The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-10
DOCTORS DISAGREE.
Several Eminent Divines At Outs C0ncerI
ing Foreign Missions.

Several Eminent Divines at Outs Concern
ing Foreign Missions.
| MMNEPoLIs, Oct. 9.-The most importan
paper to come before American board Q
foreign missions and one which calle,
forth an acrimonious debate, was the re
port of the committee of nine. ap
pointed year ago, to examine int
the method of the administration of tn
officials of the board in Boston, especial.
the methods employed by the home secre
tary in ascertaininR the qualifications o
candidates for the missionary field. Th'
chairman of the committee is DR.. Walker
of New York, and associated with him ar'
others representing the two great wings o.
the board, but not extremists in any sense
The report made detailed showing of tht
finances of the board and compared what tn,
board has received yearly for its work with
what is given to other large benevolent SO
cieties of the church. The figures showed
that while the contributions to thes,
other bodies had been increasing yeal
BY year, as the church grew, there had
been practically NO increase in donations te
the paper argued, showed dissatisfaction in
the churches over the quarrels that have
come rs result of the present system OF
administration. The report, which was q
lengthy one, was summed up in the form Of
resolutions, at the conclusion. Among other
things, the resolutions provide. with refer
ence to missionary appointments. that ques.
tions one and two for candidates be
amended to read:
Question l. What are your views respect
ing each of the leading doctrines of Scrip
ture commonly held by the churches sus-
tanning this board? In answering this
question you may use your own language
weight.
question 2. Have YOU any views at vari-
ance with these doctrines, or any views OF
church government, which would prevent
your cordial cooperation with the mis-
sionaries of this board?
These questions being 90 amended, all
applications for appointment shall be made
as now, to the corresponding secretary of
the board. Communications shall be pre-
sented forthwith to the prudential commit
tee. In case the committee desire further
scrutiny into the theological opinions Of
candidates this shall be had through an in
terview with the committee as body; or, il
this is not practicable, with sub-commit-
tee, consisting in part of laymen. At such
examination the doors shall be open for the
presence of any member of the board or
personal friend of the candidate.
The debate on this matter was most
animated one. DR.. Joseph Cook opened
the attack on the paper and was replied to
by Dr.. Quint. Then venerable DR.. Thomp-
son. 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 reflect
ing against the secretaries ana the pruden-
tial committee. DIR. Walker replied warm
ly that his committee had abundant evil
dence for the ground it had taken, but had
preferred to suppress it. However, since
DR.. Thompson had precipitated
matters he would make it pub
lie. He then read a. series of
letters regarding certain young lady stu
dents in Wellesley college who we're re-
jected as missionaries some years ago. He
read them to show that the rejection was
most unfortunate and improper and had ef-
fectually shut off Wellesley college as q
source of missionary supply.
The home secretary. DR.. Alden, then read
personal paper defending himself and ex-
listing methods and criticising severely the
committee of nine. The members of the
committee replied and debate by this time
had grown SO acrimonious that President
Storrs cut it off. After further talk the
resolutions were adopted unanimously, to
the satisfaction of all except the extrem-
&c