New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-10
LIBERAL PRESBTTERTANS.
CLOSE OF THE CLEVELAND CoNFERENCE-REso'
LUTIoNs DEFINING THEIR POSITION
ADOPTED.

Cleveland Ohio Nov 9-The conference OF Pres
bvterian ministers and laymen ended to-day After
adjournment the committee having the task OF EN-
bodying the conclusions of the conference IN set
of resolutions met at the Stillman. The committee
consisted of the Rev. DR.. r. W. Patterson OF
Chicago; the Rev. DR.. John p. Egbert OF 81. Paui'
Mimi. the Rev. Dr. Brown OF New-lorK Ciy'
the Rev. Dr. A. l. FIske OF Ithaca, n. T.; DIR. f.
F. White of Columbus. Ohio; the Rev. DR.. Nelson
Willard of Rochester n. ", and the Kew d.
Hiram c. Hayden, OF Cleveland. Resolutions were
then prepared, the spirit OF when may De in'
ferred from these which follow
We believe that the General Assembly has no right 70
imnosc upon the Church with doctna statements uoer
me guse Of Interpretation, whether by deiveranee or
through judicial process and further that Interpretation
OF doctrine By the courts OF the Cnurch oush' Always
be strictly within the letter OF the STANDARDS ana WIN
sacred regard to the broad and generous 'erns VI '
revision OF 1870. .....
Wa beleye that the Interpretation OF one or two phrases
I'm our Book OF Discipline as meaning that prosecuting
committee should become, from the moment IL en''. vi
tts work Independent Of the court which sppoin' w.
cab Of living on after the judcatory has decided
and OF prosecuting after the judicatory has aequ''a'
strained interpretation leading logically 70 many aosud
ties and easily possible mscariages oil lus'c II e'o
,hrases are fairly susceptible OF such inerre'oh' ""
ought TO be eliminated from the book =,
We believe that 1t is part OF the CONSTITUTIONS.
mower OF any court OF the Church 10 warn n0ne'' .
cod fearing men to withdraw themselves from IL. ministry
or eldershp because they cannot accept a. o"'"s
them interpretations OF doctrine which are ou'sue uo
,o,,er NJ the Confession and which have never 49,
an,,oned nv the Presbytrles in aay legal way. ms
~, NJ dtscipIine by withdrawal. enjoineo py rsu
' ., church court Is provided FOR In the bovA "
n,scinline Such warning carries no oolgauoh Oh 0Oe
. .,,s toce,her in
Wa call upon all Presbyteran' to s'ana %se ."s IA
defence Of reasonable Of opinion IN tne
of Tho constitutional rights OF indlvduai members M
I'D and VIC heartily approve OF the proes. ol ~
sn,oS Iohnson Dr. Nicoolls and eightyhree others ~
tho last General Assembly. - -. u..- h,
Wa 40 most urgently counsel our brethren VINO may ~
.noxS concerning their abide in the commu.on
a ees q, the Church. assured that IN so uo'"s Why
1oMa,n we'll within their constitutional rights
The conference was called originally because ae, ;,
,a ~" feared general movement Of secession wouu
S.ado nv the liberals Of the Church. Ihere we.s
De MAJ ~ the conference between forty and hf'y
ministers and nymen OF ,ns rep
py.enatad NV letters and kilograms NO cotinu nx,
Ien viii he sent to the General Assenpy ~. u.
ea rUn hut some action concerning TINS eT,''S
ca will undoubtedly be taken by that pouy sd
II is unfavorable. another cohiefe"ee WIN
and further action taKeh'