The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-10-29
From the New York World. Oct. 22.l
THE UNITARIAN CONVENTION.
The Question Of o Creed-DeYislRg
DOctrInal Tests of Membership
An Animated Discussion By PrOml-
nent Church Authorities.

The Unitarian Convention, which
has been In session for the last three
| DAYS In this city, concluded its bust
ness Yesterday afternoon. The most
| important question which has come
before it, and that which has created
the most interest and feeling, was one
which has for several years agitated,
and, to some extent, divided, the Uni
tarians of this country, viz: whether
or not, like other denominations, they
shall have a creed or any defined faith
or dOctrinal tests Of membership.
The more conservative of that body
of religionists have long desired that
a peculiar. respect and allegiance to
Jesus Christ should be made an es-
sential and declared part of their sys-
tenn, though willing to concede the
utmost latitude IN all other doctrinal
matters; while the radicals among
them, of whom rockingham, of New
York, and Chadwick, of Brooklyn,
are types, are for absolute freedom
from all dogmatic hamperings, insist
ing that a spirit, not a creed, should
be made test of membership in their
church, viz: the spirit of love to
God and man." At the last Nation
al Conference of Unitarian and other
Christian bodies" held in New York.
October, 1868, there was a long and
hot discussion on this matter, termi
mating in the adding of a new article
to the constitution of the body, as
follows:
ART. 9.-To secure the largest
unity of the spirit and the widest prac-
teal co. operation, it Is hereby under
stood that all declarations Of this con-
ference Gnoluding the preamble and
constitution) are expressions only of
its majority. committing in no degree
those who object to them, and depend
ent wholly for their effect upon the
consent they command On their own
merits from the churches here repre-.
scented or belonging within the circle
Of our fellowship"
To see the point of this it is neces-
sary to note that the preamble of the
constitution uses the phrases disci-
Piles of the Lord Jesus Christ" and
service of God and the building M
of His Son" and that the body of the
constitution has In it the words
!" Christian Churches and /" Chris
tidn faith and work" Some of the ex-
treme radicals among the Unitarians
object to even the term Christian "
being applied to them, because they
regard it as having a technical mean
ing which cannot be got rid of in the
minds of the masses of men, and,
therefore, is misleading when used of
those who regard him as being OF
great but not of peculiar or necessary
authority.
The passing of article 9 of the con-
stitution, given above, was a victory
for the Radicals. Ga Thursday
morning. the Conservatives made a
move, and the entire day was spent In
discussing the advisabiIiiy or non.ad-
visibility Of modifying the article.
The debate was brought on hv .
motion of Rev. Mr.. Hepworth. nastor
of the church Of the Messiah. Of tbis
city, to substitute for article 8 of the
constitution, IS given above, the fol-
lowing:
'Reafhrming our allegiance to the
| Gospel Of Jesus Christ, and to secure
the largest unity of the spirit, and the
widest practical operation. we
invite to our fellowship all who pro-
TESS themselves Christians"
To this the Rev. Mr.. May proposed
as an amendment that the FOLLOWING
words be added to the Ninth Article I:
Provided that nothing in this
article be construed to remove the
conference from Its Christian basis -
In the long discussion which was
had upon those motions remarkably
conciliatory spirit was manifested
Scarcely any OF the acrimonious dis
putes and harsh expressions common
to debates in theological GATHERINGS
on questions of faith and tests of
membership were heard. The dele.
gates seemed to vie with each other
in meeting each others views as far
as they could consistently with their
own conscientious convictions.
DR.. Bellows, who took the more
conservative view, but eyidentlv
strongly desired to satisfy all as far a.
possible, and induce perfect harmony
proposed fnat .I 1dG re woEIs including