Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-28
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
THE new ANDOVER CREED
First Gun In The TheoIog-
icaI War.
FROM The AND0VER REVIEW.
A Woodchopper Slain BY
His Companion.
CHARLESTON IN A TREMBLE.
Rowe Refuses TO Ride
Against Hendee.
CHARLESTON IN A TREMBLE.
PROBATION AFTER DEATH.

to the consideration of the action of the pru-
Dental committee of the American board in
the rejection of missionaries and of candi-
dates, both men and women, who have offer
ed themselves for the missionary field. This
looks like the beginning of the long expected
| theological war ever the new Andover doc
| trine of probation after death. From adj
vance sheets of the Review the following
statement of thei situation is cleaned The
first point is the rejection of Rev. Mr.. Hume.
The Review thus states the case: Rev. Rob-
| ert A. Hume is the son of missionary par
| ents. His father lost his life in the service
| of the board. Two sons and daughter
now connected with one of its missions in
India. The sons with energy and self-denial
| worked their way to the completion in this
| country of a professional education, made
| provisions for others dependent upon them
and then gave themselves to the work of
the board. Rev. Robert Hume is now
in the thirteenth year of such service.
He has proved himself one of the
most efficient missionaries of the board. He
never was more needed at his post than now.
A lack of continuity in missionary oecupa-
| ton is always one of the most serious obsta-
| cles to progress. The Marthi mission has
suffered severely from this cause. At All
| mednagar, where Mr.. Hume has been sta
toned, there has been good degree of con-
| tinuity and with gratifying results. Mr..
Hume has been especially enthusiastic and
effective, working increasingly, interesting
Englishmen in his labors, obtaining funds,
experimenting evangelistic work, Helping to
and editing weekly newspaper which circu-
lates among the educated natives. He saw
the missionary force dwindling. Vacancies
which occurred were not filed. Others
were impending. To hold it's own the cor ps
needed to be doubled. The seminary at one
time had twenty-three pupils who were edu-
eating for the Christian ministry. 1t is now
closed in the necessary absence of DIR. Bis
sell and Mr.. Hume. There is not to-
day young man within the entire bounds
of the mission in training for the native pas
torate. Mr.. Hume came to this country for
rest, but also on mission. He wanted men,
He bent his energies to the task of securing
them. He visited number of theological
seminaries addressed the students, talked
with them privately and personally learned
what problems they are graphing with, what
motives are influencing them, what is indi-
Gated as to the sources from which in the i'm
mediate future the stream of missionary ac-
tivity is likely to be replenished. He found
in these institutions generally revival of
interest in missionary work. At New Ha-
ven one man of special promise turned his
thoughts directly to India and others were
To oil tfn1n
dover there was encouragement that rein
forcements would be forthcoming. Being
called upon unexpectedly to speak there at
the anniversary dinner, and rising
with scarcely any opportunity for premedita-
ton, his thoughts naturally took their turn
and coloring from the immediate occasion
and from his experience in seeking for
to go out as fellow missionaries. He said:
eve are looking to this seminary to help US
| in our missionary work in all respects. Some
of us feel that we are being helped already
| by influence which comes from here A full
and universal atonement by Christ has its
| natural and logical conclusion in universal
providence through Christ. 1 believe that
| this is going to help us in our missionary
| work. It is not mere speculation of idle
questions as to what becomes of the ances-
| tors of those to whom we carry the gospel.
That is / can assure from an experience of
| twelve years an every day question to us and
4 requires an answer which it has been very
| difficult to give. 1 know I have gone home
| with a heavy heart and often dim
and mercy which I was seeking
to give to the men was followed by feeling
of bitterness because it implied eternity
of SOIL for their ancestors. 1t is a live
question, and must be met in Christian
way. I can say, not only for myself, but for
considerable number of workers in the
field, that we believe there is light in this
matter 1t is practical question, which we
believe is going to receive from this source a
more Christian and helpful solution. 1t has
been my privilege to meet in the last few
months five of the largest seminaries in our
country. We applied to all these to help US.
In no one have we found more missionary
spirit than in Andover where this phase of
Christian thinking is especially held. By the
fruits ye may judge the tree"
For these few words, which, coming spon-
taneously from the heart, touched the hearts
of those who heard them, he was at once
made the object of severe attack in a lead
ing denominational organ. Ellis drift" it
was alleged referring to the remarks we have
quoted, twas clearly toward the position that
for a miss onary to be able to tell the heath
en- that their ancestors are undoubtedly en-
joying further and better probation in the
next life" ETC., etc, winding up with ref
erence to universalism! Mr. Hume at once
became an object of suspicion. He was in
formed that protests had been sent to the
rooms against MS continuance IN the ser
vice of the board, but he was not furnish
ed with the names of the gentlemen who
were thus attacking him thong he asked
for them, nor with their reasons. The SEN
Tor foreign secretary became aware that
Mr.. Hume's return to India would be re-
sisted. He felt deeply the exigencies of
the work intrusted to his special oversight.
Usually the board desires to expedite
the return of men to their work.
No special permission is need
ed. Early in the summer Mr.. Hume
had been urged to go back this autumn. But
as the time approached the secretary thought
it expedient to bring the matter formally
before the committee. 1t was considered at
two sessions and concluded by the adoption
of communication from sub committee
that action be deferred. Three members OF
the committee voted in the negative, seven in
the affirmative. The position of the senior
secretary of the board is well known. Mr.
Hume has served under his immediate
supervision, with what fidelity and efficiency
any man can learn by addressing the secre-
tary.
After giving documents in which Mr..
Hume pleads with great earnestness to be al
lowed to 90 back to his mission field, the ed
itors of the Review say: The Christian pub
lie will judge the policy now intrenched in
the prudential committee room by
its friends 1t has begun its ca
reer by refusing or discouraging
new appropriations. 1t IS noWfBstrlking
down tried and faithful missionaries. Like
the fatal power persouifed by the poet it
''likes shining mark" 1t has rejected
some of the choicest young men and women
which three leading institutions on which
the board depends for its missionaries can
| supply. 1t is now forbidding to return to
| his work at time Of very speeia. need one
| of the best missionaries of the board, who
afirms that he holds to day every doctrine
+ which he ever held and has simply learned
| to realize more and more that God is Christ
like It is a policy whose next step must be
| to recall missionaries now in the field and
whose immediate and necessary fruits are a
reduction of forces already far too feeble,
punishment of work where such
process imperils what has been won
and lowering of the standard and
| quality of service Shall such policy be
sust aineds Do the free Congregational