MANUAL OF THE Alliance of the Reformed Churches ■ Throughout the World HOLDING THE Presbyterian System. WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ALLIANCE. BY THE Rev. WM. HENRY ROBERTS, D.D.,LLD. American Secretary. PHILADELPHIA 1898 BX 8907 .P92 W527 1898 Alliance of the Reformed Churches Throughout the Manual of the Alliance of MANUAL OF THE Alliance of the Reformed Churches Throughout the World HOLDING THE Presbyterian System. WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ALLIANCE. BY THE Rev. WM. HENRY ROBERTS, D.D.,LL.D. American Secretary. PHILADELPHIA 1898 t This publication is authorized by the Western Section of the ' ' Alliance of the Reformed Cliurches throughout the World holding the Presbyterian System," and is intended for the use of the members of the Section. W. H. Egberts, Americayi Secretary. CONTENTS. I. History of the Alliance, ...... 5-14 II. Constitution, 15 III. List of Churches, 18 IV. Members and adherents by countries, ... 21 v. Plan and Rules of general administration, . . . 22-32 1. The Executive Commission, .... 22 2. Objects of the Commission, ..... 22 3. Bounds of the Sections, 23 4. The President, 24 5. The General Secretary, ..... 24 6. The American Secretary, 25 7. The Treasurers, 25 8. Filling Tacancies, ....... 25 9. The Business Committee, .... 26 10. The Committee on Foreign Missions, ... 26 11. The Committe'e on Work on the European Conti- nent, 27 12. The Committee on the Desiderata of Presbytprian History, ........ 27 13. The Committee on Sabbath-schools, ... 2S 14. Committee on Credentials, ..... 28 15. Committee of Arrangements, .... 2S 16. Committee on Eeception of Churches, ... 28 17. Appointment of Council Committees, . . 29 18. Basis of representation, ..... 29 19. Corresponding members, ..... 29 20. Papers of absentees, ...... 30 21. Clerks of Council, 30 22. Finance, 30 23. Reports to the Council, ..... 31 24. Quarterly Register, ...... 31 VI. Rules of the Western Section, 33-35 1. Traveling expenses, 33 2. Apportionments for expenses, .... 33 3. Dates of meetings, ...... 33 4. Annual reports, 34 5. The Committee on Cooperation in Home Missions, 34 6. Plan of Cooperation, 34 VII. Rules of Order, 36-38 VIII. Officers of the Alliance, etc., 39-44 1. Officers, 39 2. Executive Commission, 39 3. Pt-rmanent Comniitt«e-, 42 HISTORY. The idea of an orgauizatioa including the several Churches of the Protestant Reformation was a favorite thought of many of the leading Reformers. Calvin, writing to Archbishop Cran- mer in 1552, said, " When our purpose is to unite the senti- ments of all good and learned men, and so according to the rule of Scripture, to bring the separated Churches into one, neither labor nor trouble of any kind should be spared." The idea was embodied in the second Book of Discipline of the Church of Scotland (1580), and given a definite form in a section reading : " There is besydes these, an uther mair generall kynde of assemblie, quhilk is of all nations and estaits of persons within the Kirk, representing the universall Kirk of Christ : Quhilk may be callit properlie the Generall Assemblie or Generall Councell of the haill Kirk of God." The Synod of Dort, called by the States General of Holland, and meeting at Dort, 1618-19, was the first of the ecumenical councils of the Reformed Churches. Invitations were sent to all the Protestant Churches, and the majority of them were represented by delegates, five of whom were from the Church of England. The Westminster Assembly, held at London, England, 16-13-52, was also in part representative of the unity of the Church, for commissioners were appointed or invited to it from the Churches of Scotland, Ireland and New England, as well as of Ensfland. That disting-uished bodv was not therefore a local gathering, but has been justly regarded as the first of the eccle- siastical councils of English-speaking Christians. A little after the middle of the nineteenth ^century, influential Presbyterians in Great Britain and the United States began to suggest the formino- of a oeneral ors-anization which should include all the 6 Eeformed Churches wherever found. Chief among the leaders in the new movement were the Rev. James McCosh, D.D., LL.D,, President of Princeton Universit}-, U. S. A., and the Rev. William Garden Blaikie, D.D., LL.D., of the Free Church College, Edinburgh, Scotland. In the year 1870, Dr. McCosh gave expression to his views on the subject in a sermon preached before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S, A., at Philadelphia, Pa. This was the first Assembly of the reunited Old and New School Churches, and the auspicious occasion furthered the suggestions made by him. In his discourse. Dr. McCosh said, ' ' It has long been a favorite idea of mine that all the Presbyterian Churches may be brought together at a Pan- Presbyterian Council at which each of them might be represented. I believe that the idea of such a union has occurred to many within the last few years. I do not claim to myself any superiority of wisdom ; but for the last ten years I have been speaking and writing on this subject in a variety of quarters. I was met Avith a right Irish cheer when I pro- claimed it in the General Assembly of the Irish Presbyterians. I unfolded my views more fully in an article of the Weekly Beview, an able organ of the Presbyterian Church published in London. I believe I spoke of it at the meetings of both General Assemblies at St. Louis, in 1866." It was at this Reunion Assembly that Dr. Blaikie, who was a delegate to it from the Free Church of Scotland, first became, according to his own testimony,* fully imbued with the desirability of the establishment of that Alliance, in which he has been, under the blessing of God, so potential and beneficial a power. Action by ecclesiastical bodies in harmony with Dr. McCosh' s proposal was taken in 1873, both in Ireland and the United States. In the American General Assenibl}^ the following overture was *See Dr. Blaikie's Sketch of the origiu of the Alliance in the volume of the Proceedings of the Edinbiirgh Conucil ; to which the author of this Manual acknowledges his obligations for valuable information. approved, and a Committee appointed to correspond with other Churches : " Whereas, There is substantial unity in faith, discipline and worship among the Presbyterian Churches in this and other lands ; Whereas, It is important to exhibit this unity to other Churches and the world ; Whereas, A desire has been expressed in many lands for closer union, among all branches of the great and widely scattered family of Presbyterian Churches ; therefore, ''^Resolved, That a Committee, consisting of the Moderator (Rev. Howard Crosby, D.D., LL.D.), the Stated Clerk (Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, D.D.), and