil thu.uullo uf thv lMn\ U thv (rail uf tho wiiil Rov. Dr. JoRM Hah,, of New York, •aid:-— It ia a great pleasuiv to me, dear Chiiatian frienda, in aaaociation with my brother who haa j oat apoken to von, to bring yon the con- gratulationa and tne cordial i^od wiahea of your Christian frienda and brethren of the AlUanoe in the city of New York We re- member with great ploaaure, and with lively feelinga of gratitude, the large contribution in mind, and bi thought, which came to u* from the Dominion in our meeting last year. We remember thia, brethren, wiUi affection, with e*tcem, with oonfldenoe ; and I (hall not be thought invidloua, I preaume, if I mention that we particularly remember one voice in the tonea of which there are blended the modeaty of true aoience with the meekncMi of true ra- ligion. (Cheers.) Grace and mercy and peace be with you, dear btethren, and on this your meeting. Bo I say to you, not in my own name, but in the name of the many brethren who have done us the honor to suffer us to speak to yon on their behalf, llirough divine grace we hod a good blessing in our meeting last year. The word Evangielical never was written so largely before the eyes of this conti- nent as it was written lost fall ; and if any- where ♦hero were timid or heoitating brethren, if anywhere there were young ministers who had somtimes been tempted to think that to be Evangelionl is to be narrow, to be illiterate, to be bigoted, they had that imp r eaaion cor- rected in their muds, and the impreaaion was made, I am sure, upon not a few that, if we have whispered truth hitherto we should " —Whisper no longer, But speslc as the thunder doth, louder and itroager." And it is something to make on impreaaion ot this nature upon the population of • conti- nent, as we believe Qod did by that meeting. The impreaaion is sometime* conveyed that the object of the Evangelical Alliance is to create Christian Union. That atatement, be- loved brethren, is not quite oorreot. Christian Union ia created by Him who createth evary good thing, witen by Hia gnww He takes us, one by one, and shows ns to the living Christ. sending them broadcast over the land ; and I' ^TWhat thia Evangelical Alliance ia dengned tr do ia to moHifiit that Christian Union, and by the very Uws of mind Qod has so constituted u* that there are certain feelings, the manifes- tation and expression of whioh deepen and in- tensify them ; ond our hope ia that we shall not only moke plain that we are one in Jesus Christ, but by our meeting together and giving this expression we shall feel its oneness more and more, and be better prepared than hitherto to act in the spirit of it. Romanism aa simply ona of • number if forcea whoaawori'm tha world ia not good fer human freedom, not good for hnman Ubf r- tiea, not good for human oonaoianoa, not gocd for the Btability of honaatly govamed nation*, not good for tha world (load applauaa), and we aimply deal with it aa ona of thoaa force*, and in no other way. Rati would like to have it stated here that when the libertv of oonaci- anoe of Romaniata shall ba ImpariUed, no mat- ter by whom, it is in aooordanoa with the cha- racter, and the history ^ and the obiaota of thin Alllanca to atond forward and batUa for their natural righta and freedom. Just aa truly a* for the natural rights ai,d fra>dom of Protaatant*. (Load oheem.) And I beg further to itate that ona of the inlluencea following the great meeting at New York, waa thia : Thai the firm and kindly, Juit and ganeroua spirit monifaated toward tha Chunn of Rome, did much t<> break down the prdjudice of aoma of our fcl- low-oitixena who ara of the Romiah faith, and to lead them at leoat to conceive • grea^r re- ■pect than they have hitherto done, of the attitude and prinoiplca of Proteatonta. For we aheuld be aorry if the impreaaion went forth that in the Judgment of intelligeat Pro- taatanta, tha ayatom of the Church of Rome i* a bundle of obvioua contradictions, a gather- ing of abaurditiea. It ia not ao. We better appreciate its strength. It is a concatenated syiitem, thoroughly logical in its character, if once you have understood the principles bv which it sets itself. It is to be encountered, not by disputes, but by a clear and distinct ex- hibitionof the truth of Ood on our part, with hearts overflowing with love and pity toward those who have not yet been able, by Qod'N grace, to break its chains, and by on un- swerving and unwavering confidence in tho power of thi* Truth to the ranotifying of immortal rouIs. Brethren, you have Joined together, and they whom. I aepreaent Join with you in pray- ing that the precioua influence of the Holy Ghost may come to you. Wa appreciate your feeling in that matter ; thcLj you are laying the foundations of a great society, of a mighty Dominion. Brethren, you need grace and wisdom that you maybe enabled to lay them truly and well in the fear of the Lord, in ra- verent regard to His Word and in constant de- Smdence upon His spirit. Hay Uie Holy host be given you to help you in this work. Remember, we best seek thelloly Ghost when we most exhort Christ ; and remember that wo are best in the way of receiving that gift that proceedeth from the Father and &o Son, when we are lifting up Him who is prophet, priest and king— a king through whose blood we have redemption, who is exalted a Prince and a Saviour, and King of Kings. Let Christ be lifted up among you, in yonr prayers, in your speeches, in your meetings, m your conferences, in yonr papera and in all youT ar- rangements ; and when you do ao lift him up, you aro in the way of receiving the grace by which He quickens and blesses His true peo- ple. Brethren, one word more. Let me say to you in the name of those whom I represent, cultivate mutual loveandforbearance. Surely, itia not upon those haughty with much con- tention that the heayemy dew ia likely tu descend. Surely it is not into thi> arena of anger and atrife that the gentle do 'e is likely to come down. Love ono another, dwell in love, labor in love., bear in love, forbear in love, that the spirit of love und graco may find a gentle resting ploco among you. So we hope that thia meeting of tho Alliance in thi* city will be full of blesaing, not in Montreal only, but over this whole Dominion You have been lately brought together in Confeder- ation, and we on our side rejoice in all the prosperity that has oome to yon, as we do i«74.j EVANOELICAI, Af.LIAVCE EXTRA. 