Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-06-21
THE TELEGRAPH.
BRANDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2l, 1887.

cold School party Of this body, it seems,
has been doing pretty thorough iwork at
reforming" and "purifying," while it was
yet the majority. At their late session,
they (the majority dissolved the "Plan Of
Union," of 1901, between the Presbyterian
Church in the United States and the Gen
eral Association Of Connecticut otherwise,
union Of Congregationalism with Pres
byterianism excluded the Western Re-
serve, Utica, Geneva and Genesee Synods,
embracing more than 500 mnisters-and
"votsd out the American Home Mission
airy and Education Societies. Against
this last vote, we copy the following
PROTEST
of the Minority against the exclusion of
the American Home Missionary and Ed
ucdtion Societies.
The undersigned, members Of the Gen
eral Assembly, deem it their duty respect
fully 10 protest against a decision of the
Assembly Of June ID, relating to the A
merican Home Missionary Society and
American Education Society, and for the
following reasons:
| |. For many gears these Societies hare
existed and operated in our churches, IN
der the sanction Of the Assembly. Eos
tered by our judicatories aid members in
every quarter. they have grown steadily
from the weakness of infancy to the size
and vigor of manhood. They have fixed
themselves in the confidence and affections
of great multitude, and become most ex-
tensively organs of action in two great
, departments of Christ benevolence.-
We think the Assembly, TO be justified in
+ now assuming ansattitude of open hostil-
. ity. ought to have very weighty reasons !;
and we do not believe that any such rea-
sons exist That these Societies are cor
s rup,, either IN princi pie or management,
!. so as to endanger the Presbyterian church,
e there has not in our jud cement been pro-
4 du-ed the shadow Of evidence. On the
l. other hand, we believe their designs to be
i pure, their management wise, and their
n influence immensely good in enlarglng
: our church, and strengthening the cause
J. Of truth and holiness and that therefore
their operations ought to receive the con-
l. tnued encouragement ofthis Assembly.
e 2. Sad decision IS regarded as inter.
v fering toith the right of erery indtrid~GI
ir in our church 10 adopt his orn aoay OF do
ing good. We know it does not stand in
ut the form Of positive prohibition. 1t is, new
erthelesS, an expression of decided disap
d probation. And It will be understood BY
many, we doubt not. as more than intimat
ing. that for any inferior judicatories, minis
ters, elders or private members to encour
age those Societies, will be an ecclesiasti
r cal offence. And multitudes must eithe
he lie under odivm IN view of a portion ofth
Of church, or abandon two of the most i'm
b. portant enterprises Of the age, or else ali
them in a form which does not accord witt
n their choice and their deliberate convic
tons ofduty. We regard the resolution
lg as oppressive. We claim it as the RICH
IN Of every judicatory, officer, and privat
er individual in the church, to select object
o. Of benevoIence, and to determine the chan
mel in which that benevoence shall flow
~ And we solemn y protest against any &C
j {: Of the Assembly whose influence mus
a 60 to abridge that liberty. And SUCH W
Sc think, must be scen to be the act refer
red to-
70 3. We protest against the decision, BE-
he cause of its injurious bearing on a M uIt
u tude Of ministers, churches and young me
id preparing for the sacred office. Nor
than 400 ambassadors of Christ within GU
It's bounds depend on one OF these Societie
nd for a part of their support. Many NOR
he than this number Of churches depends o
Of the same Society for the stated ordinance
lis Of the gospel. And scores Of youth, strul
II, CLING for the ministry Of reconciliation, al
looking to the other society for the mean
on Of going forward. 1t is the tendency an
by may be the effect Of this resolution,
Ia keep back youth Of promise from the hol
TN ONCE, to divert the ministry from its pro-
/; er work and push it into secular occup
hat TONS Tor the means Of living, to break u
The pastoral relations, aud take the bread
ate LIE from many an infant church in Ii
no, new settlements of our country. w
OF think II cannot with any propriety be sal
I'm that these ministers and churches an
ess young men may look TO other sources f
ng and. What security is there that the n,
'on cessary aid will be afforded and if affor,
ed. that it would come from sourc,
ain and in way equally grateful to their fee
sp- ingsi
he 4. We protest against the resolution
Of as adapted TO embaTrGss too of the grea
ext est enterpTises he age and tcOrM. :
tly pious and able ministry is vital to the ext
as ience of our country, and the salvation
IN the human race. To provide such mi
of istryfo our land, and the whole earth,