The Portland daily press., 1886-10-11
CONCESSIONS ON BOTH SIDES.
Result of the Meeting of the Ameri-
can Board.
The Notable Men Who Entered the
Great Discussion.

DEs MONIES, Ia, 8. The American Board
concluded their labors yesterday, and most
OF the members left for home in the after
noe nonn Land and evening": 1t was very plain yester
thst aay there 1S Was as it was the night before,
one side as much as on tee eeeag OF Telef rene on on
question as to future probation was ssetiad
so as to leave no sting behind to either ele-
ment. 1t was practically an agreed settle
ment, and the new faith people appeared
to feel that, with the showing they made,
tVey had won as much or more victory than
they expected. The disposition of the con-
not come up in form defining the issues
sharply enough to make formal and final
settlement of it, and so, as the venerable DR..
Hopkins said, the two seas, in meeting prac-
tlcally became one again, although the de-
ciSiOn, so far as it went, and the manifest
power in numbers to make the decision were
clearly with the adherents of the old faith.
The vote in the board was in the proportion
OF two to one, but the new departure felt
very proud of the one, as the great
strength they proved to have in corpora
tion which is very close. The meeting
has been notable oneIin the religious world.
1t will become more and marc and more so
i'll religious literature III the new faith shall
grow, and not merely survive fora few years
and pass away and be forgotten. In its gen
eral features, this meeting ranks among the
most successful that have been held. But,
as was often remarked, there was not that
uplifting of of spirit and that manifestation
of moral power that have been seen in 9TH
er meetings because of the shadow that has
rested oyer it from the beginning. The mem
bers came anticipating trouble over the doc
trinal question that had been raised, and
every session of the board untillit was reach
ed was held under cloud of anxiety and
deep concern. 1t was notable scene when
the great debate began on Thursday. The
vast audience was breathless with sup
pressed excitement. Every one seemed to
realize that contest of intellectual giants
was approaching, and there was the still
stronger feelingof interest that crisis in reli-
giouse belief and practice had been reached,
and happy would it be if it could be averted
without a sacrifice of moral principal or
needless wounding of Christian spirit. The
seen together and never to be forgotten. The
venerable Mark hopkins, with clear-cut fea-
lures, snowy hair and noble appearance, sat
In the presidents chair, carrying his hOnOrS
Of 81 years with a repose and dignity that
would grace any assemblage on earth.
Athis right was DR.. Clarke, one of the for
eign secretaries, man of splendid presence,
straight as an arrow, with magnificent head
on broad and substantial shoulders, who is
justly regarded as one of the leaders
of the board. At his lest sat DR.. Merrill of
ST. Louis, the recording secretary, hand
some, scholarly looking man, prompt and
decisive IN every movement. Behind him
sat President Bartlett of Dartmouth College
d uldn Slight Ill obdbuI0, Dub Will oil lub6utC-
tual cast and commanding presence that
gave him prominence among all his associ-
ateS. Grouped on either hand were diStin-
guished men of the church, presidents of
colleges, editors, preachers, professors and
men prominent in the commercial and finan-
cial world, all of them intent on catching
every word of the great discussion. The in
terest in the audience was no less intense.
Men and women leaned forward on their
seats in order that nothing should be MISSED.
n a aIrA cot fhn cix
hours debate. 1t was a memorable scene
and a memorable occasion. There seems to
be some little misunderstanding as to the
outcome of the great debate, those
who did not watch very closely being
unable to tell exactly what were the
terms of peace. 1t can be said
briefly that the precise subject of the debate
was the resolution reported by Dr. Bartlett
indOrSing the prudential committee in its
stand in refusing to send out missionaries
who believed or had doubts about the ques-
tion of future probation. AS some thought
the resolution Indefinite and liable to be mis-
understood, Dr. Noble offered an amendment
expressly stating that the board did not be-
lleve In future probatiod, and requesting the
prudential committee to report the sentiment
of the board in this regard when selecting
missionaries. AS this was thought by some
to be too harsh and infieXible, Dr. Chaplin of
BelOit offered substitute which meant sub
stantially the same, though not so severely
and arbitrarily stated. The debate ragged
over these successive resolutions, and
finally the Chaplin substitute was adopt
ed on viva voce vote by a ma
'ority of about two to one, the GER
porate members. about so, alone voting
Then as a concession in the interest of har-
mony resolution was adopted requesting
the prudential committee hereafter, when
ever any doubt about theological questions
arose in their selection of candidates, to call
a council of churches and let it settle the
matter in the usual way. This resolution
was warmly indorsed by many who were
conservative, and yet believed that neither
the prudential committee nor the whole
board should be allowed to exercise ecclesi-
astical functions or decide theological ques-
tions. So far as the doctrine of future pro-
baton in itself is concerned, it was CON
demned by q large majority, of the members
of the board. As regards the other contest
ed point, the right of the prudential commit
tee to take cognizance of controverted theo-
logical points, the new school men gained
victory in the passage of the last resolution
named, which was partly, however, due to a
concession for harmony's sake. Such, in
brief, is the outcome of the great debate of
this memorable meeting.