7 hfMtUjr fiv* Uukka for •varjthiag that m»kM you moM Mid BMN itiaiif aad i mwp« ro iM m it people, vndw tho iwaT in a loTonigii whom you M rabjooto Nnwol anil roTWA, and w», a* eiUiMM of Ui* Uitttad HUtM, rwpwt anil lOTO. BnthNB, yoa «rlll rtmambw that oontmr. rsntly with jam Oonfodaralion thar* oame to yoa a miyhty aoc«Hian of tarrttorr. Oh M ni I'nmtmbar thai ta thU uighar ana daapsr oon- fsdaratlon of tho Lord'* paoplaovar thla Ooml- iiion, thora may coma to rou a lane aooaaiion of ipiritual territory, of iplriloal power, of nplritual naafolnaw, to bo uiad bjr you fur the glory of that Bariour in whom you and I In common do Miava. (ApplauM.) Mr. H. TwAini Mn.i.w made a abort but fervmt addraaa. Ha fait that ha expraaaed the foelinir of avonr heart in lariBg Ihay weloomnl to erery Eranfaliaal AllMkoe meatlnK that Oele- vnta whoaa namo had bean lo often ropoated by the apeaken that evening ; that Oelofritto waa their elder Brother, Jaaua Chrint. In Ilia name they had met, and Hia prMcnco wixh felt in their mldat. Oh, lot every dcl'tfsto tako the name of Joaua to hia home, no nutter whoro or when ; lot that dear X^ime bo dwelt upon, so that nil may nee that nothing U known bnt ehrlit Jean4 and ilim oruuifled. Might Ula Divine llneamenta be impreaoed on their inner ■aulK, ao that Ho would buezemplillod in tbalr every word and aotlon. Ho clocad by nifuring up an ardent and duvout pray. 8 MONTREAL DAILY WITNESS [Cct. cxtraou from one or two of th« lettem laeeired from tho OM world, and fiynnthuKewworid. Suoli, he remarked, might be taken a* fair Rliecimeoacf a hundred othem, breathinvalike Hpirit and like greod wiihea for the Oonnrenoe, und intimated that lettort ezpmarnff their re- gret at their inabilitT to aooqit the invitation uf the committee had been reoeired from Ber. Jamefi Davii, Secretary of the Britidi ETingel- ical Alliance, Londou ; Rev. Dr. Vanghan, The Temple, London ; Bev. Dr. John Cnm- ming, National Scotch Ohnroh, Lordon ; Bev. J. Oswald Dykn, D. D., B«>gent Square, Lon- don ; Bev, Alexander Baleigh, D.D., High- bury, London ; Bev. 0. H. Spurgeon, Tho Tabernacle, London; Bev. William Iiandelii, Begont's Furk, Loudun ; Bev. Qervaae Smith, delegate from England to the Weflloyan Hettodiat Oonferftnce of Canada ; Bev. Xl, Jenldns, ffighbnry, London; Jaa. Macaulav, Esq., M.D., Editor of Sunttau at Honie, &o., London ; Bev. Alexand- er McLaren, Uanchester; Bev. Thomaa Jonei, Swanaea; Bev. Profeeaor Charteris, D. D„ Univerdtv of Edinburgh ; Bev. Princi- pal Fairbaiin, D. D., Free Church College ; Kev. Bobdt Buchanan, D. D., Olaagow ; Bev. J. Hanhall Lauv, D. D., Barony Pariah, Qlos- gow ; Bov. Dr. John Caima, Berwick ; Bev. F. J. Oloag, D. D., Galaahida, Scotland ; Bev. Wm. Ainot, Free High Church, Edinburgh ; Bev. W. Lindsay Alexander, D. D.,. Edin- burgh ; Bev. Horatius Bonar, D. D., Edin- burgh ; Bev. Jamea HcQregor,D. D., Edin- burgh; Bev. Andrew Thomaon, D; D., Edin- burgh ; Bev. Dr. Smith, Korth Leith ; Bev. W. Fleming Stevenson, D. D., Dublin ; Kcv. Frefenaor Smyth, D. D., H. P., Londonderry, Ireland ; James C. L. Carson, M. D., Coler- aino, belaud. From the United States letters were rs- reivod from Bev. William Adams, D.D., New York ; Bev. Chancellor Howard Crosby, D.D., New York ; Bev. Dr. Storrs, Brooklyn ; Bev. Wm. Ormiston, D.D.. New York; Rev. Dr. Prime, New York ; Bev. W. S. Plu- mcr, D.D., New York; Hon. Geo. H. Stuart, Philaddphia ; John Dougall, Esq., New York ; Bev. Edward A. Bulkley, D.D., Plattobnrg ; iilon. Jui'.ge Strong, Washington ; etc., etc. A large number of letters were also received from eminent Canadian clergymen and laymen. Rev. a. W, HUl, Halifax; Bev. Prineipal Cook, Quobeo; Bev. M. 'Harvey, St. Johns, Newfoundland; Bsv. Professor Uregg, To- ronto ; Bev. J. K. Smith, Halifax ; Bev. Prin- cipal Saodgrass, D.D., Queen'p College, King- Nton ; Bev. Principal Lobley, Montreal : Hon. Chancellor Blake.Tomnto ; Hon. O. Mewat, To- ronto; Bev. J. M. King, Toronto; Hon. Judge Young, LL.D., P. K Island; Bev. Professor Young, Toronto; Bev. John Potts, Toronto; Rev. James J. Ritchie, Annapolis; Rev. Canon Baldwin, Moiitrcal; Rev. Prindpal Nelles, Victoria College, Cobourg ; Rev. W. H. Poplo, Toronto; Rev. F. H. Marling, Toronto ; Rev. Dr. Anson Green, Toronto ; Rev. J. P. Du- Moulin, Hamilton; Rev. Canon Baldwin, To- ronto, etc., oto. EXTBACT8 FBOX LETTBB3 From liev. Jar.us Savts, Euangdkal Alliance, loTulon : " It would affor been eaid that tho personal talent of tho pulpit is declining, and the question is asked, Where are tho Whitfields of the present day f It must bo borne in mind that in former days - tho pulpit was in a very low condition, and men of great power shone even more brilliantly from contrast to their surroundings. I will venture to say that there are more evan- gelical ministers in tho Dominion of Canada to-day than there were in the whole world at the time Whitfield preached. It would bo absurd to suppose th^t every politician in tho ago of Demosthenes spoke with the eloquence of Demosthenes. It was his magrdficent superiority amoag all his compeers that gave him tho position that he occupies in history. And so the multitude of eloquent preachers of the present duy convinces us that the pulpit has rather increased than diminished in power. Wo have a noble vocation, as instructors of tho people, and our care should be that we are faithful in tho performance of our duty. As to the demands made upon tho pulpit, they will bo according to thn idea oherialieain the public mind as to what the pulpit onght ■ to bo. First, there is the theatrical idea ; i£at is, many believe that the pulpit ought to en- tertain, to interest, to amuse. Sometimes they look for tragedy ; more commonly for comedy. At least, it is the oomio element that seems to make the most impression, and is tho most cosily reproduced in tho gossip of oonvcrsa- tiin. There is a curious defence set up by some for this introduction ot tho comic olement into tho. pulpit. Say t'aoy; The Creator has endowed mnn with a sense of tho amusing and iiwm — 1-7-: >,vanc;j:lil.ai, ai.lianck kxIra. tore eran- of Canada e world at would bo lian in tho eloquence agfnificent ;hat travo n history, tachersof he pnlpit in power, uoton of that we duty. pulpit, iriwed in lit ought ■ lea ; tibat t to en- meathey comedy. iBoems to jho most ionversa- It up by lolement Btor has king and (»miu, and why ihould not preoohor* take od- vanta^ of this quality of tho human oharao- tor f But is the argument a good one P X>hy> Hiciani at tho bediiide of a dying man do not outrage tho human feelings by indulging lu merriment. And when in thepulpitthegreat issue of l:fe and death is present'sd to men : " Bcliere in Ckriiit and bo ^aveji , reject him iiud bo lost," it seems to me that levity and merriment, or anything that would provoke laughter in tbeao circnmatanoes. must bo Hhocking to all properly canstitatfld minds. Therefore we say that the demand that tho pulpit should be in some sense theatrical, is au unjust, base demand, and it should bo resented ns such by the Christian community inthe in- tprost of the generations coming on, and of the v.-urid. (Applause.) When we hoar about wrmons that they are iHlcrttting — and about two-thirds of the people pronounce it wrpngly —many, many times the interest or the look of interest is attributed to the preacher and not to tho lack of intelligence on the part of tho Iiearor. In the uoxt place, (hero is what ruy bo railed the Lyceum idea of the pnlpit; L. at is to say the pulpit cught to discuss every question that comes up, have an opinion on dvery mat- tor, political, civil, judicial, soiraitiflo, and ovory other ; that the pulpit ought to be a Iilatiorm from which the minister should state every week what ho thinks upon the various pubuc matters of the day. That idea, per- haps, had its origin on the other side ; but it I'Ocms to be a mischievous idea. That is the proper sphere of the press, and may with pro- priety be left to it. Ministers have not, as I am aware, any special aptitude for giving opinions on every special matter that comes up. This is the province of the editor, and wo lessen our power when we attempt to in- Htruot tho public upon such matters. (Ap- lilause.) In tho third place, there is tho oommer- c^iul idea of the pulpit, which is thot somehow :i place of worship is to bo filled, and that a man should be got who will fill the pews, raise