the Rev. James McCosh, D.D., LL.D., be appointed to correspond with sist«r 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." An overture substantiall}'^ similar was adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. In October, 1873, a meeting of ministers and laymen was held in the city of New York, under the auspices of the Committee of the American General Assembly. About 150 persons attended, and the following resolutions were adopted unanimously : "1. That, Whereas, The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, at their last meetings, passed resolutions in favor of an ecumenical council of Presbyterian Churches, we, providentially brought to- g-ether at this time, and belonging to various branches of the Presbyterian family, cordially sympathise with these movements towards a General Council of the Presbyterian Churches in various lands. "2. That a Committee be appointed to correspond with individuals and with organized bodies in order to ascertain the feeling of Presbyterians in regard to such federal council, and to take such measures as may in their judgment promote this object. " 3. That this Committee be authorized to cooperate, as far as possible, with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and with the Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America." The Committee thus authorized consisted of the representa- tives of ten Presbvterian and Reformed Churches, the Chair- man beins: the Rev. Dr. James McCosli. This Committee 8 issued a fraternal address to the Churches generally, asking the appointment of Committees of Correspondence, and suggesting other arrangements for the practical outworking of the proposal for a Council. The proposition of the Committee was fol- lowed in 187-i by the aiDpointment of Committees as suggested by many General Assemblies and General Synods. In addition. Dr. McCosh visited Great Britain and conferred with the Com- mittees appointed by the Presbyterian Churches of the United Kingdom. As a result of his visit, preliminary meetings were held at Edinburgh on November 13, and at New York on De- cember 3, 1874. At the Edinburgh conference there were present the representatives of six Churches, with the Kev. Dr. Duff in the chair. At the New York meeting the representa- tives of seven Churches were in attendance, with Rev. Dr. John Hall as Chairman. Both meetings approved of a joint prelim- inary congress of delegates from British, American, Continental and Colonial Churches to be held in London in 1875, and if the way should be clear, to adopt a Constitution and make other arrangements for the first meeting of a General Council. In conformity with this plan, the General Assemblies and Synods of the Churches in 1875 appointed representatives, and a con- ference, which is Justly regarded as the first conciliar gathering since the seventeenth century of the Reformed Churches hold- ing the Presbyterian system, was held in the English Presby- terian College, Guilford street, London, on Wednesday, July 21, in that year, and was presided over by the Rev. Dr. McCosh, with Prof Blaikie, of Edinburgh, and the Rev. G. D. Mathews, of New York, as the Clerks. Of the one hundred and one delegates appointed, sixty-four were present, representing twenty-one Churches. The commissioners of the United Pres- byterian Church of North America were not able to be present. The other Churches represented were The Presbyterian Church in the U.S. A. The Presbyterian Church in the U. S. , . The Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America. 9 The Reformed Church in America. The Presbyterian Church in England. The Presbyterian Church of Wales [Calvinistic Methodist]. The Church of Scotland. The Free Church of Scotland. The United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Presbyterian Church in Canada. The Reformed Church of France. The Missionary Church of Belgium. The Union of Evangelical Churches of France. The Evangelical Church of the Canton de Vaud, Switzerland. The Evangelical Church of Neuchatel, Switzerland. The Waldensian Church of Italy. The Reformed Church of East Friesland. The Free Evangelical Church of Germany, and The Evangelical Church of Spain, The work of the London conference included the organiza- tion of the Alliance, the adoption of a Constitution, and the agreement that the First Council should be held at Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 4, 1876. This date for the Edinburgh Council, however, was found to be unacceptable to the American Churches, owing to the fact that the year appointed was that of the Centennial celebration of American Independence, and the meeting was postponed, therefore, until July 3, 1877. The first General Council was highly successful, and there were present two hundred and twenty delegates and eighty asso- ciates from the following forty-three Churches : THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE. Reformed Church in Bohemia. Reformed Church in Moravia. Reformed Church of Hiingary. Union of Evangelical Churches in Belgium. Missionary Christian Church of Belgium. Reformed Church of France. Union of the Free Evangelical Churches of France. Free Evangelical Church of Germany. "Waldensian Evangelical Church, Italy. 10 Evangelical Church in Italy. Reformed Church of the Netherlands. The Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands. Old Reformed Churches of Bentheim and East Friesland. Spanish Christian Church. Free Evangelical Church of Neuchatel. Free Evangelical Church of the Canton de Vaud. UNITED KINGDOM. Presbyterian Church of England. Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Church of Scotland. Free Church of Scotland. United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Synod of the United Originnl Secession Church. Calviuistic Methodist Church of Wales. ASIA. Presbytery of Ceylon. AFRICA. Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. Dutch Reformed Church of the Orange Free State. NORTH AMERICA. Presbyterian Church in Canada. Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Presbyterian Church in the United States. Welsh Calvinistic Methodist or Presbyterian Church in the United States. United Presbyterian Church of North America. Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of the South. General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America. Synod of the Reformed Presl)yterian Church in America. Reformed Church in America. AUSTRAL A.SIA. Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia, N. S. W. Presbyterian Church of New South Wales. Presbyterian Church of Queensland. Presbyterian Church of New Zealand (North). Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland (South). ,• Mission Synod of the New Hebrides. 