, 1890-10-16
THE AMERICAN BOARD
An Acrimonious Debate Over
q Committee Report.
RESOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED
They Were Adopted, but the Re-
port Itself Was Not Indorsed
An Anomaly.

MINNEAPoLIs, Oct. o--Thc most in
teresting paper to come before the
American board, and one which called
iorih an acrimonious debate, was the re-
port of the committee of nine appointed
year ago to examine into the method
OF administration of the officials of the
board in Boston, especially the methods
employed by the home secretary in as
certaining the qualifications of candi-
dates for the missionary field. The
chairman of the committee is Dr.
Walker, of New York, and associated
with him are others representing the
two great wings of the board, but not
extremists in any sense.
The report made detailed showing
of the finances of the board, and COM
pared what the board had received
yearly tor its work with what was given
TO the other large benevolent societies
of the church. The figures showed that
while the contributions TO these other
bodies had been increasing year by year
as the church grew, there had been prac-
tically no increase to the American
board. This state of affairs, the paper
argued, showing dissatisfaction in tho
church over the quarrels that have come
as o result of the present system OF ad-
ministration.
The report, which was a lengthy one,
was summed up in the form OF resolu-
tions at tho conclusion. These provided
that committee on the treasurer's re-
port be appointed by the board at the
annual meeting at which the committee
was called on TO act; that the treasurer S
report be sent to each member OF the
committee; that the by-laws be
amended to provide that the auditor
shall annually employ an expert in the
examination of the treasurcr's accounts;
that there be substantial increase OF
the force employed by the board to
bring the interests of its missions and
tho cause it represents before the
churches with reference to contributions
to its support.
Tho resolutions further provide, with
reference to missionary appointments,
that questions and for candidates be
amended to read as follows:
Question What are your views re-
speCting each of the leading doctrines
OF the scripture commonly held by the
churches in sustaining this board 7 In
answering ths question you may use
your own language, or refer to any
creeds of acSnow eded creeds.
Question 2-Have you any view at
variance with these doctrines, or any
views OF church government, which
would prevent your cordial co-opera-
tion with the missionaries of this board
These questions being SO amended, all
applications for appointment shall be
made as now, to the corresponding sec
retary OF the board.
Communications shall be presented
forthwith to the prudential committee,
and, in case the committee desire
further scrutiny into the theological
opinions of the candidates, this shall be
had through interviews with the com
mittee as body, or, ii this is not
acticable, with subcommittee con-
ssting in part OF laymen. At such ex-
animation the doors shall be open ior
the presence of any member of the
board or the personal friends OF the
candidate.
The debate on this matter was most
animated one. DIR. Joesph Cook opened
the attack on the paper, and was replied
to by DIR. Quint.
Then the venerable DIR. Thompson, of
Boston, for many years chairman of the
prudential committee, severely criti-
cised the methods of the committee of
nine and took exceptions to the report
as rejecting against the secretaries OF
the prudential committee.
DIR. Walker replied warmly that his
committee had abundant evidence for
the ground it had taken, but had
preferred TO suppress It. However, since
Director Thompson had precipitated
matters, he could make IL public. He
then read series of letters regarding
certain young lady students in Welles-
ly college who were rejected as MISSION
aries some years ago. lie read them to
show that the rejection was most un-
fortunate and improper, and had effect
ually shut oil Wellesley college as a
source of missionary supply.
The home secretary, Dr. Alden, then
read u personal paper, defending himself
severely the committee OF nine.
Members of the committee replied,
and the debate 10y this time had grown
so acrminious that President Storrs cut
it oil.
After further talk the resolutions sum.
merized above were adopted unani-
mously, to the satisfaction of all except
the extremists.
DR.. Noble, of Chicago who accepted
the resolutions, protested against any
approval OF the report itself, and pre-
sented resolution to that effect, which
was adopted without particular objec-
tion. Thus a curious resul; was pre-
sented by an acHon which seemed to cast
DOUBT and reflection on the report of the
committee of nine and IT'S methods,
while adopting unanimously ell OF its
practical suggestions. Both sides
seemed to have the i'm preston that they
had won u glorious victory.