the revenues, and run the macb-no generally. This is a base and vulgar idea, and deserves tu ho stigmatized and repudiated by every- thinjT honest. How often a godly minister lias been displaced because he did not draw. At n Congregational meeting at a place wi&in my knowledge, several speeches were made in favor of colling on eminently fr^dly man, but not very eloquent, when one of i.'d. Some- times we find men in a pulpit praying as if all needed to be converted, and at other times as if they had all been converted. It seems to me that we ought to keep in mind both classes, and pray for those who are saved as well as for those who are not. There^are hundreds of men everywhere who are tiring their puny strength upon Christian- ity. "We are under no obligation to turn aside and notice every assailant, and ender.vor to set his argument in^ its proper position so as to be able to knock it down. There ore many men turning aside tu deal with Darwinism, Tyndall and Huxley, and they are very often wasting their power. Jly brethren, think for a moment of one of the most intelligent con- gregations to whom we ordinarily preach ; how many men are therq in that congregation who couldintelligenUy statothe philosophical t-iows and opinions of such a man as Frof . Tyndall P Are there twenty, or fifteen, or ten, or five P In many or^es none. I say it is a waste of powder to be compelled, first of all to set up a fortification in the name of this man, ezplain to your congregation what you are hammer- ing at, tnd then endeavor to knock the fortifi- cation down. Ah a genomi thing, we may allow those things to take uaro of themselves. We do tho bof t we can when we set forth the truth in tho way which Ood will have us set it forth. I do not wish to be understood in making this statement as decrying or depre- ciating ill the least tho mi st valuable and em- inent Tabors of men who, ns professors in col- leges, ns editors and writers, deal with these hostilities and objections. They iiru in their proper plaoo, and wo owe a debt of gratitude to thom, and wo need not fear to leave tho matter in their hands. They will deal with it, and effectively. If I, a minister, W(ro to write to the prpss on political matters, it is not likely I could get a Voring fMm tho editors and politicians. They know much moro about these things than I do ; and have X any right to suppose that I shall be nblo to satisfy coUogo professors and leumrd men by dabbling .°n the pulpit with there abstruso scientific questions P Why, they know these topics much butter tham I do, and if they are wise they would bo >rlad of a little rest from them on tho Lord's I)uy. Have I any reason to suppose that I shall bo able to present the staire of tho theatre in the pulpit on the Lord's Day in s\irh a manner as will please theoidinary theatre gocrsof tho city P Every night thev can have it in far moro lit- trachve manner titan I can give it. Or have I any reason to 8uppoi,o that I shall bo enabled to attract scientific unlwlievers .by scientific expositions from tho pulpit P But there ar** certain questions everlastingly asked by the human soul, deep, grave ques- tions which it is fur us to answer. We have to make known Jesus Christ ; we have to reveul an invisible way, and to mske faith triumph over sense. We need more meekness and graoe, manly courage and fidelity. A short time ago it was my lot to pass a ie w days in the extreme north of theStateof Michigan ; while I was there I met «iy brilliant country-' man and your (jknremnr-Oennal, who mode a visit to the place. At the fort of Sault Ste. Marie there wno a number of tTnitod States guns pointed towarda Canada, and a salute of seventeen guns was fired in honor of your Governor. I hope those guns will never be pointed towards Canada lii any other way. .All were delighted with the Governor. Tho grace anJ tho ease, and tho iii- telligenop, and tho affabili^ and the o .ur- tesy lie exhibited, produced upon the people u deep feeling of admiration and respect. Tlut brethren, if vj would but think of it, wo stand in the preecncocfaKing,ourSaviottr,far above all worldly dignitaries, and with what fidelity, devotion and love ought that prosenoo to in- spire us ! O, that we may have given ns so to labor that Ilis holy cause suffer no harm at our hands t Rov. Dr. Mtrnt, in alluding to tho ««ble aJ- dreA by Rev. Dr. Hall, said it would bo r. ^:.-t disappointment to many that they wore not here to hear it. Despite the interest at- taching toseicntiflc discussions and pnlpit dis- courses on morality and theological doctrine, the great question of intwost was that of the Atonement, and polemical and doctrinal discus- sions were dry, and did not attract the interest attaching to the live, over fresh subject uf Christ, when a preacher took a text, if ho left out the main thing in his sermon — tlio life— and preached morality and doctrine nlonr, ho was himself to blame. ESCmSO THB BISiatUTT O? K\l AUDIENCE mOU THE PILPIT, Rev. WuxiAM Crebtrau, t.f i he First Bap- tist Church, referred to what hud been termed the comic element in preaching. He certainly believed iu luaintoimng the dignity of the pulpit and that it was not right for the preacher to tr^ to nrouso the people's risibilities; how- ovcr.it wasquiteposublefor ministers toproscnt tho truth in such a way, as without mcanin^r to do so, to cause a laugh. A distinctio:i should thiu bodrawn ; for it was tobesupposed- tbat a preacher would conduct the pulpit scr- vioes in the most natural and epfritual way possible. He onee heard n minister preach about the not being ashamed of tho Uospci of Christ, who, wishing to i!lui.trato tho sub- ject, did it in this way: —For instance, some people, being ashamed of their own natural looks, sought to hide them. In this tho preacher did not refer to psintiupr, but the idea was suggettcd nnd aroused the humor of tho congregatio". It illustRitivl the truth that to be aslmiiied of the Uoi-pc'l of Christ was to hide it. In that case there had been no intention to excite the risibilities, but sim- ply to illiistrato tho truth. He mentioned unothrr cxiimple of this unintentional at-> tempt to upset the gravity of a congregation, and drew a distinction between the man who attempted to be a somic preacher and the onu who was pcriectly natural and expouuil.I viio truth according to tho ability God had given him. He also referred to Rev. Dr. IlaH's remarks on tho commercial aspect of sumo people's actions in their churches, and which should bo publislicd broadcast throughout the luml. THE DOCTMNAL CONSENSUS OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTENDOM. Rev. Dr. Schaff, of New York, dclivcntl iin address on " The Dootrinnl Cun8e;:sus of Evtuifrelioal Christendom." He said : I ap- proach this subject with a deep sense of its impi'.-tamc, ai d of my inability to do it any- thing 'ikejustice. 'Tho Bible is God's word to rann. 'The creed is man's answer to God. The 'bible is the book of life to bo cxplaincfl and to be applied. The creed is tho Church's commentwy and summary of tho Bible. The Bible is the truth itself, fresh, pure, infalli- ble, and' perfect as it cumes from the mouth of its author. The creed is the human state- ment of this truth, more or less imperfect and subject to improviment, as a progressive knowledge of the trutli. The Bible has a divine and absolute Author. Tho erred has an eoolesiastical and relative author. 