The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-30
AMENDMENT PROPOSED.


and substitute the following words:
provided that the amendment proposed
shall be ratified by majority vote in
three-fourths of all the State COnven-
tions in fellowship with our body at
their annual meetings next following
such action by this Convention" MIR.
Nye addressed the Convention in sup
port of the amendment:
am asked to briefly state some of the rea-
sons which prompt us to offer this amend
ment.
We regard the General Convention not as
strictly an independent organization, having
absolute or exclusive control of the polity
or faith of our Church. but as representative
body with delegated powers. to which our
Church entrusts, from year to year, the gen.
eral direction and management of its affairs
The Universalists of the United States and
Canada, according to our preamble, formed
themselves into a General Convention, and
ordained the constitution under which we
now exist and carry on our work. We be-
lieve. therefore, that all changes proposed,
either in our polity or in our faith, should
rightfully be submitted to the different State
Conventions in which our churches are repre-
sented and be heard before adoption into the
constitution of this Convention.
But Article g. as it now stands, gives to the
General Convention power to make any
amendments or changes, by its own separate
and independent action, without any refer
ence to our churches or our State Conventions
whatever.
A bylaw of the Convention makes it the
duty of our General Secretary, when an
amend ment has been approved, to give no
tice to the Secretaries of the State Conven
tions We may interpret this as meaning that
notice shall be given when an amendment has
been approved and mas become an accomplish
ed fact; or, it may mean that notice shall be
given when an amendment has once been
adopted, at regular session, subject to final
approval or rejection the next year. But in
matter of such moment all ambiguity should
be taken out of the rule.
At present no concurrence is asked, no
approval required, and no method provided
by which we can appeal to our whole people
and secure the united voice of the Church.
By Article 6, therefore, as it now stands, this
Convention, by its own separate, exclusive
action, may not only change any and every
law of the body and the constitution itself.
but any and every article of our faith at its
and every Convention and church and min
lister to change their confessions and adopt
any amendments or any creed which it may
at any time ordain or adopt Noncompliance
with the law of the Convention would disfel-
lowship any minister, Convention or church.
We know of no religious body in the land in
which such power as this exists except in
our own. In the General Assembly, the high
est judicatory of the Presbyterian Church,
representing all the churches of the denom-
ination, all rules to be established as constr
tutonal must be transmitted to all the Pres
byteries and majority of them must signify
their approval in writing before they can be-
come part of the organic law and obligatory
upon the body. The Congress of the United
States may propose amendments to our Con-
stitution, but they must be ratified by ma
jority vote in three-fourths of all the States
in order to become the law of the land. The
government of our own denomination is par
italy modelled after that of the United States;
and we respectfully ask this Convention to
approve of the amendment we now offer, by
which no change can be made in our organic
law or in our confession of faith until all |
such amendments or changes shall be ap-
proved by majority vote in three-fourths of |
all the State Conventions in our fellowship.
Our confession of faith can be revised and |
changed whenever, after due elaboration, |
the body, as a whole shall desire it. We offer |
not a word of comment upon any changes |
which have been or may at this time be |
proposed. But we would courteousy ask all |
who favor change, or changes, and all who |
do not to provide a legitimate and constitu- |
tional rule by which the voice of our whole |
Church shall be heard whenever any amend |
ments or changes of this kind are proposed, |
and to make majority vote in three-fourths |
of the State Conventions belonging to this |
body necessary to any change in our consti- |
tutional rules.
Rev. DR.. SAKE followed. He thought |
that the amendment should not prevail
in it's present form. 1t was not equity
that Oregon, with its Convention COM
posed of only handful of parishes,
should have equal power in the matter
with Massachusetts, or New York. He
proposed an amendment to the amend
ment so it should read after the word
provided: "that the amendment pro-
posed shall be ratified by so many of
the State Conventions as are entitled to
three fourths of the delegates in this
body"
Mr.. Joy addressed the Convention
against the amendment, speaking sub
stantially as follows:
Another important question is before
the Convention, in this proposition to
amend the bylaws of this body, and to
go back to the old form of method by
which the laws can be amended
Mr.. President, do not sigh for the
good old ways, but rejoice in what are
quite generally agreed upon as improved
plans, and which, it seems to me, are
working we'll and with entire safety.
The mover of the restoration of the old
form will ooncede that in 1858, when we
met at Providence, he, with many others,
longed for more perfect organization of
our General and State bodies, and the
movement was then agitated which final
ly wrought radical change in our or
ganic laws, and great, very great i'm
provement in the methods and operations
of our church institutions.
do not see the dangers apprehended. |
At present, if an amendment is acted
upon favorably by one session OF the