Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-04

PREAMBLE AND EESpli TONS.
Whereas, The General Convention OF ministers
and delegates Of the Congregational churches. at
lis last meeting in Burlington, passed The following
resolution:
"Kesoired, Thai the General Convention of minis
tiers AMI churches ot Vermont. while recognizing
The entire absence of authority IN the convention
over the churches, understands that To he pastor OF
a Congregational church Indicates and requires the
acceptance OF the word of Gud-whIch Is our only
rule of falih-as teaching the doctrines commonly
called evangelical held IN our churches from the
early times and sufficiently set forth 10y former gen
rral councils, notably hy the councils OF Boston and
bherlln, and that the reputation Of substantial
part OF these doctrines thclI IN common hy all
evangelical churches Is considered hr u neon
slslrh WIN continued clam I" dJioninatnnil Eel
l"w-hlp with our ministers AMI churches
And refused to guard the meaning oil the same hy
The following amendment
"iToridcd, That nothing herein affirmed lac con-
slderrd as denial of the night ui appeal from all
human rrce,is 10 the Word "f GoI, nor as AN I'M
pnlaiion against the standing uf minister, who
neither in ms own mlnd nor hy drci-ion of a com
peIrit ecclesiastical tribunal, having examined his
particular beliefs, has been judged to have forfeited
"ut fellowship;
Nr6cfore be II reS"lccd. That tins church deem il
important and timely to reassrri what We consider
the fundamental postulal' ct our Congregational
polity namely that the word If God is the ultimate
standard OF appeal In matters nt religious faith and
practice, FOR individuals AM Tor ecclesiastical
bodies and furthermore, To rrliiigm uur entire con
hndencc IN and aiherenc" to the methods OF discl-
pine which from the beginning have been IN
vogue among churches
hesoired, diso, That We fully approve aud endorse
the action Of our pastor Rev Charles Van Nor,len,
In opposing, before the Convention The adoption OF
the resolution above quoted without The amend
ment thereto proposed and also in signing the pro-
test iled against the passage of -ail resolution 80
unamended.
Amt f"the'"orc That We hereby express our
renewed confidence. love and esteem for our pas-
tor, as Christian gentleman. unl an earnest AMI
faithful servanI Of The Master and The sincere hope
that he may long remain the pastor ui tins church
The resolutions were supported hv :
Bcdard, Dca Charles Wyman. A. o
Brainerd, b. +. Robinson. and f. butcher.
The batter said that whatever Disclaimers
may have been put forth it MAS very well
known that Mr.. Van Nordcn had been made
lhr most conspicuous object Of the ccnsllrc
Implied in the resolution of the convention
and he thought it bat proper that here, in the
bosom of his Ggn church, pnJ among people
who know him thoroughly and turr his
fidelity to evangelical Christianity, and are
80 ably led and So much instructed Iy his
linlnOus cXposltiuns uf the Gospel they
should th,iS rrrord their couiidcnrc in and
love for him and their Id,.i. Il AGAINST any
effort 10 rcyolutionzc the polity % IT,.
congregational body in order to prejudice /
the standing Of any Dnr.
Iliurpu StrVpug saii la. b,,,ntl4- ,,ustIrrnJ