11 The General Councils, since the first, have been held as fol- lows : at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1880; Belfast, Ireland, in 1884; London, England, in 1888 ; Toronto, Canada, in 1892, and Glasgow, Scotland, in 1896. The proceedings of the Councils have been published in six octavo volumes. During the intervals between Councils, the business of the Alliance was first conducted by general Committees responsible only to the Council. This plan was altered at the Belfast Council in 188-4 [see Belfast Vol., p. 527]. An Executive Commission was there constituted, whose organization and whose powers are indicated on p. 22. This Executive Commission is divided into two sections, one for North America, and the other for the remaining five continents. They are called the West- ern and the Eastern Sections respectively, and each has its own Chairman and Secretary. At Belfast, Toronto and London pro- vision was also made for a more thorough organization of the Council. That body has now its own officers, viz., a President, who is the President of the Alliance, and two Secretaries, the one General and the other the American Secretary, who are Secretaries of the Alliance. These Secretaries are also the Stated and Permanent Clerks of the Council, and perform in addition the duties of Secretaries, respectively for the Eastern and Western Sections. There are also two Temporary Clerks, who are appointed at each Council, and aid the Secretaries in their duties. The following ministers have been Presidents of the Alli- ance: 1. Rev. W. G. Blaikie; D.D., LL.D., 1888-92, who presided at the Toronto Council. 2. Rev. Talbot W. Chambers, D.D., LL.D., 1892-96. Dr. Chambers departed this life February 2, 1896. 3. Rev. William Henry Roberts, D.D., LL.D., who was chosen as the successor of Dr. Chambers, and presided at the Glasgow Council, June, 1896. 12 The Eev. J. Marshall Lang, D.D., of Glasgow, Scotland, is the President of the Alliance for the term 1896-99. The General Secretary of the Alliance is Kev. George D. Mathews, D.D., London, England, and the American Secretary is the Kev. William Henry Eoberts, D.D., LL.D., of Phila- delphia, Pa. In addition to the Executive Commission, the work of the Council is carried forward through Committees which are appointed by the Council, though under the supervision of the Executive Commission. These Committees are : 1. The Committee on Cooperation in Foreign Missions. 2. The Committee on Work on the European Continent. 3. The Committee on Sabbath-schools. 4. The Committee on Desiderata of Presbyterian History. 5. The Committee on Cooperation in Home Missions ; which is a Committee only of the Western Section. The constituency of the Alliance now [1898] consists of eighty -six different denominational or national Churches found on all the five continents, and including a Presbyterian popula- tion of about twenty-two millions. The names of the Churches will be found in the list on p. 21. Following the list ot Churches will be found a statement of the Presbyterian popu- lation in the several countries of the world. The results of the work of the Alliance may be briefly stated as follows : 1. The Alliance has brought about, through its fraternal in- fluence, the unification of the Foreign Mission work of its Churches in Japan, Brazil and other places, and has also estab- lished closer relations between Foreign Mission workers in other lands. 2. It has secured the adoption of a Plan of Cooperation in Home Mission work between the majority of the Presbyterian and Reform.ed Churches in the United States of America. 3. It has brought the influence of the Churches of the Refor- 13 mation to bear upon civil governmeuts in various parts of tlie world, in the interests of humanity and of peace. For instance, it exercised an important influence upon the policy of both the British and the American governments for the regulation of the liquor traffic in the islands of the Western Pacific, and has also effectively supported the acceptance of the principle of arbitra- tion for the settlement of controversies between nations. 4. It has brought into practical, sympathetic and mutually beneficial relations, Churches scattered throughout the world, maintaining in general the same type of doctrine and the same form of government. To some of the Churches on the Continent of Europe the Alliance has been remarkably helpful, as, for instance, by the aid extended in the name of the Alliance to the Bohemian Church, under the lead of the late Eev, William C. Cattell, D.D,, LL.D., of Philadelphia. The Churches of the Continent are to-day stronger and more hopeful than they were at the date of the establishment of the Alliance. This is notably the case with the Reformed Church of Hungary, with its two millions of members and adherents. Another illustration of the attractive influence of the Alliance is found in the recent union effected between the Presbyterian Churches and Missions in South Africa, and the movement for federation among the Churches of Australia. 5. It has enabled the Presbyterian and Reformed Churches of the world, as true children of the Reformation, to make themselves distinctly felt as a great power in the life and prog- ress of the Church Universal. Next to the Lutheran Church, the Churches of the Alliance represent the largest body of Protestants in the world. They represent, further, the great principles which are intimately connected with the progress of civil and religious liberty. Further, they are a true ecumeni- cal or catholic branch of the Church universal, their ministers and members being found in all important countries. They 14 constitute the Presbyterian or Eefbrmed communion, and cover a world-wide territory. There is but one other communion which is as extensive. Side by side on everv continent stand the Romanist and the Presbyterian ; the teacher face to face with the priest ; the open Bible in opposition to the confes- sional ; liberty opposing tyranny ; the obedience of (>hrist confronting the obedience of Rome. Through the Alliance and its Churches, cooperating with other followers of Christ, may the petitions soon be answered, " Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." 