Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-11-26

ami could not, he met with a hearty response.
Il wa finally decided to appoint commit
TO correspond with The mcmcralizing f.cth-
r, II and ask them What they have 10 ucrcst.
Hon. Jonathan Sargent, cX-Chi # Justice
ii the Supreme Court of New Hampshire,
from a committee appointed 10y the last pre-
yious Council, prcsentc'. a report on the
parish system favorinc. the system rs con
tanning valuable features and no inherent or
irrcmcdiabc defects. Rev DR. Stafford
from a minority (ol two of The committee,
submitted a minority report While not rec
ommending any abrupt disturbance of the
society system, where il is already establish
ed. the minority insisted that the true theory
is that the church should be supreme in the
contIol of its affairs whereas, the society,
having cor',l If the funds, can keep the
pulpit vacant ii it chooses and otherwise con-
troll The church. The disadvantages of the
society system. they concluded exceeded
! the advantages and they reached the con-
clusion that the system is radically wrong
and should be abandoned. Anearnest debate
followed the reports, ending in the laying of
the whole subject on the table.
This GiSnositon of it, of course, indicated
that no sweeping change in this matter was
deemed advisable. The churches which find
the societies with which they are associated
a help rather thana hindrancc, will of course
continue the existing arrangement. New
church, Organizing, viii organize with or
without societies. as they choose.
OF course an immense amount Of interest
ing information was presented in the reports
OF the various Congregational missionary So
cicics and charities, to which have not
even space t" alludc.
The prevailing temper and action of the
Council were conservative of the traditional
freedom and time honorcd. polity of the de-
nomination. Recognizing the fact of the ac
tiviiy AID progress of religious thought, it
countcnanced no new tests of doctrine and
| fellowship. II showed FROM the start that
no effort To consolidate and stITen the eccle-
sias,ical machinery, at the risk of division of
the great body, would be permitted. 1t en-
rhasizcd faith and enterprise and work in the
wide fields, white unto the harvest, rather than
denominational exciusiveness and doctrinal
| precision.
| Il will perhaps be not amiss to remark,
that our little Green Mountain State was
commonly not far from the front line of de
bate and action. The discussion Of Congre-
gaional polty in this State, inaugurated by
| the famous historic resolution" has attract
cd wide attention: and our Burlington min
lstcrs who had so prominent place in that
discussion were among the leading minds
on their side in the Council both on the
floor and in the not less active and innuen-
| tial private debates outside the Council
| chamber. MIR Benedict Of Vermont was
placed on the nominating committee, the cx-
tent and importance of whose duties may be
inferred from the fact that under the rules
of the Council, it selects all the other conf
mittees, to which the various reports and
topics are referred, as well rs the standing
| committees of the Council. 1t is but fair to
the other members of the nominating com
mittce 10 say that they exercised their extern
! sivc power in a spirit Of entire fairness and
| candor, and that their selections were not
| only invariably confirmed by the Council,
but were often commended. Hon Frederick
Billings Of Vermont has a place with
General Joseph X. IIawlgyo Of Connecticut,