Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-23
The eeoeral Congregational Convention,

Or, to give it its full title, The General Con-
yention of Congregational Ministers and
Churches OF Vermont, meets in this city on
the coming second Tuesday in June. As it
is the representative body Of the most nu-
merous religious denomination in Vermont,
its meeting is an occasion Of some import
ance at any time. Its session this year will be
likely to attract more than the usual atten-
ton owing to some special considerations to he
mentioned hereafter. The Congregational de-
nomination, as was explained in recent ser
mon on the Congregational polity by Rev, Mr.
Brastow, is not a very strongly organized
body Its representative bodies, subordinate
to the General Convention in Vermont, are
the County Conferences. thirteen in number,
and fourteen Ministerial Associations, which
are for the most part bounded by the county
lines. Each Conference is entitled to three
delegates in the General Convention, two
thirds of whom must be laymen. The other
third may be ministers or lsymen. Each asso-
citation having eight resident ministers is en-
titled to three delegates, and an additional one
for every four additional resident ministers.
The Conferences send thirty nine delegates
The possible attendance of ministers from
the associations is usually from fifty to sixty.
Besides these the Convention admits TO mem
bership certain other ministers and laymen,
on the ground of their having appointments
from the Convention. or because OF their
official relation to it or TO certain benevolent
societies which hold their anniversaries in
connection with the Convention. These
are commonly about twenty-five in number
The Convention is thus body Of about lbs
members The constitution Of the Conyen-
ton declares that it receives. as the basis of
fellowship, and as an expression of its faith,
the doctrines Of Christianity as they are for
substance stated in the Declaration of Faith
of the Boston Congregational Council of
1865.
The object of the Convention, and its only
object as defined by its constitution, is, "fo
promote the harmony, fellowship and efficiency
Of the churches and their cooperation an
Christian rr0rk" As neither the associations
nor conferences receive any ecclesiastical
authority from the churches, their delegates
can confer no such power upon the Conyen-
ton. 1t is, then, in no sense Legislature
body. 1t cannot enact laws to bind the
churches or ministers. They owe no obedi-
ence to it as a body having authority over
them. 1t can prescribe conditions of mem
ship in its own body and make rules for its
own regulation, as a corporate and delibera-
tive body, but it cannot establish creed for
the churches, or assume power or govern
ment over associations or conferences,
ministers or churches. Neither is it Judi-
oai body. 1t cannot arraign any church or
minister or individual to appear at its tribu-
nal to answer to any charge OF unchristian
conduct or heresy. 1t is not a court Of ap-
peal to decide cases that prove too hard for
churches or councils. 1t cannot, like coun-
ell, ordain, or install, or dismiss, or try
minister. In short, it has received no COM
mission from the churches to exercise author
ity over any one. 1t is simplya contention
of Christian men of the denomination, sent
by the associations and conferences, with
the approval of the churches, to
listen to reports relating to the
prosperity of the churches and the
religious condition and needs of the peo-
pie. They may consider and discuss any and
all questions Of common concern, calculated
"fo promote the harmony, fellowship and et
fqency of N. churches and their cO-Operdfien
IN Christian roork." OF course it is possible
that measures intended to promote the har-
mony and efficiency of the churches may
prove to have to some extent a contrary ef-
feet. Such a measure, introduced in the Con-
vention of last year, but not acted on, has
been under active discussion. and attracted
wide attention, in the religious papers Of this
and other States, during the year. A brief
review of the course of the discussion may in
terest even our non Congregational readers.
and We shall endeavor to give such review,
another day.