'The Bihld is a rule of rules by which even the creed must be churched and corrected. In the present shape of Christendom there areas many creeds as thero aro churchor, schools and sects. All profess to be derived from tho Bible ; or, at least, to be consistent with ita teaching ; and yet they are not only differ- 10 MONtkEAL DAlLY WitNESS to^ CT. ent, bat to a oonaida»bl« extent, are alio nn- ta^onittio and irreoonoUable. How tlinn M« theaf raiiooa oneda of ChrUtendom to bo reooaoilad and hamtoniied t This ia a qae»- tion wUoh has agitated the miads of laanjr profound divinea and philoaophen, anoh at ICeUnothon, Leibnits, Boasaet and Sohelling. It luM led til many dissertations, conferences and ooimeils; to manj attempts to bring to- gether the Oreeks and the Latini. These at- tempts haye all failed, thus far, and Lave led to eren greater alienation, or, at beet, to tem- . porarrud imperfect oompTomises. The Old -A^Oatholioa who seceded from ihe Romish ' Chnroh in consequence of the Infallibility decree of the Vatican Council, make it one of their principal aims tu prepare the way for a doetriaal leoonoiliatioa of Christendom ; and at the call of a committee headed by J)r. DoUl'V*''! wl>o« l>ut a few yean ago, was conaiCJred the prince of BomisU dirines on the oontinent, have also, only a few weeks ago, held a council for this purpose in the CHty of Bonn, where represe&tanTcs of the Oreek Ohuroh, and of thn OM OaUiolios, and of the Anglican Chnroh in England and America, were present and took part. I shall iirst briefly surrey the history of creeds, and famish the data with which w< have to reckon in this problem. Then I shall disoosa the variouH propositions for bringing out a harmony of nreMs, and wind up by offerins^ fwme pnoticai aug];^tions on tin subject. The ftrat creed in the history of Christian- ity is the oonf esidon of Peter in answer to his Master's qnesUon i " What do ye think of this mas F It is the oonfessioD of persona! belief, of unbounded trust and conviction from the heart of hearts that this man, Jesus ,of Nazareth, is the eternal son of the eternal GK>d, and thn promised Meniah and Saviour of mankind. This ia the creed of Christians, and should forever be the living fcealof every Christian's creed. It is a con- viction which dill not proceed from flerit and lilood, but was revealed to Peter's mind and lieartbyour Heavenly Father. It is aoon- feitsion upon which the Church itself is bastd, iM upon on immovable rook, againtt which the (rates of Hades shall never prevail. Jesus Christ, the beginning, the middle and the end, our Lord and our Saviour, the fulfilment of all promisee, the fountain of inexhaustible spiritual life and salvation — this is the lub- Ktanoe of the Christian's creed. Ani further, Christianity must be measured by the central signifloance which this confession of Peter holds in it. Next to this we come to the Nioene rules of faith, as they are called, or the baptismal creed, before the centuries of perse- cution, as we find them scattered through the writings of Irentsns, Justin Martyr, (dements, Alexandrinus, Origen and other Fathers. These creeds differ in form, but they all amount substantially to one and the same creed, growing directly from the confession of Peter and of the baptismal formula of our Lord, and therefore professed by candidates for baptism at their reception into the com- munion of the Christian Church. They are a profession of faith in Ood, the Father Al- mighty, in Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord, and iu the Holy Ohost, the Comforter and Saactiiler. Out of these came the ante-Ni- cene rules of faith, whiph ar the apposite of the Apostles' Creed. 'The A ostles' Creed is the moat simple and popuin summary of the great facts of our saTvatioi :ind of Ood's re- velation, beginning with thi creation and end- ing with life everiaating, arrang:i>d under the Trinitarian asnaot, and closing around the at- tributeaof Ood tbe Father Almighty, of Ood the (ton, the Lord and Saviour, and cif Ood, the Holy Ohost. But in the Greek Church the formula earrles forward the work of solvation and sanctifloation to its final end, the resur- rootien of the body and the life everiasting, wh<>n Ood in Christ shall be all in all. The Nicene Creed differs from the Aposties', jiot in substance, but onl^ in form. It is Eastern in its origin, and is more speoiflo and emphatic in its dextrine of the divinity of Christ, as the Ood Oi God. Light of Light, very Ood of very God, begotten not made, and of one Rssonce with the Father, and therefore colled the ob- ject of adoration, worthip and praise. Theao terms are thus in opposition to the Arian heresy. Aa the AposU's' Creed, so called, '■•is oontinied to be the main oreed of Western Christendom, so the Nioene Creed haa contin- ued to he the creed of Ea tern Christendom. Both are adopted by al! ^ht various branches of orthodox Protestantism, and to this day these, venerable creeds hold together all that there is' of evangpUoal Christicnity in the world. It is of the utmost importance that we should hold fast to this oecuminical consensus, espeoiaily in opposition to ths^' fearful power of inftdelitr wmch of lato hud grown up in the Cliristlan world, though purified by the borrowed force of a Christian oivilisation. It is true that the insertion of a clause haa created much oontontion between the East and the West, and divides to this day the Oreek from the Latin Oreed. On this oesumenioal basis there grew up in the course of the middle ages and modem times three outgrowing creeds which ever since have been conteciling for the mastery in the Christian world- (he Oreek, the Roman and the Protestant. The Oreek Creed, in its distinctive peculiarities, is laid dpwn mainly in the orthodox confession OS found in the eighteen decrees of the Synod of Jerusalem, and is adooted by eighbr mil- lions of Christians. It diners from the Komaa Catho)io creed, mainly in the two important Suestiona of a Papacy and of a double procea- ion of the spirit. But ia all the other articles which form the bone of contention between Romanism and Catholicism, the Oreek creed is much nearer to the IVotestant oreed than t> the Roman. The profession articles are not, so clearly defiiled in the Oreek Church, though that Church admits the free circulation of the Bible. The Oreek Ohuroh is leas intolerant than the Roman, though it claims infallibility in the abstract and in a general way, as ap- plied to the Church assembled in oounciI7and therefore is open to revision and reformation. The Roman Catholic creed, which is adopted by perhaps IfiO ndllions, is the most clearly and fully defined of all. Its artiolea are framed in view of and in opposition to the great Pro- testant Reformaticm: they are based upon traditions and pretensions against which the Reformers protested from the btand point of the Word of Ood and of the unanimous oreed of the primitive Church.t/^I have taken the pR&ndards issued by the present Pope in his own name or in connection with the Vatican Council held in 1870, and they embrace de- finitionj of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in 1854, Papal Syllabus in 1864, and the Infallibility decree of the Vatican Council of 1870. Ihese Vatican standards settied differences among the Roman Catholics themselves and aim to detitroy Oallicaniam, or lilwral Catholicism, and are a triumph of Papal Absolutism or Ultramontane