The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-13
A Clergyman's Definition Of the
Denial Of Probation.
THE AMERICAN BOARD HEARS A
LIVELY DISCUSSION.

Meredith Says the Teaching that the
Heathen Goes Into Eternal Darkness Is
Libel on God.
Worcester Mass, October 12.--There
was an attendance of 1900 persons when
the meeting of the American Board OF
Foreign Missions was called to order by
President Storrs at 8 O'Clock this morn
ing, and the audience increased as the
morning advanced until the hall was
crowded.
There was singing and prayer by Rev.
DR.. Daniels of New York. Secretary
Simpson read the minutes of the last
meeting. DR.. Simpson and DR.. Storrs
rebuked the distribution in the hall OF
preiudicial literature, unauthorized by
the board.
1t seemed as if by common consent,
although no public announcement to
that effect was made that the vast audi
ence was ready for the crisis on the solu-
tion of the Noyes controversy which, it
was felt, would come with the report of
the committee which had yesterday
literally made day of it, having been in
session early and late.
A few CT the audience occupied the
moments of the opening by hastily scan
ming the reports of the meeting in the
morning papers, but far the greater num-
Der kept their attention fixed on the
platform 1t had been understood that
the committee of fifteen were to report
in favor of the appointment of Mr. Noyes
but reserving this as special case not to
be taken as precedent Tor future theo-
logical deliberation.
Chairman Henry D. Hyde reported as
follows for the commiUtee:
"1.-Whereas, a letter has been received
from Secretary Clark, requesting the APP
pointment of an assistant secretary to
work with him and to take his place at
the end of the coming year, or sooner II
his health should require his earlier re-
tirement, and announcing his intention
of then withdrawing from active service,
in accordance with the usage of the
board that seventy years should be the
limit of such service, it therefore seems
desirable that an assistat secretary
should be appointed who shall be pre-
pared to take the place thus vacated at
the annual meeting of 1894.
sit is therefore resolved that the COM
mittee on nomination of officers be re-
quested to nominate a committee OF i've,
who, with the president, shall be en-
powered to appoint an assistant secretary
in accordance with the above preamble.
"A-That the prudential committee be
increased at once to fifteen members dn.
Guiding theepresident and vice president.) J
"B-That, beginning at the annual
meeting of 1874, the members OF the pru-
Dental committee shall be elected in
three classes, one class to serve three
years, one class two years, one class one
year; that at the expiration of these
terms members shall be chosen in classes
for terms of three years each. 1t is
further recommended that no mem Der
who has served three full 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 a change in the
charter, to carry the above vote into
effect.
"D-Resolved, That this board, in re-
sponse to the expressed wish of its
missionaries in Japan, and in recognition
of the successful labors of the Rev. VIM.
HI. Noyes in th-t empire, requests the
prudential committee to offer to him an
appointment as Il missionary OF the
board.
"The board declares that this action is
no+ to be understood as in any way
modifying it's former utterances on the
cubject of future probation.
Respectfully submitted. Henry ID.
Hyde, A. III. Quint, Henry Fairbanks,
George P. Fisher, Ezra A. Stevens, Chas.
Ray Palmer, J. NJ. Hall, Charles F.
Thwing, Chester Holcombe, S. G.. Bart
lett, John H. Wash burn, James Brand,
Samuel H. Virgin, A. Lyman Williston,
Galen c. Moses"
Rev. Dr. Fisher spoke in explanation of
this resolution and said that it was per-
fectiy proper for the board to amend or
modify the instructions contained there
III. He believed the course just one.
Though personally he did not believe in
the sentiment embodied, he did not be-
live that the issue should be settled by
this case.
Rev DR.. Bartlett re-enforced DR.. Fisher
and said the Noyes case was discussed
thoroughly and it was the chief argu-
1nent in his favor that he was on this
matter entirely confused and illogical
He did not fail actually for that reason,
but for the sake OF harmony he thought
it best to let the matter drop. The man
himself is not worth fighting over.
DR.. William e. Parks, offered a resolu-
tion signed Edward P. Goodwin, W. E.
Nash, George E. Magoun, j. E. Rankin,
Joseph Cook, John r. Thurston, S. J.
Humphrey and a number of others,
which stated that the appointment of
Rev. Mr.. Noyes as a missionary to Japan
means great deal more than is apparent
permanent change in the theology of the
board, " and that he holds to the doc
trine of probation after death, which is
attended with q looseness of view in the
Interpretation of the Scripture" and
recommended that Mr.. Noyes be not ap-
po inted.
Rev. Mr.. Meredith spoke at length in
favor of Mr.. Noyes. He criticised the
board as body which has almost outlived
it's usefulness, and said the board was
useful to the Congregational churches
only so far as the churches could use the
machinery of the board in its work of
foreign missions, but he did not care
anything about the machinery and would
break it if he could The people cannot
go wrong in this matter They do not
bother and bubble over trifies, but are
earnest in the interest of Christ. DR..
Noyes has been held up to the public
gaze for ten years. He is indorsed by
church council and the Japan Mission
wants him, and yet the board hesitates.
Mr.. Noyes is understood by the people
and the churches and by verybody ex-
cept the committee of this board. Mr..
Noyes says he does not understand this
unless it is because the committee con-
siders of paramount Importance some-
thing which he thinks very little OF.
Where is there anyone who thinks any,