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

Wednesday second Day.
The morning devotional meetings pre-
liminary to the regular session of the Con
vcntinn, were moderately attended. That
nj G o'clock was led by Rev. Mr.. Smart of
Ferrisburgh, and that at $50 hy Rev. l..
Phelps of Barton.
The Convention opened at ., with prayer
by Rev. &. W. Thompson of Danvillc. The
scribe read the records of yesterdays session.
THE HIsroRIr EE5oLU rIpT
WAS then taken up. The report OF the com
mittee was read by Mr.. Johnson.
Mr. Johnson said the committee had earn
cstly tried 10 meet the sentiment which
seems To them 10 he almost universal among
our ministry They would lay down these
points Isl, that the congregational churches
recognize doctrinal basis Ia Congregation
alism End, that that basis is the evangelical
faith ;ird, that the acceptance of that basis
is essential To Congrcgaiiunalism and to good
standing. and is required of those entering
and expected of those remaining in our fel-
!
tons should not he accepted unanimously.
Rev. l.. o. Brasiow said it would seem
that We might all accept the propositions in
this resolution. Some will accept it without
qualification, others not The history of the
discussion must he taken into the account
Questions have been evoked which have pro-
foundly stirred the public mind The friends
of the resolution evidently recognize the i'm
portance Of meeting class of questions that
have been evoked by the discussion
lie also recognized that importance.
There is, however, another class of ques-
tons which the opponents of the resolution
think equally important, and which they
think should limit the proposition laid down
in the resolution. They ask simply that
the resolution be protected against inevitable
misapprehension and possible mislpplication
in and out of the State. They desire explicit
recognition of that old Congregational prin-
ciple of appeal from all human standards to
the word of God They also desire protec-
ton against any possibility of wrong APP
| plication TO any individuals in our body and
recognition of the principle that before any
minister can be considered disqualified for
our fellowship, he should have consciously
| rejected some essential portion of the
evangelical belief or shall have been adjudged
disqualified by some competent ecclesiastical
council. lie accordingly moved 10 amend
the resolution by appending the following:
PrOr.dcd, That nothing herein affirmed he constru-
ed rs deniai Of the right OF appeal from all human
creeds 10 the word OF God; nor a. an mputaiion
against the standing OF u minister, who neither IN
his own mind nor by decision Of competent &C.
cleslastlca tribunal having examined his particular
beliefs, has been judged 10 have forfeited our Eel
lowship-
Mr.. johnson said that Tor himself he was
willing to accept the first clause of this
amendment, though it seemed to him to be
but u repetition of Il portion of the resolution.
As to the latter portion of the proviso, it as
sumed case which may never occur. More
over, person might reject the deity of
Christ and still claim fellowship, insisting
that he was not conscious of variation
sufficient 10 dsqualiiy him. He did not
think the brother who offered this amend
ment would hold his belief in subsection 10
some future council.
Rev Mr. Hooker of Castleton said he had
been in favor of some declaration by the
Convention, because al vague tendency cx-
listing toward a loosening of the ties of doc
trinc. All must remember Il case At the |
West, where strong Congr, gational church |
in Wisconsin became II very feeble one,
because its pastor preached hrresy, and the
church hesitatcJ L. take up his case because
they were afraid they should make martyr
of him. In our fear of treading on some
body's toes, do not let us lose sight of our
privilege of definite expression. We advo-
cate no coercion. We simply express our
judgment for its moral effect We would
not put 4 han on free thought and study and
discussion hut men must not stand up in
side our denomination and combat its plat
form. Our polity is not sufficient basis
that includes Baptists and many whose
belief is directly opposed 10 ours. a church
which asks 10 join us with the Bible as its
creed is no more entitled 10 admission than
a Christian or Campbellitc Baptist church.
In particular cases There should he The ac-
Ton oil councils hui our declaration may III
luehcc the couhclls.
Mr.. Brastow said the resolution says the
convention understands That 10 he '"nSre-
gaiional pastor requires the acceptance OF
The word OF God AS teaching CERTAIN doc
lflhes. Inc resolution requires us 10 receive
the word Of God, as Interpreted by certain
doctrines. lie wanted the resolution 10 say
thai We receive the word of God, not AS in
ierpreting, hut as testing those doctrines. |
The amendment, therefore is not II rcpcti i
lion OF any part Of the resolution.
Again, it would seem 10 he orderly and 5
lar that II minister consciously rejects /
portion OF the evangelical doctrine, he should :
report himself for trial to n competent coun- q
III. But suppose hc is net conscious that I
nc has rejected an essential part of the i
belief, can we then claim that lac ,
shall, ON that ground, forfeit his claim to Il
fellowship? lie may or he may not have |
epndated an essential doctrine. Let those :
Who think he has, call him before council; I
md without the decision of Il competent a
'ouncil let him not De disiellowshippcd u
Rev. DIR. Stevens of Westminster said "
hat Unitarians. when asked thcirbelief, will /,
ell you they hold with Mr. Bellows or II
manning or Theodore Parker w, wnnt y
omcthing more definite than these indiyi,lI-
/ standards We have a creed standing ont +,
n history. Councils have ia take into con ?
liberation many matters which may modify II
heir notion. hut the ,ues,iop hrfor,. us 10 of ~
$3.50 ' ""' VIZ i"'''''i '''''' 10 ~ VI :"
hstract doctrinr anil we nuerht tn make a -
eliniie decl,r,ii,n of o,,r f,irh He b,nrd "
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baractcr md serviI.lv hnv down and own u
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