The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-11
A HERETO PROTEST.
Liberal Presbyterians Object to
Being Driven Out.
CHICAGO PREACHER pIsoRAcgD.
Apporfsenment Of Money for Methodtss
Missions-Paget SQUAD seandanA-
vians Get $4,000.

CLKvE-axp. Nov. Ia.--The Presbyterian
conference closed il sessions in Calvary
church yesterday afternoon. and the con-
elusions reached made the gathering
historical one. The liberal gentlemen VINO
composed the conference have taken de-
termined stand against their more ortno-
dox brethren and are determined 10 hgns
for their rights in the church OF tnear
choice. The sessions were secret and no
one seems authorized TO talk. A commit
tee appointed By the conference last even
ing gave out proclamation The COM
mittee consisted of Rev. Dr.. Patterson, OF
Chicago; Rev. DR.. Egbert, OF ST Paul;
Rev. Dr.. Brown, OF New York: Rev. DR..
Fisk, of Ithaca, y. Y; Rev. Mr.. White, OF
Columbus, o.: Rev. Mr.. Willard. OF
Rochester. and Rev. Mr.. Hayden. OF
Cleveland
The proclamation states that the minis
tiers being seriously concerned IN view OF
eertaiA facts and tendencies in the Pres
byterian church, make a statement that
the general assembly has no right to
impose on the church q new doctrinai
statement, and the Interpretation OF the
doctrine by the courts of the church ought
always TO be strictly within the standards
and With sacred regard TO the broad
and generous terms of the reunion OF 1870
The committee believes the most scrupa-
lous care should be used in all trials for
doctrinal Emergencies and with great con-
Germ lest our standards be strained beyond
any just regard for the compact OF re-
union. No court Of our church has
right to suppress respectful action by
judicatories below il expressing apprehen.
sion concerning anything in the church.
The right OF petition and remonsirance
must not be denied in the church Of Christ
The interpre tation Of one or two phrases
of the book of discipline as meaning that
prosecution after q juaieasory had &C
quilted is strained Interpretation, lead
ing logically TO many absurdities and
possibly to miscarriages of justice. If
these phrases are susceptible OF such inter-
probation they ought TO be eliminated.
The committee, continuing says: I'VE
believe il is no part of the constitutional
power of any court of the church to warn
honest and God fearing men to withdraw
from the ministry because they cannot &C
cept interpretations of doctrines which are
outside the letter of confession and which
have never been settled by sanction of the
presbyteries in legal way. A with
dragai from the church enjoined by q
resolution of court is not proviyed TOR in
the book of discipline and carries no obi
CATION of obedience" The committee be-
Ieves the church is broad and strong
enough TO abide by the spirit of the COM
pact of reunion and embrace all forms
and schools which accept the essen
tial and necessary articles of our
common faith, acknowledging the Lord
Jesus as the Divine Master and Savior and
the Bible as the only infalhble rule.
The proclamation calls upon Presbyte-
rians to stand together in defense of rea-
sohable liberty of opinion in the church
and of the constitutional rights of individ-
ual members, and heartily approves the
protest of DR.. Herrick Johnson, DR.. Nichols
and others at the last general assembly.
In closing. the committee says:
I'VE most urgently counsel brethren
who may be perplexed to abide in the
communion and service of the church. as
sured that in dong so they are within con-
stitutional rights. Only profound sense
of the peril that besets the church leads US
10 make this declaration OF what seems TO
us fundamental principles. In behalf of
the conference held at Cleveland, o., No.
yen.ber and 8, 1893.
HIRAM G. HAYDEN. Chairman.
THOMAS C. HALL, Secretary"