The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-23
NoYEs'S VIEWS NOT SOUND.
49,. o,yyor REPRESENT THE coNeRE-
s.rIoSAL CHURCH IN JAPAN


,..,. op Future Probation Are Too
,,,.r,, for tho Prudential Committee OF
~. Mission Board, and His Appointment
a. n Missionary has Been Reseinded.
Tho long drawn out controversy In the Con-
-.agotionaI Church over future probation has
sson settled in favor OF the conservatives. 1t
" ne great a defeat for the liberals In the Con-
srecationa denomination as was that received
Nv the liberal Presbytcrians in the conviction
~ DR. Briggs. The end comes In the form OF
an adverse decision Of the Prudential Commit
foe Of tho American Board of Commissioners
tor Foreign Missions on the application OF the
Rev. William II. Noyes. future probationist,
Tor appointment TO service as missionary
under the Board.
The Noyes mission case had its beginning In
1896 when William H. Noyes. a student at
Andoyer Theological Seminary. made applicn-
finn TO the Board to be sent to the mission
fields He was catechised according to a pub
lie statement made soon after by the Rev. DR..
Lyman Abbott OF Brooklyn. on the subject OF
future probation. Secretary Alden OF the
Boards Prudential Committee did the cat
echising. DR.. Alden is a strong conservative.
He believes that the sinner has but one chance
for salvation, and that he loses that chance at
his death. There is nothing in the regulations
OF the Congregational Church. the liberals say.
which defines what views on this subject are
TO be held by clergymen. SO tho liberals ac-
cuse DR.. Alden OF an unwarranted arrogant.
and revolutionary assumption Of authority in
conducting such an inquiry rs to tho opinions
O! missionaries.
Mr. Noyes's application was rejected. and DR..
Abbott declared that the rejection was due to
the 70 It that Mr.. Noyess answers did not suit
Dr. Alden. The liberal ConGregationalists at
Boston decided to send Mr. Noyes as an inde-
pendent missionary to Japan. The church In
Berkeley street raised q fund and Mr.. Moves
took his departure. The liberals made this tho
occasion for fight against the Prudential
Committee. and under the fire which they had
kept up Mr.. Noycs renewed his application in
1887 to DO appointed as the regular
missionary of the Board. Again the de-
eision was against him. and by an
overwhelming vote. The liberals maintained
the fight. Dr. Abbott in his paper. the CHRISTIAN
Union. made a systematic attack upon Secre-
tary Alden. The troubles eliminated at the
meeting OF the Board in 1891. when the liber-
ais won their first victory. Mr.. Noycs was not
appointed but the Board was reorganized.
The Rev. DR.. Richard S. Storrs Of Brooklyn
was made President. but Secretary Alden re-
manned q member Of the committee. A year
passed and nothing was done.
Finally resolution was adopted on Oct. 9.
1892. recommending that the Prudential Com
mittee have further correspondence with the
missionaries Of the Board in japan in refer
ence to the case of Mr.. Noyes. The Prudential
Committee held its sessions In secret. An i'm
portant meeting of the committee was held in
April. and its results were not made known
until last week. when the liberal papers an
nounced that the committee had recommend
ed the appointment OF Mr. Moves. This was
great news for the liberals. but di:appoint-
ment followed fast Without making any
mittee held a meeting on July 1S and took
final action in the Moves case. They prepared
statementw which is to be given to the public
From advance sheets Of this statement It ap-
tina. to the Ss E in
but the Anal resolution Of the committee re:
scinds this action. revokes the appointment OF
seon LEI 1s the that Reyes ss h Is
last SetoSer William Ellison. %s s SHst q
s on of ne
that on epIortunity for REPENTANCE will be
sho IN This Sustained 81 BY sN the
whole matter in the hands Of God?" Mr..
Moves was requested to answer simply to
which class he elonged. thus Ito the first"
or 10 the second" Mr.. Ellison closed his let
without the knowledge Of any other member
o! the Prudential Committee.
Mr.. Moves replied that no could not be
classed under the first head. As to the sec-
ond he WAS willing 10 say:
-" do not find this theory sustained in the
yealed but i think that the Bible leaves room
for it.. Those who do not hear the gospel mes
sage in this life trustfully leave to God.
do not claim to know Gods method OF dealing
with them. but do not use to think a, out
them. entertain in their behalf what con-
before their iestinies are f1xed. there shall be
revealed to them tho love Of Christ in Christ
Jesus"
This correspondence was laid before tho
Prudential Con- mittee at it's April meeting.
and the committee made 1t the basis OF a long
report. holding tn there had been n change
OF view on Mr.: Noyes's part on the matter Of
future rrohation. On account OF this change
they made him regular missionary. The re-
suit Of the April meeting was forwarded to
Japan; Mr., Noyes wrote In reply:
Il should not be inst to myself II I allowed
these disconnected phrases to stand as q rep
RESI- ntation OF my views at any time. Nor
would i be just to you 70 allow you to appoint
me on the sunpostion that there has been any
change In nv views"
He accepts the appointment with express
sions OF gratitude This letter bears the date
June 10. On receipt Of II the Prudential Com
m n prepared the minute and resolution Of
rescnded. and resolution was passed de-
elaring that the committee would take NO
further action on the appointment