EXTRACTS. CONFERENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 596, 31 December 1851, Page 3

EXTRACTS. CONFERENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

(Fiom the Watchman, August 7.) A i.r.TTr.n has been written by Sir C. E. Eardley, and published simultaneously m French, in the Echo tie I 1I 1 Alliance, at Fontainebleau ; and m German, in the Chrisllicher Ilausf'reund, (ov Chislian Visitor,*) at Ftankfort, in which Sir Culling, himself then on the Continent, invites the brethren of the Foreign Churches to attend first at London at the ensuing Conference of the Alliance, and then to visit, in circuit, the piincipal j towns of England, with the object of soldering the bonds of union between the Churches and Countries of Christian name. The worthy Baronet sketches the lise, progress, and objocts of the Alliance for the benefit of his foreign readers. It was founded, he reminds them, towards the close of 18-16, at a meeting in which eminent men from almost all Protestant nations were united :— " A thousand persons, in connection with fifty ecclesiastical communities, then assembled to form an association based upon the doctiines held in commoa by them, and embracing every land ; the design of the association being to manifest the essential unity of the Church of Christ. " When, in 1048, revolution followed revolution, in rapid succession, throughout the length and breadth of Europe, Christians recognised as a signal mercy the opportunity thus afforded them of mutually realising their common brotherhood, and their union to the only Saviour. " The Evangelical Alliance has been regularly organised in Great Britain, in France, in Switzerland, in the United States, and in many of the British colonies, including the East and West Indies, New Zealand, &c. &c. The foundation of a German branch has also been laid at Berlin. " But the labours of the Alliance have not been limited to its organisations. It has encouraged Christians to entertain the subject of union. The assembly of London, in 1846, had the effect in Germany of preparing the hearts of many for the meeting which took place in 1818, at Wittenberg. The standard raised from the beginning is that of unity without uniformity ; and in accordance with this principle the God of mercy, who has united bis people in many countries under the name of the Evangelical Alliance, lias chosen rather to gather them in Germany, around a German Churchunion and Honae Mission. " When the tyranny of an infidel mob attacked tlie liberty of our brethren of the Canton do Vaud, the Committees of the Alliance were the first to give expression to their sympathies on behalf of those faithful witnesses of Christ, and to awaken the indignant public opinion of European Christiana against their soi-disant ' liberal' oppressors. ' "In Italy, the Evangelical Alliance organized the Anglo-French Mission, which, for the first time in the annals of Christendom, opened the doors of the Holy Office. Without the meeting of 13-16, without the piayersand combined efforts of 1849, Achilli would have been still a prisoner — nay, might have been added to the list of martyrs whose blood lies at the door of the Inquisition. "The English Christians who are members of the Alliance have believed themselves called upon, by the circumstances of 1831, to give a fresh impulse to the movement of 1846. It seems necessary to prepare for a religious struggle, still more seiious than any of the civil contests of 1848. In England wo are- menaced with Romanism is more than one form. The Pope,encouraged by semi-Popery within, organises an aggression upon the kingdom from without. Events transpiring in other countries also indicate that we are on the eve of a religious crisis. Everywhere, except at the centre of its power, Romanism puts forth all its strength to extend its influence." The year 1851 seems to impose the duty of convoking such a Christian Conference by the unprecedented facilities which it oilers for the attempt. It has been decided, therefore, that a meeting of the British Organisation of the Evangelical Alliance shall take place, and continue, from the 20th of the present month, to the 3rd of September. Evangelical Christians of all nations aie invited to this Assembly, whether they be or bo not members of the Alliance. The special object of the Conference is practical, —to ascertain, through the medium of familiar conversation, the present state and future prospects of Christendom. With a view to this end, after having devoted several days to preparatory discussions, Monday, tho 25th of August, will be devoted to Italy ; Wednesday, the 27 th, to France, and the other countries in which the French language is spoken ; Friday, the 29th, to Germany ; Saturday, the 30th, to the United States ; Monday, the Ist of September, to Great Britain and its colonies, in which the English language is spoken ; and Tuosday, the 2nd of September, to the Jewish nation. Other perioda will be assigned to other countnes. The following are some of the foreign brethren who are expected to be present : — "Fiom Italy — The Moderator of the Vaudois Church of Piedmont. The recent prisoner of Florence, Count Guicciardini, will give, respecting Tuscany, all those details that can, without danger, be communicated to the assembly. Rome will likewise be represented by laymen wbo have served thoir country by occupying important positions, and who are also the servants of Christ. We hope to receive, also, visitors fiom Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Russia, Hungary, and oven the Ottoman Empire. " From Belgium— M. le Comto'de Zuylen de Nyevelt, President of tho Belgian Branch of the Alliance; M. Anet, President of tho Evangelical Society of Belgium ; and M M. Panchaud, and Van Mvesdyk, French and Flemish pastors, have been deputed to the Conference. " From France— M M. Adolphe Monod and Fred. Monod, M. de Pressense", jun., Napoleon Roussel, Grandprierre, Secretary to the Missionary Society; Aug. Bost, ef Rheims ; G. Fisch, of Lyons ; Gauthey, Director of the School at Courbevoie ; Ch. Cook, President of the French Branch of the Alliance ; Jean Monod, of Marseilles, Reporting Secretary, who will draw up a report of the Conference in the Fiench language. These brethren are specially delegated by the French Branch, or invited by the English Committee. Among those who intend to bo present are— M M. Meyrueis, of Paris ; Arnaud, of Bordeaux ; Delmas, of Rocholle ; Lissignol, of Montpelher; Jacquet, of Glay, &c, &c. "From Switzerland— M M. Baup, of Lausanne; Cramer, of the National Church of Geneva ; Burnier, of Morges, &c, &c. We shall have to regret tho absence of M. Ag6nor de Gasparin, the state of whose health obliges him to avoid all public meetings. " From Germany— The union of the German Church has not yet made known officially who are to be her delegates, Tho Dr. Steane, one of the secretaries of the British Committee, has just undertaken a journey into Geimany, in order to secure the presence of many brethien at the Conference : he is to visit, for this purpose, Beihn, Leipsic, Vienna, Stuttgard, and Frankfort. " Besides the namus already mentioned in the first p«t of this letter. I must add those of Pi of. Ebraid, of Erlangen, and Dr. F. W. Krummncher, of Bciliu, who intend to bo present at the Confeience. The piesence of Wichern, of Hamburg, will depend wholly upon the nalme of tho functions he may be lequired to discharge by the Prussian Government, who have it in contemplation to send him to inspect tho prisons of that kingdom, in older to effect such moral reforms as may bo deemed necessary, Theie will be a special deputation fiom Ilcise."

