Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-10-13

Thompson had read was referred to the
committee, and then it was voted that all
the memorials referred to the committee
unread should be brought back and read
When Wednesdays session closed little
doubt was felt as to what action the COM
mittee of u would take, although it was
made up of eight conservatives, five liber-
ais, and two who can be classed as neither
conservatives or liberals, but who have lib
eral leanings. The committee held long
and earnest session Wednesday night
which lasted into the small hours of Thurs
day morning, in an effort to arrive at
conclusion which should be at once wise
and tolerant. Its outcome is illustrated by
the fact that at its close Dr. Bartlett, eX-
president of Dartmouth, one of the most
rigid of the conservatives, walked over to
Prof Fisher of Yale university, leader
of the liberals, and took his hand i'm token
of the harmonious result which had been
reached.
The committees report as presented
Thursday morning recommended the cons
titution of a committee of five, who, with the
president, should name an assistant to Sec
retary Clark, who must soon retire on ac-
count of the age limit of 20 years. Fur
ther than this
A.That the prudential committee be increased
at once TO Is members Including the president
and vice president).
B.-That beginning at the annual meeting of
1894 the members Of the prudential committee
shall be elected in three classes one class to rve
three years, one class two years one class one
year: that at the expiration Of these terms mem
bers shall be chosen in classes for terms Of three
years each 1t is further recommended that no
memoeT VINO mas served Ihree run successive
terms shall be eligible for reelection till after
year has passed
C.-That the prudential committee be requested
to secure the necessary legal authority, through
change in the charter to carry the above vote
into effect.
D-Resoved, That this board. in response to
the expressed wish of its missionaries in Japan,
and in recognition of the successful labors of Rev.
William II. Noyes in that empire, requests the
prudential committee to offer to him an appoint
ment as a missionary of the board.
The board declares that this action is not to he
understood as in any way modifying its former
utterance on the subject of future probation.
Then came the battle of the giants, the
point of contention being upon the NOyes
resolution. The opening gun was from
DIR. Meredith of Brooklyn, representing
the extreme liberal wing. 81 have lost
all interest in the Noyes case" he declared,
'because, for all practical purposes, the
doctrine of future probation is as dead as
last years oyster shells. I'm like Noyes,
only more so. We don't believe the doc
trine concerning the old orthodox tenet,
that all who have never had chance to
hear the message of Christ are eternally
damned" after which great wave of ap-
plause swept over the galleries.
Chairman Hyde told of the deliberations
OF the committee of 10, and made a
strong speech for the moderate conserva-
tives. Rev. DR.. Behrends of New York
followed with an earnest and temperate
plea for Noyes's appointment. Then fol-
lowed Joseph Cook as the champion of the
uncompromising conservatives, who pitch
ed into DR.. Meredith, and in the strongest
! possible way urged against the acceptance
of Noyes and the doctrines of the liberal
element. After this the speeches were
limited to five minutes, and at 12:45 the
vote on the Noyes resolution was taken,
and was carried 106 to "a, scarcely more
| than half of the total number of members
voting. The result was more conclusive
than even the most enthusiastic liberal
could have hoped.
The other points in the committees re-
port regarding the assistant secretary, the
enlargement of the prudential committee,
and the manner of their election in classes
of five were carried unanimously.
DIR. Alden Resigns.
Without attempting to follow in detail
the proceedings of the closing afternoon
session it may be said that they were marked
by the resignation from the prudential
committee of Rev. Dr. A. c. Thompson,
its chairman, of E. K. Alden, the home sec
retary, whose ultra conservation policy has
so long been bone of contention, and of
Elbridge Torrey of Boston, one of the most
conservative members of the board. Rev.
Dr. c. II. Daniels of New York was chosen
home secretary in Mr. Alden's place. Rev.
DR.. Storrs was reelected president of the
board, and it is expected that Rev. DR..
Webb of Wellesley will be made the chair
man of the prudential committee.
The Results.
To sum up in concise and positive way
the results of this meeting, it may be said
that the liberal element does not feel OF
claim that any theological victory was
won. The issue, these men say, was not a
theological one. 1t was question of toll
Grafton, of progressive methods, of bring
ing the board back into sympathy with the
churches, and of putting into use the act
i've principles of applied Christianity as
they exist today. The outcome brings the
board back to the confidence of the young
men, breaks down walls of division which
ought never to have existed, and opens the
way for aggressive, united work by the
churches.
This, in short, is the situation as it i:
viewed by Rev. DIR. Walker, Mr.. Thomp
son, whose part in the proceedings will
not soon be forgotten, Rev. Mr.. Day, anC
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