Morning journal and courier., 1889-12-27
RslIgieus Intelligence.

Religious Intelligence.
 The Northwestern Congregationalist" suggests that the next annual meeting of the American Board, which is to be held in Minneapolis, should be held on Sunday, closing on tho Wednesday following, thus giving Eastern brethren time te reach their homes before the next Sunday. The idea is good ono. It would suit the conven- fence of many, and we believe 1t would add to the impressiveness of tho meeting to have 1t either opsn CT close on Sunday. It will be remembered that, by the amended bylaws, the Prudential Committee is au- thorized when, in their judgment, 1t is ex- pedisnt-in . manner prescribed-to appoint some other time of meeting than the pre- scribed "frst Tuesday of October" so that
 Rev. 0. F. Clarke, who graduated last year from the Yale Divinity school, is settled in Machias, Maine, and on December 11th his church was re-dedioated. Rev. F. D. Avery, of Columbia, Ct., Mir. Clarke's for mer pastor, was present at the installation and gave the charge to the pastor.
 At Goshen, Conn, December 9th, was held Sunday tohool convention at which the question of Bible study was discussed.
 
 American Missionary association legacy of S1,000.
 The Plymouth church of Minneapolis, Rev. Dr. 0. F. Thwing pastor, supports i've mis- sions, which are estimated to reach 5, 1000 persons who would not otherwise come under religious influences. His own church num- bsrs l, 134 members.
 The following from last Tuesdays Boston Advertiser is of special interest to many in New Haven. Tho subject, 1t need not be said, is one which is exciting national inter- est and not alone in Congregational church circles:
 THE covELL CASE AGAIN.
 Last Wednesday morning the Advertiser, in discussing the action taken the evening before by the prudential committee in the case of Mr. A. J. Covell, took occasion (while expressing deep regret at the failure of the committee to appoint candidate of such sx- osptional 6tness) to express the hope that no very serious evil would result from the post ponsment. That hope was based upon the understsnding, which seemed warranted by all that had at that time been revealed of the action of the committee. that the postponemsnt was solely for the purpose of securing greater approach to unanimity than was immediately possible, and that great pains had been taken to guard against any action or utterance that could even have the appearance of definitely unfavorable atti- tude of the committee toward the candidate on account of the theological views which he now holds. Facts have since come to light, however, that change the aspect of the matter considerably and compel us to view the whole situation with grave appre- tensions.
 Chief among these disquieting circum- stances is the sending to MT. Covell of . most remarkable document, of which com prehensive summary will be found this morning in the column of Religious Outlook. The Advertiser Is the first to make this "minute" known to the public, but through the action of certain officers of the board 1t religious press, and would, even without any action on our part, have soon become widely known. In several important respects this document h misleading. First, it is calculated-we do not say designsd-to make the impression that there was unanimous consent on the part of the commit tee that the matter be postponed until next his theological studies. Suoh was by no means the case. When the vote for post ponement was taken the chairman was cautioned by prominent member who did not vote that the result must not be sn- nounced ss having been unanimously reach ed but merely as having encountered no dis senting vote-a very different thing indeed. The fact is that precisely ono half of the committee stood strongly for immediate President Storrs and ce-President Blatoh- ford. The six men who were ready and anxious to send MT. Covell as a missionary to Japan did not Cordially unite," or unite at all, in postponing the case. They simply rsfrained from making useless opposition to IL t-~ that he candidate and the churches were to bs in- formed anything about the differences of opinion in the committee 1t would have been better to state just the fact, namely, that half the members were ready to vote for ap- pointment, while of the other half some members manifested unaltersble opposition, while others seemed undecided, rather to say, e the minister does, that "some of the committee would probably be ready to sp- point him at once," etc.
 The gravest objection to tho document is that 1t purports, or seems to purrort, to speak for the committee and the whole conn., mitses, whereas. in truth, in its present form, 1t was not read to tho committee, and was not, of course, sanctioned, even by . majority vote. It contains language and sentiments which portion of the committee utterly repudiate with not unnatural indig- nation, and which properly could not have
 
 been adopted without vigorous protests, had the so-oaIlsd "minute" been laid before the committee for full and mature consideration.
 It is unfortunate that 70 much stress is laid upon the necessity of guarding against any approval of the doctrine of future probation, without at least an equal stress being laid upon the duty of administering the affairs of the board on the basis of Dr. Storm letter of acceptance. Over and over again with wsagi- sone iteration the former idea is dwelt upon e embodying the instructions given at Des Moinss and Springfield. But tho later and interpretativs action ct New York seems to Do recognized mainly as contain- Ing some language which can be made to serve the purpose of those who. iu spita of the action ct New Yerk, seemed to go on in the same old cast-iron ruts. Why would 1t not have been the man. Iy, frank, just thing (n6t to say an act of courtesy and fairness to the distinguished divine who was acting in this case for the nrst time d . member of the prudential k thQse who prepared tho min.