Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-27
The Action of the Congregational Convention


OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
from the s.. Alhans Messencer.I
III, f,o,ror,io, of yorr,o,t Conprera-
- - ,;,,;a,o,.s ,,,,l ,l,.olo. b,s voted iva
tau',o ;orit,. tbat cartain drcIar,,ions o
- -, - T1r,,,,,la,nd o,1 .rrepd 10
Ien an,,a,;,,,t tho nnI, hasis Of Lnnorable
s.ili - ,hoir Janon-
sla.'i'ns 1Iu ,,. NV, iaarnJ hot ,hev
lha,ion- ines nav i,I .i,,' ~ III ,ha,
WIN iu: :u M - WI" ,,,n, ,hn,, viii
t'y WIN P.1 ia ;,,,.,..,ra,
no. aI'o" an, ,i,If 'i';',. l,. 80 ,h,,
lP'9ie 'o All ,,,,,,;ca,i;r Lv an
ilaIaru oi 'la1 M ''r'. ,',;i ot Lie
uhniase" aiu of
prelhier 'i.'. Iar Io haIJ
iii'ii ll Us ,,.arsJ
as ihisllip,1 ui '"' l'1'ii's =, I'LL
uy all. 'a'' I 'i.i i",I M; l,'o,,,,d ,ho,
ne 'oitra,'", .ah'aS 'nls sll'' s,'a I'll
nave h"a ohN' @ IKE ,lo,I tng o,H" sons sson,iai %
"erus, pu' rii'H nav N,ch,'e,' ,;, "ii NJ
= ;,';n IT,. 10 iiho,,,
NJ, IS a. ;.'d;,;,aI o,,nrnI' and Of Tho
individual member of coursp. such n thing
as this puls an end 10 progress "''hIli wv. W
nomination uhlesS tne senTiai H..
shal niiNe ~, ati'. It - % Iii 6yor
mem, men @ 'in dr h T4;soonac,.
tiiin"u anu .,'u:..',d "
If tho action of the convention had refer
ence 10 any particular case, as we more Than
suspect 1t did, then 1t was unjust ana cow
aiuiN u"Jus,, "v' i''se 1t JuusI" ni."gu.
trla 'oNaiuS' "e1'se ~ i''',ie i'l ,'" -,
III a,,d sh
lli:.N1 ma, "a H. ,l ,I,,,, of o,,i;nh,anad
~, ,,,, wv witi,omf t;rst nassing vLai
49,, r., Ioa,, dosirnod as a vote of i5struc-
ton Rut If tho votes could have been
weighed instead oi counted such ac'i"h
would never have been taken, IL Is very no.
tceable that win TWO exceptions lhe most
learned and distinguished OF Inc clergy, rep
resenting the largest and most influential
churches, were in favor OF the amendment
which took the sting from the resolution,
and as men in this age look more Tor light
than for authority, the influence OF these
gentlemen Will not ne lessened hut may pos
sihlv he enhanced because they were in the
minority. Nevertheless, IN the interest ol
enlightened Congregationalism the action of
the convention is to be regretted.
from the Rutland Heraldl
Nhen frotestahts take thcir stanu upon
historic belief, they are at the mercy as
matter OF logic, with the cuniroverslalisls oi
the church OF Rome which, on The platform
OF historic beliefs, as expressed py so-caileu
repre- sentative assemblies can win more
technical accuracy, pronounce thtm All
heretics and dlsseniers lhe only teniole
position OF the Protestant Christianity IS
THAT the revealed word o1 Tod Is the only
authoritative rule OF faith and practice ana
that no exposition OF 1t by rope or council.
no formula OF belief constructed ny men.
. however venerable It's age, however general
! lis acceptance, however many representative
assemblies may have assented to 1t, is bind
| ing upon any man conscience hen MI
Stafford and his minority protested Against
/ The adoption ol The resolution referred 10,
they were logically lighting ior the only vital
argument and answer that lroteslantlsm can
make when confronted by Catholic coniro-
vcrsidliSts. standing stubbornly on the posi-
/ ilon OF historic beliefs The purpose OF
the resolution adopted is TO exclude or expcl
all ministers who choose to constrne denom-
national dogmas by resort TO the Bible,
rather than the record OF the historic belief
/ oi the denomination, as expressed by the
/ authority OF representative assemblies. Tn
/ der the resolution any minister who exercises
the Protestant right of private Interpretation
of the dogmas in the light of the Scriptures
will he expected to Withdraw. and II he does
'a,i., 'Ini'I .atit'l ''' ~, ~,
/ exclusion Ly trial
lr'o'N '"s 'i' ''hs"''' ~
The Convention made "A remarkable record
for the sect by voting down, three to one, a
/ declaration that they recognize the Bible as
the ultimate standard af doctrine. That is.
this body Of hell v,rs founded and thriving
only upon lie Protestant principle of private
judgment, deliberately cast it aside. and
planted themselves upon the ahjured Roman
principle of church authority. They have
/ n,ittlt, fall in pt
the fact that when they honestly apply it To
their ministry they must disfcllOwship II
large number of It's members and those the
! most earnest ""t effective
lh'It "cre nr'Nt 'oi,es ut''i'" against II III
Tue 'ohNcnu"h' III Tue lorlh Oh support l"
the amendment. hev L. %. brastow clear
~ defined the difference oi the original and
the amended declaration " The resolution,
he SAID, requires us to receive the word oi |
God, as interpreting certain doctrines. We
81 o ,,:'', aa.,..i,, J,,,.;,,o, - D., W. |
Van NoIdcn urged that if "a man is to he
tried on such questions, ''must it not he
with the Bible OPEN Rev. 5. |. Briant |
presented the practical view that, besides de |
grading the Bible from its pace ms the rule |
OF faith and practice, the resolution tended /
TO increase the uncongrcgational habit Of |
hiring supplies instead of settling pastors, |
So as To escape the purgatory of the council. |
Rev. ). i. Wilder sharply observed that the |
Convention was making The majority our
pope, and claiming infalibiliiy for the cOun-
ellis of Nice, Obcrln and BOSTON, Rev. G.. |
+. Hall said he should feel profound aston
ishmcnt if the convention was willing to vote
down a declaration that the Bible is our ulti-
mate authority. There were other expressions
of greater or less emphasis in this strain
But the clergymcn of this opinion were dcs-