15 CONSTITUTION OF THE ALLIANCE. PREAMBLE. Whereas^ Chiirclies holding the Eeformed faith, and organized on Presbyterian principles, are found, though under a variety of names, in different parts of the world ; Whereas^ Many of these were long wont to maintain close relations, but are at present united by no visible bond, whether of fellowship or of work : and Whereas^ In the providence of God, the time seems to have come when they may all more fully manifest their essential oneness, have closer communion with each other, and promote great causes by joint action ; It is agreed to form a Presbyterian Alliance to meet in General Council from time to time, in order to confer on matters of common interest, and to further the ends for which the Church has been constituted by her divine Lord and only King. In forming this Alliance, the Presbyterian Churches do not mean to change their fraternal relations with other Churches, but will be ready, as heretofore, to join with them in Christian fellowship, and in advancing the cause of the Redeemer, on the general principle maintained and taught in the Reformed Con- fessions that the Church of God on earth, though composed of many members, is One Body in the Communion of the Holy Ghost, of which Body Christ is the Supreme Head, and the Scriptures alone are the infallible law. ARTICLES. I. Designation. — This Alliance shall be known as " The Alliance of the Reformed Churches throughout the World holding the Presbyterian System." II. Membership. — Any Church organized on Presbyterian .principles which holds the supreme authority of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments in matters of faith and morals, and whose creed is in harmony with the consensus of the Re- 16 formed Confessions, shall be eligible for admission into the Alliance. III. The Council. 1. Its Meetings. — The Alliance shall meet in General Council ordinarily once in three years. 2. Its Constituency . — The Council shall consist of delegates, being ministers and elders, appointed by the Churches forming the Alliance ; the number from each Church being regulated by a plan sanctioned by the Council, regard being had generally to the number of congregations in the several Churches. The delegates, as far as practicable, to consist of an equal number of ministers and elders. The Council may, on the recommen- dation of a Committee on Business, invite Presbyterian brethren, not delegates, to offer suggestions, to deliver addresses, and to read papers. 3. Its Powers. — The Council shall have power to decide upon the application of Churches desiring to join the Alliance ; it shall have power to entertain and consider topics which may be brought before it by any Church represented in the Council, or by any member of the Council, on their being transmitted in the manner hereinafter provided ; but it shall not interfere with the existing creed or Constitution of any Church in the Alli- ance, or with its internal order or external relations. •i. Its Objects. — The Council shall consider questions of gen- eral interest to the Presbyterian community ; it shall seek the welfare of Churches, especially such as are weak or perse- cuted ; it shall gather and disseminate information concerning the kingdom of Christ throughout the world ; it shall com- mend the Presbyterian system as Scriptural, and as combining simplicity, efficiency, and adaptation to all times and condi- tions ; it shall also entertain all subjects directly connected with the work of evangelization, such as the relation of the Chris- tian Church to the evangelization of the world, the distribution of mission work, the combination of Church energies, especially 17 in reference to great cities and destitute districts, the training ol ministers, the use of the press, colportage, the religious instruc- tion of the young, the sanctification of the Sabbath, systematic beneficence, the suppression of intemperance and other prevail- ing vices, and the best methods of opposing infidelity and Romanism. 5. Its Methods. — The Council shall seek to guide and stimu- late public sentiment by papers read, by addresses delivered and published, by the circulation of information respecting the allied Churches and their missions, by the exposition of Scrip- tural principles, and by defenses of the truth ; by communica- ting the Minutes of its proceedings to the Supreme Courts of the Churches forming the Alliance, and by such other action as is in accordance with its Constitution and objects. 6. Committee on Business. — The Council, at each general meeting, shall appoint a Committee on Business, through which all communications and notices of subjects purposed to be dis- cussed shall pass. The Committee appointed at one general meeting shall act provisionally, so far as is necessary, in prepar- ing for the following meeting. IV. Change of Constitution. — No change shall be made in this Constitution, except on a motion made at one general meet- ing of Council, not objected to by a majority of the Churches, and carried by a two-thirds vote at the next general meeting. 18 LIST OF REFORMED AND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES, 1897. EUROPE. CHUECHES. The Reformed Church in Austria, .... The Reformed Courch in Bohemia, The Reformed Church in Galicia, .... The Reformed Church in Moravia, The Reformed Cliurch of Hungary, The Union of Evangelical Churches in Belgium, . The Missionary Chris'.ian Church of Belgium, The Reformed Church of France, The Union of the Free Evangelical Churches of France, ........ *Tlie Free Evangelical Church of Germany, The Reformed Churches of the East Rhine, Germany, The United Hanoverian Reformed Church, The Reformed Church, Alsace Lorraine, The Evangelical Church of Greece, The Waldensian Evangelical Church of Italy, . The Evangelical Church in Italy, .... The Reformed Church of the Netherlands, The Christian Reformed Church of the Netherlands, The Old Reformed Churches of Beatheim and East Friesland, ....... The Reformed Church in Russia, The Spanish Christian Church, .... tThe Free Evangelical Church of Neuchatel, The Free Evangelical Church of Canton de Vaud, The Free Evangelical Church of Geneva, UNITED KINGDOM. The Church of Scotland, The Free Church of Scotland, .... The United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, The Synod of the United Original Secession Church, * There are many Reformed Congregations in connection with the State Church in Germany. The Reformed do not number less than 2,000,000 members and adherents. t The Reformed Churches of the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland, which are not in the Alliance, include about 1,600,000 adherents. CONGRE- MINIS- GATIONS. TEES. 5 6 56 65 4 4 29 31 1980 1909 16 18 32 28 544 650 55 52 15 5 9 7 103 122 6 3 5 5 61 88 18 1347 1604 687 483 11 7 5 6 13 13 23 40 50 150 4 5 1564 1608 1050 1165 578 610 9 8 29 21 19 CHURCHES. The Presbyterian Church of England, The Church of Scotland in England, The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, . The Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland, The Eastern Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ire- land, The Secession Church of Ireland, The Calvinistic Methodist Church of Wales, . ASIA. The Evangelical Syriac Church of Persia, The