Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-02
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO MINIS
TIERS AND LAYMEN.
Expressions of Opinion by Newspapers
Representing the Various Denom-
nations. on Many Subjects.

The Christian Inquirer (Bapt.) says
''The American Board of Commissioners
of Foreign Missions held their annual
meeting last week at Minneapolis. The
meeting proved more harmonious than
some had feared, aud would have been
more so but for Joseph Cook, whose we'll
known pugilistic propensities in the the
illogical arena were, as usual, made mani
| fest. There was, on the whole, a COM
mendable spirit of forbearanee and concil-
iation. Secretary Alden, out of whose
examination OF candidates for missionary
work has arisen much of the aeerbity of
| the past few years, to use a common but
inelegant phrase, was sat down upon, and
henceforth his functions will suffer consid-
cradle abridgment."
The Examine (Bapt.) says: "The meet
| ing, as whole, was more harmonious
! than those at Des Moines and Springfield,
and the result of the change in admins
tration will probably prevent the occur.
renee of cases like that of Mr.. Covell,
| during the past year. 1t Is to be hoped
| that the new measure may restore the
| harmony of action that used TO prevail
among the Congregationalists, for the
Board needs decided increase of both
money and men for the doing Of its work
next year"
The Christian Union says "Four years
ago, at Des Moines, the critics of the
methods pursued by the Home Secretary
of the American Board asked to have the
facts inquired into by an impartial COM
mittee. and a report thereon submitted to
the Board Usually such request is sec
onded By the officer who is criticised, and
granted by the Society as a matter of
course. For the first time in the history
of the Board, if not in the history of any
similar religious organij ition, so natural a
request was resisted by the Secretary and
his friends, and finally refused by vote
of two to one. Last year this action was
reversed, and committee of nine was ap-
pointed to inquire into the methods OF
administration pursued at the Missionary
rooms at Boston, and to recommend any
changes which shall appear to them use
full or important This committee, ap.
pointed By the President of the Board
was composed of men of judicial temper
and moderate opinions. No man that
could fairly be charged with being par
tisan on either side was appointed upon it.
| The report of this committee, made last
week at Minneapolis, amply justifies the
! demand which was made four years ago,
and, by necessary implication, the eriti-
cisms on the Home Secretary's methods
which gave rise to that demand. The
thanks of the churches are due to this
committee for the thoroughness with
which they fulfilled disagreeable duty
and for the thoroughly Christian spirit in
which they fulfilled it,"
The Colgregationalist says: "The meet
ing of the Board seems to have turned ou
Unexpectedly WELL There were-as every
body knew there would be-difierences OF
Judgment, and there was strong feeling,
But the extraordinary and unexpected
unanimity with which the ironic and COM
nonsense report of the Committee o.
Nine was adopted by the body seems tc
promise an end of all difficulty. So far as
opportunity offered and present circum
stances required, essentially the course
which this Journal has outlined was pur-
sued, and the result justified to the full
all we had intimated as to the critical
character of the occasion. Should the
administration cordially fall into the new
lines of procedure authorized and de-
manded, as of course they must and will,
we believe the Minneapolis meeting will
challenge long and grateful remembrance
as the date of new harmony and a re
newed prosperity"
The Interior (Pres.) says: "It now seems
as if all important questions touching the
policy of the Board had been settled tC
the satisfaction of the great body of Ii.
friends Why may not the work of thi:
old and tried agency of Christian evangel
ization be carried forward On its estab
hshed basis and principles without further
collision or friction, in obedience to the
last command of the worlds Savior?"
The Independent says; "1he result is
most reassuring. DR.. Taylor expressed
the feeling which will possess the friend;
of the Board when they learn what was
done, in his motion that the recon-
mendation of the Committee of Nine be
adopted. He had come to Minneapolis, he
said, with grave apprehensions; but the
report had brought him great relief. The
report is a severe one in some respects. 1t
reflects strongly and, we think, unjustly
upon the administration of the Home De-
partment; but its recommendations are not
revolutionary, unwise, or in any respect
dangerous We do not like some of its
criticisms; but these were answered by DR.
Thompson, Dr.. Alden, and others, and the
Board took care not to adopt them as its
own expression. If they help to clear the
air; if they help to restore better feel
ing; if they increase anybcdy's confidence;
if they tend, in the slightest degree, to in
sure future harmony, they can, however
unjust, be borne and borne cheerfully
They will not, we are sure, lessen the graf,
itude and admiration felt for the men who
have so faithfully executed the commands
of the Board, and discharged with such
intelligence and discretion the hard duties
imposed upon them"
The Observer says: "The attempt has
been made to persuade the religious pub
| lie that the Board and Prudential Com,
mittee desired to adopt changed theol-
ogy, but were prevented by the obstinacy
and autocratic action of the Home Secre-
tary. The fact is, that the Home Secre-
tary was faithfully following his instruc-
tions, and carrying out to the best of his
ability the views Of the founders and of a
hu"loiAer VI tiS suPPOitSio VI thO ooSiCty
At the meeting in Minneapolis, resolu-
lion was passed which limited the powers
and functions of the Secretary, and placed
more responsibility and duty in this mat
ter of theological belief upon the Pruden-
tial Committee. The authors and sup.
porters of this resolution believed that il
will produce harmony in the councils Of
the society. We do not expect such re-
suit, however much we desire it. Those
who seek radical change in the theo-
logical opinions of ministers and mission
aries will not rest satisfied with a simple
change of responsibility for theological
examination from a secretary to com
mittee majority of whom hold sub
stantially the same opinion. 1t is a
temporary expedient in the interest oi
peace, but eventually those who believe
that the heather will be saved without
the Gospel, or that they viii have sec
ond probation, viii either have to enforce
their views upon the majority of the
Board or seek some other agent for their
missionary work."
The Watchman (Bapt) says "The re,
| mort of tho COMMITTEES of Nine appointed