, 1876-02-06

tested BY DR.. Thomas, who finally withdrew his
resolutions. This little parley put it into DR..
Aliliez's mind to move that no person be allowed
to make more than two speeches, and Dr. Bright,
editor OF the Eraminer and Chronicle, moved
that those who had had no say upon the subject
as the last meeting be allowed to eueak at this
time for one hour, and that then d.. AEtn'tase
be SLOWED quarter u much time to renew and
build Up his position wherein it might receive
damage from attack There WAS no one who
thought this motion ought to be passed. The
Rev. DR.. Sampson spoke upon the resolutions.
He understood the question to be whether this
course in regard to the Communion WAS author
lied by Scripture OF this he had no doubt, IL,
being related by birth and marriage to the Puri.
tans, he had been compelled 10 debate and
decide the question tor himself. he went back
to St. Jerome and bis contemporaries for 3n-
stances of the enforcement Of the 6cnptura|
law OF BAPTIST baptism, and also said that Mil
ton and many followers Of Oliver Cromwell were
OF the Baptist denomination. As defenders Of
the taitb ihey, should guard against the unre-
geue.Ate aa we'll as the unbaptized. He said he
didn't feel that he could Invite his SISTER, an
EpiEcopalian, to join the communicable al
which he vas Officiating, but still be would not
attempt TO control her il she chose 70 parkake OF
the Sacrament. He would feel him disgrnced il
he neglected to vote for these resolutions, al
though he loved Brother Jeffrey. who ia not &c
close communist, and felt charity for him. and
did not me1n TO lose him.
Dr. JEFFREY {of the Marcy Avenue Church.
Brooklyn) spoke next. and in response to this
a1lnsiop to bun said that he had a!ways taught
and believed that the unbsptized and untegener-
ate should be excluded from the Lords table.
and be WIS willing TO vole that no unoaptized
person should be permitted to act IS ni1'is-
ter. He stated the debated question to be
whether = person who was not u baptist should
BE- allowed to cit ut the Lords table with them.
II it was an odense against Christ for = non-
Baptist to join in the baptist communion, it car
tainly was not matter OF courtesy and It vas
3 minister's duty to ask any intruder to depart:
"Whow will do this :" be asked, and MAS answered
. by member, IA hundred"
Dr.. Bright distinguished between inviting q
ron-B.piist to stay and allowing him to stay OF
his own accord and pastake Of tue Sacrament.
Dr. jeffrey wanted to know if By these resoln-
ions Baptist minister must treat man of an
other denomination as he would known Atheist.
No one answered, and Dr.. Arnitage, the au-
thor of The resolutions, then took tho floor. He
wanted to so back to the Apostolic doctrine aud
practices, and hare them hatmonlonslg obsery-
ed. He believed man nighnbelieve, bur. .un-
immersed. he lacked an essential qualification
Tor the Lords Table. Tho resolutions proposed
10 discard communion By any member not
thus qualified. and the meaning Of the word
''discard" having been questioned, he Houd
refer to Webster as IN authority for its defui-
ion, Tho dictionary gives the definition Of tho
word to be ~ the setting aside unnecessary
:ards from game. This was precisely what be
meant, and they didn't want any cards Of
that kiud- 1t had basn sud that the
resolution, if adopted, would be q
confession OF Weakness but tbs Boston And
ph1ladelphia Baptlsts we're strong in deciding
The same queetion, and Jet, he continued, after
= hundred years OF the Baptist Church IN this
oountry. without an opeu-communion church On
Ibis island. it is said the New York Conference
had not strength enongh to adopt this resolu-
tion! There are q, 500 Baptists churches with
10, 500 less uinisterB in this cotntry. There
should be little freedom for close-commuuion
Raptiats - well Us for open, and in this centen-
nia1 year. when liberty was the popular theme,
be wished to chow that they dared to ''boldly
declare their principles in the face Of ohloquy
from press and pulpit" IApplause.]