Presbytery of Tie-Hui [Swatow] , The Presbyteries of Ching-Chew and Chin-Chew [Amoy], The Presbyterian Church of Manchuria, The Presbyterian Church of Korea, .... The United Churcb of Christ in Japan, The Presbytery of Tainan, South Formosa, The Presbytery of Ceylon, AFRICA. The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa, . The Dutch Reformed Mission Church in South Africa, The Dutch Reformed Church in Natal, The Dutch Reformed Church in the South African Republic, . The Dutch Reformed Church of the Orange Free State, The Christian Reformed Church in South Africa, The Colonial Presbytery of Natal, The Colonial Presbytery of Cape Town, The Colonial Presbytery of Adelaide, . The Colonial Presbytery of the South African Re- public, The Free Church Mission Presbytery of the Transkei, The Free Church Mission and Colonial Presbytery of Kaffraria, ....... The Free Church Missions in Natal, . The United Presbyterian Mission Presbytery of the Transkei, NORTH AMERICA. The Presbyterian Church in Canada, The Presbyterian Church of Canada, in connection with the Church of Scotland, .... CONGEK- MINIS- GATIONS. TERS. 297 339 14 14 566 656 33 29 10 7 1308 720 80 49 5 5 20 20 19 10 10 10 73 58 18 11 5 112 109 26 5 3 31 14 36 25 34 16 10 10 4 4 5 5 6 6 5 7 12 13 3 3 919 5 10 1077 7631 7129 2816 1393 2915 1571 300 215 186 108 950 895 20 CONGRE- MINIS- CHURCHES. GATIONS. TERS. The Maritime Provinces in connection with the Church of Scotland, 14 12 The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, 7631 The Presbyterian Church in the United States, . The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, The Cumberland Presbyterian Church [Colored], The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist or Presbyterian Church in the United States, .... The United Presbyterian Church of North America, The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Synod of the South, 127 99 The General Synod of ihe Reformed Presbyterian Church in America, 48 35 The Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America, ........ The Reformed Church in America, (Dutch) The Christian Reformed Church in America, The Reformed Chiirch in the United States (German), SOUTH AMERICA. The Presbyterian Church of Brazil, The Presbytery of British Guiana, The Dutch Reformed Church in Surinam, WEST INDIA ISLANDS. The Presbytery of Trinidad, The Presbyterian Church of Jamaica, . Miscellaneous, AUSTRALASIA. The Presbyterian Church of Eastern Aiistralia, N. S. W., The Presbyterian Church of New South Wales, . The Presbyterian Church of South Australia, . The Presbyterian Church of Victoria, . The Presbyterian Church of Queensland, The Presbyterian Church of Tasmania, The Free Church of Tasmania, .... The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand [North], The Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland [South], The Mission Synod of the New Hebrides, 119 109 634 654 122 79 1639 961 40 31 10 6 2 10 55 29 4 11 6 150 159 20 17 217 226 46 42 13 70 4 3 98 84 72 84 19 20 21 MEMBERS AND ADHERENTS OF THE PRES- BYTERIAN AND REFORMED CHURCHES. 1897.* United States of America, 6,900,000 Canada, 740,000 West Indies and Mexico, 50,000 Great Britain : England, 250,000 Wales, 450,000 Ireland 400,000 Scotland, 3,300,000 Europe : Bohemia, 70,000 France, 800,000 Germany, 1,500,000 Holland, 2,500,000 Hungary, 2,000,000 Switzerland, 1,700,000 Other Countries, 250,000 Africa, 500,000 Asia 400,000 Australasia, 200,000 South and Central America, 50,000 * In North America, the figures herein given are based upon the proportion of 3.5 members and adherents for each communicant. 22 PLAN AND RULES OF ADMINISTRATION, I. THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSION. 1. There shall be appointed bj the Council at each meeting an Executive Commission, whose function shall be, during the intervals between the meetings of Council, to promote the objects of the Alliance. 2, This Commission shall consist of not fewer than fift}^ mem- bers, and be divided into two or more Sections ; at present, into an Eastern Section and a Western Section, each having power to fill vacancies in its own number. 3. Seven shall constitute a quorum of each Section, and at least that number of members shall reside \vithin reach of a convenient place of meeting. 4, It shall be for the consideration of the Executive Commis- sion whether separate auxiliary Alliances shall also be formed for the Continent of Europe and the Colonies of Great Britain, or whether these shall be included in Subsections under the other Sections. The Commission shall report to next meeting of Council, giving an account of the operations of all its Sections [1884, p. 527]. Note. — The Toronto Council resolved, "That a Sub-section be constituted, to be known as the Australian Sub-section, and that the details of its organization be referred to the Eastern Section."— 1892, pp. 39, 371. This subject is still left in the hands of the Eastern Section. See Appendix, Report of Eastern Section, p. 16 ; 1896, p. 34. II. OBJECTS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSION. The objects of this Executive Commission shall, with due regard to the constituent Churches, be such as the following : 1. To carry out the decisions of the Council. 2. To superintend the printing and publication of its pro- ceedings. 3. To communicate with the Churches of the Alliance.^' All communications of Committees to Churches to be transmitted through the Commission. 23 4:. To collect and publish information respecting the Reformed Churches and their work. 5. To send deputations to Continental or Colonial Churches, or to Foreign Mission Stations, when occasion requires, and the funds admit. 6. To extend sympathy and assistance to all Missions, mis- sionaries, and Churches, but especially when these are under persecution. 7. To take action on great questions of morality, and to refer such questions for the consideration of the Council [1892, pp. 205, 255]. 8. To hold public meetings in order to communicate informa- tion respecting the Alliance, and to make known and promote its objects as may be deemed expedient. 9. To aid Standing Committees by supplementing their num- ber when the services of convener or members may have been lost through death, sickness or removal ; and to render to Committees such other aid as niay be in their power. 10. To prepare the programme for the next meeting of Council. 11. To receive the credentials or commissions of delegates to the Council. 12. To arrange for the printing, in good time, of papers — especially reports necessary for the use of the Council. 13. To publish, if judged desirable, a journal, as the ofl&cial record or organ of the Alliance ; the Commission having a right to employ a portion of its income in conducting and maintaining such a periodical. 