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

The Triennial Council has closed Win
ample indications and expressions OF essen
tial harmony. The telegraph las taken
YOU some sort Of record "f lis pro
cecdings, and | need only note some Of
the features of especial interest 10 y""i
readers. The triennal sermon, preached on
the evening of the first day by kev. br-
S. f. Herrick of Boston, struck the key note
of the convention, as regards the most nm
portant matter before it-that regarding the
formulation of a Consrcsationalcreed- Ii was
ON the text: 'Ths is an evil generation
they seek sign AMI set forth, with muc!
force. the truths that the signs to be sought
are not formal symbols and crceds hut the
evidences of life in the church, III its think
ing, its ministry, its organized charities anu
missionary enterprises such as the American
Board Multiplying formal signs, he declai-
ed, cannot develop life, while increasing NE
will develop signs. He declared ms hch1 III
creeds but crecds cannot be manufactured
to order; they grow; and mighty laiih
will have mighty creed. DR.. lierrch has
been heretofore counted as belonging I" 'hc
wing which wishes TO build new walls and
act nm barriers and define the boundaiics Of
the denomination and the surprise and de
light of the advocates of historic ConSrcga-
tonalism, at his sturdy declarations in appo-
sition to the attempts to create Fictitious
signs and TO adopt more stringent tests, found
expression in spite of the sacrcdncSs OF the
place and occasion, in abundant applause.
The next most noticeable uttcrancc was
the paper on the need of 4 new creed, read
by Prof Mead of Oberlin College. 1t was
perhaps the most able and elaborate essay
presented to the Council Recognizing the
truth that the liberty of Coasregationa!ism
permits churches and ministers to choose
their own terms in expressing their faith, and
is opposed to the imposition Of arbitrary
tests, il asserted the need OF consensus OF
faith and of new declaration, IN view OF the
progress of the church, and of the fact that
some of the doctrines and many Of the en-
pressions of the old platforms have become
obsolete. 1t declared that the Congrcga
tional body can no longer maintain
self respect without decisive action
looking towards the remuneration or revision
of the old platforms or the adoption of new
statement Prof. Mead's paper, to which 50
brief an abstract of course does scant justice,
was received with frequent applause. The
committee of seven, to whom this paper and
the general subject of il creed were referred
were able to agree upon and report meas
IRE which obvlated the need of any pro
longed discussion of the subject, and which
was cordially and harmoniously accepted by
all sections of the Council. 1t recommended
the appointment Of committee of seven,
who shall appoint commission of twenty
five of the best biblical scholars In the de
nomination, who shall prepare and present a
statement of the consensus OF evangelical
doctrine in the Congregational denomination
the same TO be printei and distributed
directly 10 the churches for their cCiilication
and not to be adopted by the National Coun-
Gil as ties, of fellowship, or imposed upon
the churches by any authority. The COM
mittee is expected to take its time
: 49, ..,ao,ion - .,o con,.,,iss;on
on, Tina will ho ro.d.d ,oforo TWENTY-FIVE
eminent scholars are found willing to under
,al,o o, resnors;,Ie and d;(ficn1t n task The
commission when formed. NAV and must
fake its fine and it is quite possible that
another Triennial Council will have met
and adjourned before any twenty five schol-
ars that can he selected shall be able to agree
ON statement which shall formulate their
belief and that of the Congregational body
on the subjects of inspiration the atone
mont and future punishment. The report
and the action upon il recognize the two
great facts that there has been progress in
the religious thought and belief of the lie
nomination and that the churches will not
consent TO the hindrance Of future progress
by the imposition of any dogmatic tests. cx-
cept such as the churches in their several
independence NAV see fit to adopt.
Intimately connected with this subject
was that of ministerial responsibility. This
subject was -of-rrrh by The last lrlenniai
Council, to n committee ("t WHICH ITO
fessOr Egbert c. Smyth OF Andover
Theological Seminary was chairman, and
of which Rev. DIR. Stafford of burlington was
a member TO report upon at this Council.
Prof. Smyth's report, it is needless To say,
was able and interesting Its conclusions
were that some new processes are needed for
the trial of dclinqucnis in the Congregational
ministry and it recommended the appoint
ment of committee TO prepare and publish
rules for such processes Of discipline. 1t
also called the attention of the churches to
the evils arising from the introduction to
their pulpits of ministers not in good stand
ing and from the practice of hiring annual
supplies instead of installing pastors and
recommended that each association of min
listers sppoint a standing committee to act as
an advisory committee in the employment
and djs,.,i.siop of ministers, and also IL. i.car
any se,i,l,, Inrqes brought against any
minister within "a, limits of the association,
and to procurc action in the case, by the
church of which he is member, or by some
other church. if his own church refuses to
call council for his trial. Mr.. Stafford,
coucur,ing in the report, except as to this
feature of A standing investigating committee
in the associations. which he did not APP
nroye. submitted very brief supplementary
renor, in the form of half a dozen short prop
os;,io,s tho sdon,ion ,f which he asked for
90 an odd;,;o, ,o tho mai, renort and ms
necsso,rr in order IN nro,ec, lie conclusions
from decentralization and from mischicyous
results
Those diseI,,maa all auibcritv in tbc Ma
fiona, C,,,ro;I 70 rroscri,,o tho conditions nf
r,;,is,eri,I s,o,,,;nro disclaimer also con
t,;nod i, tho main r.,o,t-d,cl,red member.
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