! We add also tlie names of tho English and foreign [ brethren who are expected to fulfil duties which have been assigned to them:— The Rev. Dr. Buchanan, of Glasgow, will preside at the first meeting for prayer, and deliver the "Annual Address." The Rev. Edward Bickersteth, who inherits the name and evangelical sentiments of his excellent father, will read and 6pealr upon the " Practical Resolutions" of the Conference of 1846, which in accordance with the rule adopted upon the suggestion of his father, must be read and commented on at each Annunl Meeting. The Rev. Dr. Drew, of Belfast; the Rev. J. Angell James, of Birmingham ; and tbe Rev. Dr. Bunting, will severally preside at tho meetings for prayer. The Rev. Dr. Leifchild will preside at the sou h, at which the mutual reception and presentation of the brethren will take place. The Rev. Dr. Cunningham, of Edinburgh, Professor in the Freo Chinch of Scotland, will submit the report upon Popery, its operations and chaiacter within the Biitish empire. Professor Martin, of Aberdeen, mem- ! her of the A T ational Church of Scotland, will present a view of the progress of Infidelity in the United Kingdom. The Rev. J. Jordan, Vicar of Enstone, will read the report upon the observance of tbe Sabbath in England. The Rev. Mr. Birlcs will present a report upon | the statistics of Evangelism, and the progress of true religion in England. The Rev. Mr. Angus, formerly Secretary to the Baptist Missionary Society, will give a resume of various Evangelical Missions to tho heathen. The Rev. Dr. Urwick, of Dublin, will read a report upon the religious state of Ireland. Tho Rev. Dr. Thomson, of Edinburgh, United Presbyterian Church, will submit a report upon religious liberty in general, and will dwell upon the circumstances in which Protestants find thomselves placed at Rome, and in other Roman Catholic countries. There w ill bo a public Prayer Meeting each day before tho opening of tho meetings for business. Sir Culling Eardioy specially mentions that the Rev. Dr. Townsend, Canon of Dui'bam, who "visited- Pio Nono last year will be present. This clergyman undertook a journey to Rome, with the hope of inducing tho Pope to convoke a Geneial Council of all tho Christian Chuichcs, in order to consider, in the light of the Scripture ulono, the measures that ought to be adopted to restore unity to the Church. Dr. Townsend was received by Piut. IX. with great personal kindness ; but his interview convinced him that union with Rome was impossible. On hia return to England he joined the Evangelical Alliance Prince Charles Leiven of Russia, nephew of tho late Ambassador of tho Czar of this country, expresses his great desire rather than his expectation of being present. But for 'the extraordinary demands upon our space, we should have published tho reply, communicated, through onr friend the Rev. George Scott, of the aged and venerable Archbishop Yon Wingard of Sweden.