Romanism, and they have called forth ihe Old Catholic scci-'sion, which in point of numbers and of learning' neutralizes the secession to Rome, which dutes from the Tractarian movement of Oxford. There standards have also provoked a new oonilict between the civil powers and the Papacy, a conflict which may yet issue in a new religious war. Let us hope that it may be a 30 disys' war instead of a 30 years' war, and that it may eud, if it must oome, in the oomplete triumph of rdigious liberty over the world. The Roman Creed ia the product of ages. It is like a Oothic cathedral, rising to the very skies, and culminating in the new dogma of an infkllible oracle, raiding in the Vatican at Rome. It is full of images and statues and painted wondor , and :?hapels with- out number, with all sorlJ of subdued and unsubdued idols and demons of old. It claims to be absolutislv infallible, like the Word of the living God, and demands blind and un- conditional submission aa a condition to salva- tion itself. We now pass to the Evangelical Protestant Creed. It is the result of a mighty conflict of the Reformation with the spintnal tyranny and the unscriptural ootTuptiona of Romanism. Those who are conversant wfth Continental literature know that the foHhinn is to divide the Christian community into three sections,— Catholic, maanins Oreek, I or Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed ; i ~ while the Calvinlats, or Presbyterians, are spoken of respeotfnlly, or disrespectfully, aa seota. But this designation of eooleaiasti- cal {geography and statistics must be revised. We who live in Anglo-Saxon countries knowthat (hose denominations designated as sects in books of Church History, have grown up to the full manhood af denominations and churches, and many claim an equality of treatment and consideration with the older forms of P»>testantism. They differ, however, but slightiy from the old Protestant Creed. Methowsm, which, coming qnt of the Church of England, haa ita tweniy-nve artiolea, which are % mere abridgment of the thirty-uine articles of the Church of England; Congrega- tionalism, adopting the Weetminater (%nns- sion of Faith, deputing from it onl^ on the question of government and the autnority of the local and individual congregation; and the Baptists, likewise admitting the Reformed Creed, departing bom it fnljr on the Question of a form of baptism. Taking in all these various ramiflcations of an Evangelical Pro- testant wotld, we find that theyaremuoh mote agreed than disagreed on tbe utioleaof Chris- tian faith. They unanimously condemn and re- ject certain unscriptnral oorruptions of the Oreek and Roman Oreeds ; and tney idao posi- tively adopt certain far-reaching, fundamental prindplea which give tone and diatmcterto the other parts of their several creeds. ' Thereis,first,thedistinotiveprincipIeofPro- \ testantism— the doctrine of the abaointo soverV^' eigntv of the Word of Ood, aa the only in- f dUible and sufBcient rule of a Christiau faitii :md of a Christian life. Connected with it is the oonoeaaion of the right and duty of every Christian man to read, to examine, to possess himself of, and to apply to his heart and to carry out in his ufe, this Word of Ood, by means of direct contact, without the intervention of the Church's antiunity. There is in the next place the subjective — frequentiy called matraial— prindpla of Pro- testantism, mainlj the doctrine of justification by the sole ment of Jesus Christ as appre- hended by a living faith, works being neces- sarv only aa evidoiccs of juatiflcation and as fruits of a living faith, but not as a condition of jostiflcation or of saivatien. And then titers isthepricoiple which we may call the eccle- siastical or social principle, held in common by all Protestant orthodox bodies; namelr, the doctrine of a universal priesthood of believers with theunspeakable privilege, never to be aur- rendered, of the direct and immediate union and communion in Christ of a believing soul witii our blessed Lord and Saviour, without the intervention of the Virgin Maty or the in- numerable army of Saints. These ore the va- rious creeds of Christendom. Now the ques- tion is, how are they to be reconciled and nar- monizedP There are various ways proposed for bring' ing about a doctrinal consensus of Christen- dom. The first scheme we mention is that of an absorbent union of all creeds into one. This is the Roman Catholics view, which, con- sistent to its claim to infiJlibility, insists up- on the absolute surrender on the part of the individual to the infallible standani of a Ro- man Po^. There are narrow minded persona in other denominations who are good-natured enough to aet up their creed as the universal standard oi a belief for the whole Christian world, bdieving that ultimately the world will come to them. But for myself, I can cherish no hope of this kind. It seems to me simply impossible that before the miUenainm, the Oreeks and Protestanto will at last become Romanists, or that the latter should ioin the Oreeks or Protestanto. Nor can I be- lieve that IVotestanto will all become Episco- palians, or Lutherans, or Presbyterians, or Methodists, or Baptirta. I have no doubt that some of the smaller secto which have no historical possessions in the past and no particular mission to fulfill, will pass away, and the sooner the better. But the great leading denominations are each reflecting different lineantento in the physiognomy M I8741 EVANGELteAL ALLIANCE EXtRA. tJt K Cbrirt; andtheieFNTidenoeitieU hu nimd up to do » pwtionUr work and fulfill • imom- Muy miadon, and thej may oontinm, at all ovenU. until tliat miMUm la {uUUImI. Ai (ar uawooanMe, there ii atlll aa abiuidaii.ie of n-ork for them all; and will be fof aaioUefl. nite Umeto «ome. The leoond loheme, or negnti ye one, I* the surrender of all oreecU n- Pmian iuventioni, uiid golMback to the B ble a me, in oonneo- tiun perhaps, aa aomo wu..! 1 wish, with the Apostlea'Oraed, aa the brief uit and moat aim- pie Bummarv of Chriatian dootrine. But thia iiofrative union la adeatmotion of allhiatory. and an aftont and denial of the eommon lea- Hon of hiatory. Hiktorr ik no ohild'a play.and itia no bedlam cither. It ia the uufoldingof Crud'a own plana of infinite wiadom and love. It ia a mo«t amioua work, which will atand the teat of time and luat forever. It ia a progreaa- ive approach to a final aolution of all the pro- blema which Ood haa given the human raoe, and to hiapeopio to Rolve. Sappoae that we do uway with all themhiatorioal oonoreUonaof the post and begin at the beginning. Unleaa Ood changed our nature and made ua of diflennt Htufl from our forefathera, we would by-and- by, one by one, bring t(p the aelf-aame qua^ tiona which in timea poat led to different inter- pretationa of the Bible. The third view ia that of the eelectio creed, which ahould aeloct from tho vaHona creeda here a piece and there a piece. Such a creed would fall Btill-bom upon the Church, and would not be worth the paina apent upon it. A creed ia no combination, ia no aooumulatien of opiniona, no mechanical atructnre. It ia a growth and a product of a certain form of in- teileotoal life. Compromtaoe may aerve a temporary purpose, but they are not a aettle- ment of a dinioulty. Frinciplea muat work themaelvea out. The fourth view is that of a conaerv gtlve union, which makea it poaaible lor ua from a truly broad and evongelunl platform