better state of feeling, and will encourage practical Christian cooperation.

In this condition of affairs, it seems especially fitting that this Presbyterian Alliance, representing millions of Christians in the various Reformed Churches throughout the world, met in this great Protestant city, do not hesitate to make this expression of Christian courtesy and sympathy embodied in this resolution; that they take the initiative, and not only formulate such a resolution, but that, in the words of the amendment, they duly transmit said resolution to the Pan-Anglican Convocation in session at Lambeth Palace, London. It were indeed well to order such a resolution to be placed on the records of this Presbyterian Alliance as a matter of history. It would be better and more becoming to duly transmit the resolution to the Anglican Convocation. I trust that the resolution will not only be adopted unanimously, but that it will be unanimously adopted with this amendment.

Dr. BURNS (Halifax, Canada).—I second that. I would not go to the length of sending a deputation in present circumstances, especially as the Anglican Conference is not at this moment in session; and yet I feel that something more is needed than to simply pass the resolution and then allow it to be buried in our Minutes. When our Assembly in Canada met in London (Ont.), the Synod of the Church of England was in session, and the Bishop of the diocese took the initiative and visited our Synod in an official way, and occupied our platform; and all this he did in the most friendly and fraternal manner. There was a very pleasant interchange. We sent a deputation to them, and we were invited by the bishop to a friendly and social entertainment along with his Synod. In Toronto similar interchanges have taken place. In Winnipeg, a year ago, a greeting came to our General Assembly from the Church of England, which took the initiative. When the Church of England has taken the lead in these interchanges, we ought not to be "offish."

Dr. J. HALL (New York).-I do hope that what we shall do will be done with absolute unanimity. The moral value of the thing would be impaired if we acted otherwise. As a pronounced Presbyterian, I am bound to say that I do not see anything in the resolution that in the least degree commits us to an approval of the practices against which, as a Church, we have always to protest. The resolution does not imply that we approve of their peculiar views on baptism; it implies that we endorse the common evangelical truth that they hold with us. Nor does it imply that we approve of Broad Churchism, Puseyism, High Churchism, or anything of the kind. The great body of the Anglican community protest against these very

things of which we also disapprove. Therefore, I think we may with unanimity, and without any fear, agree to the resolution. Reference has been made again and again to the prayer of our Lord "that they all may be one." Brethren sometimes misapprehend that point. Christ did not mean that they should be one in the sense of unicity, but one in the sense of unity.

Dr. D. FRASER.-The Lambeth Conference has already appointed a committee upon their relations with non-Episcopal churches, and some informal communications have taken place; and nothing will be more agreeable to those who are of the most liberal spirit in that Conference than that this communication may be sent to them.

The Minute, as prepared by the Business Committee, was put to the Council, and was carried, with one dissentient, Mr. John Macdonald (Glasgow) desiring that his dissent should be recorded in the proceedings of the Council, which was accordingly done.

The proposal of Dr. WELCH, seconded by Dr. BURNS, "That a copy of the Minute just passed be transmitted to the Conference of Bishops now at Lambeth," was also agreed to.

RECEPTION OF CHURCHES.

Dr. WARDEN presented the following additional report from the Committee on the Reception of Churches :

"1. That the following application has been received from the 'Reformirte Bund' of Germany, asking admission into the Alliance:—

"The Reformirte Bund (Union of Reformed Churches) of Germany would present its warmest greetings to your reverend body, and pray the Divine blessing to rest upon you. We desire to inform you that our Bund, at its last meeting at Detmold, in the province of Lippe, in August 1887, decided to apply for admission to your Alliance; and we therefore come to you, asking you to receive us and the Churches which we represent. Our Bund has as its symbol the Heidelberg Catechism. The Church government of our Church is Presbyterian, as far as it is possible in connection with State rule. We therefore believe ourselves eligible for membership in your body.

"The Reformed Church in Germany is composed of many Churches or Synods, each separate province having its own Reformed Church. An attempt was made to unite these scattered parts by the formation of a Union in Elberfeld in 1885. The Constitution of our Union especially states that it shall be composed of Churches who unite with the Bund by the action of their Synods or Presbyteries. About eighty Churches have entered our Bund, which is growing in influence and numbers. It is our hope to perpetuate the Reformed

Church in Germany against the assaults of heterodoxy on the one
hand, and of sacramentarianism on the other.-Yours, in the faith of
Christ,
BRANDES, D.D.,

Moderator of the Reformed Bund of Germany,
Minister of Göttingen.'

"In view of the late date on which the application was received, and the consequent inability of the committee to consider it as carefully as is desired, your committee recommend that the application lie on the table for the present, and that the General Secretary be instructed to visit the churches that have united in the Reformirte Bund, or such of them as he may be able to reach, convey to them the Christian greetings of the Alliance, and its sympathy with them in the very difficult circumstances in which they are placed, and to report fully to next Council.

"2. That a communication has been received from the Synod of the Reformed Church at Emden, conveying their Christian greetings to the Council. The committee recommend that the General Secretary acknowledge receipt of the communication, and in doing so cordially reciprocate the Christian salutations of the Synod."

The report, with its recommendations, was unanimously adopted.

RETIREMENT OF PROFESSOR BLAIKIE.

