The Portland daily press., 1889-10-21
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
ECHOES FROM THE AMERICAN BOARD MEET
ING.


ING.
AT the High street church last evening
Rev. DR.. Fem delivered an interesting ad-
dress which he called "Eshoes from the
American Board meeting in New York"
He first told how the convention was made
up and described its working. Then fol-
lowed an interesting resume Of the session.
On Wednesday afternoon, he said. the first
suggestion of trouble came when a commit
tee report was received which recommended
change in the work Of the prudential COM
mittee so that the president and the vice
president of the board should have voice
in the disposal of candidates for the mission
any service, instead of having their cases
privately settled by the secretary as was
done now. On Thursday morning there
was an immense throng present and sug-
gestion of something to come was in the air.
A great number Of young men were present
and they seemed to voice the sentiment of
the meeting. On Thursday morning the re-
port of the home secretary was read, congrat-
ulating the board on its prosperity notwith-
standing drain of SSl, 900 from the reserve
fund and ending with the assertion that all
had cause to thank God for their prosperity
The committee to which that report we re-
ierred presented a majority and minority
report, the latter being read by Prof. Fisher
OF Yale. This minority report stored up the
Walls of wrath, and let loose discord il the
assembly. Several members questioned the
honesty of the committee in desiring to glcss
over the fact that the board was going astern
and that unless something was done
to increase the contributions from churches
they would be bankrupt in IA months. Rev.
DR.. Webb inquired if Prof. Fisher proposed
10 impeach the committees report on 1t
facts. Prof. Fisher said he did not charge
the committee with classifying facts, but
with misleading by differences. The meet
ing adjourned in some disorder at noon. The
afternoon session was opened by the sacred
ceremonial of the Lords Supper which is en-
blematic of SO much in the church After
this the majority of the committee on nomi-
nations through Dr. Noble presented list
of officers which differed from that of last
year In substituting DIR. Little for Mr.. c. A.
Dickinson on the prudential committee Tie
minority presented a report substituting
Rev. Charles Ray Palmer for DR.. Alden as
secretary. These reports raised disturb
ance to which the mornings tumult was
nothing. The representatives of the pro-
gressive churches boldly declared that the
committee had dropped Mr.. Dickinson be-
cause he had headed the movement to send
Mr.. Noyes an Independent missionary to
Japan. They theatened to withdraw from
the board altogether il the change was per-
mitted and demanded the reason for it. Dr.
Nj ;a1 thot; 3
committee deemed Mr.. Dickinson disloyal
Seeing how determined the younger men
were, however, he proposed compromise
by which Mr.. Dickinson would be kept in if
DIR. Alden was. A vote was taken upon the
list proposed by the majority and it was
chosen, with the exception that Mr.. Dickin-
son was elected over Mr. Little by consid-
cradle majority. A committee was chosen
to investigate the entire matter with view
to permanently solving the trouble. DIR.
Fem said that what strongest impressed
him at the convention just dissolved was the
| part taken by the younger men. Not one of
the old-time leaders took any part. He said
that change had come over the spirit of
the board. There was tme he said, when
the church took pride in the foreign mission
work. but the time was past. Money came
harderInow for the American Board than it
used to- Thi S, the speaker thought was due
to the wide spread discussion of the sub
ject during the last two years, with the theo-
logical question of future probation saddl ed
on the work of the board. The change of
front of the Congregationalist also had much
to do with it. DR.. Fem denounced in strong
terms the improperly of introducing purely
theological questions into the affairs of the
prudential committee, and professed that in
the near future the question of probation
would cease to be as it has for sometime
been, disturbing element at the board
meetings. In closing he repeated and en-
| dorsed the words of DR.. Storrs that they had
by their timely action saved the American
| Board.
The following was the programme of mus
| ic at High street church last night:
fTeluue.. BdptlSte
BE InOu EXalUeu....... .............. Mercadante
ROCK OF Ages Bnck
OHerLOry- Olckldr
Postlude........ RINK