to re- cogniae in their relative righta all thoeo vari- ous creeda of Chriatendom, aa far aa they do not contradict the word of Ood or contradict each other, tor^ireaent merely the varioua aa- pecta and forms of one and the aame aaving truth. This I conceive to be the idea which underliea the Evangelical Alliance. It aima to bring together in fraternal union and com- munion the living membera of the different aections of evangelical Frotettantiam on a com- mon baaia of recognized truth, without aiming at an organic unfon or amalgamation of dif- ferentChumhea and Beot«,and without interfer- ing with the individual oonaoience ordenomina- tional loyalty of any particular member Join- ing that aociety. And thia idea hoa taken root In aome of the beat and noblest minda of the ige, and it has been aignally bloaaed by Ood in doing good in a vaat and inoreoaing circle. And thia idea may lead to great re- sults in time to come; for thia apirit of Fraternal union and communion, thia apirit of true Chriatian and catholic love and roeogni- tion, will gradually pervade the various ishurches themaelvea, and load at laot to a final recognition and intercommunion of thoae Chnrohea without deatroving thdr individual- ity or interferini,; with their particular char- acter. The Ev:mgelioal Alliance doea not in- tend to create ui.ion, but it worka on the baaia sf existing union. It asaumea the fact that all true ChriaUans are one in Chriat their liv- ing head, and have been one from the begin- ning. I have already said that we have, in the first place un ceuoumenical oonaenaua in the Apoatiea Creed and the Nioene Creed which Duatht never to be aurrendered or given up, and we have in the aeoond place an evangeli- cal conaensua in the union of the membera rhich all Protestant prof eaaions alike lay claim to aa flowing directly from the word of Qod. It ia true thia evangelical conaensus haa not tieen formuhriaed, and here we may say it is deaimble to have such a formula of a doc- trinal consensus of apecifio evangelical Chriatianity, correaponding to the Apoatiea' Creed. The Evanaelical Alliance haa at- tempted to do that in the nine artidea, and hcse nine articles have ao far aerved an im- portant practical purpoae. They have de- nned tha boundary, alao, within wmoh it were wiaa to keep, at all eventa for the preaent. And iheaa nme artiolea mnat be adhered to nntil they ate auperaeded by aom. thing better, and I am very ghul that they do not baitray any apeoial theological ability. Wo ought to have aueh a fonnnutfiied oonaenaua aa we oonld profeas aa an act of faith, aa an act of worahip, and anoh a one will be made when it is needed. BuoonmoiiB roa raoxoma a ran innoM. But what ahall we do with the differences still remaining P 1. We mnat diamiaa all idea of a perfect uni- formity of belief. Thia, even if it were poa- aible, would not be deairable. Ood's truth ia Infinite, and cannot be comprehended by any one Ohnroh or denomination, much lea* by an individual. Qod has oonatitnted men'a minda differently. >To two are precisely alike. Every diainpie reflecta a peculiar lineament of the great Maoter of all. Unity ia not uni- formity, bnt implies freedom and variety. It takea many aonnda to piodnce a harmony, and many flowera of different ahape, color, and flavor to make a garden. The New Teatamcnt itself ezhibita the greatest variety in the unity of the apirit. Every one of the four Ooapela has its peonliaritiea of conception, phui. and style, and inesenta new aapecta of the image of our Mviour. How aiflerent from the Synoptiata ia John, who leaned on the Maater's bosom; and yet his inoamata Ood ia the aame peraon with the Divine Man of the othera. Anaif we examine thel^atlea, we can doaely diaoem three diatinot types of dootrine: the Jawiah Chriatian type of James and Peter, the Oentile Ohtiatian tvpo of Paul, and the higher union of the two in John. There ia an Apoatle of hope, an Apoatie of faith, and an Apoatle of love. The harmony and difference of the Old and New Teatamenta, authority and freedom, divine aovereignty and humaa reaponaibility, jnatifloation by free grace aloue and the neoMaity of personal holiness, are alike set forth in the Apostollo writings, not as contradictory, bnt as supplementary truths. 2. We mnat diatinguiah between truth and dogma. TVuth ia the divinely revealed mW- stance — dogma the human form and logical statement of it. Truth alone cai. save, not the dogma, llanv may sincerely believe the truth as exhibited in the word of Ood, and yet feel unable to accept as binding any dog- matic formula. Themetical orthodoxy is not always connected with living piety. It may be dead and worthlesa before Ood. "Tho devils abo believe and tremble." To feel right and tn act right is aa important as to think right and believe right. 3. Another important distinction must be mode between roIlKious and theological differ, ences. Learned Christians of different denomi' . nations, or of the b me dmominatiou, ma/ be at perfect harmony in their inward spiritual life, and yet widely disaent in their theology. Moat of the differenoea ef the jvangelioal creeda are not rsligioua, but theological, and aeeondory kv uon-fundamental. It woa a aerioua miatulce of an intenaelv theological age to introduce ao much metaphysical theology into the creeds, and thuK to Intensify and per* petuate controversy, bigotry and hatrerc our Father'a throne. We pour uur ardent praycra ; Our fvarii, our hopei, our alms arc one, Uur comforts and our earea. Wu share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear ; And otten, foroach other, Qows The tympatblztnKtear. Uov. Dr. Bu-3, of the Syrian roisaion, of- ferotl up prayer. CHRISTIAN UNION. Tho Very Rev. Dean Bond, if Uontreal, read the following paper nn "ChrUtlau Union" : — Truth, tho truth an it is in Christ Jesus and revealed in the Oosp.il, must be tho founda- tion and isomer s'.one of Christian Union. And if I were oom^ielled to reply in one word to tho (oftentimes tmoonscions) sceptic's question, " Whot is Truth f" I could only Kiy, " Qod is Truth," because I believe that if you trace up any established truth to its source and spring, you will, inevitably, be conducted to the grand centre of all truth — (lod as revealed in the Word. And then, as tho unity or singleness of truth is in Ood, so the variety of iti forms and man- ifestationa is from God.' Unity doea not imply sameness; variety is not opposed to unity. Oneness of essence is quite compatible with that beautiful diversity of operation which HO adequately meets the ever- varying wants of humanity. You have an illustration of my meaning in the Divine attributes. They are niony and varied, but, with what perfect har- mony they blend in the life of Him who is Ttaiii itself, and give expression to His exis- tence; or, again, in the forms and laws of this creation, they an> many and varied ; but how true they all are to the one spirit of life by which they have their being ; or, again, in the nature and aspect of Ood's new creation — the Church, the members o: Christ's body are many, their offices di' verse, but how true they are to that one spirit of Ood which abides in that spiri- tual body and animates every member. — 1^4 giving expression, then, to some thoughts on Christian Union, I shiJl ussumo as beyond controversy, that diversity is not inoompntible with unity, and that real Ciirigtian Union must have its foundation in