Morning journal and courier., 1894-04-04
A FRAnK srArKmErr.

A FRANK STATEMENT. The Rev. HIT. mexom Says That Ht
 Believes in the onse4uent PeBfecl Conservation of Life in BaPtism by Immersion and That God Reveali Hinself in Nature.
 SrRIseSIxLD, Mass, April 3.-Ths Con
 gregational council to act on the resigna.
 ton of Rev. s. G. Buckingham e pastor of South church and the installation oi Rev. P. s. Aoxem as his successor, called together to-day c notable body of men. The delegates included Rev. Dr. A. J. Beherends of Brooklyn, Rev. Dr. Nunser of New Haven, Rev. G. A. Gordon of the Old South church, Boston, Rev. E. G. Seldsn of Albany, and many others. The church was prsttily decorated and the audience room was we'll filled, the speots- tors including pastors of other dsnonaina- tions and leading residents of the city.
 Rev. L. H. Cone called the gathering to order and the delegates organized with Rev. Dr. Park of Hartford moderator, Rev. F. B. Makepeace of Springfield scribe and Rev. A. N. Spangler of West Springfield assistant scribe. The usual documents were presented, including the resignation of Rev. Ar. Buckingham as senior pastor, its acceptance and the vote to continue his present salary with the title of pastor emeritus. The action of the church and society in calling Rev. Dr. Aoxom and his acceptance were read.
 Dr. Aoxom related ct length his personal and religious experience. Ills father was @ soldier and a preacher. He had early been called "Parson" and there was a strong impulse drawing him to the inter est of the ministry. When he returned from the army he was baptized by his father in the Battle Greek river. He soon turned to law, but was taken almost bod fly out of law office and put into pulpit. His father was kept away from church when the congregation expected c farewell sermon. The son was asked to speak and rather reluctantly obeyed his father. But the congregation was pleased and he con- tinued to preach. Regarding his religious belief he said:
 'In my youthful days I believed great deal that merciful Providence has since relieved me of. Being an imaginative child was troubled with visiona of Gods wrath and. judgment that would furnish material for coming Dante"
 In his written statement of belief pr. Moxom began with the assertion that ''statement that should be exact and ex- hsustive today would be inexsot and inex haustive to morrow"
 "Nost profoundly and joyously do be- nsre In the reality of God and soul and revelation and the eternal life. But do hot conceive that the function of the Chris- tisn preacher is at all dependent on his power to formulate @ confession of faith with logical order and completeness.
 "I believe that God reveals himself In nature, In the eoul, in the events and ex- periences of human life, in inspired ut terances of prophets, and in Jesus Christ. The Bible is literature. the sifted pro- duct of people who had @ genius for re- ligion and through whose temperament and experience has come to the world a complete aud purer expression of the spirit of revelation than has come through any other channel.
 "I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and Saviour and Lord of the world. Itbelieva that man is the creature and child of God, the method of his origin, SD. parently, is evolution from lower forms of life. I believe in the forgiveness of sin as 8 specific manifestation of the divine mer- oy toward man, and blesi ed experience of that mercy In consciousness. I believe in prayer as e real intercourse and com munion of the soul with God, the finite and infinite. I believe in the immortality of the soul, because l believe In the conse- quent perfect conservation of life. I'm mortality must be personal, ,impersonal i'm mortality is contradiction in terms. be- lieve in the insvitableness and the perfect nsss of the divine judgment on evil. Re- tribution Is adhsrent in the moral order In c ha ofx Ioh fa aahIarf1ox al oharseter and fulfilling moral destiny.
 GAS to the church, I accept substantially the generally received congregational view of the local church, but I cherish the ideal of the church as the whole people exsrcis- ing the functions of worship and spiritual ministry, and put increasing emphasis on the organic principle. I accept and love the ordinances of the church, baptism and the holy communion. Baptism I should prefer to administer by immersion because of the appeal which the beautiful symbol Ism of the primitive rite makes to me.
 ''I believe in the missionary duty and privilege of the church. believe 1t the duty of the church to seek the salvation of society as we'll as of the individual soul"
 After Dr. Noxom read his statement he was subjected to some questions, which he answered happily. Rev. Dr. Burnham of
 
 views on the prescriptive character of tho Sabbath. There was sharp tilt over the question. The delegates voted against h. stallstion and several refused to indorse his theological views, but responded, 'T vote for settlement"
 The church was crowded at the public evening exercises, which were conducted by the Rev. L Fl. Gone of Christ church. After the reading of the memorial in regard to the retirement of the Rev. MT. Buckingham prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. William Rice, city librarian, and Rev. MT. Track read e passage from the scriptures. The sermon of the evening was by Rsv. Dr. Bsherends of Brooklyn, who preached from Ephesians iva The first part of his discourse was devoted to condemnation of the close immersion Bsp- tists for their intolerance.
 The installing prayer was offered by Rev. D. H. Beach. The address of welcome was by Rev. George O. Bald win, jr., pastor of the Springfield First Baptist church. The right hand of fellowship was given by Rev. pr. Burnham of the Springfield First church,