The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-23

man for entering upon ministerial LABOR
under the auspices of another denomina-
tion,' was received; but inasmuch as it
was not accompanied by bond for the
payment of the costs of the court, if the
appeal be not sustained as prescribed
by the Laws Of the Convention, it could
not be allowed"
The correspondence relating to the
appeal was submitted in open conven-
ton to the Committee on Official Re-
ports, consisting of nine members. The
Chairman from Illinois) declined to re-
cieve the correspondence and requested
that the documents be placed in the
hands Of DR.. Blanchard, Of Maine, one
of the members of the committee, who
was empowered by Mr.. Alcott to con-
duct his case Oh the presumption that it
would be reopened in the Convention.
1t was not thus reopened, the Committee
on Official Reports recognizing that all
such cases belong to the Board of Appeal
and are not under our Laws to be adju-
Dictated in open Convention. DIR. 3lan-
chard's personal convictions we're ex-
pressed in the article from the Meriden
Record published last week. Mr.. AL
colts endeavor to file an appeal outside
of the regular order was ignored in the
report of the committee of nine. and, from
first to last. there was no mention OF Mr..
Alcott or his suspension on the floor of
the Meriden Convention. The failure
to appeal his case in the regular manner
prescribed by our Laws destroyed his
only chance of relief from the sentence
imposed upon him.
We have now given at considerable
| length, but as concisely as possible, the
successive steps in the case of Rev. A.
| N. Alcott, as. the Illinois Committee of
Fellowship. 1t will be seen that the
issue was originally forced upon the
committee and that proceedings against
him for his connection with the Liberal
Congress movement in Illinois as its
paid missionary we're invited by himself.
He demanded decision at the hands Of
the committee as to whether his en-
gagement with that organization was
consistent with his position as an &C.
credited minister in the fellowship of
the Universalist Church. When the de-
cision came it was unanimously against
him; his special contentious were over
ruled, and it was decided that he could
not, under our rules, serve the Liberal
Congress and the Universalist Church
at the same time. AS he did not pro
pose to relinquish his relations with the
Congress he was suspended pending the
term of his engagement-the harsher
measure of expulsion or full withdrawal
of fellowship not being applied.
1t will be seen still further from this
statement of unimpeachable facts that
the Alcott case was not "heresy case"
at any stage Of its progress, as viciously
represented or misrepresented in the
secular papers that we're early furnished
with Mr.. Alcott's side Of the disturbance
and served it up in fineChicago style,re-
presenting the suspended minister as
the unfortunate victim of ecclesiastical
intolerance and a sufferer for his ad-
vanced liberal opinions. The matter of
the aggrieved minister's we'll known
Liberalism so far as relates to opinions.
never once entered into the original
case. Mr.. Alcott was suspended not for
opinions, but for conduct involving, in
the judgment of the committee actual
disloyalty to the administration of the
church and for defiance of it's rules and
regulations. He had become the paidoffi-
cial of a movement which was alien to
the organization of the body whose Gre
dentials he held, and to which his 10y
atty was due. This was the sole cause
of his suspension and all insinuations
and charges to the contrary are devoid
of truth.
We have now to say in conclusion that
with all the unpleasant features of this
case of discipline. and Notwithstanding
the gross and absurd Misrepresentation
which have followed the reports Of the
Chicago papers, the result has been
quite wholesome in several directions.
The action of the Illinois Committee
cleared the air and gave notice to all
concerned that the Universalist Church
has preservative powers in its own
organization, and that when the issue is
fairly made, it wi enforce its discipline
in behalf of it's own interests and
not be found wanting in applying the
penalties provided in its Laws for in
territorial and actual disloyalty.
The Universalist Church is broad,
tolerant and generous church. 1t pro-
tects the rights of all members of the
common fold; it shrinks from everything
savoring Of intolerance or persecution,
and rarely exercises it's disciplinary pow
ers in matters of faith or doctrine. Its
administration is pervaded by like
spirit and aims to be fraternal with all
Christian bodies and with men of good
will everywhere. At the same time it is
A.