The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-30

that adopted 1t would forfeit its pro-
perty. He made legal argument to
this effect quoting from law reports to
sustain this contention. He ridiculed
the phrase progressive revelation"
which had been previously inserted
by amendment, and said any pagan
could subscribe to such a statement
about the scriptures.
Rev. DIR. E. H. Capen, president of
Tufts College, replied to Mr.. Ballard.
He said that the Andover case was
the great case in point, and that in
that case the courts decided that
when sect had outgrown it's creed
it had right to change it without
sacrificing its property. DR.. Capen
recognized the Winchester creed as
an obstacle to the growth of the
church, and knew that it kept great
many young men out of the ministry.
Rev. W. W. Hooper, of Maine, said
he was opposed to making any creed
mandatory. But if this was done, he
would like to make two changes in
the Boston creed. The phrase "Fa-
therhood of God" was puerile; it
should be "the Brotherhood of
God The word harmony" ought
to be changed to "the final willing
obedience to God," for men were not
to be tuned like piano.
Rev. DR.. G. E. Nash deprecated
the entire discussion. He expressed
amazement and sorrow at a statement
made by DIR. Capen that Prof. Knight
had ascertained that not one half of
the societies paid any respect to the
Winchester creed as a test of fellow
ship. This raises the question:" he
said, whether we are a church at all,
or only mob" He asked what rea-
son there was to think that the So
cieties would pay any attention to the
Boston creed if it we're adopted. Il
am overwhelmed and COMPOUNDED"
he said. II do not feel at all hope
full for the unity Of the Universalist
church, if this is clearly the fact"
Rev. DIR. Sweetser said the Win
chester creed had been made a test
of fellowship in 1903, but the societies
claimed ths act was ex post facto and
void. The General Convention had
taken the same action in 1870, and he
wanted to know if that also was ex
post facto and not binding on So
cieties already in the church. He
said he wanted unity, but the Win
chester creed was not an assistance
to unity, but frebrand.
Rev. l.. FL. Squires, of New York,
supported the Boston plan, but said
he would greatly prefer little creed
of his own, which he quoted.
Henry A. Manning, of Chicago, one
of the trustees, but not a member of
the convention, spoke and examined
the Boston plan. He said it was
claimed in the Boston plan that "no
creed can be accepted" and then it
proceeded to offer a creed for adop-
ton! The plan was dead by it's own
logic"
DIR. Robin closed the debate, and
did so with considerable feeling. He
expressed himself as wounded by the
remarks of DR.. Nash. The conven-
tiop, he said, was trying to expel
from the church its very bone, sinew
and muscle. If it succeeded the very
hearts of the members would ache
the next time they asked for funds
an unfortunate statement which was
very generally condemned.
The roll was then called, and the
vote standing yeas 10 and nays 80,
the chair declared the Boston plan
defeated. Then singular thing hap
pened. Some who voted in the mega
tive felt that, with certain amend
ments and more time for considera-
ton, a conclusion might be reached
with greater unanimity and more
decisive vote either way. Mr.. Henry
B. Metcalf moved a reconsiderat ion,
which was adopted, and the Boston
plan given another chance. The
next morning at $50 o'clock was, by
vote, specified as the time when the
proposition should be again consid-
cred.
THE BOSTON PLAN AMENDED AND
ADOPTED.
Thursday morning the debate was
resumed. Great interest was mani
fest in the discussion and the dele
cations were out in full force. twas
agreed that the debate should be
restricted to twelve five-minute
speeches, six on each side. AS the
debate progressed several amend
ments to the plan were considered
and adopted.
H. B. Metcalf, the first speaker,
said he disliked the nlan bacause II