St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-11-23
An Installation Postponed.

An 1nStallat1On Postponed.
The religious world has been some
what exercised the last week~or two,
by the unexpected postpOnement of an
installation service at Indian Orchard
(near Springfield, Mass because of the
views held by the to-be pastor on the
matter of the atOnement and future
punishment. Rev. James F. Merriam
was the candidate to be installed over
the Congregational church. and the
council was called, and the people had
gathered to witness the services, Prof.
Neill of Amherst, being engaged to
preach the sermon. On the meeting of
the council, and after lengthy ques-
tioning and discussion it was voted, 8
to 6, not to proceed with the installa-
ton. The cause of their refusal was
the unsoundness of the candidates
views on eternal punishment. Mr.. Mer-
riam presented his views on this point
in writing, as follows:
SIN regard to the matter of the eter-
nal punishment of those impenitent at
death, l believe the Bible does not
teach it nor do believe it teaches the
contrary. 1t leaves the question an
open one. Hence, in my public teach
ing and ministry, as minister of the
Gospel, | would teach neither the one
nor the other. In my private judgment
and belief l hold that future punish
ment, if eternal in any sense, is so in
the sense that it is eternal death or an
Inhalation. And l cannot promise to
refrain from expressing myself private
ly, simply us an individual expression,
a personal belief, to that effect, when
in my judgment can thereby do good.'
Mr.. Merriam having requested bill
of particulars of the council, they final
ly voted, that, "while not satisfied with
his views on the atonement, they es-
pecially object to his views ON eternal
punishment as unsound and unsatisfac-
tory" Notwithstanding the result of
the council, the church cling to their
candidate, and there is talk of INSTALL
ing in spite of the decision. Mr.. Mer-
riam has been preaching there several
months. The council in this case was
composed of Congregational clergymen
and deacons in Springfield and vicinity
The Conqregationalist, leading de-
nominational newspaper, says of this
case, that the refusal to install Mr.. Mer-
riam was correct. The Boston plat
form of 1865 declares that the churches
which delegated the Boston council,
believed sin the final judgment, the
issues of which are eternal life and
everlasting punishment" This plat
form was Endorsed by the national
council at Oberlin, six years ago, and
no effort has been made at the two sue
ceeding national councils, at New Haven
or Detroit, to have this expression of
faith modified in any particular. Stand
ing upon this platform, the Congrega-
tionGIist does not think how the council
could have acted otherwise than to
have refused to install Mr.. Merriam.
While the incongruity would be more
manifest and startling, it does not see
"that it would differ in kind so much
as in degree, we're such council to Or
dain as a Congregational minister in
good and regular standing, one who
denies the being of God /; for the
proposition of the Divine existence is
no more distinctly, nor efficiently, a
part of our Congregational creeds, than
the proposition that the Bible teaches
the eternal punishment of the final
ly impenitent.r Notwithstanding, this
same paper makes this rather queer
suggestion of compromise in this case:
.In view of the confidence of all par
ties in the genuineness and excellence
of the Christian character of this
brother, and of the Providences which
have led him, and this church, to the
condition in which they are, we suggest
that the church exceptionally install
him as their pastor-independently,
and not asking the fellowship of the
churches