Page:Glimpses of Bohemia by MacDonald (1882).pdf/11

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PREFATORY NOTE.

The Second General Council of the Presbyterian Alliance, held at Philadelphia in September, 1880, adopted the following Minute as to the mode of helping Continental Churches:—

“The Council approve of the Report of the Committee, and record their thanks to them for what they have done in the Waldensian Pastors’ Aid Fund, and express their hope that that movement will be prosecuted to a close. They authorise the Committee to take such steps as they may deem best to show sympathy with the Bohemian and Moravian Churches, on the occasion of the Centenary of the Edict of Toleration next year. The Council resolved that the Committee shall consist of a European and an American section, to work in concert, as follows: The European Committee—J. A. Campbell, Esq., LL.D., M.P., and David Maclagan, Esq., C.A., Joint Conveners; Rev. Dr. John Marshall Lang, Rev. Dr. Blaikie, Rev. Dr. Robertson, Rev. Dr. Dykes, Rev. William Welsh, Rev. Dr. A. Thomson, Rev. John S. MacIntosh, Rev. W. Gillies, James Macdonald, Esq. The American Committee—Henry Day, Esq., Chairman; Rev. Dr. Breed, Rev. Dr. Murkland, Rev. Dr. Hall, of New York, Rev. Dr. Van Nest, Hon. W. E. Dodge, Rev. Dr. Prime, William Neely, Esq., Rev. Dr. W. J. R. Taylor, Hon. Stanley Matthews.”

The European Committee of the Alliance, acting under the above appointment, resolved to aim at raising a sum of £5000, in aid of the Reformed Churches of Bohemia and Moravia, and the following pages are offered as the writer’s contribution to this effort. He trusts that they may be of some service in affording information to, and stimulating