Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-06-18
Congregational General Convention.

held its e1ghty-fOurtn annual sesSioh III Dur
lington on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day of last week. Rev. George B. Stafford,
d. d., of Burlington, presided, and Rev.
William S. Hazen, of Mortified, was chosen
scribe, with Rev. J. II. Hincks, of Mont
pelier, as assistant scribe. The body is COM
posed of something like one hundred MEM
bers, delegates chosen by Ministerial Asso-
Citations and County Conferences, together
with the officers of various religious and
benevolent societies in sympathy with the
denomination. About three-fourths of the
body are clergymen.
The annual sermon was preached Tuesday
evening, by Rev. Z. T. Fairbanks, of St.
Johnsbury, and was very able considera-
ton of the Psalmist's utterances concerning
the depth and preciousness of Gods thoughts.
The anniversary of the Vermont Domestic
Missionary Society occurred Wednesday
forenoon, when the annual report was pre-
sented by the Secretary Rev. G. s. Smith.
1t was, as his reports always are, very able,
and the occasion was one of deep interest.
By the report it appears that there have
been received from all sources during the
past year about $500, aud that there have
been expended for the various departments
of home missionary work about S0,5OO-
the excess of expenditures over receipts be-
ing met by funds in the treasury at the be-
ginning of the year.
The annual meeting of the Vermont
Education Society was held Wednesday
evening, when reports were presented and
addresses made President Buckham with
his associate officers was reelected.
The Vermont Branch of the Woman's
Board of Missions held its anniversary meet
ing Wednesday afternoon, when reports were
presented and several addresses were made
by returned missionaries.
The subject of divorce came before the
convention for consideration, through the
report of a committee appointed the pre-
vious year. A series of resolutions were
adopted with great unanimity, recognizing
but one ground of divorce as sanctioned by
the Bible.
But by far the most engrossing topic be-
fore the convention was the report of the
committee on the so-called Historic Reso-
luton" In order that the whole question
may be seen by our readers, we copy the
original resolution which was presented last
year, fully discussed and committed to a
committee, consisting of Rev. j. g. johnson
of Rutland, Rev. r. T. Hall of Pittsford, and
Rev. j. G. Hale of Stowe, to consider and
report upon at the present convention. The
resolution is as follows:
Resolved, That the General Convention Of
Congregational Ministers and Churches under
stand that to be a pastor of a Congregational
church indicates and requires the acceptance of
the historic belief of these churches as it has
been from time to time expressed by their repre-
sentative assemblies; and that to remain pastor
Of Congregational church, and to claim denomi-
national fellowship with our churches and minis
tiers, after any substantial part of this historic
belief has been repudated, is considered by us as
a breach Of faith aud inconsistent with honor and
Christian character.
The committee made unanimous report,
concluding with the following substitute
Resolyed, That the General Convention of Min
listers and Churches of Vermont, while recogniz-
ing the absence Of authority in the convention
over the churches, understands that to be a. pas
tor Of a Congregational church indicates and re-
guires the acceptance Of the Word of God-which
is our only rule Of faith-as teaching the doc
trines commonly called evangelical, held in our
churches from the early times, and sufficiently
set forth by former Geneial Councils, notably by
the councils of Boston and Oberlin; and that the
Reputation Of any substantial part Of these doc
trnes, (held in common by all evangelical
churches) is considered by us as inconsistent witt
continued claim to UNCONVENTIONAL fellowship
with our ministers and churches.
In presenting the report Mr.. johnson sale
the committee had earnestly tried to meet
the sentiment which seems to them to be al
most universal among our ministry. They
would lay down these points First, that
the Congregational churches recognize &
doctrinal basis to Congregationalsm; sec
ond, that that basis is the evangelical faith
third, that the acceptance of that basis il
essential to Congregatioualism and to goot
standing, and is required of those entering
and expected of those remaining in our fellow
ship. He did not see why these proposition
should not be accepted unanimously.
Rev. l.. O. Brastow said it would seen
that we might all accept the propositions il
this resolution. Some will accept it withou
qualification, others not. The history of tn
discussion must be taken into the account
Questions have been evoked which have pre-
foundry stirred the public mind. The friend
of the resolution evidently recognize the in
portance of meeting class of questions tina
have been evoked by the discussion. II
also recognized that importance. There il
however, another class of questions whic
the opponents of the resolution think equal
important, and which they think shout
limit the proposition laid down in the r.
solution, They ask simply that the resol'
ton be protected against inevitable misa]
prehension and possible misapplication
and out of the state. They desire explic
recognition of that old Congregation
principle Of appeal from all human STANDARD
70 the Word of God. They also desire pr
lection against any possibility of wrong a
plication to any individuals in our bod,
and recognition of the principle that befo
any minister can be considered disqualifi,
for our fellowship, he should have co
sciously rejected some essential portion of Il
evangelical belief or shall have been a
judged disqualified by some competent G
clesiastical council He accordingly NOV
to amend the resolution by appending t
following;
Provided, That nothing herein affirmed be CT
strued as denial of the right of appeal from
human creeds to the Word OF God nor as an
putation against the standing OF minister "
neither In his own mind nor by decision OF a CO
petent ecclesiastical tribunal, having examiI
his particular beliefs, has been judged TO hf
forfeited our fellowship.
Mr. johnson said that for himself he v
willing to accept the first clause of Il
amendment, though it seemed to him to
but repetition OF portion of the reso
ton. AS to the latter portion of the proyi
it assumed a case which may never occ
Moreover, person might reject the deity
Christ and still claim fellowship, insist
that he was not conscious of variat
sufficient to disqualify him. He did
think the brother who offered this anne
ment would hold his belief in subsection
some future council.