Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1893-11-10
Observation-Disclosures
After Long Secret Conferences They Issue
Manifesto Declaring Their Intention
Not to Leave the Church Until They Are
Forced Out.


pervaded the gathering on the first day Of |
the meeting. No one seemed TO be author
lied to give out the simplest routine fea.
tures Of the conference
a paper given out says that the place for
liberal Presbyterians is in the church, and
that because they have new ideas it is not
necessary that they should resign. 1t rec
ommends that the Presbyterian clergymen
of advanced ideas should contest every
inch of ground and should not leave the
church until they are forced out.
1t AYERS that there is no authority for the
general assembly 10 promulgate new dog
mas, and that no clergyman is obliged to
recognize such new dogmas The docu-
ment is pugilistic throughout, and while
it was the subject for lengthy discussion it
was agreed to with practical unanimity.
The committee selected by the Presby-
terian liberals to draw up their proclama-
ton consisted of Rev. DR.. Patterson Of
Chicago, Rev. DIR. John Paul Egbert of
St. Paul, Rev. DIR. Brown of New York
city, Rev. DIR. 4. ). Fiske of Ithaca n. Y;
Mr.. Il. +. White of Columbus, o.: DIR. Ma
son Millard Of Rochester and Rev. DIR. Hay
den of this city They issued the follow
ing, signed by Hiram c. Hayden, chair
man, and Thomas c. Hall, secretary;
The Defiant Agreement.
I'VE, the undersigned, ministers and
elders Of the Presbyterian church in the
United States Of America, being seriously
concerned in view of certain facts and ten
denotes in our church, hereby make the
following statement;
"First-We believe that the general as
sembly has no right TO impose upon the
church new doctrinal statements under the
guise of Interpretation, whether by deliv-
erance or 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 stand
ards and with sacred regard TO the broad
and general terms of the reunion of 1870.
''Second-We believe that the most scru-
pulous care should be used in all trials for
doctrinal divergence from the standards,
especially now when a large majority Of
the presbyteries have expressed, after much
deliberatipn, their dissatisfaction with our
confession of faith as it stands, their desire
for its revision and TRany of them their de-
sire for a new creed. We view with grave
concern procedures at such a time, con-
Quoted by what seems to US interpretations
of our standards strained beyond their let
ter and far beyond any just regard for the
compact of the reunion.
"Ihird-We believe that no court of our
church has a right by deliverance or reso-
luton or rebuke or otherwise to seek to
suppress respectful action by judicatories
below it expressive of their anxiety and
apprehension concerning anything in the
church which seems to them to imperil the
constitutional liberties of the church or OF
any of its members. The right of petition
and remonstrance must not be denied in
the church of Christ
"Fourth-We believe that the interpreta-
tion of one or two phrases in our book Of
discipline as meaning that a prosecuting
committee should become from the mo-
ment it enters on its work independent Of
the court which appointed it, capable of
| living on even after the judicatory has
died and of prosecuting after the iudicatory
has acquitted, is a strained Interpretation,
leading logically to many absurdites and
easily TO possible miscarriages of justice.
II these phrases are fairly susceptible Of
/ such Interpretation, they ought TO be elm
mated from the book.
A Call to Arms.
"Fifth-We believe that it is no part Of
the constitutional power Of any court Of
the church to warn honest and God fear
ing men TO withdraw themselves from its
ministry or eldership because they cannot
accept as binding upon them interpreta-
tions of doctrines which are outside the
| letter of the confession and which have
never been settled by the sanction of the
presbyteries in any legal way. This method
Of discipline by withdrawal enjoined by
resolution Of a church court, is not pro-
vided for in the book of discipline Such
warning carries no obligation of obedience.
"Sixth-We believe that our church is
broad enough and strong enough to abide
by the spirit of the compact of reunion,
and to embrace in its communion and its
ministry all forms and schools Of reyerent
scholarship which accept the essential and
necessary articles of our common faith,
acknowledging the Lord Jesus as Divine
Master and Saviour and the Bible as the
only infallible rule of faith and practice.
"Seventh-We call upon all Presbyteri
ans TO stand together in defense Of reason
able liberty of opinion in the church and oi
the constitutional rights of individual
members wherever assailed, and we hearth
ly approve of the protest of Dr. HericL
johnson, DR.. Niccols and others at the last
general assembly.
"Eighth-We do most urgently counse
our brethren who may be perplexed con
cerning their duty to abide in the com
munion and service of the church. assured
that in so doing they remain well within
their constitutional rights.
FINALLY, only a profound sense of, thl
peril that now besets our church has led III
; to make this declaration of what seems L
us fundamental principles.
Incandescent Lights May Be Cheaper.