Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-18
THE NEW MINISTER


NEsDAY PROCEEDINGS or THE COUNCIL 80
MR. DAYS STATEMENT OF EXPERIENCE AND
BELIEF THE AFTERNOON sERvIoEs-PBEsI-
DENT sEELYEs SERMON AND THE OTHER tx
EROIsEs
The installation of the Rev. Charles Orrin
Day as pastor of the Centre Congregational
church and society took place on Wednesday
under circumstances AZ favorable rs the new
pastor or his people could desire The day
was bright, with crisp December air The
attendance on the services was large the ut
terances Of those who took part we're notable
for strength earnestness aud breadth Of
thought, and on the part Of the people them
selves there was evident a spirit of unanimity
aud hopeful enthusiasm which promises much
for the future
The council convened at 1880. Its men,
bers were
Rev. Alfred stevens. j. D., Of Westminster West;
Rev. c. II. Merrill Of west Brattleboro; sam1 War
riner, lay delegate.
o. l. Slater. lay delegate, representing the church
nt Bellows Falls.
Rev. H. Ii. Hamilton Of Hinsdale; Lemue Fales
Rev. II. W. Lathe, First church, Northampton; lay
delegate, Geo. Hubbard.
Rev. Isaac Clark Edwards church, Northampton
lay delegate Luther Bodman.
II ". Hill, lay delegate from the church In Williams
burg. Mass.
Prof. John Z. Russell of New Haven.
Rev $. @. buckingham, u. D., Of Springfield, Mass.
President L. CLARK seelyeof Northampton, preacher.
The council organized by the choice of
Rev. H W. Lathe ~ moderator Rev. @. II.
Merrill, scribe. The records we're read de-
failing the several steps which resulted in ex-
tending q call &c Mr.. Day by both church
and society, and his acceptance. On pro-
ceeding TO the examination Of the candidate,
Nj Day read a statement covering very CON-
pleteiy the ground of his religious experience
and theological belief summary Of the
main points Of which is here presented
Mr.. Days Statement.
The statement was prefaeed by remarks on the
threefold cond tous under which Christian truth ID
seen. /. Tue ght Of the moral personality. q The
light Of the regeuerAte CONSEQUENCES. 3. The
light which comes with times of special insight this
I is % have the discernment Of the Holy Spirit
Faith in God IL grounded on our spiritual nature
u eau see hrm because he has made me spirit like
himself" Tie government Of God is paternal. PRO
baton, lRh representing truth, il proper
description Of it; its object is spiritual education
the tAtherh pod OF God revealed by the sonship OF
/ interpreting idea
In regai to mau, faith was affirmed stin man as
/ a person. free spirit made in Gods image. The
hrst man a complete and normal personality BY
the IAN n entered into the world; ana death ny SIN
/ ny the race-connection death passed upon ali men
ana every man comes in tainted, and enters into an
! owl environment. ?. Each man Ia responsible,
choosing freely g. Each shining stands guilty
Guilt not the shrinking from formal punishment,
hut th sense Of having dspleased God. and il found
ed on the consciousness Of personal relation.
its fl il sense"
Tue atonement was declared 10 have two aspects.
/. The incarnation 'God the became incarnate
IN :. esus Christ q The atonemeut Of reconca-
tol which Cnrist achieved In it, twofod work, rst,
OF satisiachon to cod second, Of attraction unto
/ faith Of man.
The Holy spirit is the power which reveals Christ
| 90 faith. Tue church Is spiritual organism, the
b ody Of Christ, comprising ali believers. The form
~ It lie the creation Of its inner life and secondary to
%.
The sources of Christian knovledgo are: l. Tue
moral spirit Of man. 2 The course Of Providence.
TO natural hight God has added special supernatural
revelations, constituting one revelation Of Himself,
and THIS TO aud through his chosen people, by con-
muuicaiious 90 men selected from them.
The btble isA diyiney inspired book Of snpernat-
ura revelation Of facts, principles and Applications
grounded thereon; aud it goes into great detail Of
reference and remark al sdea Of human life and
thought; IN tue outer circles OF which the human
limitations under which the revelation Il made ma
perhaps appear subject 10 believing criticism and
open to deeper e1egesls. But the very human ele-
being the priceless treasure Of man
said Mr.. Day IN conclusion, THE last topic 10 e.
chAtoogy. believe in the unaohisved uncondition.
ed Immortality Of the human spirit by Gods creA-
ton that the spirit at death unclothed but tht
rosu seton At the coming and by the word OF the
son W God, the spirit shall be clothed upon with thu
spiritual body The biblical doctrine Of the resurrec
ton. though not Of the continued existence OF tn,
finally wicked is less clear, turning the question Of
the spiritual achievement OF such body.