14. To raise the funds needful for the work of the Alliance [1884, p. 528.]. III. BOUNDS OF THE SECTIONS. The Council ag:''eed, that the American (Western) Section should be held to consist of the Churches in the United States of America and Canada, while the European (Eastern) Section should include the Churches of all other lands [18S4, p. 529]. 24 IV. THE PRESIDENT. That a President be appointed for the Alliance, who shall hold office from one Council to the next ; and that a member of the Eastern or Western Section shall hold this office alternately [1896, p. 355 ; see also, 1888, p. 387]. V. GE3NERAL SECRETARY.* 1. That it is desirable that a General Secretary for the Alli- ance be appointed at this Council, whose salary shall be a charge upon the above-mentioned income [1888, p. 267]. 2. That it shall be the duty of the General Secretary to give his whole time to the interests of the Alliance, and especially to assist the Executive Commission as they may direct, in carry- ing on all their work, as that was defined by the Belfast Council. or may hereafter be determined [1888, p. 267]. 3. The Secretary shall divide his time between the two Sec- tions of the Commission, and shall act as Stated Clerk to ihe meetings of Council [1881, p. 528]. 4. That the General Secretary shall hold his appointment at the pleasure of the Council [1888, p. 267]. 5. That for the sake of the work to be performed, the General Secretary be required to reside in the United Kingdom, and that it be left to the European Section of the Executive Commission to determine the place of his residence [1888, p. 267]. 6. That the salary attached to the office of General Secretary shall be fixed for the present at £500 per annum [1888, p. 304J. 7. That when directions are given to the General Secretary as to the disposal of his time in the work of the Alliance, the two Sections shall concur in such directions [1888, p. 304]. 8. That the General Secretary correspond with all the Churches, and use all means in his power for securing full and accurate returns of a statistical character. *It was unanimously agreed that Dr. George D. Mathews, of Quebec, be appointed General Secretary of the Alliance [1888, p. 267]. 25 9. The General Secretary sliall be a member ex officio of all Committees of Council [1888, p. 267]. VI. AMERICAN SECRETARY.* 1. That there shall also be an American Secretary, to reside in North America, who shall be appointed by the Council [1888, p. 267]. 2. The duties of this Secretary shall be to aid the General Secretary in obtaining information ; to be in official matters the medium of communication between the Western and the Eastern Sections, and to perform such other work as the Western Sec- tion of the Executive Commission shall prescribe [1892, p. 280]. 8. All official communications from the General Secretary to the American Churches shall be signed by the President and General Secretary of the Alliance, and coimtersigned by the Chairman and Secretary of the Western Section [1892, p. 280]. 4. That the American or Western Secretary shall be a mem- ber ex officio of the Committees of the Western Section [1888, p. 267].' VII. TREASURERS. The Treasurers of the Alliance were at first Treasurers of the Eastern and Western Sections respectively [see 1888, pp. 357, 387, 389]. The Treasurer of the Eastern Section is now the General Treasurer of the Alliance, and the Treasurer of the Western Section is the American Treasurer [see 1892, p. 369, and 1896, p. 355]. VIII. FILLING VACANCIES. 1. That in the case of a vacancy in any office to which an *The London Council passed the following resolution : The American Secretary shall be nominated to the Council by the American delegates [1888, p. 267] . On report of the delegates, The Council unanimously appointed the Rev. Dr. William H. Roberts, of Cin- cinnati, 0., as American Secretary of the Council [1888, p. 306]. 26 appointment' has been made bj the Council, the Executive Commission is hereby authorized to fill the same until the next meeting of the Council [1888, p. 304]. 2. That each Section shall have power, for absence or other satisfactory reason, to declare vacant the place of any member of that Section, and to fill such other vacancies ; also to add to their number when deemed advisable [1896, p. 358]. IX. THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE. That in order to facilitate the transaction of its business, each Council shall appoint a Committee, to be known as the Business Committee, and that this Committee shall consist of thirty members, fifteen being selected from the Eastern and fifteen from the Western Section, with power to add to their numbers. The work of this Committee shall be : 1. To arrange from time to time, the order of considering .such business as shall come before the Council. 2. To consider every resolution referred to it by the Council, with power to transmit or reject the same, or to suggest or sub- -stitute. 3. To nominate all Special Committees [1892, p. 343]. [See Constitution, Article iii, Section 6, p. 17.] X. THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN MISSIONS. 1. The Council having regard to Foreign Mission work as an essential and urgent duty, needing to be much more earnestly prosecuted by all Christian Churches, and in which it is of in- creasing importance that there should be the utmost attainable cooperation amongst the Churches of this Alliance, appoint a Committee to collect and digest full information as to the fields at present occupied by them, their plans and modes of opera- tions, with instructions to report the same to the next General Council, together with any suggestions they may judge it wise to submit respecting the possibility of consolidating existing agencies, or preparing the way for cooperation in the future [1877, p. 275]. 