that motion. (Carried.)
16 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Rev. Dr. Cox, of New York. ā We have all the best reasons for
confidence in the selection which has been made. It is well that
these Resolutions (to use a phrase common in America) have been
so cut and dried for us ; and I, for one, am grateful to such skilful
carvers. If they had not prepared business for us, we should have
been moving in confusion, and making no progress. But able men
have been at work ; men who possess not only great wisdom, such
as is profitable to direct, but who also have a single eye to the great
object for which we are convened. One other remark, in reference
to finance. Some of us poor unbeneficed clergymen in America
(and I thank God we are unbeneficed), who have had to travel
three, four, and five thousand miles to come here, have been com-
pletely recompensed on our arrival; but in reference to the toil
which many of our Brethren have undergone ā the mental labour and
physical toil of preparing every thing for us ā I feel that if it were
collected and presented to us in the form of pounds sterling, and
especially if it were translated into dollars, it would almost scare us.
I can only view it as an indication of the pure and spiritual attach-
ment which God has given to many souls to our great object ; and
I trust it will prove an earnest of the more extensive attachment and
love ā which money cannot buy, but which the blood of Christ can
ā of many hearts to this cause.
The Chairman, in introducing M. Bost from Switzerland, said,
ā Brethren, may you extend the hand of sympathy, as I am sure
you will extend your hearts, to one who comes to us in the name of
the oppressed and devoted Christians of the Canton de Vaud.
Rev. M. Bost, who was very cordially received by the Con-
ference, said, ā Reverend Fathers and Brethren in Jesus Christ,
our blessed Lord and Common Head, I cannot but feel a deep sense
of gratitude towards you all for the kindness you have just bestowed
upon me. Not on myself, but on my dear and beloved Brethren,
who are suflfering for Christ's sake, in those trying circumstances
in which they have been placed. I dare not now enter into any
particulars as to our situation ; but I could not appear before you,
without thanking you from the bottom of my heart ā all these dear
Brethren from all parts of the world ā who have so kindly assisted
us with their tokens of sympathy and their prayers, for which we
beg to bless them in the Name of the Lord. We have thereby been
strengthened and enabled to remain calm in the midst of very
trying circumstances. Glory be to God, thanks be to Him, and
FIRST DAY MORNING SESSION. 17
thanks be to you all, who have prayed for us, and sustained us by
your prayers. I must now end ; but I second, with great satisfaction,
the proposition which was placed in my hands, ā
"That The 'Finance Committee' ā to receive subscriptions and authorize
payments ā shall include the members of the existing Divisional Finance
Sub-Committees. With power to add to their number.
A. G. Ellis, Secretary."
(Carried.)
NOMINATION COMMITTEE.
Rev. Dr. Cunningham said it was his intention to abide by the
important and seasonable advice tendered by Mr. Noel, he would
therefore merely move, which he did with the greatest pleasure ; ā
" That the undermentioned Gentlemen be appointed ' The Nomination Com-
mittee/ to receive applications for admission to the Conference during its
sittings, and to determine on them. To consist of the existing Nomination
Sub-Committees, with
Rev. M. Audebez, Rev. Matthew Richey,
Rev. Dr. Beecher, Rev. Dr. Schmucker,
Rev. Dr. S. H. Cox, Rev. James Scott (of Stockholm).
Rev. Dr. Koenig,
Rev. C. M. Birrell,
Rev. A. S. Thelwall, ) Secret Ā«ā¢s.
Rev. Adolphe Monod. ā For the reason expressed by the
esteemed father who has just sat down, I will simply add a word
in seconding the Motion. It is said ' Render justice to every one ;'
and therefore I will state a thing, which perhaps no one else would
state, that, of all our Brethren in France, he whom we consider to
have done the most in the cause, who in fact three years ago began
writing circular letters on the subject, in which he has persevered
until now, is my dear brother Fisch, minister of the Evangelical
Protestant Church of Lyons.
The Motion was carried.
Rev. Dr. Steane announced that the distinct Committees
would meet at four o'clock in their respective rooms ; and, in answer
to the question, how could the Committees meet at the same time,
when several individuals were on different Committees ? ā he stated
that, amidst the complicated business which presented itself, it
would occasionally happen that persons would be on several
Committees which met at the same time : but, in all such cases,
there would be a sufficient number of Members remaining to
conduct the business effectively.
