The Portland daily press., 1872-10-19

men to turn it" Laughter.) O'Donnell was
no exception He it was who when reproach-
ed for selling his country said he thanked God
that he had country to SELL Uaughter)
A QUESTION OF CHURCH AUTHORITATIVE
New York Agent of the Associated Press tele-
graphs the following to the evening papers,
presuming it it be of general interest:
1t appears that on Wednesday afternoon af-
ter many delegates had left the Convention of
Baptists, and after the resolution telegraphed
yesterday, resolution was introduced appoint
ing a committee of five to investigate the pro-
ceedings of Rev. Drs. Hyatt Smith and Geo.
Pentecost, and report whether they, as pastors
of two churches in Brooklyn had departed
from the practices of the ordinances of the Cos
pei, as followed by the churches belonging to
the Long Island Baptist Association Although
the above resolution was sprung upon the re-
manning members of the association, number
of members were advised in season to defer their
departure and join in the debate upon the is
sue.
Rev. Dr. Sarles took the ground that the ac-
ton of the pastors of the Lee Avenue and
Hudson Street Place churches, in regard to
open communion, should be investigated. He
held that the true Baptist doctrine was that or
close communion, and he could not conceive
of any occasion when that principle should be
set aside. ..r
DR. Pentecost, of the Hanson Place church,
been infrnged in the remotest degree by that
| church or by him tits pastor) by no public act
! or word. So long as he was its pastor he would
live up to the laws of the church, although per-
sonally he might doubt the wisdom of the laws
| The act upon which the rumors against the
church were founded was private personal act
| of his own, referring to the administering of
| communion to dying person at the person s
request). He said that the Association might
| appoint their committee OF investigation but
| reminded them that the independence and
| freedom of the Baptist churches were more
proverbial than their adherence to the doctrine
of close communion, and it was very doubtful
| whether the committee if appointed would be
any catechising. For himself he would preach
the gospel according to his convictions, upon a
street corner or an open common, rather than
| contend for place or position
Dr. Hyatt Smith followed in the same strain,
endorsing Dr. Pentecost and said that his
(Smith'sl church stood upon what is called the
New Hampshire Confession of Faith, and there
in found ample room and range He recognize
ed baptism by immersion as the accredited door
to the church, and would not admit persons to
theLord's supper who had not been baptised He
said that on that ground vast numbers of the
church stand, and there was no use to shut
their eyes to the fact. The churches are indie
pendent and he denied the right of the associa
| ton to erect itself into an ecclesiastical coun
After long and rambling discussion by sew
eral of the lay members, the resolution was
tabled, which fii.al)y disposes of the subject, be
ing triumph of the open communists.
: a'ttE. .r.
THE Halifax Recorder, one of the most de
cided opponents of the present Dominion ad
ministration, as well as the terms of the treaty
of Washington, does not take a very hopefn
view of the Fishery settlement. 1t says:
There is a ''Fishery Commission" contem
plated by the Washington Treaty, whose dut,
it was to decide upon the relative value of tn,
British and American fisheries of which par
tial exchange was made by the Treaty; and af
ter striking balance, to hand over a none,
award to the party entitled to it. Of course
there is no question of comparison, any NOR
than there is between an article that is value
less and one that is invaluable; nevertheless, i
will be necessary to have a settlement of tn
kind indicated arrived at. An Ottawa journa
wants to know whether the Dominion govern
ment are making any exertions to secure til
necessary evidence to the relative value 0
the privileges to come up for arbitration, o
whether that provision of the Treaty is to re
: main dead letter. 1t is probable that some
thing will be done in the matter: and then vii
be witnessed another scene in farce the lie
verse in one essential particular of 'diamon
cut diamonF'-the keen-witted Yankee dipio
matists hoodwinking the putty men and petit
tricksters of Canada. usl