Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-11-17
CONGREGATIONAL.
Nesting of the National Congregational
Council at OberlIH, 0nIo.

OBERLIN, o., November 15.-The ma
tionsl congregational council convened 1T
Oberlin to-day, and opened its session at
the Second Congregational church, at IL
O'Clock this forenoon. About four hum
dred delegates are present, including
many doctors Of divinity from different
States. The principal work Of the fore
noon was tho temporary organization of
the council for the adoption of a constitu-
tion to govern the present. and ali future
sessions OF the body The Rev. DR..
Hslton, OF milwaukee,, wss elected mod
orator pro TEN anu Rev. DR.. Holmes d
Rev. DR.. Moore, secretary.
Committees en- credentials and nomi-
nations were also appointed. Consider-
able time was occupied with the taking of
the credentials of the msmbers. Il was
decided by vote 70 admit one delegate
from each Congregational benevolent So
cieiy and theological seminary, 10 be re-
stricted only in the right to vote.
The business committee is the most i'm
portant of all The committees and consists
of Rev. DR.. A. L Chaplin, Hon n. P. Hs-
ven, Alpheus Hardy, Rev. J. II. Fairchild
and Rev. James ". Strong.
This committee withdrew at once and
returned with programme for the daily
session which prssorlDss devotional exer-
cises from $3.50 TO 9 & %. and business ses-
sions from nine 20 twelve am, and from
two TO i've p m, and commencing at
seven p m. in the evening
Upon motion l. was deGided to consti-
tute the gentlemen who made tbs prelim-
insry srrsngem nts for the council, hon
orsry members OF that body.
The council then adjourned to meet at
the stated hour in the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION,
The council assem- bled at the appointed
hour IN the evening. the work of the ses-
sion being the adoption Of constitution
which should cOmpiete the organic alton
of a national council.
The committee on preliminsries pre-
sented its report through the chairman,
DR.. Quint, presenting the resolutions
Of the generasl convention at Boston, last
Decsmbe in accordance with which the
council was csiled-also submitting
draft of a constitution, drawn up by the
committee, according to instructions re-
ceived at that convention.
The meeting at once proceeded to the
consideration of The cons Ssitution as pro-
posed by the committee.
The FIST article was adopted, with the
exception of the name Of the Organize
ton, which wss left for discrimination
later In tbs session.
1t was proposed to annex to the
constitution ths whols declaration
of faith as SGT forth at Plymouth,
but the length of that document
-fers a serious objection 10 such action,
and, after q long debsts, the meeting
daally adjourned, without taking q deh-
mite action on the article.
By vote Of the body the evening was de-
voted to an opening sermon by the Rev.
Lsonard Bacon, D. D.
SECOND DAY.
ThWrsddy The National Congregational
r.
session at nine O'Clock.
A half hours session of devotional
exercises .hsYing preceded the report of
5he business committee was presented,
recommending that the constitution take
precedence Of sl other business of the
council, and that each member bs limited
70 hve-minute spsech upon esch point,
70 avoid further endless discussion.
The committee also presented the order
Of exercise for the day.
The committee on credentials siso read
4 complete list OF the members and con-
erences represented A communication
was read from the faculty at the Andover
theological seminary regIetting their in
ability to send delegates to the council
Alter directing be nominatinS commit
tee to present names Co compose the CON-
mittee on hnancs, the council resumed
the discussion of the constitution. The
article relating to creed, which occupied
all yesterday afternoon, wss brought up,
and after a half hours discussion, was
given into the hands Of the committee,
% be revised and returned. The lmmit-
tee consists OF Reverend Drs. Carpenter,
S&rtlett, Walker, PRESCOTT, GhnneIl and
Didlot.
Section / of article 3, In regard to the
righE Of government and the mutual obi.
cations of the local churches was adopted
The rest OF the loren Don was tax en- up
with section 2 of the same srticle, in re-
gard to the authority OF the council, which
was finally adopted, after framing It so
authority whatever.
Section l of article 8, specifying the
times for the assembly of the council, was
brought up, but the hour for adjournment
came before IL wss ~isposed of.