Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-10
PRESBYTERIANS, PROTEST..
Action Taken by the Recent Confer.
ence Mt Cleveland.

Action Taken by the Recent Confer.
ence Mt Cleveland.
The conference of Presbyterian ministers
ana laymen at Cleveland concluded their
oehoerations yesterday and adjourned AZ
Ter adjournment the committee having the
TASK OF embodying the conclusions of the
conference in a set Of resolutions met. The
committee consisted of Rev. Dr. r. W.
peterson of Chicago Rev. DR.. John P. Egg
bert of st. Paul, Mimi; Rev. DR.. Brown of
New York city, Rev. DR.. A. s. Fiske of
Ithaca, N Y; Rev. Dr. E. Z. White OF
Columbus, Ohio; Rev. DR.. Nelson Willard of
Rochester. N. Y. and Rev. DR.. Hiram c.
Hayden of Cleveland. The following reso-
lutions were prepared:
we, the undersigned ministers and elders
OF the Presbyterian Church in the United
states of America, being seriously concerned
In view of certain facts and tendencies in
our church, We hereby make the following
statement:
F1rst We believe that the general as
sembly has no right to impose upon the
church with doctrinal statements under the
gulse OF Interpretation, whether by deliver
ance ana through judicial process and,
further, that Interpretation Of doctrine by
the courts of the church ought always to be
strictly within the letter of the standards,
and with sacred regard to the broad and
generous terms of the revision of 1870.
z we believe that the most scrupulous
care should be used in all trials for doctrinal
Emergencies from the standards especiallv
now, when large majority of the presby-
terfes have expressed after much delibe-s
ton, their dissa tisfaction with our confss-
sion OF faith as it stands, their desire for its
revision, and many Of them, thei- desire for
a new creed. We view with grave concern
procedures, at such a time, conducted to
seFerest sentence by what seems to US inter-
preta tons of our standards strained be,ond
tneir letter and far beyond any Just regard
for the compact of the reunion
.. We believe that no court of our cburcb
mas rlght by deliverance. resolution or re-
Duke, or otherwise, to seek to suppress re-
spectful action by judicatories below II ex
pressive OF their anxiety and apprahp1 ion
concerning anything in the church which
seems to them to imperil the constitutional
liberties OF the church or of any of its mem
be:s. The right OF petition and ramon-
STRANGE must not be denied in the church of
Christ.
4. We believe that the Interpretation of
one or two phrases in our book of discipline,
81 meaning that prosecuting committee
should become, from the moment IL enters
on It's work independent of the court which
appointed 1t, capable of living on, even
after the judicatory has decided, and of
Quilted is a strained Interpretation ieadi,Io
logically to many absurdities. and easily
possible mfscarriages Of justice If these
phrases are fairly susceptible of such inter
the book o''
IS. We believe that it is no part Of tbe
constitutional power of any court of the
church to warn honest and God-fearing r1en
to withdraw themselves from its ministry or
elde-ship. because they cannot accept as
binding upon them interpretations OF doc
trine which are outside the letter of the
confession. and which have never been
sanctioned by the presbyteries in any legal
way. This method OF discipline by with
drawal, enjoined by resolution of a church
court. is not provided for in the book of
discipline. Such warning carries no oblira-
ton of obedience.
IS. We believe that our church is broad
enough and strong enough abide ny the
spirit of the compact Of reunion, and to en-
brace in its communion and IN it's ministry
all forms and schools OF reverent sckoiar r
ship. which accept the essential and neces-
sary articles of our common faith. acknowl-
edgfng the Lord Jesus rs Divine Master ant
Savior and the Bible as the only infallible
rule Of faith and practice
~. We call upon all Presbyterians to
stand together in defense of reasonable lib
erty Of opinion in the church, and of the
constitutional rights OF individual members
wherever assailed; and We heartily approve
Of the protest of DR.. Herrtck Johnson Dr.
Nicolls and eighty three others at the last
general assembly.
IS. We do most urgently counsel our
brethren who may be perplexed concerning
their duty to abide in the communion ard
service of the church, assured that in so
doing they remain well within their consti-
tutional rights.
"Finally-Only profound sense Of the
peril that now besets our church has led US
to make this declaration of what seems to
us fundamental principles.
"In behalf of the conference held in Cal
vary Presbyterian Church, Cleveland. Chic,
November and 3.
(Signed)
HIRAM c. HAYDEN. Chairman,
THOMAS c. HALL, Secretary
The foregoing paper will be copied and
printed in all the church papers. besides be-
ing sent to members of the Presbyterian
Church and ministry throughout the coun-
try by a committee. The conference WAS
called originally because 1t was feared a
general movement OF secession would be
made by the liberals of the church.
There were present at the conference be-
tween forty and fifty representative minis
tiers and laymen of the Presbyterian
Church and twenty-five others were repre-
scented by letters and kilograms.
No Communication will be seat to the gem
eral assembly next spring. but SINE action
concerning this conference will undoubtedly
be taken by that body. If it is unfavorab'e,
another conference will be called and
further action taken.