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

1t hits only the pastors, of whom We have
perhaps thirty in this house, and sixty in the
State and omits to require acceptance.of the
doctrines from the rest of the two hundred
Congregational ministers in our State. If it
is meant TO apply To all our ministers, why
not say so. 1t would improve the resolution
TO omit the word former, which does not
belong there. But the main objection to the
resolution is that it is uncongregational.
1t will tend to increase the uncongregational
practice of employing stated supplies, instead
of settling pastors 1t will fetter councils.
Mr.. Bushee explained that he meant only
TO say that the Bible was nothing, if not in
terpreted
Rev. a. ID. Barber opposed the amend
mcnt as putting the Convention on the ex-
treme ground of private Judgment The
private judgment of man cannot stand
against the Judgment of the church. If left
To private Judgment we do not know what is
truth or even what is the true canon of
Scripture. Colenso judging by his private
Judgment, throws out the Pentateuch Others
throw out parts Of Isaiah. II will moi do thus
to cut loose from the Judgment of the church
as expressed in its councils. Our polity ex-
ats the council, and the judgment of the
council should be most carefully guarded for
its action is final
On motion of Rev. G. L. Fcrrin, further
speakers on the question were limited to
three minutes each.
Rev. Mr. Olmsted said that if we wish TO
say thai a man may embrace Unitarianism
and Cnivcrsalism and keep his standing as a
Congregational minister We should adopt the
amendment. Ii not, We should adopt the
resolution without the amendment
Rev. W. I. IIerrick presented resolutions
adopted by the Orleans County Conference.
to the effect that our Congregational churches
have a basis of historical doctrine, which our
ministers should accept and hold, and that
the Convention ought to make clear deliv-
erancc on the subject
Rev. Mr. Garland read similar resolutions
of the Lamoille County Conference. and
Rev. j. A. Bates said that the Lamoie
Association had adopted similar resolutions.
Rev. r. t. Hall thought the last part of
the amendment unnecessary. The resolution
assumes as matter of course that in trying
ministers Congregational methods will he
adopted The first part of the amendment
nullifies the resolution. Having been an op-
ponent of the original resolution, he had ac-
cepted the substitute reported by the COM
miltee as a fair common ground of agree
ment for both sides. But the adoption of
the amendment would give the case to one
side, to the opponents of the resolution.
Rev. 5. p. Wilder said when We declare
that there must he a standard other than the
Word of God, We 90 back on the bottom
principle of the Reformation; we make the
majority our pope, and claim infallihility for
the councils of Nice and Oberlin and Boston
We cannot 60 before the world ON that issue
The right Of every man to study and believe
his Bible, without instruction of priest or
council, was what Luther maintained and
what congrcgationalism has always asserted
Rev. Henry Fairbanks said amen to that
Let every man open his Bible and see what
it teaches. If it leads him out of sympathy
with the faith of the Congregational churches, !
let him go where he will find sympathy and
-, ''io"-
t-ffi'''I "e WIN oe iooni ior
9' ''i' INV VIM ii uo'iii'is our ueiioiii-
nation; and he can still be treated as a |
Christian brother.
i'' ''''''s"' ''u''eil had
's"' :" say To man VINO a'ahuohs por-
''VA' " '''' S'''''''i i"''i' you nave
80 81 u P'ir H' Ju''srh'n' 'ne eoul-
mas ITO ,'sn, VI jung men. anu you uilief
WIN Us 81 III '''a' you shou'u not stay win
VI" III in''''''''ia
s''','i' ''l'p u s'''iis "''r i''''i'h |" go
,''lanS "''',e NJ uOeS ','' p'ioiis-
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III M,
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p.,, ~ ID ~ ~.
ton, but was willing To take if witbthe smear
coating of the amendment He denr.cated
the personal illusions of the last sneaker He
had often heard Brother Van Norden nreacb
and preach sound evangelical doctrine. Be
ing himself a square, old-fashione,l orthodox
Congregationaist he wanted the amend