The Press., 1884-05-08
LETTER FROM MINNESOTA.

Minneapolis, Minn., April 26, 1884. Having closed labor in Clearwater after two and half years servlce, am now resting from overwork, in this rapidly growing city ,and looking out for new field of effort by and by. Four hundred fifteen preaching services, a weekly social, and weekly bible meeting, besides mucn Sab | bath school Work as superintendent, teach CT, etc., and above eight hundr. d pastoral aud social visits in that time ought to re- tire man from active service for few weeks at least. At any Tate I am of that opinion and so have retired myself but whether 1 can keep retired is altogether another matter. Already there are calls TOT work in several localities among mis- sionary and self-supporting churches. There is, and for long while to come, there will be demand for the right class of men in this work for this vast western territory. Where there is one community and region overcrowded with churches there are three entirely destitute. In deed there is very little overcrowding now a-days and very great care is exerclsed 1 by those especially charged with this mat- ter that there shall be none whatever. We ourselves do most certainly exercise our selves in the gospel that looks on the things of others as we'll as on ones own, and do 1ot violate the principle of comity which calls for respect from every denomination. l Denominatonal Zeal has so couled that 1 there is chance for the claims of every body to be considered. Small villages lthere are where several churches are strug ,ling for existence, and several pastors are l trying to live but these churches are cen- Gers of large circuits where all these pas tors find more to do than all can do well. The whole story is not told when the re- port goes out that Littleville has four churches and as many ministers. Little vile is center of outlying districts winch need quite as much attention as their cen ter, and offer opportunities to all these ministers which will tax them to the full est extent.
 Having given so much of this letter to church matters, may as well give the whole of 1t, for, no doubt, there are many among your readers who will be interest ed
 Let me say then that the new creed ot the Congregationalistsr receives good deal of attention hereabouts and is very gener- ally endorsed. MT. Joseph Cook does not get much sympathy for his criticisms Ill this quarter. We are not disposed to- wards creed that attempts to explain the universe; and muchSprefer to stand with the brother who recently said that ''what truth IS sufficient for his salvation Is enough for his creed,'' and quoted John 8: 36 ; John 6 |: AZ, and Acts 16 21. There should be. as this brother said, enough gospel wood in a craadt to keep the soul warm. . A creed that's 1sents those broad, uni versal doctrines eh are held by all ear lnest christians in Common is good enough A creed of facts is always to be set above a creed of theories. A man can swear to 8 fact aud be 8 man but he cannot always 'f swear to the explanation of fact and hold on to his integrity. There is where men } disagree.
 At council few days ago, called to recognize new church and to install a pastor over it, several things came up which will interest some of the brethren down east who look upon Congregational .sm in the west susplciously. First there was move made to introduce a brother as corresponding member but this was objected to as n-Congregational, and the objection was sustained by the moderator. This is correct, as no one should be a member of council who is not invited 1u the letter-missive. It was revealed ln tine discussion that this new church was to be organized with an ecclesiastical soclety-a
 tachment, after the old New England plan Uut GI0 COuuCI piU 1toCII OA' record against such double-headed ar engagement. It came out, also, that the Plymouth church of this city, Dr. Hutch
 ins pastor, had just moved to rid itself oi : the unnecessary and troublesome ''socl
 ety." It is altogether best for the church
 itself to be incorporated. In this matter
 we know whereof we affirm.
 When it came to the examination of the
 candidates theological views he took his position on the new creed, which he de- clared expressed his views even better
 than he could himself. He believed all Ii
 formulated with one possible exception
 The article on infant baptism he did not
 accept. He believed in it, but not in the |. way it was stated in the creed. The lead ing pastors in this city and St. Paul were
 on this council. Congregationalism is nc e longer New England institution. It is
 spreading over all the land and making it
 self a blessing everywhere.
 e O. P. CHAMPIIN.