The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-30
congregational ISSUES.
THE APPROACHING NATIONAL TRIENNI NJ
COUNCIL.

NOhsTtShtiOhah HssUcSs
THE APPROACHING NATIONAL TRIENNi,L
COUNCIL.
The second Triennial Council of the
Congregational Church in America will
convene at the Center church in New IIa-
ven--thc Rev. DR.. Leonard Bacons- at 3
p. m. on Wednesday next, and will con-
tinue its sessions for se' raj days On the
one hand. the-influcntial character of the
denomination, both numerically and intel
lectually, and on the other the novelty of
this system of councils, which are at first
thought opposed to the simplicity of Con-
EDUCATIONAL policy demand that n force st
of the proceedings of the council should
be prefaced by brief account of its nature
and authority
The council is htll triennially, and this
will be its second session. it having been
organized AZ Ohcrlin. Ohio, in November,
1871. Previous 10 this. tour general coun-
ellis of the Congregational churches had
been held The FIRST a; Cambridge. Mass,
in 1857 the seco ! -, the same place in
1916; the third at Albany in 1852; the
fourth at Boston in 1866. The first syn
cd" was called to correct certain "erron-
eous opinions seven years after the land
ing of Robinson's band Of Congregational
II churches and % ministers The second
synod adopted the Cambridge platform"
of politv, and approved, in substance, the
Westminster confession of faith. The
number of churches then was So. The
Albany council met to consider the sub
ject OF "aiding feeble churches IN building
church edfices," and plan of union with
the Presbyterians. 1t is estimated that the
churches in 1862 numbered 1850. At the
time of the meeting of the Boston council
there were 2,65S churches, which had in
creased to $500 when the Oberlin council
assembled,
HISTORY OF RECENT COUNCILS.
The close of the war in 1865 was the &C.
casion of the converting of the National
Congregational council at Boston, Just re.
ferred to, of which the then popular War
Governor, the Hon. William A. Buckng-
ham of Connecticut, was Moderator, and
at which the leading men of the denomin-
alton were present in large numbers. The
sessions continued for 10 days, and incud-
ed an affecting pilgrimage to Plymouth
Rock, at which spot was adopted simply
stated ''Declaration of FAITH" while the
council in the course of its sttings approx
ed statement of church polty which has
taken the name of the "Platform of 1865"
The entire meeting, occurring as it did at
the flood-tide of exultation and gratitude
at the triumph of the National arms, was
most enthusiastic one, and gave to the
denomination unity of feeling which it
had rarely had before. No steps toward a
stated repetition of the council were then
taken, but ground was broken for such a
movement by the work accomplished. The
approach of the 250th anniversary of the
Landing of the Pilgrims led the church of
the Pilgrimage, at Plymouth, Mass, to
invite the churches to meet by delegates ut
New York to consult as to its suitable cell
ebration. The committee met on March
2, 1870, and one of its acts was the call.
ing of the Pilgrim memorial convention,
which met at Chicago on April 81 Of the
same year, and one of whose acts was
resolution "for instituting, on the princi-
pies of fellowship, and excluding authority
permanent national conference" Sim
liar resolutions were adopted by various
associations and conferences, and con-
vention of committees appointed by va
rious subordinate bodies to consider the
subject, met at Boston on Dec. 81, 1870,
and before adjourning resolved "that it is
expedlent, and appears clearly to be the
voice of the churches, that national
council OF the Congregational churches of
the United States of America be organized"
specified the general purposes of the or
ganizaton, and appointed n committee,
with the Rev. Alonzo ii. Quint of New
Bedford, Mass, as chairman, to draft
constitution. The first council, as the re-
suit Of this action convened at Oberlin,
Ohio, in November, 1871, elected the Rev.
DIR. Leonard Bacon as Moderator, adopted
permanent constitution providing for tri-
ennial meetings and proceeded to the dis
cussion of topics of moment 10 the denom-
nation, holding, throughout, an enthusiasts
tic and harmonious session.
THE COUNCILS AN EXPERIMENT..
The series of councils thus established,
and of which the approaching one in New
Haven is the second, have these objects as
regards the churches "To express and
foster their substantial unity in doctrine,
polity, and work; and to consult upon the
common interests in all the churches, their
duties in the work of evan gelization, the
united development of their resources, and
their relations to all pvrts of the Kingdom
of Christ" The delegates to the body
consist of one to every ten churches, to be
appointed by local organizations while
each. state organization is represented by
one delegate, and by delegates appointed
by 1t at the rate OF one for every 10 900
COMMITMENTS. The several general be-
nevolent societies and theological faculties
of the denomination are also entitled to
representation. Besides the Triennial
councils, special ones may be called at the
request of any five state organizations
The councils hive no authority, and can
only consult and advise, the supreme bod
les being single churches. to whom, as DR..
Leonard Bacon puts it, 'the views of the
council have to go up" rather than ego
down." as in Episcopalian, Presbyterian,
Methodist and other churches. The by.
laws provide for the appointment of seven
persons as a Provisional committee, to pre-
pare for and call sessions of the council,
and to transact any business which may be
referred to them. The Rev. DIR. II. M.
Storrs of Brooklyn is chairman of this
committee. The Oberln council appoint
ed committee on the consolidation of be-
nevolent societies, the Rev. Il. II. Atwood
of Massachusetts, chairman, and another
to supervise the proposed manual of doc
trne and polity, the Rev. DR.. Storrs chair
man. These committees, it is expected,
will report to this council.
1t is because these Councils are yet in
some measure an experiment-and an ex-
pertinent because of the intense abhorance
Of authority in the denomination-that