Dr. CAVAN (Toronto).—I have pleasure in presenting the following motion :"That the Council put on record its high estimate of the services rendered to the Alliance by the Rev. Dr. Blaikie in his office of Secretary, which he now resigns. The formation of the Alliance was largely due to the wise and zealous advocacy of this measure by Dr. Blaikie, and during the entire period of its existence he has laboured with the utmost ability, earnestness, tact, and courtesy to promote its interests. When the history of this great organisation, which has already been productive of so much good, comes to be written, no name will hold a more honourable place in connection with it than that of Dr. Blaikie. The Council trusts that, though the Alliance must lose the official services of Dr. Blaikie, as Secretary, it will long enjoy the benefit, in its enlarged field of usefulness, of his most valued counsel and assistance."

I beg to move this resolution. There is only one name that we would wish to mention alongside that of Dr. Blaikie in connection with the formation of the Alliance-the venerable name of a distinguished man who was present at all the previous meetings of the Council of the Alliance, and whose absence we so much miss-Presi

dent M'Cosh, of Princeton. In addition to the general work he has done, Dr. Blaikie has rendered some special services to the Alliance. The complete success of the movement in favour of the Waldensian Church was largely, if not entirely, due to Dr. Blaikie. Also the movement in behalf of the Bohemian Church has been promoted by him, and I trust that his assistance in that direction will not be withdrawn until he has the joy of seeing a successful result, and at no distant date. We regard the resignation of Dr. Blaikie with feelings that are almost solemn. It seems to mark the close of the first stage in the history of this great Alliance. We give our most hearty support to Dr. Mathews; we shall stand by and help him to complete the unity and to expand the area of this organisation, but we shall never cease to recognise with deep gratitude the services of Dr. Blaikie, and to regard him personally with the utmost affection.

Dr. WATERS (Newark, New Jersey).—I rise to second the motion. I agree with every word Dr. Cavan has said in praise, not only of Dr. Blaikie, but also of Dr. M'Cosh. We owe very much to both. We believe thoroughly in the doctrines of the Reformed Church. We believe in one Presbyterian form of government. We are all at one. Some here are Presbyterian in name, others Reformed in name. The difference between these two sides of the Presbyterian Church amounts to this: the Presbyterians are Presbyterians in name and government, and Reformed in doctrine; the Reformed churches are Reformed in name and doctrine, and Presbyterian in government. Dr. Blaikie was eminently qualified to fulfil the task committed to him by his thorough knowledge of our Presbyterian system and doctrine, as well as by his business ability and his personal aptitudes; for, possessing the suaviter in modo to an eminent degree, he has a pleasant and charming way of making us understand, without wounding our susceptibilities, when it is his duty to put us right by telling us plainly what we ought to do.

Dr. MATHEWS. Dr. Blaikie and I have harmoniously worked together for thirteen years at every meeting connected with the Alliance, and in him the Council has had its right hand. I do hope that Dr. Blaikie will consent to continue, not simply to hold the honorary position of President of the Alliance, but to retain his place, so long as God shall spare him, side by side with the Chairman at our meetings of Council.

Principal CAIRNS (Edinburgh).-Perhaps no one has been so closely associated with Dr. Blaikie in the work of the Alliance as I have been. I cannot allow the vote to pass without adding a word to the expression of our gratitude for his services. His wisdom and self-denial in the service of the Alliance cannot be expressed.

Professor CHARTERIS (Edinburgh).-We are deeply indebted to Dr. Blaikie's patience and tact in the discharge of many difficult and delicate duties as Secretary and actual Manager of the business of the Alliance amongst us in Scotland. We are all glad, when we have come to a juncture in the progress of the Alliance, to have these qualities at our command; for at a juncture there may be many conflicting lines, where the trains may go astray, unless we have, as pointsman, a man of sleepless patience, quick observation, and with a ready and steady hand. Dr. Blaikie has shown how well he can keep the train on the right line. We in Scotland unite in appreciating the motion now made from the other side of the Atlantic.

The Rev. W. S. SWANSON.-I think we should give a standing vote on this occasion.

The CHAIRMAN put the motion to the vote, all the members upstanding, and it was unanimously carried with acclamation.

Dr. BLAIKIE.-I feel very much touched by the kind manner in which the Council has passed this motion, and especially by the affectionate words spoken by members of this Alliance from both sides of the Atlantic. I desire strongly to emphasise what has been said respecting the venerable father on the other side of the Atlantic, President M'Cosh, and his services to the Alliance. I believe he was the real originator of this movement, and during its earlier years I had frequent occasion to admire the unwearied manner in which he devoted himself to the business of trying to launch this undertaking. In regard to the future, I shall be happy to do what I can in the service of the Alliance. When the Council is reminded that I began my ministry in the year 1842, and that ever since then I have been in constant work, and usually with the burden of much more than my own proper department, they will feel that it is not unnatural that I should wish to be relieved a little of the pressure and responsibilities of the secretarial business of this Alliance, which involves such a multiplicity of details as to require unwearied watching in connection with all the various branches. I wish to add, that while I have had much hard work in the service of the Alliance, I have had also much pleasure, and I have never been engaged in any work which seemed more in accordance with the will of our heavenly Master. I feel very happy at the thought that Dr. Mathews is now to undertake the business of Secretary. I believe that when he gets fairly into harness, the interests of the Alliance will be greatly improved; and that, if God spares us to meet again, we shall see the Alliance in a more complete and consolidated form than it has ever yet been in.