The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-03-31
The Crisis in Congregationalism

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opposite tendencies have manifested them
selves, and the conflict between them has
grown sharper every day. One of these
tendencies is towards liberalism, the other
towards a stricter orthodoxy. The indi-
cations now are that a final struggle can
not be much longer postponed, and that
the next few months may decide the future
of Congregationalism in this country
The liberal party holds to the indie
pendence of the churches, in the most ex-
IRENE form Of that doctrine; denies that
the Congregationalists are "denomina-
ton and holds that loose views On
such questions as future punishment, the
atonement and the inspiration of the
Scriptures onght not to be any bar to the
exercise of the ministry among Congrega-
tlonal churches. 1t counts among its
champions President Noah Porter, the
venerable Leonard W. Bacon, Mr. Beech
er, and such papers as Tile Christian
Union and Tile h1depende,,t. The more
orthodox party maintains the contrary
theories to these, holding that there is
Congregational denomination "a sis
terhood of churches of the same faith and
order-and that there is a consensus of
doctrine between these churches that is
IN real sense binding upon all. This
party is represented by such men as
President S. @. Bartlett, DIR. George L.
Walker, Dr. H. M Dexter, and in the
press by The C6agregationaISt and The
AdUance
The occasion for the battle that seems
impending is the approaching National
Council. The orthodox wing strongly
advocates the promulgation of Comics
sion OF Faith by that body, not as an
authoritative declaration of what must
be believed by Congregationalists but as
statement of what is and ought to be
their belief 1t would be standard"
In a sense, but not as the Westminster
Confession is standard 1t would ex-
press nothing but the opinion of the
majority of the Council, and its only
binding force would be moral, not legal.
But the other party raises the cry that
this is tyranny, hierarchy, the first step
towards Popery, and that sort of thing.
They accuse their opponents of trying to
impose their views, by means of the Ma
tional Council, on the churches, and to
gag those who do not agree with them
on questions of policy and doctrine. To
all OF which the sufficient reply is that
the National Council has no authori ty
whatever 1t differs from an ordinary
council only in being a larger body, and
IN representing all churches instead of
few. 1t can only consult deliberate, and
give advice. If its advice commends
itself to the churches as sound it will
doubtless be followed otherwise it will
be 9isregarded
AS nearly as one can Judge, the
strength of the liberal party is in New
England, although even there it has
strong opposition. The West is divided.
but seems to be on the whole with the
orthodox party Which will control the
National Council cannot be predicted
with certainty. 1t is even more uncer-
tam what would be the result, if the
orthodox party should carry it's point
1t is possible that the adoption of an
orthodox Confession by the National
Council would arrest the tendency of
things towards liberalism in New Eng
land. 1t is quite as possible that such
an action would lead to formal division in
the denomination, such as occurred years
ago. In that case Yale College would
probably be lost to Congrepationalism. as
Harvard was, and the liberal wing of
Congregationalism might be expected
sooner or later to absorb Unitarianism or
be absorbed by it. That some such result
as this may be in store for Congregation
allsm, no thoughtful observer Of the signs
OF the times can doubt.
such division as this would be a
great calamity, not merely for Congrepa-
tlonallsm, but for all evangelical Christen
dom. 1t would be such calamity as
That other great detection i'm New Eng
land, from the effects Of which the cause
OF religion has never wholly recovered
1t is by all means to be hoped that the
tendency towards liberalism NAV vet be
arrested. The Congregationalists Of New
England have too splendid past. and
too splendid possibilities before them, for
their brethren Of other faiths to look un-
moved upon the present crisis. And
yet much as our sympathies may be with
the orthodox party, Baptists cannot but
believe that the secret of the whole
trouble lies in the failure Of Conprepa-
tlonalism to renounce all Of the ira
dltlons OF men, and to take it's stand
firmly upon the Word Of God In that