Morning journal and courier., 1893-10-16
MIR. MOVES, APPOINTMENT.

yesterday morning before large congte- gation on AThe American Board Meeting, October, 1s93." After giving in brief out line the origin of the missionary movement in this country and the steps by which it has grown to wield so powerful an inau ence, and also making few remarks con- corning the nature of the board itself and | some of its previous meetings, he proceed | ed as follows:
 "Certain pastors and theological profes- sors have been sgrieved because of doctrinal requirements made of candidates for mis- sionary appointments. They think that anyone who would be accepted here in America as preacher and pastor ought without further question or suspicion to be accepted as 8 missionary to foreign lands. I conceive this to be in part true, but in part untrue. The pastor that was ordained or installed in the Congregational church and settled over a pastorate finds himself in close connection with other pastors and parishes and friend ly interests. Anything which he might publicly say which would be liable te cause dispute would receive the immediate atten tion of his brother ministers. This would act as 8 safeguard against any speculative tendency of mind While in the case of a man sent out into foreign lands, he is isolated from his brother clergy and from any Christian association. He becomes a of our faith and stands as representative of evangelical truth in the | midst of h.athen or some other form of religion. Thus speculative tendency | which would not be harmful in Christian | America would bs the cause of great harm in community in which Christianity was l in formative state."
 Dr. Twitchell then spoke of some of the | objections that had been raised up against MT. Moves as a missionary of the board. Those who opposed him alleged that he was 8 believer in future formation and would preach that doctrine. He then read two | paragraphs as follows from Mir. Noyes' | statement of his faith and belief at his or dination as pastor at Berkeley Temple | five years ago:
 "Of the intermediate state hold no positive death will have upon character. What dread | for my fellow man is physical death. am con- 1 fronted with the tremendous % fact that without fixity: The spirit of cod will not strive % with tn | men forever. Then woe is ms if preach not the l gospel at oncel With the gospel message be- | iieve there comes the decisive opportunity and l obligation to repent. God help me to pre- sent this message that men shall be saved by it and not lost!
 Those who do not hear the message in this life l Gods method of dealing with them. But I do | not refuse to think about them. l entertain in hat t desaes ! fixed, there shall be revealed to them the love of God in Christ Jesus. In this, as in every question ! to which God has given no distinct answer, I | merely claim the liberty Of the gospel
 Dr. Twitchell then remarked that Mr.
 Moves had been represented in pamphlets, circulars and telegrams to the press as g believer in future probation. But If the above was his belief, nothing could be more false. "Who is there here," said Dr. 1 Twitchell, "who would not be willing to accept that doctrines If there be one, it certainly is not the pastor"
 The question of appointing MT. Moves came up for discussion at the Wednesday morning session. Various resolutions and memorials were referred to special com mittee of fffteen-oomposed about equally of what are known as "conservatives' and "liberals." Thursday morning they made their report. It proved to be unsnimous- much to the surprise of all.
 The report was
 1. Corporate membership vote, $50.
 | 2. Pru tential committee vote, 15.
 ! 3 That MT. Moves be commissioned.
 Report adopted-106 to s4 There were several l failing to vote.
 No theological principle-or church par ty has been abandoned. The sympathy and confidence of the churches, am sure will be given in full measure.
 There remains yet for consideration and settlement, who shall pass upon the or thodoxy of candidates for missionary ap- pointment and that will be settled, be- l lieve, by the acceptance of the consensus of doctrine as held by our Congregational churches, and with that, so far as can zee, all differences will be adjusted. The board, truly believe has crossed the bar and is already out in the open ocean, where favoripg tides and winds will blow, and down on which the stars of heaven will brightly shine. This may God grant and to His name be the glory.
 MIR RESERVES VIEW OF THE CASE.
 Rev. MT. Meservs on this subject spoke during his sermon last evening as follows:
 The meeting of this missionary society at Worcester this past week was very i'm
 portant and commanded wide attention.
 For some years there has been a divided
 sentiment among the Congregational
 churches of which it is the foreign mis-
 eionary agent. One party is called "con-
 servatives This party desires careful
 and strict examination for all candidate.
 for missionary serviee, male or female, af
 to thsol 'gical opinions, by the prudential
 committee, which attends to all the work done by the board. The other party, the
 liberals, wishes the prudential committee relieved Of theological duties, and all can . l didates to be ezemined by councils called l for the purpose by the churches to whicf they belong The particular contention a Worcester was whether Mir. W. H. Noyel should be appointed as 8 missionary tt Jap1n. He Is already there and his ap pointment was requested by the othel
 workers in that field. The conserva , tives think him unsound in theology be
 cause they gay he believes in "future probation" Mir. Moves denies this, anc says that he only indulges hope that the
 heathen who have net had the gospel o1
 Christ in this life may have it offered then : in the next life This is not "a distinction
 without difference" but is an importan difference. The prudential committee
 not having the authority to appoint hin
 while he held such 6 hope, referred thu , matter to the board itself. By a vote O. 5 1O6 to "A the board voted to instruct thu ; prudential committee to appoint MT Moves missionary to Japan. In doin, r this they expressly stated that the doc f trinal position of the board was no i: changed.
 This vote was in response to a. wide l epresd feeling in the churches that MT e Moves should be appointed. and very de
 cided opinion that the difference in tn
 counsels of the board had continued lonl , enough. There was bad blood in som
 quarters, and danger of disruption o
 the board itself. The action st Worceste = was decisive and conclusive. Liberals an
 conservatives of moderate views and feel
 ings joined in taking it, and there Is
 general feeling that the right thing ha
 been done. Tais grand society, with 1t E splendid record, will now go on with re
 newed vigor to do its blessed work. : Changes in the oficiary of the board fol le lowed tue yote st Worcester ct once. Abl
 and honorsd servants, feeling that the could no longer continue in office, wen
 out, and more flexible men took thei
 places. This was expected, and though ds
 plored, was not feared as likely to crippl
 the board. Very many men feel that tn
 Worcester meeting was provide ont
 and that the Lord, in whose name th
 work of missions is carried on, took ca1 of His owp.
 In other respects the meeting was i1
 spring and excellent. It lifted all hear,
 and encouraged them, end the echoes of il
 ringing calls to renewed courage an :. service will be heard in all our ohurehe u through the coming year.
 OTHER VOICES FROM NEW HAVEN. A New Haven dispatch to the New Tor Evening Post of Saturday evening say "The New Haven liberals, while regardin u their success at the Worcester meeting