Rev. Dr. King then read a paper, containing an Historical
Sketch of the circumstances which led to the proposal of, and
prepared the way for, the contemplated Evangelical Alliance.
18 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
Some interruption having been occasioned,, during the reading of
the first part of the paper, by the departure of Members of the
Conference, a brief discussion ensued as to the propriety of
postponing the reading of the paper to the evening.
Dr. Symington expressed his fear that many had left, because
they could not hear Dr. King. His voice was not over strong, but,
if they would only give him a few minutes, he would make it thrill
through every part of the room.
Dr. King accordingly proceeded with the reading of his paper.
Rev. Edward Bickersteth could not rise, without expressing
his own grateful sense of the deep obligation under which the
Conference was laid to Dr. King, for the diligent application he
had given to this matter, as well as to former documents which he
had prepared. The Evangelical Alliance was under a great debt
of obligation to their beloved friend for what he had done, and he
(Mr. Bickersteth) was sure they would give God thanks, that He
had put it into his (Dr. King's) mind, and enabled him thus to aid
the common cause. He moved ā
" That this Conference has heard, with high gratification, the Historical Narrative
now presented by the Provisional Committee of the Proposed Evangelical
Alliance, and drawn up, at their request, by the Rev. Dr. King ; respectfully
offer to him their cordial thanks, for the eminent ability, comprehensiveness,
and admirably Christian and Catholic spirit displayed in its preparation ; and
refer it to the Publication Committee to be printed amongst the documents
of the Conference."
Rev* Dr. Bunting. ā It would be a great injustice to many
friends of the cause to withhold from them the profit and
edification, and the sincere pleasure which the Members of the
Conference had derived from the reading of Dr. King's paper.
He was quite satisfied, that it would subserve the common cause,
and therefore, with the understanding that it would be referred to
the Publication Committee, to add any minutim which might have
been omitted, he seconded Mr. Bickersteth's motion with great
pleasure.
Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, Rev. Adolphe Monod, and Rev. Dr.
Reed offered some suggestions, on points which might be briefly
adverted to in the narrative before it was finally sent to the press.
Whereupon,
The Chairman submitted, that all suggestions should be handed
in to the Publication Committee, who would give them due con-
sideration.
The Motion was then put and carried unanimously.
FIRST DAY- ā EVEXIXQ SESSION. 19
The Chairman, addressing Dr. King, said, ā I have great plea-
sure in thanking you, in the name of this assembly, for the paper
you have just read, and in expressing the gratification which has
been felt on account of the truly Christian sentiments by which
that document is characterized. You will have perceived already,
from the feeling which has been manifested through the room, that
I am but the organ of the expression of an opinion which univer-
sally prevails.
Rev. Dr. King. ā I feel that I ought to express my gratitude to
this meeting, rather than the meeting to me. With regard to one
of the suggestions which has been made, I would just say, that I did
not insert the name of that honoured individual, (who had been
alluded to by Dr. Wardlaw), because, had I done so, it would, by
this time, have been erased ; but if it is inserted by authority of
the Conference, I suppose it may stand. With respect to other
suggestions, I shall be most happy to hear them, and to make any
correction which may be necessary.
Dr. Wardlaw moved," and Rev. Carr J. Glyn seconded,
" That the Rev. W. Bevan and the Rev. R. W. Kyle be appointed Minute Secre-
taries to the Conference."
(Carried.)
Thos. Farmer, Esq. read a notice respecting the refreshments
which had been provided.
Rev. Dr. Steane gave a brief sketch of the business which was
to come before the Conference at the evening session.
Rev. E. Bickersteth resumed the chair.
A Hymn was sung, commencing,
" The grace of Jesus Christ our Lord," &c.
Rev. Dr. Andrew Symington engaged in prayer.
Rev. Edward Bickersteth pronounced the benediction ; and
the Conference adjourned to 5 p. m.
EVENING SESSION.
The Conference re-assembled at live o'clock, when Rev. Carr
J. Geyn moved, and Rev. G. Osborn seconded,
" That the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw preside over the Devotional Exercises."
