Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-11-07
KEEPS THE OLD RULE
Pastors Conference Does Not
Broaden Its Constitution
CRITICISM ON THE PRESS
The hes. Wander yecn says 70 De-
lights ~ Hold Ninisser. Up 20
Contempt Mission Work.

The proposed acton on the question
81 membership 10 the pastors confer
ence drew . larger attendance 81 the
meeting q that body yesterday after
noon than had been witnessed since the
discussion Of the worlds fair sunday
opening proposition last spring. Dr.
Cobb u the Nesimsnster church offered
ap amendment 10 the constitution. one
week ago. providing Tor the elimination
Of the wore evangelical" as applied 90
the qualification Of membership. The
amendment was to have been acted upon
at the meeting yesterday and several
pastors turned cut willis determine
ton to oppose its adoption. liz Was eyi-
dent that hot contest Was impending.
and 10 quiet ali disturbing elements Mr..
Cobb asked permission 10 withdraw his
amendment, which Was granted.
DIR. Cobb then offered a resolution In
viting all ministers. IL whatever demon.
1nation. 70 attend the meetings Of the
conference and participate in discussing
questions that may come before IT, The
resolution was discussed at length by sew
erai members present The Rev. Chris
tian Wander Veen opposed the resolution
on the ground that ~ was superfiuous
inasmuch as the meetings have always
been open 10 the public lie favored
striking out the word evangelical"
from the constitution. So that all pas
tors could become members upon appli-
cation.
Criticiscs the Prc-x
This inconsistent action OF the con.
l. a =.
temptlble position before the public.
The press Is very quick TO hold up q
minister u the gospel 20 contempt upon
the slightest reason. and We should be
careful not to place ourselves In such
position
Mr. Wander veen was the last speaker
on this question. Upon being put 10
vote the resolution WIS adopted. BY
this action the constitution remains un-
changed, and none but evangelical min
listers can become members Of the pas
tors conference.
DIR. Cobb. chairman of the special
committee appointed on the Waterloo
Street mission differences. repol ted the
the following. which was adopted;
Resolved. That we recommend the
Waterloo Street mission 10 the iberality
Of the churches and residents OF the city
as dong a work greatly needed aad the
success Of which has been abundantly
demonstrated.
The Committee Resigns
A resolution was adopted one week
ago recommending that the two mis-
sions ON Waterloo street be merged and
that L. A. Mcmillan be retained az a
worker In the cause. In reply 10 this
S. c. Aikens, T. A. Mcmillan. William
McBain. Nj. Ii. Walker and John NJ.
Hurst, the COMMITTEES in charge Of the
mission, sent a communication 20 the
conference yesterday Ia which
they offered their designations They
said the mission at No. - had
been discontinued and now meets at No.
10. The communication also asked that
a committee OF five selected from the
five central churches be appointed TO
take charge OF the mission aud appoint
a missionary for the work. The confer
ence decided that il had no power TO act
in the matter. as the present committee
vac not appointed by il. The communi-
cation was returned 90 the committee.
The report of the special committee
defining the membership OF the confer
ence which was laid on the table one
week ago was taken up and discussed at
length. The report explained that the
question OF eyangolisticity OF each mem.
Der should be left with his own con-
science. DIR. jackson was in favor Of
adding the word intelligence to con.
science. The word was not added but
II was the harmonious opinion Of all
present that any mas who acts intelli-
gently on the matter accepts the his
toric meaning 81 the word evangelical
ar applied To Christ.