The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-30
THE CREED DISCUSSION.
SIGNAL DEFEAT OF THE MERIDEN
CREED-102 to 1.


sessions. 1t began on Wednesday
morning after the Introductory exer-
cises and continued until the end of
a prolonged session. The Meriden
substitute for the Winchester Pro-
fession was taken up under the head
of unfinished business. The secre-
tary stated the case and the prt 81
dent announced the question before
the convention to be the ratification or
rejection of the Meriden Creed. AT
ter some delay, DR.. Crane, OF Illinois,
moved that the vote be taken with
out debate.
This proposition was debated. Rev.
Mr.. Ballard read the memorial of
the Indiana Convention, protesting
against change in the creed, and
proceeded to speak on the general
question. The President ruled that
the first business before the body
was the acceptance or rejection of
the Meriden substitute; on vote the
decision of the chair was upheld.
Dr. Sweetser was not in favor of DIR.
Cranes motion. He wanted free dis
cussion. DR.. Robin was also against
the motion. He wanted discussion
and to know where we stand. Let us
face the matter bravely. DR.. Crane
wanted to vote and vote at once. We
all understood the question, and the
Meriden creed was also understood
as substitute for the Winchester
articles. DIR. Cranes motion was put
and carried. A direct vote was or
dered, and no other business was in
order.
1t was recognized that when the
vote was taken to put the Meriden
substitute on its passage without
discussion that the new creed was
doomed. The result proved the fact.
1t will be understood by our readers
that the constitution required that it
be adopted at the Chicago session by
two-thirds majority before it could
go into effect. When the roll was
called the Meriden articles were al
most unanimously defeated. The
vote was 102 against, and only one
vote in its favor. The one vote came
from Rev. DIR. Sweetser, of Pennsyl-
vania, the chairman of the COM
mittee, who presented the creed at
Meriden two years ago. His re-
corded Eyes" was greeted with ap-
plause by the convention, the mem
bers enjoying this example of one
who had the courage of his convic-
tons. The Meriden creed will be-
come historic" in our annals for the
most signal defeat ever witnessed on
the floor of the General Convention.
THE BOSTON PLAN DEFEATED.
The vote on the Meriden substitute
for the Winchester Profession being
announced, the battle royal of the
creed discussion at once began. This
was introduced by Rev. DIR. Robin of
Massachusetts, who presented the
80 called Boston Plan," a proposed
amendment to the constitution,
which in substance allowed the
Winchester Profession of 1903 to
remain in the constitution of the
convention, but removing the manda-
tory clause and asserting that
The Conditions of Fellowship in the
Convention shall be as follows:
1. The acceptance of the essential
principles of the Universalist Faith, to
wit:
THE Fatherhood of God: The Spirit
ual Leadership of Jesus Christ: The
Final Harmony of all Souls with God"
The Winchester Profession is COM
mended by this plan as containing the
principles, but neither this nor any
other precise form of words is required
as condition of Fellowship, provided
always that the principles above stated.
be substantially professed.
ID. The Acknowledgement of the
General Convention and assent to it's
laws.
C. That Article III as formerly num-
bered in the constitution be hereafter
numbered w; that section therein be
omitted and that the other articles and
sections be numbered accordingly.
The adoption of this amend nent
was debated at great length. Over
four hours were consumed it its con-
sideration.
DIR. Robin asked for it's adoption
as relief to many of the societies,
which felt the Winchester creed to
be a burden to their consciences.
These societies, he said, were prac-
ticallY disfellowshiped. He denied
that the fathers of the church, who
adopted the Winchester creed, ever
meant it to be a test of fellowship.
Rev. DR.. Richard Eddy of Rhode
Island, the historian of the Universal
ist Church, electrified convention by
exhibiting the original manuscript of
the Winchester creed in the hand
writing of Rev. Walter Ferris. He