, 1881-01-09
LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.

LIBERTY OF CtNSCAENI IU'
IL ENERGETIC PROTEST AGAINST MAN
MADE DoGHAs-
Some weeks ago the Ontario Congregational
Association ptopounded a series Of questions
70 the Rev. Myron Adams, OF Rochester, N.
+, whose utterances in the pulpit were
1atnpd not to be In strict harmony with the
theological faith Of tbe Congregational
Church. To the question, which embraces
fhe whole subject matter Of tbs inquisftion,
+can you heartily assem-. to the confession
Of faith which is the basis Of our Assocla-
tloa and which is contained in It's Constitu-
ton r the Rev. Nj. Adams made the follow
Ing reply, for which he has been disfelloW-
shipped: ...
This is the great question:. AL others are
in reality secondary to it.: Suppose / can
accept II, Or assent TO II, after fashion, Is
that bond Of fellowship ? And suppose
leannot assent toll, is that B. bar to fellow
ship: lWisl to present to Tpn case now
common enough, and with q likelihood of
becoming far more common in the future. 4
yonng man, inexperienced Of .conrse, in the
most softer and balanced modes Of thought,
goes from his college curriculum. with is
limited and preparatory studies, into the
theological school, where be is indoctrinated
IN the theology Of certain definit sort. It
Is tne business Of the instructors to uphold
am maintain that theology. rhey have
nke1l solemu ycws 10 thateEect The Hebrew
Aoen&se Is study By itself, but in the exc
fesis ct passages Of The Hebrew Scriptures.
= well Is In the study OF the Greek Testa.
meaL cef1an theology is looked for and
io9na. Ihe search is for thai, and whatever
.oana Rtlicf y lot harmonious with the
Mxnealaf analogy of faith y is passed over
eoaIIe1oH-or BY Interpretation is drawn into
= al.ss nsa q harmony. The instructor must be
p!spain a!sp 70 meet objections proposed by
sass s.uel ssNems. He must be faithful tn tia
~ t,sen Which he has bound himself to main
l.! lh Student At length graduates. after hav-
= ~ Gsea examined and found sound IN the
~; iaa Is Admitted to the ministry. And now
ts. Ms pound to uphold and maiutain the xvs.
,ea3,, sI saIeA De Las been taught. And accord-
~, AZ Ae aooresses himself to that WORK. nm
snn,lt. ss1 ue hanu u preaching the Gospel. Bnt
ssyp~ ,*..b VI reads books and comes in contact
h.s al pelsohs M WHO have other ideas. and so
rps,a.s. ~ m.s utnd stirred and moved in new d.
sttanss- ts. W suppose, by some means His
Scr;,s"sn1o Svn + pressed bard down upon the
t6ar nas., themselves to find il possible what
bas ,.sra a,esa N9aout any reference to what he
rpht tte'.aasIf te ~ Deen taught. Has he the
snnnos. . ~ ts, ~ mat? Il the right is granted.
huInsni hi ;ns,5z e's strongly convicted that these
bor les }han Vns; t1e5;t;; wnicn are neither more
tie pAllosfmS;cssu su1ssouaf. a!t. are wrong, that
butt npon phIsn ths ~ systems are like houses
proof. What hsd hssitts' ~ Wnlch afe not Storm
haps ION saT ~ r.. ~ ha ns tEttef do? Well, per-
s1e side aDd tae, sau ss:i, oettef modeStly step
Let ussee p y ~ asaL
read Uniyersa1;st hea 4e Pelaon IN question had
come tonyinced 81 fpghoks: fha ana by them had be-
lsM. then yon 90, - i e ;e eluIn OF Universal
Utilization Y telloTshin 1s n.ti. Ior MN to seek
Church. df # he hetlp hh Win the unlversalist
.he Epascopal1 i no,;ta no ;geomes u convinced that
you'd y! s5eka lto,na s,,,i - 1ollecl, tneh lie
\; pscolal bodr: and ~ ~ assoclationS Ill some
,ae = ale, If be bscomas 'o ., saue OF al others.
4s'ef u al reraiat;o,, a. H. oWIt-ana-oat " dlsbe-
Is1se TIE Christian f,hE1 he stloota altogether
sis saa ttue. The so-ca;i..tt nsH e, NOW think
.,aa open their foors ;a,'.. .Gu A1elA clurcf!es
~ M who wishes =, 4ity..neiy ia.1t TO any min
s%,1llTe :. ,1Te dehominat;onss cav 1ie more con-
.s ~. pIeases and his fian..,,,, ng can go Wnere
ttsst Ut fegtetfui f:dlt1aa1o4 f:ods' VA! DID MN
sIltd sad as the theyp yp!epetly classified and as
.se J. !eoIors, and fh;s ;S, Ios training under
y! Tue minister ,,nsa 1s AZ very well, SO far.
~ elsali1 Iitsrar1re re suppositlon, reads no
afe no Fuisna.,nIi I.ure, no Unitarian 1itera~
atlr wise drspn VI Methodist book, is not
rtTsselus. is"n Il r"al 10 any Of those churches
b EiI|r !. " th hmors and ntre convinced that
lnple tsrns 4s Word uf God, and in tha
te @onISs u rnia ne Westminster Confession, !
e ktshes tqle OF faith and obedience"
|siue of H. aaSo'e a,, all things, to be =
L eannut aI cai, one Sole Instructor OF men
desirps - ~ q aty man Master. not because