The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-11-10
THEIR RIGHT To STAY IN
Liberal Prubytsrians Alarmed u
Certain Tendencies Of the Church
DON'T WANT TO BE FIRED
a Proclamation Issued Setting
Forth the Results OF the
Minister'S Conferences Just
Held In Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Nov. 9.-The Presbyterian
conference closed its sessions In Calvary
church this afternoon. and the conclusions
reached made the gathering an historicat
one. The liberal gentlemen who composed
the conference have taken determined
stand against their more orthodox BROTH
rem, and havo determined to fight for their
rights in the church Of their choice. Tho
sessions were secret and no one seems
authorized to talk. The committee APP
pointed by the conference this evening
gave out proclamation. The COMMITTEES
consisted of Rev. DIR. Patterson Of Chicago;
Rev. DR.. Egbert Of St. Paul; Rev. DIR.
Brown of New York: Rev. DR.. Fisk Of
Ithaca. n. v; Rev. Mr.. White OF Colun-
bus, Ohio; Rev. Nelson Millard of Roches.
ter, and Rev. Mr.. Hayden Of Cleveland.
The proclamation states that the minis.
ters arc seriously concerned in view OF
certain facts and tendencies in the Pres
byterian church. They make the state-
ment that the general assembly has no
right to impose on the church q new doc.
trinal statement; and Interpretation OF
doctrine by the courts of tho church ought
always to be strictly within tho standards
and with sacred regarding to the broad
and generous terms of the reunion OF lss0.
The committee believes that the most
scrupulous care should DO used in all
trials for doctrinal divcrgencios. No
court of our church has q right
to suppress respectful action by
judicatorics below it expressing sppre-
hension concerning anything In the
church. Tho right of petition and reu,on-
STRANGE must not be denied in tho church
of Christ. The Interpretation Of one or
II.
meaning that a prosecution may be car
ried on after a judicatory has acquitted is
o strained Interpretation, leading logic.
ally to many absurdities and possibly to
tho miscarriage OF justice. II the phrases
are susceptible to such IN Interpretation
they ought to he eliminated.
The committee continuing says: I'VE
believe IL is no part Of the constitutional
power of any court of tho church to warn
honest and God-fearing men to withdraw
from the ministry because they cannot ac-
cept interpretations of doctrines which
arc outside the letter OF the confession
and which have never bcen scttled by the
sanction of the Presbyteries In . legal
way. A withdrawal from the church en-.
joined by resolution OF a court, In not
provided for in tho book of discipline apd
carries no obligation Of obedience" The
committee believes that the church Is
broad and strong enough to abide by the
spirit of compact Of reunion and embrace
oil forms and schools which accept the
essential and necessary articles Of our
common faith, acknowledging the Lord
Josus as tho Divine Master
and Savior and the Bible as tho
only infallible rule. The proclamation
calls upon Presbyterians to stand to-
gether in defense OF reasonable liberty of
opinion In the church and of the constitu-
tionai rights Of individual mcpbers, and
heartily approved tho protest of DR..
Herrick Johnson. DIR. Nichols and others
at tho last general assembly. In closing
the committee says: 1--WE most urgently
counsel tho brethren who may be pre-
picked to abide in tho communion and
service OF the church, assured that in
doing so they are within their constitu-
tional rights. Only q profound sense OF
the peril that besets the church leads Us
to make this declaration OF what seems tn
us fundamental principles. In behalf OF
| the conference held at Cleveland, Ohio,
Nov. SO, 1888. (Signed.) Hiram c. Hay
den. chairman; Thomas c. Hall, secre.
L tary.n