27 2. It is remitted to the Committees of the Eastern and West- em Sections to prepare before each meeting of the Council a conspectus of the Foreign Mission work done by the various Presbyterian Churches throughout the world, and by the socie- ties in connection with Presbyterian Churches [1896, p. 226]. XI. THE COMMITTEE ON WORK ON THE CONTINENT OP EUROPE. The Council rejoices that its membership includes so many representatives of Presbyterian Churches of the Continent of Europe, and considering that the difficulties which several, if not all, of these Churches encounter from the aggressions of ultramontanism and infidelity, as well as from other causes, ■entitle them to the special interest and sympathy of the Coun- cil, and considering also that it will be impossible for the Coun- cil at its ordinary meetings to receive from the delegates and associates that detailed information regarding their respective Churches which the delegates may wish to give, the Council instructs the Business Committee to nominate a Special Com- mittee of the Council for the purpose of conferring on behalf of the Council with the Continental delegates and associates, receiving such information as they may have to offer, and for the further purpose of considering the interests of Continental Churches, and also the provision made over the Continent for the English-speaking residents, American and British [1877, p. 276J. XII. COMMITTEE ON THE DESIDERATA OF PRESBYTE- RIAN HISTORY. The Council, appreciating the importance of obtaining full information respecting the existing desiderata of the history of the Presbj^terian Churches, and of the materials available for supplying them, agree to appoint a small Committee, with Dr. Lorimer, of London, as Convener, to correspond on this subject with all the branches of the Presbyterian Churches represented in the Alliance, and to prepare a report of the information 28 which is obtained to the next meeting of the Council in 1880, The Council expresses its earnest hope that the office-bearers- and members of all the Churches here represented will give liberal support and encouragement to such publications as may- be suggested by the Committee now appointed, whether in the shape, of new historical works or of unpublished ecclesias- tical records and documents, or reprints of writings associ- ated with the names of celebrated Presbyterian worthies [1877, p. 276]. XIII. COMMITTEE ON SABBATH-SOHOOLS. That a Committee be appointed to collect, classify and report- to the next Council, the methods of Sabbath-school work in the various Churches of this Alliance, and to make suggestions- so as to increase the efficiency of the Sabbath-schools [188-1, p. 446]. XIV. COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS. That the Committee on Credentials for next Council consist of the Stated and Eecording Clerks of the Council, together with the Chairman of the Executive Commission, within whose terri- tory a given Council may meet [1892, p. 416 ; 1896, p. 12]. XV. COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS. It is the custom to appoint a local Committee of Arrange- ments, for matters connected with the comfort and convenience of the delegates. ' ' That the members of this Council, residing in Glasgow, be a local Committee of Arrangements, for the Council to be held in that, city, with power to add to their num- ber" [1892, p. 427; 1896, p. 156]. ^ XVI. COMMITTEE ON THE RECEPTION OP CHURCHES. It is the usage to appoint at the Councils, when necessary,, a Committee to report upon applications by Churches for mera- ship in the Alliance [1892, p. 34; 1896, p. 82]. 29 XVII. APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES. In the appointment of Standing Committees care shall be taken that a quorum of members reside within reach of the Convener, who shall obtain, bj correspondence, the opinions of members residing at a distance [1888, p. 267]. XVIII. BASIS OF REPRESENTATION. That the representation in the Council shall be : For each hundred congregations or less, two delegates up to 1000 congre- gations ; above 1000 congregations, one delegate for each addi- tional 100 up to 2000 congregations ; above 2000 congregations, one delegate for each additional 250 congregations. In the case of union of Churches represented in the Alliance, it is recommended that the number of delegates remain as pre- vious to union, till the following meeting of the Council, when, on the union being reported to the Council, the future number of delegates shall be determined [1888, p. 308]. XIX. CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. 1. That in order to advance the interests in cooperation in Mis- sion fields, each of the Churches represented in this Alliance be invited to send to the meetings of Council a representative of its Foreign Mission Board or Committee, and such representa- tive shall be entitled to act as a corresponding member [1892, p. 280]. 2. " That in accordance with the practice of previous Councils, missionaries from foreign fields of labor, ministers from Churches on the Continent of Europe, brethren invited bj the Programme Committee to read papers or to deliver addresses, Conveners of Committees reporting to this ^Council, and repre- sentatives of Foreign Mission Boards who maj be present, be and hereby are cordiallv invited to seats as corresponding- members " [1896, p. 22]. 30 XX. PAPERS OF ABSENTEES. That the General Secretary having reported the absence of several delegates who had agreed to write papers for the Coun- cil, but who had forwarded their papers, and as it has been the constant practice of the Council hitherto, that such papers should not be accepted, the Committee recommend, that, while approving of this practice when such delegates are unexpect- edly hindered from being present through sickness, a portion of such paper, not exceeding iive hundred words, may either be read before the Council or included in the Appendix to the Proceedings [1896, p. 295]. XXI. CLERKS OF COUNCIL. The General Secretary being, by the rules of the Alliance, the Stated Clerk, it is recommended that the Secretary of the "Western [American] Section sh-all be Eecording Clerk to the meetings of Council. And further, that each Council shall appoint two temporary Clerks to aid in the transaction of busi- ness. XXII. FINANCE. 1. That in the apportionment among the various Churches to be made by each Section of the Executive Commission, it is recommended that regard be had to the number either of con- gregations or of communicants in each Church, under such modi- fications as each Section may deem equitable in its own case [1888, p. 267]. 2. That in the judgment of this Executive Commission, it is most desirable, with a view to secure a stable and permanent income, that the whole or a large part of the contribution expected from each Church should be paid out of Church revenue, by order of the Supreme Court of each Church, and that where this has not already been done, this Minute be brought to the notice of every such Supreme Court at its next ordinary meeting [London, 1888, Minutes of Commissionl. 31 3. That the estimated working expenses of the Alliance be regarded as including the follo\\Tng items : (1) The Secretary's- salary ; (2) Office expenses; (3) Quarterly register ; (4) Secre- tary's traveling expenses [1896, p. 294]. •i. That, under the above estimated items, £500, £50, £80' and £100 respectively, or £730 in all, be regarded as the amount necessary at present for annual working expenses ; and that each Section shall remit one-half of that sum — namely, £365 — to the General Treasurer each year, it being understood that it shall not be necessary to apply the £730 exactly in the proportion above set forth, if modifications in the respective items be found desirable. 