Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-30

Atthe General Congregational Convention
OF Inst year, at Rutland, a resolution, which
mas become famous under the title ''Tln
Historic Resolution, 4. - The Vermont Rcsc-
lution,' was introduced by The business
committee. 1t Was as follows:
R,,oirsd That the General Convention of Con
sre:a iOnal churches of Vermont understlnl that
TO be pastor of II Congregational church lndi
Gates and requires the acceptance OF the historic
belieiOt their churches 1t has been from time to
time expressed by their representative assemblies
ard that to remain pastor of Il Congregational
church. and to claim denOminational fellowship
with our churches and ministers after any sub
stantisl part Of this historic bsli-f has been repu
dated, Is considered by breach OF fifth, AM
inconsistent with honor and Christian character.
Some, but not very extended discussion
followed, in the convention, the resolution
being opposed by Rev. Mr.. Van NOrden, of
st. Adams Rev. Mr.. Hall, of Pittslord
Rev. Mr.. Brastow, of Burlington, and one
or TWO others. 1t was, VIC believe, not sup
ported By any one at that time. 1t was re
ferred by the convention to committee con-
sistiDg Of Rev D. c. Johnson, Of Rutland
Rev. r. T. Hall, of Pittsford, and Rev. j. G..
Hale, Of Stowe, to consider and report np5n
at the coming meeting in this city
The week after the adjournment Of the
convention the public discussion Of the reso-
'-.:-- r--ea hy q communicative f-nr, its
author, Rev. Mr.. Johnson, or Eut.and, and
has continued up to this time, occupying a
large amount of space in the columns of the
Chronici., and receiving much attention from
other religious papers. The interest taken
in it By COngregationalists Of other
States arose in part from tie sup
position that it was the entering wedge
Of an extended movement to stiffen and con-
solidate the Congre-a -atilnal denomination by
| excluding f:om its pale ministers regarded
by the majority Is no: ortaoicx on all points.
In Vermont, Of cOurSe, there WAS an especial
interest from consideration Of the personal
consequences of the adoption Of such reso-
luton. The author of it has disclAimed any
reference TO the case Of any Particular in
diyiiual or individuals, in the preparation
and introduction OF the resolution, and is
entitled to the disclaimer but il the resolu-
tion had been or should be adopted by the
convention, it wOalI be simply impossible to
regard ii a. anything but an invitation to
some minister or ministers to leave tie de-
nomination.
Ii woud, perhaps, have hen enough, #
the opponents Of the resolution had simply
taken the ground that such an invitation
must be made specific that before the cor
vention requested any man to try himself,
condemn himself and to step down and out
| from his church and denomination, confess
ing at the same time, by his act, that he
had hitherto been breaking denominational
faith, violating personal honor, ard making
wreck Of his Christian character, it mast lay
down pretty specifically the creed by which
each pastor was to test his right u remain /,
else some whom the maj ,rity might desire to
have remain might take their hats and leave,
while Others who ought to leave might re-
main. Of course the attempt to comply
with TINS ueinaat m"'' iA'' "''h
'roni tut u''H'H''' VI l'"a N'""
Il creed at one, sufficiently cJmpre-
hensiye and sufficiently exclusive for its pur-
poSe' anu 'foin ''e "''i' Vi 'u'iiOi''i '' '''.
part oi the convention U lay u'" Il Il ''''1
for the churches but the demand i never
| ,bcl,.., q, roa-nnohl., an. 'Ib,. n,,,tucrtts of
'ne'esS ie'>'"'o'' o"' 'o WI
'ne ies''u'''"' "o"''e'' s'' '''o
nu'' "'H'' i"na t"e9
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Co, -, l., L.rI.,n.
,t..,.1
Ill, ~, h,ar a., 80, l., hoIi in all
,,r,i.rl,-s in oryor +, warrant =, minister
in c,lI;ng HIMSELF A C,nrres,ti,nali,t. They
.b,,cd thar tb,r,. WIS historic RJerty in
the denomination and tina; liberation of con-
seient;ous x,r;,,i,p. uc b,lief ON the par,
,f esto,,reI Christian ministers raj been a
mart,d and ,..,,,,,,.r;st;,. C.atur. of Can.
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