Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-06-21
VERMONT TELEGRAPH

ton ofthis aim, they have already accom-
plshed much. Many Of the brightest
lights of the church, Al home and abroad,
many of its brightest triumphs, are fruits
of their labors. If unobstructed in their
operations, they must rapidly advance in
efficiency; and, in our jud gment, they !
promise in6nitive blessings to the nation,
and to all mankind. We think that insti
tutions of such generous aim, and such |
achieveme nts, and at such time as this,
ought to have some very great and obvl'
Gus imperfections, in organization or man
agement, to Justify an act calculated to i'm
pair public confidence, and cripple their
efforts, and limit their usefulness. Such
imperfections in these societies we cannot
discern. And while our older as we'll as
new settlements are filled with feeble
churches and wide moral wastes, and
whole empires are sunk in pagan abomin-
atoms and hopeIessness we cannot look
at the late action of the Assembly touch
ing these institutions without deep pain,
nor suffer it to pass without kind but de-
ciGed remonstrance.
5. We protest against the resolutions
referred to, because founded, as ire belaere,
on npisappreheaSiOu as to the responsibility
of said societies. Their funds are all the
free-wll offerings of the Christian public.
Their officers are all elected annually by
the members of the societies. Their OPP
erations are all subject to the stric,est re-
view Their bcne6ciaries before admit
ted to patronage, are recommended and
examined by committees entitled to conf
dence and scattered all over the land
Their ministers in the field are members
Of our ecclesiastica bodies. or of others in
correspondence with US, by the very terms
of their appointment, giving all the securl-
ty for sound orthodoxy and ecclesiastical
order which the constitution of the church
affords. And we cannot discern any pos
sble hazard arising from lack Of respon-
sibiity. Indeed, we believe that In all
respects the responsibility is equally per-
feet with that of the two Boards Of the AS
semblv, and much more direct and unem-
barrassed and at the same time all his
tory lifts its voice against concentration
of pecuniary power in ecclesiastical Judi
catories or church courts [wherc i'll must
of necessity rest with few, and the res
possibility and incidental influence Of the
officers be great But in this land ofintel-
ligence and wakeful jealousy as to civil
and religious rights, there can, In our
judgment, be no reasonable apprehension
from these institutions.
For these reasons we think the act re-
ferred to not on y unnecessary, in urious
and unjus', so far as relate to the Institu
tons concerned, but a permanent reproach
to the Presbyterian church, in view O
other churches in our own country anC
; throughout the world. And therefore we
desire to record on the minutes of the AS
sembly our solemn protest against it.
(Signed) Baxter Dickerson, and others
June 5, 1887.
The Vermont Chronicle says:
The Old School Presbyterians have
e thus carried out all their contemplated
r measures of D." reform" and "purifcation.
: But cloud seems to be gathering on tn
e other hand. Professor Nuttng and 9th
e ers of the Western Reserve Synod have
: served on the Trustees (who have tn
management Of the Assembly's funds)
: Notice, stating that, by their proceeding
V in relation to that Synod, the General AS
J. sembly was virtually and IN 1aw, D1ssoLv
n ED; and requiring said Trustees not t.
= regard any orders drawn or resolution
J. passed by the Assembly subsequently t
y the date of those proceedings Upon be
t. ing informed Of this, resolutions wer
s. adopted by the Assembly pIedging TO tn
r. Trustees their support, and directing then
l. to continue their payments &c, as hereto
'r fore, and to disregard The Notice men
he toned above and all similar ones. S
n there will probably be lawsuit for tn
id funds.