New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-03
CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL.
THIRD DAYS PROCEEDINGS.


NEW HAVEN, Oct. 2.-Devotional services
we're held at the Divinity Chapel from Till r. H. the
Rev. Dr.. Manning of Boston. presiding The morning
session was opened by service Of prayer and song,
lasting from TO 9:30 O'Clock The minutes were READ
and accepted after sharp debate on techntcaes, In
which Drs Bacon and Quint took prominent part Tho
Committee on Business presented resolutions recon-
mendng the system Of weekly offerings in the churches
made the order of the day for 10 q on Saturday;
recommending tho appointment OF . committee
Of seven to inquire into the expcdiency Of abolish
ing the parish or society system Of the church.
and Of throwing tho support Of religion upon
the membership OF tho churches, committee to re-
port ct next C0uncil-ad0pted; recommending thss
State subordinate bodies be called associations, and
lesser bodies conferences-referred TO Q committee;
communication from tho American Bible Society stat
ing its work. its having published volumes for
all the world and asking that the Society be approved
by the Council and recommendation passed that An
pua contributions be taken In the churches referred
to Q committee Deacon Farnsworth OF Boston, for the
Finance Committee. reported that $500 was needed to
pay debts contracted and likely to be contracted BY the
Council, and recommending immediate collection
from the house. The report adopted and the col
lection taken.
DISCUSSION ON BENEVOLENT CONSOLIDATION.
The resolutions reported yesterday by the Committee
on Consolidation Of Benevolent Societies, were next the
order Of day. and the first resolution approving aud
Board Of Commissioners for Foreign Missions unan-
mousy adopted. The second resolution approved the
American Missionary Association, and commended it
TO the Churches The phraseoiogy spoke OF its work
among the nOn-Caucasan races" which called out an
eloquent protest from Dr. Bacon against inserting such
caste term He proceeded 10 crlticse the Society for
it's action IN establishing universHies" In which he
had faith. There also element OF sectaransm
the resolution, which the speaker strongly denounced
After sharp debate, In which Dr. ES Dwight OF Massa-
chusets DIR. G. Bacon Of New jersey and others par
ticpated. and after limiting addresses to ten minutes
the resolution tabled mon Caucasian being nrss
stricken out.
The ird resolution recommended the transfer OF tho
missions of the American Board among the Indians TO
the American Missionary Association and Of the foreign
work Of the latter to the American Board Here an
raised the phraseoogy OF the resolutions
ait is ADVISED" nothing could better illustrate the
spirit OF Congregationalism than in prolonged discus
sion Of this point Dr. Dexter Of Boston thought thas
the phrase would be odious to the churches The latter
were jealous of all ecclesiastical authority and should
be concliated. The Rev. Mr. Thurston felt that tho
very sphere OF this and Of all Congregational councils
advise; the point. he felt, was not well TAKEN
DR.. bacon said that the system OF tricnnial
councils yet in Its growth 1t should not even
appear to dictate to churches so much older than
ITSELF There yet doubt II the system OF councils
was WISE 1t was impossible to be certain OF any man
the utterances OF councils must 20 up to churches and
not down 10 Them as II the Council the House OF
Lords the House Of Bishops. Mr. Bartlett OF spring
field Mass, said that the whole question was one OK
policy. How could the societies DO best supported'
The multitude of organizations made an unwarrantable
percentage of running expenses, ana this prevented
many from contributing Therefore. the Council was
asked to consider the matter OF consolidation IL should
express its mind. 1t should advise.
The motion of Dr. Love of Michigan TO table was lost
Dr. w. of Illinois earnestly commended thas
the Council should "advise" That its rason dee
Dr. Means OF ROxbury, Mass, proposed that in the
Judgment of this Council IL Is advisable" be substituted
for it Is advised" but the motion was ruled out as
concerning all the resolutions, whereas the question
was the third. The Rev. Mr.. Goodwin OF Chicago In
sisted that the Council should "advse." The churches
might take advice not as they saw tt The Rev Mr..
CrOwthar OF Pttseld Mass called attention 10 tue oad
tendency of such position
The Rev. Mr. Gray Of Michigan wanted the Council 10
advIse There Impractical hitch In the conduct OK
the societies in the way Of heavy percentage for run
ming expenses, and tho Council should express an
opinion as to the method OF avoiding 1t. Dr. Eddy OF
Detroit, Mich, difficulty in the word advise"
but thought the Of the discussion unfavora0le TO
the great societies These he loved and always shoud'
and counted them higher than the Judgment OF Coun-
Gil. He pronounced glowing euogy on the American
Board and the American Home Missionary society,"
The Rev. Mr. Reed Of Springfield. Mass said that every
body loved the American Board That was not the Ques
tion No society should be revered that 1t could nos
adapt itself the needs OF the time His people were
Jealous Of giving &c. where 81 must be deducted for col
Letting They had several hundred dollars collected for
the education young for the ministry. bat they
would not give to society that so largely reducedIis
amount by running expenses which consolidation would
render needless.
Dr. Dexter OF Boston moved that "in the judgment OF
this Council 1t seems advisable" besubstituted for
ol,vf.a ria1
be ing on the resolution, the Rev. Ii. NJ Parsons OF
Massachusetts contendeh that the American Board
could do better work among the Indians than any
other society could, and opposed the transfer OF THAI
work to the American Missionary Association The
Rev. Mr. ByingtOn of Maine contendcd that organize
tions could not be formulated. They were the out.
growth Of needs. were proyidentiay. estab-
lished, aud should not be tempered with.
Growth was not by squares and cubes.
but each thing in its own way. The Rev Joseph Ward
Of the American Boards Dakota said that that
body had organized system or training teachers In the
Dakota language that they might teach the Indians IN
their own tongue and the proposed transfer would in
terrupt this system The Rev. Mr. Ives OF Maine con-
tended that the Council not competent to judge on
these question without testimony Mr. Ward had gwen
some testimony, but was wanted officers Of the
society shoud appear before Council DIG the mis-
sions want to be transferredi
Mr.. Ward replied that they did nj 10 his mission He
also urged that the momentum which the American
Board had gathered in dealing with the Indian question:
which was exceeding difficult, would also DO lost by
transfer There was need to work by special methods
and genus good men must he put forward to work as
they could-such men as Bishop Hare. The Rev. Mr..
Freelaud Of Michigan urged that the Council should not
consider the question Of how Its voice would affect Us
status but should decide with It's best Judgment and
fearessly The great thing do to counsel for tho
real good of the societies. and there need OF great
delicacy and wisdom.
Dr. Laurie Of Rhode Island, an eN-Mssiopary OF tho