II believe that Christs coming the reeurrectiot
and the maj Judgment constitute an event. aud arr
not 70 be resolved into his present reign aud work
ing, the persistence Of individuality, oontinuou
process OF judgment. though these conceptions holt
truths. Al the Judgment all the race shall appeal
before Christ; then every eye shA see Him. and tina
IN his INFINITE loyeliness the Vcarions Saviour
The matter IN Judgment will BE- the radical Etitud
: Of character IN Its disposition toward Christ.
II believe tbat the issues Of the judgment are TIRE
v0cable Eternal life eternal death that this dealt
Il the state OF objectionable sin and oBly that will
its af1ed consequence Of realizing OF the dis
, pleasure Of God.
Il hold that mems characters attain ultimate rit
under one simple universal law, In freely exercises
choice OF tue God Of love, IN the fuBess Of self
NlHta UNVaf UHaH
essential Christ Of conscience, namely. that God
medated to men IN the Lolos oternally: mis-
leading - TO the administration Of God an the
Of his seh-reyelAiion as recorded In scripture Thu
4 Il NOT 10 deny what strenuousy afirm, that a
men are IN SIN aud ne guilty under the divine dis
pleasure ana IL process Of spiritual ruin; and tina
that may 90 far that they will certainly sea
! their hual condemnation by rejecting Christ whe
they see Him.
81 believe that the gospel is universal to the race
and that the church hereforeto carry to the
In order that tue Spirit may, by presenting Chris
crucihed and g0rhed attract every creature 10 ene
through faith the body Of Christ. Whether this
tiyy extends into the other world Is not revealed
e As to that area Of human life where men have nc
seen the Son u God IN his gospel reyelAtiou max
!, no hypothesis ~ 10 the divine procedure.
al md one law Of the forming Of character.
md all men before the Judgment seat Of Christ an
there see his judgment 10 be the expression of tn
q true status and content o. their then character an
will exercised in that presence, with sentence CORE
spending. see the area Of gospel hight increasing
o. know, are unreached by that light, simply REL
on the word Of Christ, who stands their defender
81 think that the influence Of death on the deoii
u ions Of choice Il that Of change natural conditio
ana mode Of existence; that permanence Of charas
n ter il the work Of the spirit in wiling aud that
= eye only can discern when it is reached; but Als'
that death probably introduces into disem bodice
n inward, seif-oommuning state Of consciousness,
+ may have vast significance in this matter; IT ma
be the shutting up the filthy dreamer to his dream
&c well As the sinking Of the believer sweet sti
i communion with the dear Lord who s in him throuR
l., faith Therefore life the place for penitsI
he
- rather purely psychological grounds hope is TO N
% view excluded for him, who having seen Christ eI
J. tiers through death the evil secluson OF bis ow
- spirit, TO go weaving the thoughts to which be
welded. and 90 advance up to meet that same Chr
70 whom he and rejected. preach 'noo 70 the y
" oepted time. tremble for the who dies In h
n sins. send the gospel to the heather out Of love
him, because of the Iesent deterioration of his
acer, which might become gross that neither wonl
l. be be persuaded though Christ appeared to hi
- among the dead.
y If, in the issues of the judgment there be- as Ii
prophecies Of scripture lead me to fear aud the ind
cations OF lie lead me to expect Though pray, OF
d SIN excepted. that It may not bel-if there be d
!, point OF darkness In the midst Of INFINITE light
y not only will not a; all disturb the JOY and harmon
Il OF the snlass hut the confinement darkness {
Il hatincnrrghle kernel of freely wilied hate will
- pear absolutely righteous in the eyes OF holy IN
- verse, aud manifestation Of the glory Of the God
d love TO whom the administration OF that point ,
o enmty gives eternal homage, that God may be AN
A an"
o Mr.. Days statement was evidently satisfa,
Z tory to the members of the council for o
n proceeding to the roll call of members to Civ
u each chance TO interrogate the oandidAi
"a but few questions were asked him. Such
were asked related chiefly to his belief as /
when mans moral status or character b,
comes irrevocaby fixed and probation end
Is He said he believed that a heather who hG
o never heard the gospel of Christ may arrive
n such a moral state as TO assure his eternal goo
II or eternal i'll. To Mr.. Merrills question as
Is his belief whether the Bible fixes definil
b limit to the period OF probation he replied
e There is no statement Of scripture whie
e. AuthoTtatively Riiirms the doctrine that ID
e fXation of moral character il oecasoned b
= the event of death" Prof Russell of Ne
IS Haven, one of Mr.. Days teachers for Ii
e past year, emphRticAlly said of his statsmen
ID 1T is what would be called in New Haven
IS very sound statement and very safe theology.
= The Rev. DIR. Stevens, mentioning Nj
t, Days oandidiy expressed doubts as TO Il
IL limits Of the period of probation, asked hin
y with certain playful earnestness, "Ho
much of that kind of talk do you intend
N put in your preaching p 'NOne at all. sir,
rs was the instant answer; 81 have probRb
/ said more about the subject here than ev,
a