Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-08-01

and Christian churches, and its very life
will be put out. This is day peculiarly
suspicious to its triumphant growth as a
principle and life, but the most inopportune
possible for insistance on its being
a denomination. To say to man. Il believe
you to be Christian but not Congregation
al Christian, and hence not in fellowship" is
the very last word appropriate to defenders
of our historic faith. Such language is as
foreign to the spirit that animates all our his
tory as its import is destructive of present
growth. J.F.
Stafford Springs, Ct, July II, 1879.
To The Editor of The Republican,
Tie real question and the only
question which the Vermont resolution IN
dertakes to settle is simply this What
shall be done with the pastor of COngrega-
tional church who is supposed TO differ in
certain dOctrinal matters with the majority
of his brethren" The resolution says that
the Reputation Of any substantial part of
tho doctrines commonly called evangelical
is inconsistent with continued claim to de
nominational fellowship with our ministers
and churches" 1t is fhus aimed at the min
lister who is supposed to differ with his
brethren, and It is a notification TO him that
he ought to take himself off.
Now let the brethren who voted for the
resolution, and who defend it in the news
papers put themselves in the places of the
men at whom it is aimed. The FIRST ques-
ton that every such minister must ask him
self il this. do | repudiate any substan-
tial part of the doctrines commonly called
evangelical q Ii he is conscious that he
does, and if he thinks that the majority in
the Vermont convention have right TO
direct his conduct, then he knows exactly
what to do
But suppose that he is not conscious Of
repudiating any substantial part Of the
evangelical doctrines as they are now held
and taught in the Congregational churches.
He sees thai wide differences OF opinion
exist among congregational ministers in
good standing, and he does not think that
his variation from the generally received
theories in one direction is any greater than
the tolerated variations OF ether men in other
direc,ins, and lac regards himself as hold
ing all the essential elements of the evangel-
ical faith. Therefore, he says to himself :
This resolution docs not moan me; will
STAY in my place and go on with my work !;
if my brethren in the neighhorhood think
that any differences with them are so great
that they cannot tolerate me, let them call a
cnanoii and frankly tell me so then will
go peaceably away and leave my blessing
with them; until then | eau do nothing else
but assume that they are as ready to work
With me- as ! am to work with them"
Now the question il whether the resolution
is to be interpreted as censuring man who
stands in this position. That question the
minority wanted to have distinctly answered,
so they offered an amendment in these
words;
"PSoridel, That nothing herein affirmed be CON
strusd as an imputatiOn against the
standing OF a minister who neither in his own mind
nor by decision of competent ecclesiastical tribu-
nal having examined his particular beliefs, has
been judged 10 have forfeited our fellowship
The amendment was voted down, Is to
go. And it was voted down us its opponents
said, and as Dr. Walker most empathatically
reiterated, because it aullifed the resolution.
We must therefore interpret the resolution in
the light of the vote on this amendment, and
we must understand the resolution as assailing
the standing of ministers who have not
consciously rejected any substantial part of
the evangelical faith, and who have never
by the action of a council been pronounced
unworthy of fellowship.
Now it would seem that so long as a Con-
gregational minister regards himself as being
in substantial accord with the Congregational
council of his brethren has ventured to call
his standing in question, he ought to be re-
garded as in good standing. i never before
heard of any device b. which his standing
could be impaired, so long as these things
were true of him. But this resolution, as
interpreted by the action upon the amend
ment, provides way whereby minister 5
standing can be impaired without any action
of church or council What is that way
1t is the way of private accusation. That
is precisely what is authorized by the Yer
mont convention By slurs and insinuations,
and mischievous reports ministers stand
ing can be badly damaged. The action of
the majority in the Vermont convention is
calculated to encourage this kind of practice
1t permits every man to judge of the ortho
doxy of every other man. and to pronounce
those who do not come up 10 his standard
unworthy of fellowship. 1t denies TO every
man who may be suspected of heresy the
right of private judgment respecting him
self, and gives to every one who may choose
to accuse him the right OF private judgment
upon him.
Now, protest that for such device of
cowardice and such weapon of assassina-
ting, men like Dr. Walker and my friend,
Harding, have no use whatever. | know
tHClll, hOlOldblt
men; know that the methods authorized
by this resolution are methods to which they
could never resort, and am surprised that
they should be found defending deliver
ance which is so utterly repugnant to every
instinct of their natures
Now that my hand is in l want TO add an
other word or two. Brother Harding speaks
of mans finding himself out of sympathy
with the denomination to which he be-
longs" There are yet, | trust, quite num-
Der of Congregational ministers who do not
belong to any denomination. The idea OF
belonging TO any man or any set of men, is
an idea that they have never entertained. Ii
they wanted an owner or master among men
they would go straight to the pope himself.
They call no man master in things spiritual
much less any company OF men. When
they entered the work of the ministry il was
to another master that they pledged them
selves and Him they mean TO follow. They
did not suppose themselves to be joining a
club of any kind when they took Ills vows
upon them they believed themselves to be
enisting in the service of Jesus Christ.
Yet they did engage in his service in con-
nection with company of disciples whose
ideas and methods were, on the whole, &C
ceptable to them. In this fellowship they
nave llUDTttl, ever Ibt
with all that their brethren said or did, but
in hearty sympathy with most Of their en-
deavors. This association has become well
come and dear to them, and they see no rea-
son why it should not continue. They do
differ in some things, it may he, from many
of their brethren, but it does not seem to
them that the matters concerning which they
disagree are essential matters Not only Is
the fellowship pleasant to them, they believe
il to be useful also; it furnishes a stimulus
and restraint and it lempers the individual
ism of isolated thought, with historic usages
and social judgments.
Furthermore, il may be very absurd in
them, but they cannot help thinking that
in some. at least, OF the things con-
corning which they disagree with their
brethren, they are right and their
brethren are wrong. They believe that the
truth which God has shown to them is truth
which their brethren need Fidelity TO their
Master, and love for their brethren unite TO
constrain them to continue in the fellowship.
They will differ as kindly as they can; but
they will he faithful to the truth ms they see
it, in order that those with whom they walk
may h. led to see ii also.
Ii ut any time their brethren should
find this relaiica intclcgahle, aud should, by
the voice OF a properly constituted council,
say to them that they did not wish any fur
ther association with them, they would de-
part in peace But until some such orderly
procedure has taken place they will continue
to disregard the deliverances of Vermont
Conventions, and will assume that the fellow
ship of the churches, once extended To them
has not been withdrawn, and that they are
welcome in the places where their bfsshFyH
tre snii, 10 A.est.
WASHiNGToS GLAnnEN.
Springfield July e5, 1879
VA,FALry aEtosb'