Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-27
MORE LIBERAL VIEWS
Held by Those Congregationalists
Who Back Up DR.. Abbott.
THE HEATHEN TO HAVE SOME SHOW
Under the Rule of ] hose Who Have Caused
the sensation
now AGITATING PLYMOUTH CHURCH
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.

Tsp ECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.1
NEW YORK, Nov. 26.-Rev. Dr. Lyman
Abbott was seen to-day in regard to the
action of the congregation OF Plymouth
Church, in Brooklyn, which decided not to
send any more of the money out of the
board for foreign mission work to the
American Board OF Foreign Missions. DR..
Abbott, pastor Of the church, introduced
the resolution to that effect, against the
passage of which there was but one vote
That was cast by Rev. Mr.. Bliss, assistant
pastor of the church. Prot. Raymond, in
speaking for the passage of DR.. Abbott's
resolution, sailed into the American Board
of Foreign Missions for its narrow-minded
views of theological questions. DR.. Abbott,
in his remarks characterized the board as a
close corporation.
The action of Plymouth Church, which
will undoubtedly be toll owed by smaller
congregations, marks the open fighting In
battle that has been brewing between the
liberal and conservative elements of the
Congressional Church for five or six years.
DR.. Abbott, who Is in the front rank of the
liberals, said to-day:
DIR. Abbott IN Favor of Liberality.
IT think that Plymouth Church would
have taken the same action three years ago
if the matter had been presented as it was
Thursday night. We more liberal ones
who have been contributing to the fund for
foreign missionary work believe it was time
We withdrew from all connection with an
institution which denied recognition to mis-
sionaries holding liberal views"
The burden of DR.. Abbott's remarks to-
day was that what was wanted was modera-
tion, and not antiquated religion.
"What we are striving to do" said he,
sis to substitute the love of God for the
fear OF God. The conservative element in
the Congregational Church maintains there
body. We believe Gods love to be infinite
and eternal
The Rock Upon Which They Split.
That is the rock upon which Plymouth
Church and the Board OF Missions have
split. The board wants those 1t sends ont
as missionaries to tell the heathen in foreign
lands that unless he repents and is saved in
mighty short order he will be eternally
scorched by the fire of Hades Unless the
intending missionary holds those views the
board will not appoint him. If the appli-
cant displays liberal moderation tendency
when being examined, he. is dismissed as
worthy of no further consideration. He
need never hope for an appointment
Those who do not hold such extreme
views, such as DR.. Abbott for instance,
consider it no more than right that men
holding the same views Of their own should
be appointed as missionaries as well as the
others. They call attention to the fact that
in the church generally, and no denomina-
tion In particular. the tendency is becom-
ing more liberal all the time
Dr. Abbott commented on that He said
it was due to the democratic spirit of the
age. Gle did not have in mind the late
election when he said it.) DIR. Abbott was
of the opinion that the board would within
a comparatively short time, recognize the
Noyes mission, which represents the liberal
element He was of the opinion that the
board had made mistake, but it did not
care to acknowledge it. Saints don't like
to do. that any better than citizens" he
said
For the present at least Plymouth Church
will turn its missionary contribution over
to the Noyes mission.