Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-08
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
The Doctrine of Eternal Damnation I'm.
der Discussion at the Meeting OF the
American Board.
DEs MONIES, Iowa. Oct 7

DBs MONIES, Iowa, Oct. 7.
AT the morning session of the American
Board of Foreign Missions the doctrine o,
eternal damnatioh was taken up and dis
cussed the remainder of the day.
President Bartlett of Dartmouth College,
read the report of the committee appointed tc
reyiew Home Secretary Aden's report es.
pecially as il pertained TO the prudential
committees action in rejecting candidates 70,
missions who believed in future probation
The committees report sustained Alden and
President Bartlett followed in its favor.
Rev. DR.. Vose of Providence who signe. 4
the report with qualification, came forward
TO explain himself. While agreeing in gen.
eral with the committee in approving the
spirit and principle with which DR.. Ald,n
had acted he would dissent if the resolution
of endorsement intended to give the idea
that the prudential committee or board wa.
theological court or had any authority
to pass upon minor matters of doctrine.
He saw no reason why, now contrary to
the accepted and traditional policy of the
board, the attempt should be made to give
authority over the theological question to the
home committee In passing upon the ftaess
of the candidates for mission work He
wanted to say that only the properly consti-
tuted counsel can pass upon the theological
questions. Long continued applause
DR.. Hopkins asked if any others wished to
speak on the resolutions, and Prof. Egbert
G. Smith of Andover came forward. His
appearance was loudly applauded. He said
he approved the effort of the committee to
frame report in which all could unite. He
hoped to see spirit of harmony, peace and
christian love. The true position to take is
that taken by the business committee in 1871
namely. that neither the board nor the pru
Dental committee is the theological court.
Several persons to NV knowledge would have
applied to be sent out as missionaries, had il
not been that they are required to subscribe
to outside matters, matters Of secondary i'm
portance introduced for the first time by the
assumed authority of the committee.
The case of a talented young christian
lady can be cited. She was needed as
missionary to japan and wanted to 20 but
expressed doubts as to whether there was
not chance of probation for the heathen
after death, a mere matter of personal opin.
ion which she didn't ask to teach in Japan,
but held individually. But she was rejected
and other similar cases can be cited. The
speaker said 81 say in all kindness that il
is putting into the gospel of Jesus Christ
what Christ has not put there and what
the creeds of christendom do not put there
Your own counsel in formulating a creed of
doctrine has not put these speculations in,
1t Is said we must settle these questions a.
west for east. Is it honey -combed with
inidelity? l deny it. The churches of New
England are sound today in the faith OF
Jesus Christ Not one of these persons who
have been rejected as missionaries but are IN
full fellowship with the church. Some fear
| hos ard dshO all thoaa fo hnl
their minor dogmas, the results would be a
falling off in the receipts of money. Nc
matter. In the words of one of the largest
contributors to the American Board, 1t is
not for sale We need men in our missions
Why will you reject them when they believe
in Christ and to preach him."
DIR. Bartlett then asked that DR.. Alden
should be requested to explain his position
Dr. Alden accordingly took the floor and
was greeted with loud cheers from the con.
servative element in the audience. He read
statement giving his positions and reasons
for it. He held that inquiry as to doctrinal
views of candidates was one OF the duties i'm.
posed on the home secretary. He held as
his own views that the only time for proba
ton during lite. He claimed that until
recently all the officers, instructors in theo-
logical schools, would have held it as the
proper Interpretation of the scripture 1t was
the doctrine of Andover from 1908 to 1881
A new position had arisen within the past
four years and had unsettled many mems
minds, but it is new and different idea that
ali the millions of heathens who had moi
heard of Christ can be saved by the atone.
ment of Christ. 1t has been beautifully pre-
sented by Prot. Smith, but the speaker did
not believe it.
Large numbers of letters had been received
from prominent men in the church protesting
against admitting the doctrine of probation
after death One from DIR. r. 5. Stone wa,
read in which he hoped no action would be
taken sustaining the recent speculation about
future probation.
Roland Hazard of Rhode Island moved, in
view of the conflict of opinion, that a council
of nine be appointed by the board, the latter
acting with them, and take under advisemenl
the whole case and report at the next annual
meeting or at a called meeting sooner if
desired.
DIR. Lyman Abbott. editor of the Christian
Union of New York, came forward and wa,
received with cheers. While paying hi'
tribute of respect to Boston, he remarked he
must say that the country is too large and tn,
Congregational church too broad for one sin
gle city or one set of men, influenced BY
local surroundings, to determine the quslif
cations of men to preach the gospel abroad
Loud applause.
Several points OF order were raised anC
Mr.. Hazards motion was voted down.
Discussion continued at great length
Among those participating, in addition t
Others already mentioned, being Presiden
| Andrews of Mariette College. Rev
Newman Smythe of New Haven, DR.
| Goodwin of Chicago, DIR. Clark
Senior, foreign secretary, Presiden
Hopkins, and Rev DR.. Fisher Of Brunswick
Maine. The last named divine declared
was not the province of this board to turl
aside from its work of missions to discus
theological questions.
A viva voce vote was then taken on tn
| original resolution as amended by DIR. Chspil
which, as briefly stated, endorses the actio
of the prudential committee in endorsing tn
home committee and for rejecting the candi
dates for mission work who believe in pro
baton and chance for salvation after deatl
as against the old doctrine that the only tim
for probation is during life, or who are il
doubt as to the future state, and declaring
that the board looked with apprehension up
on the tendency of the age TO a derisive AM
pervasive growth upon the churches at hom
and abroad of the doctrine of probation. ant
| approving the action of the home committe
in carefully guarding the board from sn,
| committal to that tendency and recommend
ing that the same caution be exercise,
| in the future. About two-thirds voted in tn
| affirmative.
A resolution was offered by DR.. Hopkins
which was adopted, that the prudential com