Christ. It is a spiritual house — u building fitly framed to- gether, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief comer stone. It is God's building, a temple with its foundation and comer stones suggeshing unity, without which there would be neither strength, beauty Aorute- fulncss. But unity docs not mean sameness ; dull uniformity would do rather offensive vhan nttractive. In the vail, tnero may bo living Htoncs which, in their very massivcncss, are as beautiful as the cwrcd piUors in the house of God, or the polished comers of the Temple. And they are all one in Christ, inspirca by the same life and cemented together by the samefaith. Therefore let us not be 6' spised or despise (because iq some outward things we are not alike), if there be unity of spirit in the bond of peac^: for (asa further illustrn- tion, and using St. Paul's figure of the human body and its members) there is one bgdy which has many members, and all the mem- bers of that one body, being many, are one body ; and that one body, throughout its members, U dirbcted by one mind, Animated by one spirit, and engrossed by one object. There is no schism in the body ; and so true Christians, being many, ore one body in Christ, with no mind Irat Christ's, with no holiness but Christ's, no Ufa but Christ's, — a body, hoiy, living and true ; this is union with Christ, the living Head, r anting signs of the end. Tho world is absorbed in the daily roundof work »nd plr.Muro asblipdlyas it was in the days ot Noali. Tho Gospel of the Kingdom is being prcui^hed as a witness well nigh over tho face of the globe. Tho spirit of Antichrist is abrnad with specious arguments, seeking to deceive and to draw aw.-MT from the faith even God's own people. And the wordsof -Tesus spoken to His disciples on the Uount of OUv^e: should ring in the ears of his Chnroh. in these latter days : " Watch, for ye know not what hour tho Lord doth 1874. J EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE EXTRA «? THE BORIFTUnAL IDEA OF THE VIS- IBLE CHUnciI CATHOLIC AS CON . 8TITUTED OF DENOMINATIONS OF 0HRI8TIAN3 A}> ADDBS3? DY OET. DU. >. L. DtMHMt, OV TIBOIXU. Tlio divisions of Frotosttntigm IhsTa been ufton chargod as its opprobrium. No one who is goremed bv the prinoiples of the Goipel can fail to deploro the bitternosa and injoitloo of Christians towards each other whioh Jutve too often attended their unavoidable diiter° onces. Every right-minded Christian, aoooid- ingly, rejoices in the legimitato moans for in- ureosing and for evincing the spiritoal nnitj of the whole body of God's people.^ Where this c:tn be done without compromising oon- sciontious oonvictions, we hail ft as an unmin- gled blessing to our common Zion. It is difficult, as it wonld appear, for American Christians to pursue an admitted good, with- out betraying some tenden«y to the evil of ex- treme. Thus, the sense of this high want of a better spiritnal unity has urged a few to as- sume that a nnivorsal Church union is essen- tial to, or even identical with, the desired end. Some betray the feeling that Protestantism must manifest its Christian unity as Popery claims to do ; or else romaiti obnoxious to the charge of schism, and weak before its thoroughly organized foe. That all true fol- lowers of a common Lord should be one in aims, in spirit, in affections, none can doubt. The (luestion is, whether their reduction under a single Church government and name is necessary to this Christian luiity ; or (to borrow the current phrase of the day) whether an or- ganized unity is necessary therefor. 1 readily admit, at the outset, that this conclusion is not unnatural for those who regard it from a per- tain point of view. And a wide and intelligent survey of the history of the Church will mow that this conviction did actually haunt and pervert tiie thinkicg of the Christian world for centuries ; and that it was, even for the Protestant world, one of the most difficult of tasks to unlearn il. Through all the ages of the prelatio Fathers and of Popery, men not unnaturally reOHoncd thus: — " Since there is one Lord, one fiiith, one baptism, must not the visible Church bo o»e ! Christ is its head, the Church is his body : Can one head be united to more than one body, except it be a formation as monstrous as the fabled Cerberus ? Is Christ divided P This cannot be. If then, any sect exists, this and the body from which it is sundered cannot both bo Christ's Church. The original body must say to its Hovered branch. Inasmuch us y6u refuse to o one with us, your claim to be a Church of Christ musu needs out-church us. If you are Christ's body, we cannot be. If wo are Christ's, you must bo an anti-Christian body, dimply be- cause you are not one with us, and so you are guilty of the damning sin of schism." Such arguments received obviously a new enforce- ment when the patristic doctrine was invent- ed, that the graces of redemption are certainly transmitted only through the Church sacra- ments, and that these cannot bo administered at all save by the men wIhi hold an unbroken prclatic succession from the Apostles. It was now urged, in addition, that as the one Lord liad but one cullcgo of Apostles, who held the sums office, and acted with the perfect unity of a common inspiration, there could bo but one line of succession, and otae body in which us these ordinances were supposed to be the only channels, they who hod them not in their regular succcsition could not bo of the Church. Now, when such reasoncrs looked back, it woa not surprising that they should think they saw full confirmation of their conclusions. Had not the Old Testament Church been one, in outward forms as in principles, throughout the ftfres of the theoorftcy P TheChurch formed by tlio AiKjstles was bound together by a cer- tain organic unity, as well as by common faith and love. Then, the great oecumenical coun- cils, the glory of the clerical order8,had Indus- trioualy striven to matntnin this outward unity. Their creed* and canons had claimed the allagianoe not only of the eondnot but the heart from the Indies to the Pillars of Her- onles, and were puhliahed in the name of the Holy Ohoit in the sereral tongues of the Esat and the West. To pteserre this outward nnity was the great aim of these pompons and ooet- ly assemblages, as of all t>'3 eontroveraies, perseontions and anathemas 6f the patristic ages. And when at length the Roman pas- tor usurped the title of "Universal Bishop," and " God upon Earth," it was chiefly to in-' oorporate this visible nnity in one office for all time. It is not strange, therefore, that to men whose minds were Minded by a false pos- tulate, the idea of more than one vidble ohnroh in one spiritual body should have seemed almost a self-evident absurdity. Even the great Reformation failed to disabuse the minds of many Protestants of this delusion, although the precious principles whence that revolution flowed contained the refutation. The notion that Christian unity could not exist unless all Protestantism were compressed within one communion, evidently complicated itself with Luther's intense ipposition to the Zwinglians. In IS27 the great Swiss Re- former addressed the Oerman leader in a fra- ternal exposition of their disputes touching the Lord s Supper, sustaining nis own views, and criticizing those of Luthi r temperately , and «-hile he intimated that he and his breth- ren were not prepared to abandon