Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-29
THE CONGREGATIONAL NATIONAL
COUNCIL.
Review of the Proceedings-Discu of
Church Polity and Doctrine-Prof
Smyth's Address, etc.
CHICAGO, Oct. IS.


CHICAGO, Oct. IS.
To the Editor OF the Free Press.
The last full day of this Sixth Triennial
Council of Congre gational Churches has
come: tomorrow morning, like the clos.
ing hours OF Congress. will bring rush
OF routine business aud this is tavora-
BILE point for briefly reviewing the sessions,
and noting special points of interest ard
accomplishment
The location OF thi. meeting is admira
BILE; undoubtedly the best in the coun-
try. No other city Of similar size is 30
near the centre Of population and like
ancient Rome, all roads lead hither. Here
Con9regationalism is strong and waxing
stronger. Its household OF eighteen
churches is harmonious within and hon
ored abroad. In delight full contrast to
certain other great cities, its pastors are
in full sympathy with each other, and
work cordially together 1t is the seat
Of what seems destined to be the leading
theological seminary of our country, in
respect to size and variety OF work ac-
complished. Union Park Church. where
the sessions have been held, Is among the
noblest specimens of church architecture
in the land; its interior, to be sure, would
bear renovation, but more beautiful than
any fresco is the wiping out of debt of
one hundred thousand dollars, which has
just been accomplished under the leader
ship OF Its pastor, DR.. +. A. Noble. In
respect TO sise, arrangement and all
modern eonveniences, better building
could not be found for the abiding place
Of nj l.
homes, accessible suburbs and reduced
hotel accommodations added to the con-
venience ofdelegates but above all things
else, the fitness of Chicago for receiving
the council lay in the fact that it gathers
up and presents close at hand those ire
mendcous problems of morals and even of
civilization which call so loudly to the
Christian church for its utmost wisdom
and energy.
Connecticut furnished the moderator of
this council: and while there was no
special complaint to be made, there were
some who did not hesitate to express the
opinion that Vermont contained upon its
delegation one who would have presided
with greater grace and precision, In the
person OF Col Fairbanks. 1t was pleas
ure, however, to see Rev. A. NJ. Wild OF
Charlotte one OF the recording secretar.
les. The most important committee,
which was really the handspring of the |
entire machinery, the business committee,
was headed by live business man, Mr. |
s. Il. Capen OF Boston and much Of the |
success of the meeting was due to his ad- |
management.
The topics which came under consid- |
GRAFTON naturally fall into three classes
those relating to church polity. to doc
trne. and TO practical work. The first |
class is the least interesting, but by no |
means the least important though the |
impression OF gathering like this is
deepened as such themes
can be speedily disposed of. One OF the |
primary objects Of this triennial gather
ing was the discussion OF points in Con
polity; an exchange of view
where no legislation is possible. When |
we remember that these four thousand |
have no central authority to |
decide disputed points, and when we re-
fleet that the constitution OF the body is
in measure, like Englands, unwritten,
it would be strange If such themes did |