(Carried.)
The Meeting then sung several ver?es of the 505th hymn, Wes-
ley's Hvmns.
c 2
20 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
The Chairman read the eleventh chapter of Luke ; after
which,
Rev. James Haldane Stewart engaged in prayer.
The Meeting afterwards sung 34th hymn in " Hymns on Chris-
tian Union."
The Chairman said,ā Dear Christian friends and fellow-serv-
ants of the same divine Master, assembled from all parts of the
land, and from more or less distant parts of the world, I cannot
refrain from giving utterance to the feelings which I now experi-
ence. I am looking upon a sight incomparably the most interesting
and delightful that my eyes have ever yet seen. Do we not feel that
we are all one in Christ Jesus ? Have we not been approaching
together the throne of our common Father, in the Name of our
common Redeemer, under the influence, we trust, of the same
Divine Spirit? And do we not feel, when the heart of each,
in such exercises, is drawn nearer to God, that the hearts of all
are drawn nearer to each other ? And is not this the best prepara-
tive for heaven ? What will heaven be but the perfect enjoyment
of holy love to God, and love to all who are made like unto him ? Let
us rejoice in this prospect, for, though I said I have never seen as
yet a sight like this, yet, should it please God to spare me longer in
this world, I shall not despair of seeing even greater things than
this. Let us live in hope of it. Let me now read a passage of
Scripture, which shows us that God is our refuge, that time is un-
certain, and that He is the only source of all our success, in all our
efforts.
The Chairman then read the 90th Psalm ; after which,
Rev. Thomas Jackson engaged in prayer.
Rev. Dr. Steane. ā I must crave the attention of the Confer-
ence for a minute, while I present to it a recommendation from the
Business Committee, which have met during the interval of the two
sessions. It is in the following terms :
" That Sir Culling Eardley Smith, Bart., be requested to preside over the Delibera-
tions of the Conference ; and that, in case of his absence, the Chairmen be
selected from the list adopted at the previous meeting."
Rev. Dr. Bunting. ā I am sincerely sorry that the Committee
have imposed the task of moving the adoption of this recommenda-
tion upon one who feels himself so very unfit to perform it as it
ought to be performed. From many circumstances which have
come under my own knowledge, I am persuaded that the proposal
of the Committee will meet with very cordial and general accept-
ance. It certainly appeared to your Committee, and to many other
FIRST DAY EVENING SESSION. 21
persons this morning, when that part of the business was before us,
that very much of the efficiency, the certainty, and the comfort of
the despatch of the multifarious business which is likely to come
before us, will depend upon our Chairman, and his accurate know-
ledge of the various transactions which have preceded the assem-
bling of this Conference. Even in our meeting this morning, we
felt the great importance of having in the Chair usually, at all
events very frequently, one who began with the beginning of this
movement, and has accompanied its progress thus far, with the
greatest vigilance, and attention, and activity ; and who will be
able to give that sort of continuity to the business, without which
no business, so multifarious as ours is likely to be, can be promptly
and efficiently despatched. It is proposed, when the almost un-
tiring diligence of Sir Culling Eardley Smith is very much ex-
hausted, as it cannot but be expected sometimes to be, or when he is
absent, that the Chair should be filled by one of those esteemed gentle-
men whose names were put on the list this morning. It is of im-
portance to us all, to avoid the evil of prolonged sittings. So long
as Ministers of the Gospel have charges and flocks, they are bound
not to spend too much time in. other engagements. It is, I think,
a primary object, to secure that facility and despatch of business,
which unquestionably will arise from having one generally in the
Chair who is familiar with the whole of our affairs from first to last 5
and who, we are quite sure, from past experience, will kindly, and
in a most Christian manner, correct us, if we are going a little
wrong ; and who will help us forward when we get into difficulties
and perplexities.
Rev. Dr. Buchanan. ā The Conference may be assured that
the Business Committee felt all the importance of venturing to re-
commend a modification of the Resolution passed this morning ; and
it may also be named, that nothing but a sense of duty to this Con-
ference could have induced the Committee to act as they have done.
