Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-13


the idea that a minister must marry partie
presenting license. He may refuse to pei
form the ceremony if he sees cause He di
not think the town clerks commonly pu
parties under oath There is much loose
ness in the business.
Rev. Mr. Partridge doubted the justice o
demanding that ministers should refuse I,
remarry an innocent person divorced on tn,
ground of drunkenness or intolerable severity
while permitting them to remarry guilty
man who has been divorced for adultery
Rev. Mr.. Hooker of Middlebury asked il
the Convention proposed TO condemn the re-
marriage of apartywho has procured divorc,
say for mtolerable severity, when morally
certain, though unable 10 prove, that the
Scriptural ground exists.
Rev Mr.. Ferrin had known cases of that
sort. 1t was hard to frame report which
would cover all cases More distinction be-
tween the guilty and innocent seems to be
desirable.
Rev. ii. Fairbanks thought it might he
taken to he the meaning of the resolutions
to condemn remarriage where the Scriptural
ground did not exist.
Rev. j. A. Bates thought the third resolu-
ton too severe and not needed.
On motion of Rev. Mr. Hall, the third re-
solution was made to read as follows:
). ReS0lpci, That inasmuch as we recognize hut
one ground OF absolute divorce (as distinguished
from legal separation or limited diyorce) sup
ported by the authority OF Christ, we regard the
legal or religious sanction OF any cause OF divorce
Other than TINS As patronage OF immortality.
The resolutions on divorce were then, as
amended, taken up one by one, and adopted.
Next came discussion on the question,
Is the existence of religious society for the
administration of the secular affairs of the
church desirable. The first speaker, in the
affirmative. was Rev W F. Bennett The
question, he said, is intimately connected
with the welfare Of the churches. What is
the true status of the protesting mem
bers of a church The great work of the
church is to bring them into it. Much of
the church work should be done by them.
If they have pecuniary wealth they certainly
U.Cor..-
put in their hands in trust. They are also
as well qualified as the average believer to
disburse the money they give for church
,,r,,,osos IT,, ri, ,,,o,, no dor,o i, oover.,
w. H., Tia. oo,,,ni,,e. tho ohioc,;o,s 70
Ill a.. -. ,,;n,,5 an. ., 1o,,.b
Second, through the membership of the
-, 81 Ill "a r.. -. oo.,,,.r
&c..
D. n n ro..;, ,,,.. .,,,,, . ,o;..,,.
= r,i,shonon ororosoanoo 7, hos NO
Sa-;,,I,-sI ~. - : ,,aaa-,o;, ana j.
-. 7, :. ;-,,,,,u.;,,,a I'd.
oh,,ro, ,,,s,. II, ;nc,,,,ora,od o. nav hor. a
I'll,
1' = " m, - -. ~,
unnecessary ihe uiSh uoesA' "ai' '"e
money OF Its non-professing members
Rev l. lcnney thought society deslra-
BILE because ii gives the non-communicants
a responsibility for the support OF the
gospel. 1t defines in some measure
the power Of non-communicants over the
church. Its effect is good socially. And
finally, its influence in some sense is pre-
paratory for non-communicants to enter the
cbprcb
D. -, ,,.,,
he'. o L Diiaii' i''e'i'u W ''H'e y. VI"
evils OF the plan. II separates too much bust
ness and religion. He referred at some
lo,,,,h "a tho .viIs or;s;nr frou the cov-
- '->
ernmeht oil a church ny the society
The business committee then reported, re-
turning the thanks of the Convention to the
,,.,,,1a of p,,rhnor,op for ,h.ir hearty ueI-
p''P'' "
come ana cordial hospitality 10 uhe ohi'er-
sity of Vermont and the Home for Destitute
Children; .i.I 10 the railroads of the State.
IT., 49,, ,,.os ,,r,,,ir,o,s,v odo,,,.d
~ =,
On motion oil hev- H. l. han, delegates
not present Wednesday or Thursday were
TO add their names to the vote
on the resolution and to the protest.
Mr. Barber presented the matter of the
a. ,,,,,;,,,, ,.,.;,,,,.l,. ;,,,-,
C"'''''" anu '"' i'7o'1'''" f'''''' '-''''
duced was adopted
The committee on nominations reported
and their report was adOpied