The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-11
NOT CLOSE COMMUNION BApTIsrA
RerssinG 60 Excind~ Reporter. from their
Meetings or Infants from Heaven.


Meetings or Inh,nt- iron, Heaven.
As soon as possible after the Baptist min
listers had organized themselves into n condl-
ton for the transaction OF secular business
yesterday Brother J. J. Muir Of tho Macdougn
Street Church moved that the Moderator mp
point a committee Of seven ministers to report
n plan by which the Conference can be made
more efficient. Brother Muir notified tho Con-
ference week ago that he would move ynster-
dny that tho sessions should b. hereafter secret
no reporters were To ~ admitted 10 tho business
Noting. but only to take part in the intellectual
nourishment provided by an essay on a thco-
logical subject after business was over. Tho
motion to appoint the committee of seven.
Brother Muir explained was offered in rough
form. but he hud heard many expressions Of
dissatisfaction from brethren in reference to
the present constitution Of tho Conference md
felt that something should be- changed. The
name Baptist Minister'S Conference OF New
York and Vicinity" was vague; he would have
the vicinity" defined 10y accurate boundaries
Then. too the hour Of attendance was too early
for many; the Rev. Dr. Armitagc. for instance
wanted 1t in the afternoon. Besides n more
suitable and pleasant place was needed for tho
meeting thnn the basement of church. Lastly
the nature OF tho services ought to bc changed
50 that the ministers might DO more benefited
by Notwithstanding ~ thcm.
nv htN. lJI MilltT SAM tnAt NO AtC0n1nl tho
motion 10 bring i before the Conference. Those
who knew him knew that he Is not u we'll he-
hayed mnn He felt the. nesd Of II change. Ho
had been member Of the Conference for thirty
years. and he believed IN returning To the old
slow way Of doing things. That's sarcnsm."
was hn audible whisper from brother. Brother
miller added that he favored admitting no
printers. editors, or insurance agents to tho
Conference discussions.
Brother Muir. the originator of the motion.
said thnt on Inst Monday he advocated closing
the doors and holding secret sess iona such q
motion as the one now presented by him would
embrace the discussion OF that question by the
Committee Of Seven.
didn't suppose that tho motion included
the exclusion Of reporters" Brother Miller
said. am in favor OF reporters coming in
&" II doesn't necessarily include that question.
but II mny" Brother Muir remarked warily.
. The Rev. DIR. Parmly OF Jersey City said:
q. n1 th %t from our Wrgnal idia IN
Pastors Conference brother Muir" 30,
brother. q, Minister'S Conference" - e on; a
:, Brother Holden OF Newark said What does
Brother Muir mean 10y tho expression. The
Conference should BIO made moro efficient? p
Haven't wo been pretty efficient latoly2 Laugh
and didn't speak either, protest against tho
conference sittng N such severe judgment on
itseli: II isn't lair The humiliation that we
~ an angel should have been In the Moderator's
clair on that day, the result could not have been
Brother Parmly interrupted; he Is not speak
ing on the question. lBrother Hedden was re-
minding tho ministers how thoy had suspended
Brother Fulton lately. and they did not ike tho
subject Well" Brother Hcdden said, Il
m0yeto 10y Brother Muir's motion on the table"
=, Only few voted and the motion was lost. Then
the Rev. DR.. Eddy. with what one Of the brethren
called snrcnstical" spirit. said that the min
listers had better Join Brother Fulton's or some
othcr conference IL II couldn't nnl out how
n,est 10 'onduct business. Tho Rev. Dr. Reid of
MliliamsburRh, Brother c. G. Norton amt the
Rev. Dr. M4yland Hoyt opposed the notion
and believed that the Conference proceedings
had never been 50 interesting. and spirited "a
OF late Tho Conference Is well organized. The
more minister's in II the better. No change il
needed; on let each man bring his best
thought and speak tho hest he knows how
" Amen, " a number OF voices cried. The Rev
Dr. Potter regretted that these changes nre so
often agitated that every min ister is tired sick
and Disguised with them fnuphterl nnd mr.,
now proposed "a he gone over anew. The hest
efficiency the ministers could have would be- to
stop growing and 20 to work. Brother Walter
Reid said that II personalities are used in de-
bate. the Chairman should call the offender to
order.
The hour stipulated by the regulations for tho
essay to bo read had arrived and when this was
asccrtaihed ny me brethren. some called for the
oruer OF the DAY, rs they wanted to crowd ont
action on Brother Muir's motion; others called
for the motion. and Chairman Allen nut it to
vote, Two or threa hands went up for it. but II
cloud OF thiriy-ilve or forty posed IL.
Then the Rev. Dr. Reed read an essay on
= Tho Relation Of Infant Salvation to Universal
Salvation" That infants who die nro saved is
ne said. the belief OF Baptisis It il n corollary
deduced from Scripture teachings. Christ
terms for Christians. That GSd is love itseif is
good ground for the belief that infants will be
saved. salvation Is full and free. The Gospel
leads US TO believe IT, Finally. the essayist 30.
lieved that God had predestiRcd infants to
Prof Fox wanted to know how the doctrine
would WOrk win healhen child. According
70 BrutheI it"eu. " wpu, DE saved anyway. II It
died ~ infancy hut n II grew up. then. being
\ hcHthen, would probably be- damned. or,
II its mother neglccts II, aud It dies. then II Will
1t Is likely to be lost. Wouldn't that be- putting
a premium on inianiirldef Then. too. II the
infnnt Is saved because II IS unconscious why
may II not. when It receives s,lf-cOnsclousness
IN another world and returning its sinful be-
cause unrepentant nature bec0in, tn re- sin.
ner against Godt Would Brother Reed answer
that2 Od-lashioncl Calyinism was one thing
1t was logical. Grant its promises aud It's
conclusions are unavoidable. The faith OF
Restorationism. too. Is logical. But is our
present religion logical? Haven't We combined
Calvinism and kestorationism
brother G"ssler said that tho discussion about
infant salvation ia the Conference ought to re-
suit IN editors having more charity for the
hrnthren. lie would Ike 10 have some OF those
critical editors come nnd dis 'uss theological
questions with the ministers. ana see for them.
selves now uln'ut II Is 10 make an essay pleas
Brother Gibbs never could believe that an in
iant Is lost when II dies. He WAS called out Of
ms uul pit one evening to visit sick family and
when h. arrived he found. 10 his astonishmrnt
TINT the parents wanted Il I'm 10 baptle a dying
child. IL was dead when he arrived. but he told
the an igted and weeping parents that tho child
had gone 10 heaven.
DIplhnl Hcuuen DclcYru lhht he ought to be
Just and Kind whether Cavnism stands or not
Laughter.l
Brother Hoyt said that in no way did he hold
To the dortrlne Of the loss OF infants. lie had
not the culver Of an uncertainty as to their sal
vntion, 20 OF such IL the kingdom Of heaven"
Brother Hughes Of Grecnpoint did not believe
In this interpreting the Scriptures through sym
pnthy or feeling.
KILLED MS STEPMOTIER
Judge Gildersieeve Pnssing Sentence Upon "A
Hoy Hardly Ten Yenra of AEe