We were thoroughly persuaded ā unanimously of opinion, upon full
consideration of the subject, that this Conference could not get,
comfortably and satisfactorily, through the immense mass of busi-
ness which it has to transact, unless we have a Chairman who is
thoroughly acquainted with the important object which has called
us together, and whose knowledge of business generally, will enable
him to conduct the business of the Conference with that prompti-
tude and accuracy, which, in our circumstances, are so indispens-
ably necessary. The gentleman who has been selected from among
us- to fill the Chair, is not only one whose whole heart has, (as we
22 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
have heretofore seen), been engaged in this cause ; but also one who
has proved himself pre-eminently competent to fill it.
The Resolution was carried.
Sir C. E. Smith, having taken the Chair, said, ā Brethren, I feel
great backwardness in taking the Chair under the circumstances
which have just occurred. But you have decided the question,
and it is my duty to bow to that decision ; and, incompetent as I
feel myself to be to fill so responsible an office, I shall strive to pro-
mote the interests of our great cause to the utmost of my ability.
I desire to practise the greatest impartiality, and shall endeavour to
do my duty.
Rev. Dr. Steane. ā There is one other recommendation from
the Business Committee, ā
" That John Pemberton Plumptre, Esq., M.P., be added to the list of Chairmen to
preside over the Deliberations of the Conference ; and the Rev. Norman
MacLeod, to the list of Chairmen to preside over the Devotional Exercises."
Carried.
Rev. A. S. Thelwall requested those Ministers of the Gospel
who came from foreign parts, and from different places in the country,
and who were desirous of preaching on the following Sabbath, to
send in their names to Rev. W. Chalmers ; and any clergymen of the
Church of England who desired to come forward, could send in
their names to himself. He understood that, in the metropolis,
above sixty pulpits of different Dissenting Denominations, and six
or seven pulpits in the Establishment had been offered to the Com-
mittee which had been appointed to make these arrangements, for
Sunday next, August 23*
Rev. W Be van read the minutes of the Morning Session, which
were confirmed.
* This notice j-eferred to a very important suggestion, which had been made some
months before; but which, (it was felt), could not properly be taken up as a part
of the business of the Conference.
It was thought that advantage should be taken of the presence of so many
eminent Ministers of the Gospel, from various parts of the country and of the
world, to make arrangements, that as many of the pulpits of the metropolis as
possible should be occupied by those Ministers on Sunday, August 23. These
Brethren would thus have an opportunity of faithfully and earnestty preaching the
great truths of the Gospel to multitudes who might never have another opportunity
of hearing their voices, and also of advocating the cause of Christian Union.
At a meeting of London ministers, a Committee was appointed for the purpose
of making these arrangements. The result was, that more than eighty pulpits
were occupied by Members of the Conference ; and the Gospel was preached in.the
French, German, and Irish languages, as well as in the English. ā Editor.
riEST DAY EVENING SESSION. 23
The Chairman thought it would be better to call upon the Bre-
thren from America to address the Conference, before he called
upon their Continental Brethren, who might feel a difficulty in
speaking the English language. That difficulty, however, would
perhaps partly be removed, after hearing the speeches of the geit-
tlemen from America.
Rev. Dr. Patton, of New York. ā I cannot deny, Sir Culling
that I have been accustomed to address large audiences in the land
of my birth, and I have felt no trepidation, however vast the
assembly ; but I have never been called upon under circumstances
so peculiar as these. I do not know, Sir, but what, perhaps, I
should speak out all my feelings. A kind of awe has been upon
me. I have not been able to contemplate, since I have come into
this room to-day, the great object which Ave are here called upon to
advance, without feeling a deepening awe come over my spirit. I
trust, sir, that it is the Spirit of the Lord who is impressing more
deeply and solemnly upon my mind the great importance of this
work. I cannot but feel, though we have placed ourselves
under the guidance of the gracious Spirit of God, that we have
placed ourselves, by gathering- together here, in the position of a
city which is illuminated, standing upon a mountain, amid the
darkness of the night. We are a conspicuous object. We come
here professing that which the very nature of the case proves, that
we have views of Christian duty and of Christian privilege, which
are very peculiar, and which are precious to the heart of our blessed
Saviour. In that respect we have made ourselves a gazing-stock
to the world, and to the Church of Jesus Christ. This feeling is
very deeply felt in the United States. I do not know that I have
met with any body of Brethren |who have assembled from time
to time for consultation on this subject, whose minds have not been
overwhelmed with the feeiingof the responsibility assumed by those
who have convened us, in regard to the great object we have in
view. There is nothing to relieve that great and heavy pressure
which is upon my mind, but two or three considerations : the first
is, the abounding spirit of prayer. At this very time, whilst we
are here convened, our Brethren in America are convened also ;
and they are convened, not for deliberation with flesh and blood,
but to plead, through the Mediator ā the great King of kings ā the
Lord Jesus, that we may be guided and blessed. And I feel, Sir
Culling, as though this were only the central spot of a Meeting
which has its ramifications and nerves of feeling throughout the
Christian world ; so that the things which are done here, are
done, not by our wisdom, but in answer to the prayers of
24 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
multitudes, who are praying for us around the circle of the globe.
