Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-24
THE DOCTRINE OF PROBATION.


Church Suffer q Defeat.
The long drawn out controversy In the
Congregational Church over future pro-
baton has been settled in favor of the con-
servatives. 1t is as great defeat for the
liberals in the Congregational denomination
as was that received by the liberal Presby-
terians in the conviction Of DIR. Briggs. The
end comes in the form OF an adverse de-
c:son OF the prudential committee of the
American board of commissioners for for
eign missions on the application Of the Rev,
William H. Noyes, future probationist
Tor appointment to service as a missionary
under the board
me Noyes mission case had its beginning
says the New York Sun. in 1886. when VIII
nam III. Noyes q student at Andover Theo-
logical Seminary. made application to the
board to be sent to the mission fields. He
was catechsed, according to public state
ment made soon after by Rev. DR.. Lyman
Abbott of Brooklyn. on the subject of flu
ture probation. Secretary Alden of the
boards prudential committee did the cate
chising. DR.. Alden is a strong conserva-
tive. He believes that the sinner has but
one chance for salvation, and that he loses
that chance at his death. There is nothing
IN the regulations of the congregational
Church the liberals say, which defines
what views on this subject are to be held
by clergymen. So the liberals accuse Dr.
Alden or an unwarranted. arrogant and
conducting such an inquiry as to the opin-
ions or missionaries.
As an Independent.
Mr.. Noyes' application was rejected, and
DR.. Abbott declare that the rejection was
due to the fact that Mr.. Noyes' answers
did not suit DR.. Alden. The liberal Con-
gregationalists at Boston decided to send
Mr.. NoyeS as an Independent missionary
to Japan. The church in Berkeley street
rase1 fund and Mr. Moves to, took III, his de-
casion for fight against the prudential
committee. and under the fire which they
had Kept up Mt Moves renewed I'M MS apP
missionary of the board. Again the decis-
ion was against him.. and by an overwheim
ing vote. The liberals maintained the fight
Union, made systematic attack upon Sec.
rotary Alden. The troubles eliminated al
when the liberals won their first vic,
tory; Mr.; Noyes was not appointed. but
the board was reorganized The Rev. DR.
president. but Secretary Alden remained q
member of the committee. A year passed
and nothing was done.
tober 6, 1892. recommending that the pru
dental committee have further correspond
ence with the missionaries OF the board N
Moves. The prudential committee held Its
sessions Sc b in secret An nd r.
OF 5he committee was hed ln IN april nn, ahd ,as
week, when the liberal papers ANNOUNCED
that the committee had recommended the
appointment of Mr.. Noyes. This was grea
news for the liberals, but disappointment
followed fast Without making anything
public as to the action In April. the com
mittee held a meeting on July Is and took
final action in the Moves case. They pre-
pared a statement which is to be given tC
the public on Wednesday.
From advance sheets OF this statement II
appears that the liberals were right In tneii
surmise as to the results Of the April meet
ing but the final resolution of the commit
tee rescinds this action, revokes the ap
pointment Of Mt. Noyes, and rejects the
application Of the liberals for his recogni
ton. They base this action solely on the
ground that Mr.. Noyes is not sound IN his
views on future probation.