5. That if in any year a larger sum than £730 shall be required, an estimate shall be submitted to the "Western Section in time for its meeting in April. 6. That an annual account of expenses to 31st December of the previous year be made to the Western Section prior to said April meeting. 7. That the accounts to be submitted to the Council shall be made up to 31st March of the year in which the Council meets,. and shall exhibit the balances to be debited or credited, as the case may be, to the Sections respectively. XXIII. REPORTS TO THE COUNCIL. That the reports of the Sections of the Executive Commis- sion and the Committees of the Council be printed together prior to the meetings, and a resume of such reports be presented to the Council by the Conveners or Chairmen, with accompany- ing remarks, at the time assigned for that consideration [1892,. p. 255]. XXIV. QUARTERLY REGISTER. In regard to the Quarterly Register, the Committee recom- mend that the Register should be enlarged, so far as the funds at the disposal of the Sections will permit ; and that the Eastern and 32 Western Sections should endeav'or to secure, in each of the various Churches within the Alliance, some person who would engage to furnish the editor, for use at his discretion, with suit- able information regarding said Church, and also to further the more general and effective circulation of the Register [1896, p. 295]. [8ee Paragraph 13, p. 23.] 33 RULES OF THE WESTERN SECTION, In addition to the Eules adopted by the Council, the "Western Section has adopted the following : I. TRAVELING EXPENSES. 1. That the traveling expenses of delegates to meetings of the Commission who come over two hundred miles be paid [April, 1889, p. 2]. 2. In the matter of traveling expenses, it was agreed that no member of the Executive Commission shall receive a larger sum than $50, as allowance for traveling expenses in connection with attendance at any one meeting of the Commission [June, 1896, p. 9]. 3. That the traveling expenses of the Western [American] Secretary be paid [October, 1888, p. 3]. II. APPORTIONMENTS FOR EXPENSES. 1. That the contributions from the several Churches should be in proportion to the number of delegates sent by them to the Councils of the Alliance. 2. That the Secretary of the Western Section, immediately after the April meeting of the Commission, notify each Church of the amount allocated — the basis upon which it has been made, and the purposes for which it is wanted ; and that the moneys from the several Churches be forwarded annually to the Treasurer, George Junkin, Esq., Philadelphia, by the first day of July [April, 1889, p. 2]. III. DATES OF MEETINGS. That the dates for the meetings of the Commission shall be the Thursday after the second Sabbath in April, and the last Thursday in October in each ^^ear [April, 1897, p. -l]. 34 IV. ANNUAL REPORTS. The Chairman and Secretary shall send to the Supreme Judi- catories of the Churches represented in the Alliance, an annual report in time for presentation at the meetings of the Supreme Judicatories [April, 1887]. V. THE COMMITTEE ON COOPERATION IN HOME MISSIONS. This Committee was appointed by the Western Section, in April, 1894, through the reference to it by the Toronto Council of an overture from the Reformed Church in the United States, on the subject of cooperation in Home Missions. It was authorized " to confer with the officers of the various Home Mission Boards belonging to the Churches in connection with the Alliance, the Committee to report from time to time to the Commission." This Committee reported to the Council in 1896 [see Proceedings p. 420]. The Council took the following action : *' The following members of the Western Section were, on the nomination of that Section, appointed as a Committee of its number on co-operation in Home Mission work " [1896, p. 358J. VI. PLAN OP COOPERATION. The Boards and Committees of Home Missions, Church Erec- tion, Freedmen's Missions and Sabbath-school work of the Ameri- can Churches in " The Alliance of the Eeformed Churches holding the Presbyterian Sj^stem, ' ' both in the United States and Canada, recognizing with gratitude to God their substantial unity both in faith and polity, do agree upon the following principles of action for their guidance in their work, viz.: do "1. That in tlie work of all these Boards as related to each other the authority of the Church Courts is to be recognized as final. "2, That there shall be no interference with Churches, Mis- sions or Sabbath-schools at present existing, unless by voluntary agreement between the denominations directly concerned. " 3. That ordinarily, no Churches, Missions or Sabbath- schools shall be established in small communities where the field is fully occupied by other Presbyterian or Reformed Churches. " 4. That the Supreme Judicatories of the several Churches recommend their Church members when moving into new com- munities, in which there is no congregation of their own Church, to unite, for the time being, with some other Presbyte- rian or Reformed Church, if such there be. " 5. That if cases of difference of opinion arise in connection ■with the work, they shall be referred for consideration and amicable adjustment to the missionary authorities of the denominations directly concerned " [April, 1896]. Interpretations of the Plan. 1. That the recommendations set forth in Principle No. 4 of the Plan of Cooperation of Home Missions, approved by the "Western Section of this Alliance, and submitted to the several churches therein, is not to be understood as an obstacle in the way of the organization, Avhenever it shall be deemed wise, of a particular church of any one of our denominations, in a com- munity where church members locate. 2. That Principle No. 5 of the Plan of Cooperation is to be interpreted in the light of Principle No. 1. This Section of the Alliance reiterates the declaration that the authority of the Church courts is to be recognized as final [April, 1893.] 36 RULES OF ORDER. ALOPTED AT THE LONDON COUNCIL OF 1888, AND CONFIEMED AT TORONTO, 1892. 1. Eacli Session of the Council shall be opened and closed with devotional exercises. The order of business at every Session, unless suspended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, shall be as follows: (a) Heading and approving the Minutes. {b) Report of Business Committee. [c) The presentation of letters, papers, notices of motion, or matters requiring reference. (o?) The presentation and consideration of Eeports from Standing and Special Committees, subject to such limitation as to time as the Council may appoint. (