It is encouraging to notice also, the spirit of prayer which has
pervaded all the meetings which have been assembled ā the meetings
of the separate Committees, and of the Aggregate Committee, and
of this Conference. I have been struck with it ; and, feeling it
would be a great encouragement, I have taken the liberty, in
writing home to my friends, to say, that there pervades this assem-
bly which has come together a very unusual spirit of prayer. This
will be encouraging our Brethren to hold on in their wrestling with
God.
The objects contemplated by this Meeting have found a very-
warm response in America : and some little evidence has been
given of that, by the fact of so many pastors having been most
cheerfully surrendered by their people, to be absent for three or
four months, for the purpose of crossing the Atlantic to be present
at this Meeting. Had the proposition been laid before these
respective congregations, for their pastors to be absent to attend
your Anniversary Meetings in May, I am certain there would not
have been a response in the affirmative made by one out of ten :
but when the proposition was, that their pastors should come and
be present at this Meeting, as a pledge of the deep interest they
felt in the subject, though it was with self-denial (perhaps it does
not become us to say any thing on that point ourselves) and in
view of the difficulties that would arise, from their pastors being
away so long a time ; yet, after prayerful consideration, they came,
in every instance, I believe, to a unanimous resolution in a public
assembly, to spare their minister, and bid him ' god-speed.' There
appears here a large number of individuals from America ; and not
from one section of the country alone, not only from the Atlantic
slope, where it might be supposed that it was easy to step into a
steamer, or a packet ship, and to come across the Atlantic; but
there are individuals here from our western wilds, where no cities
have sprung up. But you cannot plant a settlement in our western
world, under the influence of a Minister of the Lord Jesus, but
there will be felt, in that congregation and church, a sympathy,
deep, thrilling, and pervading, with the object whose interests we
are meeting together to promote. There is not yet. Sir Culling,
an auxiliary or a branch formed in the United States ; because it was
thought best, that we should come here, and see what God would
do ; and, having witnessed the organization of an Alliance for the
world, we could then go back, and find millions of hearts ready to
receive it, and unite with you in an organized plan. That will be
the result ; and we shall have the happiness of finding that we are
FIRST DAY ā EVENING SESSION. 25
more deeply united with you, in this way, than we have ever been
in any other plans of benevolent action. We have felt mutual
sympathy in the circulation of the Word of God, and in the
Missionary enterprises of the day. But, Sir, we are now called
upon more especially to sympathize with the Lord Jesus Christ, in
regard to the great work which He is carrying on as the Mediatorial
King. And sympathizing with Him ā as we look up, from various
parts of the world to His Throne, as to a common centre, we find
our hearts drawn together ; and we have sympathy one with another,
because we have sympathy with Him.
And that sympathy will bind the nations of the earth together as
nothing else will. We have all heard it said, in public meetings
in America and in England, that there is such a commercial
intercourse between England and America, and so many com-
mercial and monied interests at stake, as to render it impossible for
these two nations to go to war with each other. But these are
nothing before the wrath of man. The wrath of man can snap
these bonds, as fire burns thread. But when millions of hearts, in
these two nations, are united in sympathy with Jesus Christ, and
in love to each other ā a love stronger than death, and with
prayerful confidence in God, it will not then be in the power of all
the wicked men in both countries, with the devil to lead them, to
cause these nations to engage in deadly conflict. I regard, then,