St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-12
SAM SMITHS THESES
Which Will Be Nailed to the Door of the
Peoples Church.
LAST NIGHTS DISCUSSION.
Qualifications for Membership. How
Shall Members of Other
Churches Come?

''The church council shall examine
and recommend all candidates for men,
bership in the Peoples church." So
read Rev. Sam Smith from the proposed
constitution of the new church to a
number of his followers at the last
evening meeting of the body. This
constitution had been drafted by COM
mittee, appointed for that purpose, and
of which the doctor himself was mem
Der, and refers to the way in which new
members are to be received.
Il don't like that section," said G. E.
Marvin. "The candidate ought to see
the paster alone, and then be admitted,
even if the whole church opposed it. A
confession of faith ought to be enough"
''Such requirement." said Rev. Sam
Smith cOmplacently, lis usual in all Con-
gregational and Presbyterian congrega-
tiOnS."
WHO made us judge of another's
mind" exclaimed MIR. Marvin, with
some warmth. s..Christ said, whatsoever
will, may come. That section isn't
exactly literal"
"a man may want to come in,'' said
G. c. Fairchild, ''but we want to know
whether he understands what he is
doing OF not. We want to know whether
Peoples church,"
''1t seems to me-" said Mr.. Marvin,
that it is wrong. to PREJUDICE mans
character and purposes in this way.
Any one ought to have the right to come
in and he judged by his or her work"
Il think members ought to be re-
ceived gladly" said another member,
Il don't believe in hedging it about
with red tape" -
just here the doctor suggested that
the matter be referred back to the COM
mittee for further consideration, and it
was finally SO referred.
- THE CONSTITUTION.
The meeting was called to order by
Doctor Smith at 7:30, about thirty MEM
berS being present. 1t was decided to
adopt the constitution by sections, and
the reading began. Articles providing
for aboard of trustees of nine members.
t0Iave charge OF. the business affairs,
and a council of the same number to
have charge of church polity and wor-
ship We're adopted without trouble.
An article providing that the Sunday
school superintendent shall be nominal
ted by the council and elected by the
officers and Bible classes was also
adopted. But from this on little was
done more than to decide upon the fol-
lowing church VOWS:
l. DO you assent to the Apostles
creed as the substance of Christian doc
trine? s4x,na -.
II. Do you accept Jesus Christ as
your Saviour?
LII. Win you practice in your life
the precepts of morality and be taught
by Jesus Christ?
". viii you cooperate in the work
of the Peoples church to the extent of
your ability, and endeavor, in your re-
lations with the church, to keep the
unity of the spirit in the bond of peace?
Some discussion followed the motion
to adopt the above VOWS. There were
many views as to how letters from other
churches should be received. Some in
sisted that any one bringing letters from
any other church should be received
into full membership: others insisted
that every one subscribe to the VOWS;
and some again thought that agreeing
to the latter cwould be all-sufficient.
Here the matter rested. and the chair
appointed several members to secure
the names of all those who desired to be
placed on the rolls of the Peoples
church. The constitution will come I'D
for discussion a week LATER