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

The discussion of the so-called = Historic
Resolution" .in..the Chronicle closes with COM
munications from leading advocate and
leading opponent of the resolution, portions
of which We copy below:
| THE RESOLUTION As REGARDED EY ITS AUTHOR
REV. ]. G. JOHNSON, OF RUTLAND.
Dr. Bacons last article in the Indfpendeyat
| is aimed at the two wrong assumptions that
the resolution tries to condemn some par
ticular person, and that it would test him by
some written standard of doctrine.
The Oberlin Council were unwilling to
say that they agreed on the acceptance Of
the Holy Scriptures, but on the Holy Scrip
lures interpreted cvangelcally. The Con
ventiOn is asked to say what this implies
that when a Congregational minister in
terprets the Scriptures unevangelically he
| thereby loses his claim to Congregational
fellowship. To express this opinion is all
that is asked of the Convention. 1t is an
| opinion which the friends of this resolution
hold. 1t is an opinion which Dr. Bacon and
| DIR. Sturtcvant hold. 1t is an opinion which
almost all Congre"ationalists hold. We are
very well aware that ''thc deivcranccs If
the Convention have no binding force" Yet
it is thought worth while for these deliver
ances" TO he made on a great variety Of
subjects. \ very kind opponent of this reso-
| luton sees reason for some = adequate ex-
preston, lin view of the prevailing ten
dency to lOoSrness of doctrine" The COM
mittec have changed the resolution so that
| they believe it to he an adequate express
| sion" of the Convention on very important
| and timely subject 1t docs not seek to con-
denim ''the Rev. John Doe without trial
1t does not recognize ''any human standard,
written OF Ilnwritten" 1t does recognize
| a difference between an evangelical and an
unevangelical Interpretation of tho Scrip
lures which are our only rule of faith.
Whether the evangelical Interpretation of
Scripture shall mark the limit of Congrega-
tional fellowship or not, is n fair subject
| for discussion. One can take either side of
it, and still be gentleman and n Christian
and Congregationalist. Some have already
taken the negative side whose orthodoxy is
beyond question | believe it is right to
ask the convention SO to declare. ! believe it |
will do good if they do 81 declare. | see
no dangers from such declaration. be-
lieve such u declaration To be in accordance
with the spirit of the history of our churches. |
The subject has been 81 amply discussed |
that the time of the convention may not be |
demanded for further discussion. But if |
there is To be discussion, we, al least, have |
come down To what the subject really is.
THE RESOLUTION As REGARDED By REV DE.
sArFoED, OF BURLINGTON
If the resolution he made to say in effect |
that no variation from the historic creeds, |
which is greater, logically or practically es
timated. than those which are already re-
cognized as consistent with orthodoxy, |
shall be tolerated or that il is not hOnOra-
BILE for one To claim and retain the fellow
ship of our churches for the purpose of com
hath he pf huf IL Qlt
istic of our fellowship, proposition Ia that
effect might meet with no objection But
granting for the present the automatic viz
tues of the proposition. the wisdom of utter
ing it as a resolution of the convention is vet
to he made clear.
The resolution is said to he Timely
But the very considerations which make il
seem timely may ON close examination
prove it untimely. What is the occasion:
Is it that one or more ministers of our name
in the State are preaching doctrines so mani
testify suhversiye of the current orthodoxy
rs To brand themselves with dishonor Then
the timely thing would be to bring such men
TO trial by council. Is ii that some such
evil not yet realized seems to he threatened
The timely thing is to possess our souls in
patience. Is it that wild scandals Of dishon-
est councils and dishonest ministers agitate
us The timely thing is 10 investigate them.
Is it that Vermont is regarded as good CON
sentative field on which to raise crop of
ecclesiastical aXioms for expectation to
other States : The timely thing is
To correct that notion and let other States
supply their own market. Is it that
we are conscious OF culpable laxness in our
ecclesiastical habits? The timely thing is TO
manifest our repentance by action rather
than by vocIferation. Is it That our good
=. Il. IL
falsely accuse us Of laXness The timely
thing is To vindcatc at once our catholicity
and our fidelity to SO much Of The historic
doctrine rs We hold
4 weishty objection to The resolution is
that it is an implied confession that the very
essentials of orthodoxy are tsing their hul,i
Un our churches. that the evil cannot b,
remcdied 10y reasoning. and by preaching, and
that our regular ecclesiastical nirth,nis for
the withdrawal OF fellowship FROM hcrrsy
cannot be- relied on To defend the drnonlin;I-
tipn against thu inevitable apostasy.
\ conspicuous feature OF the resolution is
fear. IL discrcdits alike our doctrine and
our polity, Il tends 10 justify the rhars'
that our orthodoxy is group OF failing
doctrines, AMI that our potv is (irfcncclcss
When there are abundant private comics
sions of this fear; when the advocacy of the
historic polty and the reference To s,mc of
The variations 1T historic orthodoxy are TAX
en- to imply sympathy with dOCtrinal error
when the reaillrmation by one Of our most
eminent preachers of a doctrine which he
has vigorously maintained through long
life is hailed with rejoicing in which some
surprise seems to mngle when some of our
brethren publish abroad th,ir fear that the
orthodoxy Of Vermont will tottCr unless ,
prorrei Ivy a resolution, then for the con
-.
of orthodoxy would Ia q great sallmiiv
) Our puliiy il cminently shifted To save
souls II is legacy from sturdy men who
feared neither trcachery within the camp nor
assault from without. Our fathers were
strong in the intense reality of their own
and in their consci' us power to . :
defend them, y hcrcsy oi such sort and '
size u to carry personal dishunur with it,
they would purge out nf their communion
hy very summary Methods and would not
want the help of automatic proclamafions.
Do not ask our convention to humilaie
itself into playing the Part ri that constable
in Much Ado about Nothing who To es-
cape tl,e agitation and distress incident TO
tho arrest OF thief, would have him ''show
himself what he l. and steal ont OF your COM
l.any.
Urine manitrslly anta.ennislic Ia our common
faith ought To- "purlly retire from our COM
n,ual2h, Individual men certainly have the
rishl To- utter this truth The convention :
surely has the right L. utter this truth
Though the Necessity OF guarding it against ,
he grrAl,I rcrV,rslJu has been male evident
iy the trieuds al the resolution themselves
aii the murc obvious the truth is the more
rrasOn why We should not wait To proclaim
IN general PHRASE hut should rather bring
Ihc particular offenders after We have found
hem, To definite consciousness of their
Jolly in trying To- stay with those who have
riual conscnsus.
The objections hare Ofl, red arainst thu.
are in thu interest oG the current
NJ less than nl the historic politv l
We have spent u year Discussing hrrcsy of
masni'.ri' Il has he, II insist =
ed that the rp;..>c,l resolution il timely anil
fiui all this Time M ecclesiastical l
liSgiphne has been accomplished under
.akcn or even proposed. Il NON We adopt !
he resolution OF it, equivalent, believe
hat such aaitnn N,at,t IN SIS lrl,iica Signiii-
,ance In jhe z,'V.'F,'sJ blow that ORTHODOXY
-ai yoi Is,'civ,Sl from any quarter
DO not scr hnw il could fiil Ia signify -
, general participation in thu. fear which
manfcstlv dis,r sscs some minds respeClin:
The stability al evangelical CoUeyt~.t,tt,nal- "
SIN. And ! should h -,.iy, str the action Il
If the ccNcuti5, trduiri At 10y the un- 81
see rs the latest and most !
n,ni,iC:nt token oI the ptHic Gt pfta,xi1rg. \