St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-06-20

may not De ad1uQgeu TO De ulSqudiiHcu
, for his Office, and for UNCONVENTIONAL
fellowship, except by the decision OF a
competent council.
Mr.. johnson said the committee had
earnestly tried to meet the sentiment
which seems to them to be almost uni
versal among our ministry. They
would lay down these points: lst, that
the Congregational churches recognize
a doctrinal basis to Congregationalism !;
2nd, that that basis is the evangelical
faith 3rd, that the acceptance of that
basis is essential to COngregatiOnalism
and to good standing, and is required
of those entering and expected of those
remaining in our fellowship. He did
not see why these propositions should
not be accepted unanimously.
Rev. L. o. Brastow said it would
seem that we might all accept the pro-
positions in this resolution. Some will
accept it without qualification, others
not. The history of the discussion must
be taken into the account. Questions
have been evoked which have pro-
foundly stirred the public mind. The
friends of the resolution evidently rec
Ognize the importance of meeting a
class of questions that have been evoked
by the discussion. He also recognized
that Importance. There is, however,
another class of questions which the
opponents of the resolution think equal
ly important, and which they think
should limit the proposition laid down
in the resolution. They ask simply that
the resolution be protected against in
evitable misapprehensiOn and possible
misapDlicatiOn in and out of the state.
They desire explicit recognition of that
old Congregational principle of appeal
from all human standards to the word
of God. They also desire protection
against any possibility of wrong appli-
cation to any individuals in our body;
and recognition of the principle that
before any minister can be considered
disqualified for our fellowship, he
should have consciously rejected some
essential portion of the evangelical be-
lief or shall have been adjudged dis
qualified by some competent ecclesias-
teal council. He accordingly moved to
amend the resolution by appending the
following:
Provided, That nothing herein affirm
ed be construed as denial of the right
of appeal from all human creeds to the
word of God; nor as an imputation
against the standing of minister, who
neither in his own mind nor by decision
of a competent ecclesiastical tribunal,
having examined his particular beliefs,
has been judged to have forfeited our
fellowship.
Mr.. johnson said that for himself he
was willing TO accept the first clause of
this amendment, though it seemed to
him to be but repetition of portion
of the resolution. AS to the latter pOr-
ton of the proviso, it assumed a case
which may never occur. Moreover, a
person might reject the deity of Christ
and still claim fellowship, insisting that
he was not conscious of Il variation suf-
fcient to disqualifs him. He did not
think the brother who offered this
amendment would: hold his belief in
subsection to some future council.
Rev. Mr.. Hooker of CastletoD said he
by the Convention, because of a vague |
tendency existing toward loosening
of the ties of doctrine. All must re-
member a case at the West, where a
strong Congregational church in Wis |
consin became a very feeble one, be- |
cause its pastor preached heresy, and |
because they were afraid they should |
make a martyr of him. In our fear of |
treading on somebody's toes, do not let
us lose sight of our privilege of definite
expression. We advocate no coercion.
We simply express our judgment for its
moral effect. We would not put a ban
on free thought and study and discus
sion but men must not stand up inside
our denomination and combat its plat
form. Our pOlity is not sufficient bal
sis-that includes Baptists and many
whose belief is directly opposed to ours.
A church which asks to join us with the
Bible as its creed is no more entitled to
admission than Christian or Camp
bellite Baptist church. In particular
cases there should he the action of
councils; but our declaration may in
tiuence the councils.
Mr.. BrastOw said the resolution SAYS
the Convention understands that to be
Il Congregational pastor requires the ac-
ceptance of the word of God as teach
ing certain doctrines. The resolution
requires us to receive the word of God,
as interpreted by certain doctrines. He
wanted the resolution to say that we
receive the word of God, not as inter
preting, but as testing those doctrines.
The amendment, therefore, is not a
repetition of any part of the resolution.
Again it would seem to be orderly
and fair that if minister consciously
rejects portion of the evangelical doc
trine, he should report himself for trial
to competent council. But suppose
he is not conscious that he has rejected
an essential part of the evangelical be-
lief, can we then claim that he shall, on
that ground, forfeit his claim to fellow
ship2 He may or he may not have
repudiated an essential doctrine. Let
those who think he has, call him before
council and without the decision of
competent council let him not be dis
fellowshipped.
Rev. DR.. Stevens of Westminster said
that Unitarians, when asked their be-
belief, will tell you they hold with Mr..
Bellows, or Charming or Theodore
Parker. We want something more
definite than these individual standards.
We have a creed standing out in histo-
ry. Councils have to take into cOnsid-
GRAFTON many matters which may modi-
fly their action; but the question be-
fore us is of abstract doctrine, and we
ought to make a definite declaration of
our faith. He hoped this convention
would not lay aside it's character, and
servilely bow down and own that it
dared not express its opinion.
Rev. j. G. Hale of Stowe said the
amendment was plausible but specious.
If appended, it OverthrOws the resolu-
ton. We have declaration of our
faith made on Plymouth Rock, reaffirm-
ed by the Oberlin and Boston Councils.
This amendment proposes to throw
overheard tha Boston nj form ,uhiaL