St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-11-26
The Congregational Council.
BRIEF RECORDS OF THE CLOSING D.

when the long debate on the Ques-
ton of ministerial responsibility and
standing was happily drawn to close
there was a sign of relief, for many
had been apprehensive of bitter de-
bate upon it. One of the principal OBJ
Jects of the council is to give the nation
al Congregational missionary societies
an opportunity to present their claims
for recognition and aid. But the pre-
viOus discussion had crowded them for
ward to the middle of Saturday after
noon. There was a movement to limit
the speakers, but the protest was SO
loud that they began their statements
without limit as to time. All through
the sessions of the council the DISPOSE
ton for the fullest and freest discussion
on every theme was very manifest.
When once the previous question had
been ordered it was found that the by
laws provided against it, and the body
was hardly willing to limit any debate
in any way.
The reports of the various missionary
societies were important and interest
ing, but do not call for any special no.
tice here. The invitation of DR.. Hanna
for the council to send a good delega-
ton to the meeting of the Congregations
al union of England and Wales next
year was accepted. The persons chosen
are as follows: Warren Currier of
Missouri, G. d. Talcott of Connecticut,
Rev. Drs. d. II. Richardson and S. R.
Dennen of Connecticut, Rev. Drs. H. NJ.
Dexter of Massachusetts, A. H. Quint
of New Hampshire, S. D. Hilton of
Wisconsin, C. L. Goodell of Missouri,
Fairchild of Michigan, G. F. Magoon of
Iowa, r. s. Storrs of New York, Rev. j.
E. Dwinell of California, Rev. j. E.
Ray of Georgia, j. A. Fairchild of Ohio,
President s. c. Bartlett of Dartmouth
college, n. H., Rev. E. C. Barnard and
Strictly of New York. This is an able
delegation, and it is thought that most
OF them will accept the trust. On Sun
day the churches of the city were sup
piled by members of the council, and
called out large congregations, who in
most cases expressed great satisfaction
with the preachers. As on previous
occasions, Rev. DR.. George L. Walker
was the object of much attraction, and
his sermon called out many expressions
of satisfaction. In the evening Rev.
Mr.. Chamberlain delivered his pent-up
speech on Missions in the Pilgrim
church where the sessions of the coun-
Gil are held. There was a large audi
ence to greet him.
Perhaps the most important decision
reached by the council is upon the creed
matter. Many have looked to see an
acrimonious debate when the subject
was up for discussion. Prof. Mead's
paper was so good and created such an
effect on the delegates minds that they
were prepared for the report of the
committee of seven to whom the paper
was referred, which was brought in on
Monday morning. This recommended
that committee of seven be chosen
who shall with great deliberatiOn Sc
lect commission of 25, embracing all
schools of theological thought, who
shall take their own time, prepare
creed and publish il to stand or fall
upon its own merits. This proposition
met with immediate favor, and the
brethren who had made this report
were charged with the duty of selecting
the members of the commission. This
very important committee is composed
as follows: President A. L. Chaplin of
Beloit, Wis, Rev. DR.. S. r. Dennen of
Connecticut, Rev. c. D. Barrows of
Massachusetts, Rev. Frank p. Wood
bury, of Illinois, Rev. n. A. Hyde of
Indiana, j. E. Sargent of New Hamp-
shire, and David c. Bell of Minnesota.
The matter of a year book called out
much discussion and some feeling. 1t
was known that there was a large de-
fcit in the treasury at the opening of
the council, and it was thought this
would affect the question of another
year book. When A. c. Barstow of
Providence reported that the laymen
of the council had quietly raised sub
scription large enough to wipe out the
debt and leave balance in the treas
ury, new face was put on the subject;
and after a short and vigorous debate
it was almost unanimously voted to
print 5000 copies each year, send one to
each Congregational church and minis
ter in America, and that the churches
be asked to contribute one cent a year
for each member.
AT the opening of one of the sessions
it had been voted to approve of the
proposal of the publishing society at
Boston to re-assume the Sabbath-school
work which they formerly prosecuted,
and which the council of six years ago
recommended the home missionary So
ciety to take up. When DR.. H. NJ.
Storrs of the latter society beard of this
approval of the proposed action of the
publishing society, he took the floor
and protested against it, which called
up Rev. DR.. Means in sharp, aggres-
sive speech, to which DR.. Storrs re-
piled in remarks that were full of nee
dies or daggers, of vinegar, gall, choke
cherries, etc. When he was done it
was evident that there should be no
more of that kind of debate, and com
mittee was appointed to administer an
anesthetic and extract the prongs and
they afterward reported that the two
societies should try TO agree to an eq-
uitable division of the Sabbath school
work.
The Indian question was up and the
council plainly and unanimously ex-
pressed their opinion that Secretary
Schurz had no right to exclude mission
alles from any part of the United States,
and committee of seven was appoint
ed to confer with the missionary sOcie-
ties and lay the whole matter before
the national government with a claim
for simple Christian justice.
The great call of the new West for
education in Utah, New Mexico, ETC.,
was listened to and the Home missiona-
ry society asked to assume it, and if
they do not, that then the present COM
mission who are prosecuting it, be in=
dorsed to go on with it vigorously.
A deliverance was also made on the
subject of polygamy, and memorial
was sent to the president and Congress
protesting against the reeking iniquity
in Utah.