EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE, an association of "evangelical Christians belonging to various churches and countries," formed in 1845, "to associate and concentrate the strength of an enlightened Protestantism against the encroachments of popery and Puseyism, and to promote the interests of a Scriptural Christianity." Its origin is to be ascribed to a deep sense of the evil of the divisions existing among Protestants, who nevertheless agree in holding the essential principles of the reformation. A number of circumstances concurred to direct the attention of Christians both in England and Scotland very strongly to this subject; and a requisition, signed by ministers and others belonging to various denominations in Scotland, was addressed to "the evangelical churches of England, Wales, and Ireland," convening a meeting to be held .at Liverpool in Oct., 1845. To this requisition a cordial response was given; the meeting was numerously attended by persons of great influence, both in the established and dissent ing churches; great harmony prevailed; and the E. A. was then organized. It now has branches in the most important cities and towns of Britain, and of many other parts of world; it has contributed to the promotion of Christian union, fellowship, and brotherly co-operation, and at least as evidently on the continent of Europe as in Britain ; afford ing at the same time much encouragement to those who in various countries of the con tinent were struggling in the feebleness of isolation against all the forms of opinion most adverse to the principles of the reformation, but to whose support the strength of British Protestantism has been in some measure brought. The E. A. seeks, by various means, to promote the cause of " evangelical Protestantism,". and to oppose " infidelity,
popery, and other forms of superstition, error, and profaneness, especially the profana tion of the Lord's day." It has also ventured to remonstrate, and with some effect, against the persecution still practiced in some Protestant countries of the n, of Europe both against Protestant dissenters and Roman Catholics, and thus has sought to extend the influence of the principles of toleration. The meetings which have been held under its auspices in continental cities have also led to much temperate and friendly discussion on various important questions. Great meetings of the E. A. were held at Paris in 1855, at Berlin in 1857, and Geneva in 1861, and at New York in 1873. At the Paris exhibition of 1867, the E. A., with the sanction of the French government, erected the angelique, where meetings for divine worship and united prhyer were held -daily.
The E. A. adopted as its basis a brief statement of the points of doctrine on which its members must hold " what are usually understood to be evangelical views." This gave rise to objections against it on the part of some who would gladly have joined it, but for an apprehension of compromising principles to which they did not think due place was given.
Its basis excludes those who, although otherwise holding evangelical doctrines, deny "the divine institution of the Christian ministry, and the authority and perpetuity of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper." The transactions of the alliance are reported in a monthly periodical, issued under its auspices, entitled, Evangelical Chris tendom.