Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-19
THE CoNGREGATIONALIsrs.
Prof Egbert Smythe Called Upon at the
Couucil at Chicago-Other Notes of In.
terest.


CHICAGO. Oct. Is.
| The National Council of the Congrega.
| lonal church heard the report at this morn
| lng's session of the committee on the theo
logical seminaries The report urged the
necessity of the churches taking a greater
interest IN the work of preparing stldrnts ,oi
the mlni>t Y, the missionary WORK iu parIicu-
lar. called for more men.
Seminaries could easily care for twice a,
| many students as those at present attending
the schools. Reports of professors Of the
Colleges were then called for. Prof. Eg6erl
Smythe, of the Andover Theological Semi
nary, the well known exponent of the proba-
| ton after death theory, was the first one
called upon AMI his appearance created inter.
est. He spoke of the work in the various
| departments of the school and the great pro-
| gress which had been shown during the pasi
three years.
| Prof. Smyth said: II knew of no profes
sor at Andover ever whs questioned or ever
t""ught Of questioning the supreme authority
al TIE scripture as a record of special divine
revelation as the only perfect rule OF faith
and practice. Loud applause. We EN-
phasize truth as il is found in Jesus. an in
dlsp nsable motive power in the recovery OF
the soul to eternal lite. We believe in the
testimony of the Holy Spirit as necessary to
personal conviction and the discovery and
assurance of truth. Loud applause The
purpose of God is to deal with all men upon
plan not simply of justice and law, but of
redemption. The chief. might say amos.
the entire strength of the faculty, is given
TO the establishment of the great fundamen-
tai dOctornes on which we are all agreed and
10 b. men rightly to interpret the scriptures
and In their own times to teach Gods mos
sage 10 men. We, however dstinguish sh
carefully between doctrine ami dogma. Some
brethren seem To suppose our teaching Is
largely occupied with special dogma about
neathep. ihere Is good deal of
ml'atpreh 'nslOn on this point partlc-
uiarlN as regards 10 the time devoted to
teaching ni this particular tenet. | asked
frot. Hlaks, one of our faculty. how much
time he devoted 10 teaching ihis tenet during
the leclure> and lie said in each lecture much
more time Is given to tire rrfutatlon If point
by those OF the faculty who dissented from it,
l am simply explaining that we don't make
ary HOBBY of this matter | don't deny we
attach Importance to our opinions. We ad-
nit tne danger of inferential theologicak and
scrupulously distinguish our inferences from
our doctrines In the exercise OF this right.
brought under subsection to the scriptures
We do nothing that may not be done under
all circumstances of congregational fellow
ship. We ask you to simply Judge us from
what we ourselves say and not BY what 9TH
ers say of Us, and will conclude by saving
that | have never known in the history of the
seminary more earnest and religious life
than at present exists in 1t.
Several clergymen were afterwsrd seen
and said, though there be no controversy on
the point now, owing to the manner in which
Smyth had treated it, his views were just as
ever from being accepted by the clergy OF the
church.
The reports were presented by Rev. Ora
ham +. Taylor, Hartford Seminary.