New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-15
THE AMERICAN BOARD DECISION.

The longstandng controversy IN me Aih'ri-
can Board over the Rev. Mr.. Noyes mas zee"
ended by an approval Of that gentleman as
missionary of the Board by large majority.
II ,vos controversy that might have been
o,.>i,,d hv - LITTLE more Christian liberation on
tho mart Of the conservatives. That they made
the fight for what they c"nSid'ren 10 pc Il
Fundamental principle Of Christian belief VIII
he denied by no one. But that they were HIS
taken in their view OF the matter - now SHOWN
hv the ONLY test known 10 CongregatlohaISih
= majority vote The creed OF Congregations
,Iis,s is what living Congrcgationallsts say IL
is. 1t Is. therefore. subject at any ''iie "
modification and change; ana as hla'"' vi
fact that principle has been constantly recos
nized in the history of Congrcgatlonaiisi
Now as 10 the question involved in the case
Of Mr.. Noyes. namely, the right OF CohSrcsa
,ional minister to hold that there may De Il
nroba,,on after death, American Congregation
.,sm has virtually decided In the affirmative
Mr. Noycs's belief in probation after death was
not objected TO by any Congregational Assocla
,ion He could have received an appointment
TO home church nj any time. But III ia'' u
that fact the American Board for years re-
fused 10 sanction his appointment as foreign
missionary. solely OH the ground OF his a'u-
,udc on This question. In doing so II in eHect
CONDEMNED n man approved by the dcnomna-
,,o, whose creature II Is and set up standard
for ministers working in foreign lahds' "hch
the denomination at home does not recognize
or enforce In pursuing such course II went
beyond its powers--in equity II not Ill law.
II WAS not supported by the average sentiment
NJ thc CONGREGATIONAL churches. and for mat
rcoson II was doomed 10 ultimate defeat De
pcnding IA 1t does. on the Contributions Vi
co,crcgo,lonal churches for its financial sup
mort, il could not for many years disregard
the views of these churches without Ieelhs TIC
result i'm It's treasury. Moreover. there was 'he
widespread belief among CongregntohaiiS'S
that the Board by its action constituted i'sehi
an authority In deciding what the creed OF
conpregationalsm is power which has never
been intrusted to IT, and the exercise OF when
Is contrary 10 the fundamental principles oi
the denomination IT was thes" CONGREGATIONS
which finally weighed with the Board. ana lei
II TO approve the appointment of Mr.. Noyes 10y
such Il large majority.
II Is 70 bc noted however, that the vote OF
thc BOARD is not a decision that the theory of
probation after death is doctrine OF the
Church. II simply means that II Il man holnS'
AS "A personal opinion. that the heather VINO
have not had an opportunity to accept The
Gospcl are not necessarily lost, but may have Il
chance after death he shall not for that reason
be disqualified from acting as Il missionary
I'm other words. the theory Of probation Is
recognized rs an open question. as to when
every man must be persuaded in his own mind
This outcome Of the long and bitter controversy
over the question will be- welcomed by most
Congregationallsts not rs Il victory for any
party. but rs II practical mod'is vivehdi' WHICH
will do much To promote the aggressive WORK
of thc denomination.