The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-16
THE AMERICAN BOARD.
The Des Moines Meeting. Report of the Pro-
ceedings.-The Debate on Future Probation.
Interesting Matter for Universalists
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT


IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Des Moines, Oct s, f8S6.-The people of
Iowa are certainly to be congratulated that
great religious corporation Of such stable
character and noble reputation as the Amer
lean Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions has seen fit to honor their capital
city as the place for an annual gathering.
OF the seventy-six anniversary meetings of
this body, only three have been held West
OF Chicago. The meeting of 1886 ranks Des
Moines with Minneapolis and st. Louis. And
surely any city may we'll be proud of the
privilege OF entertaining so large company
Of Christian men and women come together
In behalf Of their less fortunate fellowmen.
Popular respect for the Christian religionwili
be greatly augmented by the impression
produced by so large an assembly of ma
tured men and women Of the highest type of
intellectual. moral and spiritual character.
The conviction of a great responsibility pos
sesses each and every mind and heart. All
together they constitute most potent NOR
al and spiritual force. 1t will be only just
to say that Des Moines hospitality was full
ly up to the occasion. and to every visitor
even to those of hereto sect, was extend
ed, under the able superintendent of the
local Congregational pastor, Rev. DR.. Fris-
bic, warm and most cordial welcome.
THE OPENING SESSION.
At three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon.
Oct. 5th, the President of the Board. the
venerable DR.. Mark Hopkins. called the
meeting to order. 1t was in the Grand
Opera House and fully 1000 persons were
present. After hymn was sung. prayer
offered, and the minutes oflast years meet
ing were read, Rev. DR.. E. K Alden read the
Home Departm emit Report Of the Prudential
Com mittee. The document Is concise'y and
forcibly phrased and was read with much
power and feeling DIR. Alden is strong and
fearle 50 in both matter and manner. His
report contains several points of worldwide
interest. and will repay any ones careful
perusal. The following are some Of the
items of interest which he noted:
During the past year 35 persons have been
sent abroad as missionaries: In raising
funds for missionary purposes the great
need Is a deepened sense of responsibility
for the salvation Of men. quickened appre-
hension Of the unparalleled opportunities Of
the age and the urgency Of its demands. and
especially new conservation, In love and
loyalty to the person and work Of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Taking the Universalist idea Of
the salvation of men," the words here quot
ed admirably state existing conditions, and
are hint to us OF our duty as Christian
church. May 1t DO that the approaching
session Of our General Convention may in
duct our entire Zion with renewed1ove and
loyalty" into the work OF the Lord Jesus
Christi" The total receipts of the Board for
missionary purposes for the year are the
magnificent sum Of $500, 683.0S. Give this
sum annually for ten years to the Universe
lists General Convention. and the hell of
orthodox theology will cool off to quite
useful temperature,
MISSIONARY QUALIFICATIONS.
On this point Secretary Alden expressed
himself with particular care and clearness.
He did not venture beyond the logic Of the
principle which has from the beginning been
at the bottom OF orthodox missionary en-
deavCr; that unless the heather learn In
this life of Christ and his atoning sacri-
fee and are converted to his love and truth,
they will be eternally lost. As to the posi-
ton Of the Prudential Committee, DR.. Alden
said: "The Board does not assume to decide
upon the fitness of an individual to be min
lister of the gospel; but 1t is their duty to de-
eide. and that intelligently, on his original
and continued fitness to be sustained by
the funds committed to their disposal. as a
missionary to the heather. . The con-
tributors to the funds for Foreign Missions
will hold the Prudential Committee and the
Board responsible for seeing that no part Of
their contribution go for the propagation of
error. either In doctrine or in practice" Thus
the secretaries have DO option in the matter
of selecting candidates for foreign missions.
the entire responsibility resting upon the
Prudential Committee. The chairman Of
the comm ttee appointed to report on DIR.
Alden's paper. President Bartlett. Of Dsrt-
mouth College. came before the session on
Thursday morning with very brief but I'M
equivocal statement of the committees po-
sition. The following are the germinal
words in his report:
Resolued. That the Board recognizes and
approves the principle upon which the
Prudential Committee has continued TO act
In regard to appointments for missionary
services in strictly conforming to. the well
understood and permanent basis OF doctrin-
al faith upon which the missions of the Board
have been steadily conducted. and to which
in the exercise of its sacred trust, the com
mittee had no option 1T to conform.
In the words Of prominent daily news
paper: This sets Congregationalism square
ly in accord with the old established faith,
and against any liberalism that may be
creeping into the church." In the above &C.
ton the entire committee heartily concur
red, with the exception of Rev. DR.. J. G.
Vose, of Providence. R. l., who gave only
qualified assent. In explaining his position
DIR. Vose said:
1T was we'll to recall and repeat the meth
cd Of procedure commenced thirty seven
years ago that the contributors to the Board
will hold the Prudential Committee and the
Board responsible for seeing that no part Of
their contributions go fer the propagation
of error, either in doctrines or in practice"
But" he continued, 1T would have been
we'll also to add the report of the Business
Committee in 1871 at Salem, that neither
this Board nor its Prudential Committee are
In any sense theological court [great APP
plausel to settle doctrinal points Of belief,
but a body instituted by the church to make
known the Gospel of Christ among the
heather nations"
DIR. EGBERT c. sMYTH
followed DIR. Vose, and was hailed with most
hearty applause. Many persons had for two
days labored under the apprehension and
many others rested In the hope that the Sec
ond-Probation party might not have an OPP
portunity and occasion to plead their cause.
and now that war had been declared by DR..
Vose and DIR. Smyth stood to the front as
leader. the vast assembly was profoundly
moved by the mingled feeling of disappolnt-
ment and delight. DR.. Smyth began by call
afIo