Alliance Of The Reformed Churches Holding The Presbyterian System

Author : George D. Mathews
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781331695790
Total Pages : 722 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (957 download)

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Download or read book Alliance of the Reformed Churches Holding the Presbyterian System written by George D. Mathews and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-18 with total page 722 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Alliance of the Reformed Churches Holding the Presbyterian System: Minutes and Proceedings of the Third General Council, Belfast, 1884 A few words may be allowed in reference to matters incidental to the late Council. The Irish Presbyterian Church has been one of the earliest promoters of our Alliance of Churches. In 1873 its General Assembly adopted the following overture, presented by the Presbytery of Belfast: - "Whereas there is substantial unity of faith, discipline and worship among many Presbyterian Churches in this and other lands; and Whereas it is important to exhibit this Union to other Churches and to the world; and Whereas a desire has been expressed in many places for closer union among branches of the great and widely scattered family of Presbyterian Churches: It is overtured to the General Assembly favourably to consider this subject, and to open a correspondence with sister Churches, holding by the Westminster Standards, with the view of bringing about an (Ecumenical Council of such Churches, to consider subjects of common interest to all, and especially to promote harmony of action in the mission fields at Home and Abroad." The Assembly subsequently sent Delegates to the London Conference of 1875, where their zeal and wisdom aided greatly in the happy conclusions that were reached. At the meeting in Edinburgh in 1877, the Irish delegates sought that the Second Council should be held in Belfast, but when the invitation from Philadelphia was pressed they courteously waived their claim. At Philadelphia the claims and wishes of the Irish Church were again presented, when the delegates there assembled decided, with the utmost heartiness, that the next General Council should assemble in the town of Belfast, and in the year 1884. By 1884 is the preparations of the Local Committee were so fully matured, that when the Council assembled, every thing was ready. With proverbial hospitality, the Belfast citizens opened their houses for the entertainment of the delegates, while the treasury had received from country charges as well as from city churches, contributions sufficient for all necessary expenses. On Tuesday, June 24th, the delegates, numbering 250, assembled in Clifton Street Church. Having received their blue silk badges of membership, they then marched, arm-in-arm, to St. Enoch's Church, in which all the sessions of the Council were held. As they walked along the roadway, they were repeatedly cheered by the sympathising crowds that almost blocked the traffic of the streets. St. Enoch's Church, holding some 3,000 persons, was crowded to the utmost, but the admirable arrangements secured the complete absence of confusion at any of the sessions. If the work laid out for the delegates on the official Programme was abundant, so also was the provision made for their gratification. On the evening of June 24th, Sir David Taylor, J. P., Mayor of Belfast, entertained the members of the Council and their friends, in all more than a thousand persons, at a Reception in the Botanic Gardens. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.