Tbs Rev. DR.. Reed OF the First Williamsburg
Baptist Church, spoke Of the hatmfulneas OF
such agitstious to the churches, and the respon-
Elbilty Of this rested with those men who come
into t1e echurches to scatter frebrapds aud AZ
rows. He said that the existence Of inconsis-
;eucies Vas no cause for giving up doctrine
ghich waa true and Scr1ptural lie also thought
with Dr. jeffrey that courtesy hap nothing to do
with the matter, and would not break bread With
an unqualified attendant He concluded with
&Ae hope that the question might be
11ttled At once for century to come The
Rev. Mr. Gesslerro OF Elizabeth, n. j., spoke.
Ee couldn't vote for The resolution. BE had, in
his younger daya been q pupil OF Dr.. Jeffrey,
and hV him had been taught that o1derli1ees W8s
the Lords Supper. He was backward about de-
:idiog the Baptist faith for hundred years.
DE- Thomas, interrupted by several callR TO Or
der. said he agreed NTH Dr. Arnitage some-
what, but preferred the Bible definition ct ''1e~
Btricted communion to the dictionary meaning
OF '.discard." He didn't think there was any
need Tor the declaration Of these resolutions,
though he believed the underlying doctrines OF
them. Thero WAS general uprising OF MEM
be:s as i Thomas sat down; but the Rev. Mr.
xE.u T-l-
being declared to possess the floor, announced
lhat he approved Dr. Armltage's views wholly.
The question of laying the resolutions on the
table was put and lost by q vote Of 43 to L. The
suggestions that "disavow" be substituted for
ssdleca1d," and that "san orderly church walk "
snould be requisite for conmunion, were ac-
repted by Dr. AImitage, and vote Was taken
IN the preamble and amended resolutions with
The result Of A. yeas and nays, white three de-
rl1ned to vote, several OF those voting yea doing
10 under protest, considering it ine1pediens to
take any actlou-
AwEsTERS 71Ew OF TIE CASE
The Interior publishes an editorial OF eoma
length on the general subject of cloee COM
Muulon, IN the course Of which il discusses as
follows the proposed new departure Of the
Michigan Avenue Church:
6ucs writing the above there has come to our no.
tiee reported movement in the Michigan Avenue
Baptist Church Of this city, which surprises great
t., and which. until confirmed, quite unwilling
speculation entered upon with view to relieving
their embarrassment The panic struck it, and the
project failed Asixty thousand dollar debt il png up
Interest which they unable to meet Now 1t ia an
nounced, in daily press, that 1arge number Of The
aggregation favor change to ppen-coum1utoo
neasuse for creating lew interest in the church,
and providing for the saving OF their hand
property. 1t u further etated that far has
thls progressed that the eyes Of the pro-
rnote1B Of the scheme turned toward DR.. Behrens
Ae tho probable Of the present abe and elo
auent pastor. tie Rey. Dr. Ellis. who has offered his
resignation. Ciose-c0,u1nuuion with our Baptist
brethren Is pF1nGple, and We cannot believe that
.uis church, which has done noble work for Christ IN
:he paat IL contemplating changing its principles to
aaye iA property. We remember &hat church, when
waA weak IN numbers, but Jealous and abounding
h abors. It held consistently and conscientiously to
hk principles. It would have given up every aollar Of
tn property Aud become homeless band OF followers
Christ before it would for any gain hare gwen up
jo tttle Of iz religious convictions Ii cannot
be, that In short time SO fatal Change has
bvEr the rpirit Of TINT people
We ehall be glad when al Baptist churches are open
communion; butxhe Christian world will have cause
10 buth when i church changes its views Of COM
uunion and membership to serve financial expe-
ricnt- That will be worso than speculation in subut-
van real estate.
THE, EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
ASNCAL AEE11SG OF THE AMERICAN BopY.
The annual meeting Of the Evaneellcal A.
lance Of the United States Was held Monday