New-York tribune., 1868-10-09
THE NATIONAL UNITARIAN CONFERENCE

THIRD DAY-LIBERAL CHRISTIANITY VERSUS
FREE RELIGION-A OMPROMIsE-THEATER
PREACHING.
Mr. Eliot called the Conference to order at
9O and announced the first business to be the consdera
ton OF amendments to the Constitution and preamble
The Rev. Dr. Thompson Of Jamaica Plain offered prayer
On motion Of the Rev. Mr.. Hale, the delegates Of the
Unyersalst General Convention. and the African Metho
dist Conference invited to take seats on the plat
form. On motion Of Mr. Hale committee Of five was
appointed TO prepare, and report tomorrow morning
lists OF officers for the next meeting Of the Conference
The Rev Dr. good for the Trustees Of the Church OF
the Messiah. offered that church for the subsequent
meetings OF the Conference. IL voted 10 accept the
offer, and meet the Church OF the Messiah in the
afternoon. Tie Rev. DR.. James Freeman Clarke ad-
dressed the Conference on the subject Of creeds Uo
was opposed 10 abandoning the position which the
UntaTians had hitherto held with respect creeds. lie
opposed 20 making creed condition Of fellowship
q of character. Creeds were furthermore. bar
rier to progress Mr. Clarke went 10 develop his idea
of what should he the attitude Of the Unitarian body to-
ward creeds, and concluded by submitting the proposed
amendment to the Constitution, which had received the
unanimous approval ot the committee. AS reported Dy
MI Clarke ana distributed 10 the Conference printed
slips the proposed amendment read
* To uuiy Of the Spirit and the w1c.
practical cooperation, hereby declared that al expressions
s ~, Me ~ ,b, es ma, M co,ssn. ,bsy coynsgd an ai,
own merit, from he chuScs. fss represented or belonging sa he
circle Of our fellowship an that we heartily welcome to s fellowship
The Rev. Robert COyer OF Chicago and the Rev. +. f.
Hale elOqueutly supported the amerdment advocating
complete freedom Of thought for az who chose to connect
themselves with the Conference The speakers fre
queny interrupted by the most enthusiastlc applause
and would lave thought that they had the favor OF
the majority Of the house for the Views they presented
The Rev. Dr. Osgood OF ~ }. moved as an amendment
that the words "n Christian faith" be inserted between
the words who and desire He favored the greatest
beray in Christianity but ddDot desire liberalty that
desenerates into free and unChrstian religion. We had
got to decide hc said, whether We were mere Thcsts
The Rev Dr. Bellows Of n Y then took the floor, say
ng that he had never risen To perform more painful
duty than Gn the ne pre- present oefao %dgng by what
panse, he feared this would be the last time e would
have the pleasure of addressing Unitarian Con-
vcnton. lie was not going to let himself. even
cOnsrnctVcy 10 be put outside OF the Christian Church
by any motion Of this Convention. IIe wanted
make this attempt to shake OF Christianity fiat footed
he wanted rose water mush OF unmcaning concession
and If this be carried ont he for would go his
where his duty his Lord and Master Jesus Christ called
him Here the Convention manifested signs OF applause
mingled with dlsapprOyal. stamping the feet, &c. Dr.
Bellows continued eXctedly declaring that Christianity
and the historical Christian religion would outve all
saults upon IT, lie begged them not to Ming themselves
over To iuhdey, and warned them that they were on
the brink OF opening the flood gates wide 70 inhdey.
The Rev. Robert Lard Collier supported the una
mended amendment warmly He said that when he took
ms neck from dogmac yoke was not for the SIN
gnlar purpose OF putting II under ahoter rio9need APP
plauso and cheerng II the Conference refused oadopt
The Rev Mr. fay WOOD OF Louisville wanted to see
both the amendment TO the Constitution and the amend
ent 10 the amendment adopted; even II the latter was
rejected st he maintained that this Conference would
be a Conference Of Christian Churches. -
The Rev SIR ShOTey OF Chicago said che Rev. Dr.
Bellows had got some new light since he spoke ut the
Syracuse Convention. Applause.
Jnc Ecy. mf. rockingham, IIcsIucul OF inc
gOus Association got the floor aDd opened by say
that he present this Conference as delegate
from Christian Church lie did not consider that the
fact OF his devoting himself 10 labor like the Free
Church business impeached his position as Christian
he still regarded himself Christian and his Church
Christian Church II the amendment to the COnsti-
tuition was not adopted the young Of the Unitarian
denomination would 30 into the Free Religion
The Rev DR. LathrOp OF Boston the next speaker.
He denounced any attempt 10 shuttle of the woke Of
Christianity 10 please Brother rockingham aud
paniOna II hc 0he speakcD believed ia Free Religion
like Brother rockingham, he would 20 out ana start
Free Religion ard not seek to halOw IL by taking out the
prestige and holy influences OF the Unitarian Christians
The Rev Mr. Mayo Of Cincinnati next spoke, ady0caf
ing Dr Osg0Od's amendment. The amendment off red
10 the constitution was no said, attempt
this into a free religious association Loud cries Of No.
no." and counter cries of Aye, ayc"i II tho attempt
was successful we might next year have spritualiSS.
Jews. and Socialists ia the COnycntOn-anJ thing but
Christians.
AZ this point when the excitement was at It's hight,
the previous question meNcd.
After considerable debate the Rev MI Haze offered
resolution a. a substitute for the previous motion ana
amendments. lie said IL VAS a oompIOlnise that hdd
agreed upon by the leaders Of both parties IL was
4 follows:
* To tho largest unity ofthe Spirit snd the widest lc
10 il hereby Understood that all the dccannf ~ this
Conference ncung the prsrho aud Conututon expressions
VHy us0, eoDng ~ degree .tose slo object " hsm,