CONSTITUTION OF THE ALLIANCE.

PREAMBLE TO CONSTITUTION.

Whereas, Churches holding the Reformed Faith, and organised 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 upon 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 Confessions 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 organised 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 Reformed 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 recommendation 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 Alliance, or with its internal order or external relations.

4. Its Objects.-The Council shall consider questions of general interest to the Presbyterian community; it shall seek the welfare of Churches, especially such as are weak or persecuted; it shall gather and disseminate information concerning the Kingdom of Christ throughout the world; it shall commend the Presbyterian system as Scriptural, and as combining simplicity, efficiency, and adaptation to all times and conditions; It shall also entertain all subjects directly connected with the work of Evangelisation, such as the relation of the Christian Church to the Evangelisation of the world, the distribution of mission work, the combination of Church energies, especially in reference to great cities and destitute districts, the training of ministers, the use of the Press, colportage, the religious instruction of the young, the sanctification of the Sabbath, systematic beneficence, the suppression of intemperance, and other prevailing vices, and the best methods of opposing Infidelity and Romanism.

5. Its Methods.-The Council shall seek to guide and stimulate
public sentiment by papers read, by addresses delivered and pub-
lished, by the circulation of information respecting the allied
Churches and their missions, by the exposition of Scriptural prin-
ciples, and by defences of the truth; by communicating 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 meet-
ing, shall appoint a Committee on Business, through which all
communications and notices of subjects proposed to be discussed
shall pass.
The Committee appointed at one general meeting shall
act provisionally, so far as is necessary, in preparing for the
following meeting."

IV. CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION.-No change shall be made in this Constitution, except on a motion made at one general meeting of Council, not objected to by a majority of the Churches, and carried by a two-thirds vote at the next general meeting.

* Modified at Belfast by substituting Executive Commission.

INTRODUCTION.

THE preparation of this volume has occupied longer time than was expected, and the editor has to crave the indulgence of subscribers for the delay.

It is believed that writers and speakers have had an opportunity of revising, in some form, the more important papers and addresses. At first, proofs were sent to America to give authors the benefit of a second revision; but as some of them had not returned from abroad, much time was lost in waiting for the return of these proofs, and it has not been found practicable to persevere in that practice to the end.

It will be observed that, in a few cases, the authors have been allowed to give what they desired to say, but were not able to say in whole, in consequence of the application of the time rule. Remarks prepared for the Council, but not delivered, whether from want of time or the absence of the speakers, have been given in a very few instances.

It is hardly necessary to say that the meeting at London was the Fourth Council of the Alliance of Reformed Churches holding the Presbyterian System. The preceding Councils were held at Edinburgh in 1877, at Philadelphia in 1880, and at Belfast in 1884. At the Belfast meeting an invitation was presented by Mr. George Duncan, of London, one of the oldest, most liberal, and most esteemed elders of Regent Square Congregation, on behalf of the Presbyterians of London, inviting the Council to hold its next meeting in the Metropolis of the British Empire. That invitation was very cordially accepted, and the meeting at London was looked forward to generally with feelings of great interest and expectation. The preparation of a suitable programme was intrusted to the Executive Commission of the Alliance, of which one section comprised members in the east, and the other members in the west, and it was endeavoured, as far as practicable, to select as speakers