, 1870-10-25
THE UNITARIAN CONVENTION
The Question OF n 6rccd-DcEfstnT
DoctrtnMl Tests OF n1embcfEhtP-
An Animated DlscusAion By Prom.
ineu1 Church AuIhQrlkiea4

4 nC Nu0Akl00 VI II 0FGCA-OGNAesA&
Doctrinnl Tests OF r1embcrshfP-
An Animated Dlscusaton BY Prom.
inent Church Authorities.
From ske ke0 Tr4k Nevld, OF p
The Unitarian Convention, which ms necn
in seesion for the last threa days IN TINS catSt
concluded ita business yosterday afternoon
The most important question which has come
before 1t, and that Which has cscated the most
interest and feeling, Wa ono which haa 1or
several years aGitAteds and: 20 bome extent
divided The Uu,ta1iAns Of this country. "
whether or not, Ike other denoninstionst they
t1inh tests Of membership: Ihe ), more
l;cionists have long desired that :
| peculiar respect and a1loGiance TO !esus Im1st
should be made an essential and declared part
Of their system, though Wiling 70 cosee1s .no
ters while the radicals Arnong them, Of whom
| Frothingham, Of New York. and Chadwick, OF
| Brooklvn, are types, are for absolute freedom
from al dog1natic lampesings. ihshuns tnat
spirit, not creed should ,nah ss made i1e tGss tns
1spi1it Of love to God and man" At the last
"Hnt;onxl Conferences Of Unitarian and other
Christian bodies, held in New York, October,
1eGs, there waa long and hot dtscusston on
this matter, terminating IN the adding OF \
follows;
and the widest practical Cooperation, Il Aefeoy
understood that o. tnss s,. G
only q r. ma9'y ,Gss ana tendent % a
nes1Se osS wv t ts s,,,n ~ ne rnnsent t6ey com
nsnd On fheir avn rner7ts from the churches here
fenrssenteI or nelonC,ux within The circle OF our
fellowship; -.
! To see the point OF this it Ia necessary TO
poto that the preamble OF tho constitution
| uses The phrases l. disciples OF the Lord Jesus
Chria," aud stsorrice Of God and the build
ing up Of His Son" and that the body Of tue
constitution has in i the words :" Csrlsaan
Some Of the e1ttene radicals among the
Unita1ians cjject 70 even the term :. Ch11s-
tan" beng applied to them, beea1se they r.
gard it ~ having techn4cn mekulaY W1ien
cannot be got nd Of in the mads OF the
masses Of men, and, therefore, 1a mls'eadins 8
when used OF those who regard him A. being
OF great but not OF peculiar or necessary au-
thorty.
The pase'ng OF article OF me Co con- s,ttn:'on' ~
given above. wsa Victory Tor the hadlcals.
On Thursday morning, the conservative.
made move, and the entise day was spent
tility Of modifying the article: The debate
was brought on by motion OF Rev. Mr. Hep
; worth. pastor OF the Chntch OF the Messiah. !! o
. this city, TO substitute for article OF tht
d constitution, rs given above, the Following
d "l,eaAnrmipg our allegiance 70 the Gospel 9
sesus Christ, and TO eecure tas l1tsess ua.tI o
the spirit and ,he Ntlsst psae tsai cs.onsfattoI a
" raN nsi!S Sr,otsna - E%a a'
"a n,s .,,;a 49, D,r ~ Nav nronosoa 40
= in,s wv ~; H. to,,aH;ror rSards -, s5ds
amennHeus toAs Ino to'o"'oe "o'1' w a"eo
:. 10 .ae Nln Ss,s,. ,,,, s-,,,,s -. ~,
taat nv iosnt ~ .a f,n ~
II S.sis !, " 'sS'S ~'~ ~4'
" 1n tbs 1onc d;scust,,on which WA h,d mn
ae 49, o 1,ntnTs shlr conc,l;,.orr s,,ir
thoaN motons s.rsaiu w ~ ~ !cri,o rp
d, s;anotss .,i I.,.I ~ ~ r!as .,ons comnnc
o. noas oepu.e nsan;am;.ei s,.thor;na. ~ ma
nc 70 ~ as;.h ~ .nJ tssta - msmhsn,i,;n We
an VI ~ Is1..r, tss eeer,ad to T;n u;fh an
a neaiut tns st;,.a a.et, "tharss riars "a 1.r
:S. H. onrid - cnns;stanffv with their nwn con.c
I'D ~! sDN.e .s,.r;s,;nna
hl enlious cou'icuuus'
IL Dr bellows, @no tooR tue more conse1s'
~ tive view. but evidently strongly deelfed
Gu satisfy all AZ far A. posa1le ana induce Pc Pc
vo fect harmony. proposed Suat me Wotas
ri Guiding the preamb1e anu fesolaton oa ar
", ply struck out oi the article. nnt did hot p
OIL it formally a. m amenqment.
ne The vote on Mr. MAYS amenument :"
u. taken at the close OF the Day, WITH ths toito
s1 ,% Ing result: AEes. ~ nays, iat- ihis G,
~ stituted defeat Tor the amenamenI-1 IN
tte thiftla majority being required 1or au anon
ci- mcntS to the constitution.
my The President OF tne conFentlon aAa pl
Ior ylollsiy put tue amendment ot Mf. MAY 10