The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-10

NOAsNbAOhs
Rev.Charles A. Dickinson, formerly pas
tor of the Second Parish church in this
CITY, and now, pastor of Berkeley Temple,
in Boston, creased sensation among his
congregation Sunday by his sermon on
aThe Problem Before the American
Board" a
The text was taken from the first
epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, re-
lating to divisions and contentious in the
Church of Christ. "The brethren did
not think their contentious were over
non-essentials," said Mr.. Dickinson. But
the Corinthians were in danger of losing
their spiritual life and Christ asked them
to be harmonious"
Then Mr.. Dickinson proceeded to show
that this was just what was needed in
the American Board of Foreign Missions
II suppose the American Board will
face during the coming week one of the
greatest problems ever before it" said he.
This problem affects the Integrity of
the Congregational polity, the autonomy
of the Congregational churches, the
liberty ofrthe Congregational clergy and
the prosperity of the Congregational
missions. 1t is useless to- attempt to
deny or evade these issues. They will
continue to appear until they are settled
and settled right.
every knows that something is
radically wrong at the centre of our
missionary organization. Something
must be done at the next meeting to
right this wrong. Four years ago an in
vestigation was ordered, and every one
knows the result. Then came the resig-
nation of members of the committee at
indianapolis. Last year debt of $50, 600
was contracted.
at becomes our duty to do something.
The administration of the board is in the
hands of very few men, who are I'M
compromisingly opposed to any policy Of
union and fellowship with those who
dissent from their personal theological
opinions
Like all controversies it has a storm
centrea nucleus Of avery few intense
eontroversialists. h
"a very few men connected with the
Americn Board, having no sympathy
with new ways and means, took it upon
themselves to make a single doctrine
namely, the decisiveness Of this life, the
test of mans fitness for missionary
service. US
sThere was at once on the part Of a
few, an indignant and vigorous protest.
They were in the minority. The issue,
which seems to the outsider trivial
thing, appears to the contestants. to in
volve the destinies of the universe,
zone of The real difficulties which will
have to be settled this week is that con-
nected with our own missionary, Mr..
William H. Noyes. There is no lack of
funds for our continued support of him
and his wife in Japan. 1t is only in the
interest of united mission there, and
harmonious and peaceful board at. home
that we desire the appointment which
has been SO repeatedly refused. ~
but this is not the only serious
problem which will confront the board
at Worcester. 1t must consider the
question of change in its official board.
The personal element involved in this
question will make a great many hesitate
even to consider it. 1t is another in
Sud1lCS I'll tlldU ldbdl buUOSlaulO uCAdOiOy
which is prevalent in other self-perpetu-
ating bodies.
II will mention no mems names, for
desire to work only for peace in the
church. The desire to rule is inherent in
man. There are many Popes in the
Protestant church, with desire to rule
as despotic as that of Leo XIII.
aThis seems to be the condition in the
administration of the board: A few of
it's officials have set themselves above the
only authoritative body which our
denomination recognizes-the Congrega-
tional Council--and have assumed to
determine what shall be the creed OF the
churches. A radical change of some
kind must come before the board can
recover it's lost prestige. fear that there
will be a passage OF resolutions that VIII
end then and there. ,a;s ) sisa
Another problem which will come up
is the proper adjustment of the board to
the churches, by making it, in fact
representative body, the members of
which are chosen bysthe churches. The
churches that support an organization
should have the privilege OF CONTROLLING
it's policy. The American Board should
be the servant and not the master. 1t
should not let our missionaries act as ser
wants. but as fellow-workers. am
not speaking from hearsay, but from
actual knowledge.
eStiil, another problem is the question
G.. tho Theological examination OF candi7s
t,,e...as. This examination has been
-1-,>eto. .eslly in the hands,o of one or two of
t, Q officials Men who have not sub
en5ed to their opinions have been re-
iect d as unsound. The policy of the
board with relation to its different
missions must be changed. 1t should
treat its missionaries not as servants.
but as fellow workers.. 1t is livingseand
working too much in the past, The re-
suits reached in many fields are in no
sense commensurate with the vast expen-
ditures of time and money.
@We have reason to hope that some
thing will be done for harmony and
united effort. A cry for relief from the
missions the unrest of the churches, the
protests from the conferences and associ-
aJions, the editorials in the newspapers,
the storm cloud which hangs over
Worcester, all demand action.
II hope if it isn't settled right that all
will then give expression to their
thoughts on the matter. We pray for the