their con- scientions convictions, he cordially offered a similar right to the Lutherans, and jpropo,sed that the two should maintain a Chnstian unity and peace amidst these lesser diversi- ties. Luther's answer wau in these words : — '* Well ! since they thus insult all reason, I will give them a Luthtrim icariiing. Cursed he this concord! Cursed be this charity! Down ! down with it, to the bottomless pit of hell ! If I should muider your f ather, your mother, your child, and then wishing to mur- der you, I should say to you. Let ua be at peace, my dearfriend. What answer would yon make P It is thus that the enthusiasts, who murder Jesus Christ,who say my Lord Qod the Father, and Christendom my mother, wish to murJer me also, and then say. Let ua be friends." How many inconsistent and scandalous ((Oarrels Protestants have since waged agiinst brother Protestants in the vain attempt to substantiate this visible unity, I need not remind you. All who held' the scriptural principles of the Reformation, at least, should have remembered that Judaism was a religion >or one little na- tion ; while Christianity is for all continents and proples. They should have bethought themselves, yet more, that there was a practi- pre- sence, namely, of the infallible spirit of reve- lations, speaking through the Urim and Thummim, and through the prophets, in the one ; and through the inspired Apostles in the other. Then, indeed, there may have been reason for holding that oven a diversity in unity was without excuse, because thero was present in the Cliurch on infallible umpire, the spirit of prophecy, to which disputants on any point of tneology or Church order, how- ever subordinate, mifj^ht appeal, and from, which they would receive the answer of God Himself, which made farther difference inox- cusable. But now that the spirit of infallible the sacraments carried any vital grace. Bu{^ "rovelation is confessedly withdrawn from tlio Church, and Godhasseei^fit to leave Chri>>teu- dom to the guidance-ot the Bible alone, en- joining at the same time sincerity of convic- tion and a sacred respect for the spiritual liberty of every conscience from all authority in reUgion beneath His own, it k obvious that diversity in unity must emerge and must be tolerated. The desire to enforce a univer- sal oonformity deserts the fundamental princi. pies of thereformation. Does not Rome provo it P Sheolaims the right to enforce th:it out- ward onen"?3 ; she holds that it is essential ; her system is precisely tho legitimate result ut° the error I combat : and slie tacitly admits, by the claim of infallibility, that the presence of this gift in the visible Church is necesMiry to '.onndherolaimof power to dnforoo imiformitT. But the history of 'Jiis delusion uespeoiaUy instruotivv., as it shows us that its advocates from the flirst were chiefly led astray by disre- garding the soriptnrat distinotion between the visible and invlsihla Church. In controver- sies of the early ages against the Montanhit, the Novatiars and the Donatist sects, as in the pretensions of Rome now, this difference is qn'etly bnt totally omitted. There are texts whioh do, beyond dispute, teach us that the Church of Christ is one, '* even as He and theFather are one;" that it is his bodv, his bride and noxia^ ; that it ii catholic, >. «., the fnUneas of Him who fllleth all in uU ; that it is holy ; that it is indefectible. But it is the invisible and spiritnal bride of Christ to whioh these glorious attributes belong. Now when all tbeso scriptures were misapplied ta one owanized, vhublo body ol believers, thence were drawn i.ho tremendous and f idso conso- quenoes of the damning sin of all formal di- versity, tho necessity of outward oonformity, the propreity of pains and penalties to enforce it. Searoh and see. It isthe same erronooiu logio which inspires tho modem zeal for unifi- cation. A more attentive inspection of sacred scripture will show that ihe word Churoh n ' (Ekklesia] thero bears two meanings, !«latcd,-4- but not indentioal. In its higher, truer sense, ' the Chnrch is tho body of the called by tiio Holy Spirit, the aggregate of Christ's redeem- ed and regenerate people. Its bond of union is not outward, but inward ; alivingfaith and love. Its attributes aro not the organic forms and offices and canons which man adminis- ters, but the graces >hioh the divine Spirit inworka in sanctified souls. As the soul of a man is the true man, so this spiritual com- pany, whioh cannot bo numbered nor bound- ed by human power, b the true Churoh of God. But as the intelligent soul for a time inhabits and uses n bodv inferior to itself, animal and even iiiaterial ; as the soul holds this lower body for a time even in a personal union, so it is tho divine will that this true Churoh shall inhabit an outward rorm, which is not wholly itself a human society ' which it makes the imperfect instruments of its ccr- porate functions. And as we naturally speak of a corpse as a dead mau (although apart from the informing spirit it is no man, but a clod) so the same word CIturehea is also ap- plied in Scripture to theso Foc'eties whose aggregate the Churoh universal -end spiritual new on earth inhabits. You may remmd me that still, Ks thero is this relation, there should be some likeness between the visible body and the spiritual Church. I freely concede it. The perfection of any one visible Churoh, or of the great i. jgregate of visible Churches, is to ap- proach as near as may be to the attributes of the invisible Churoh. They cannot actually posBiss these qualities, us the shell oaiinot bo tho kemal or the body cannot be the intelligent spirit with- in it But they will properly strive towards those attributes, so far as the body may towards the excellencies oi the soul it contains. As the invisible Churoh is truly " holy, tho visible will seek by a Scriptural dis- cipline to be as holy as its outwaid nature permits. As tho invisible Churcli is eatholio, tho visible will strive towdrds tho same imity. But as the bond of union in tho invisible Churoh IS a common faith and love and union to Christ, not an outwar.l organism; so the unity of the visible Churoh will evince itself in ties of affection and brotherhood, rather than in external uniformity. You will par- don my borrowing from an old book the follow- ing words, which express my meaning bcttei- than my own : I. "The catholic cr i nivnrsal Churoh, whioh K invisible consists of tho whole number of the elect that have been, ero, or shall be gath- ered into one under Christ tho head thereof, and in tho spouse, the body, tho fttllnesii of him that filleth uUiuall" II. "Tho visible rhiircii, wliicli is iilwi cnlli. olie or universal under tho Go^pel (not con- 14 m:).\trk.\l daily witness [Oct.' Oned to on* nation, om btifom under tho luw), onniiUU of all thoie throughout the world that profeH the true religion," &c. But let u« not rent thiH important diiitinotion upon more SMertion. I refer to the New To».' timent to find the meaning of the word Church, and I there find dear and full eri- denoea "that in itiiHtigher mum, the Church in the apiritnal and inviaibia oompanjr of true bo- liereni. The Church U the "out-oalled." But the truo calling of Qod ii not an outward profeMion or the amumption of outward formn ; ft is the work of the Holy GhoRt upon tTio heart, bringing men out of ain and worldlincwi to Chrirt and holinem. 2 Tim., i. 0, " Oo