The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-25
ssTHE Winchester Profession of

i Faith, adopted by tne Nc"
England Convention of Universal
lists" in 1903, received, so far as am
aware, no adverse criticism in any
ubsequent session OF that body, nor
If the General Convention" into
which it grew, until that held in 1877,
when a motion was made to amend
Article III. by substituting for the
word "restore," the word "briDg."
This was referred to committee
which, at later hour in the
same session reported favorably, and
the report was referred to the
session in 1878, at which time the mo-
ton was negatived. In 1879 the same
motion was renewed, whereupon an
amendment was proposed to substi-
tute the word lead" for the word
"bring." The whole matter was then
laid on the table, but was subse-
quently taken therefrom and referred
to the Board of Trustees to report
the next year. In 1880 the Trustees
reported that majority OF the Board
recommended a recast of Art. III. go
that it may read: I'VE believe that
there is one God, whose nature is
love, revealed by one Holy Spirit of
Grace in one Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom the whole family of
mankind will finally attain holiness
and happiness" The motion to
adopt was indefinitely postponed. In
1881 this amendment was offered:
"Who will finally save the whole fam
lily of mankind" This and the whole
Profession was referred to commit
tee of nine, to report next year. In
1882 the committee reported that five
propositions for amendment or re-
statement of the creed had been be-
fore them, and asked further time for
consideration, which was granted,
and the committee continued for an
other year In 1888 they reported mo
general revision of the creed called
for" but recommended that Art.
III. be amended by substituting for
the present reading, the words: "Who
will finally save the whole family of
mankind in holiness and happiness"
The report was recommitted. In
1884 the committee reported the fol-
lowing amendment: "Who will finally
save the whole family of mankind.
To this an amendment was offered,
to Strike out all after the word
grace and insert, through whom the
whole family of mankind will finally
attain holiness and happiness. "
This was rejected, and then the mo
ton to adopt the committees recon-
mendation was negatived. In 1886
committee of three was appointed to
consider the question of amending
the Profession of Faith, and report
at the next annual session such
changes as may seem to them advis
able. In 1886 the committee asked
further time, which was granted. In
1887 the committee reported an en-
tirely new creed, consisting of four
articles, which, after discussion, was
referred to the next session. In 1888
the creed reported the year before
was referred to a committee of five.
In 1889 the committee reported a
creed of five articles. This was dis
cussed and referred back to the COM
mittee, who, later in the session re-
ported a creed of three articles.
This was referred to the next session
and the committee was continued,
with power to revise the same. At
the next session, the biennial of 1891,
no report was received. In 1898 the
committee reported another creed of
three articles, which was referred to
the next session. At the same session
a creed of two articles was proposed,
which was also referred to the next
session. At the session of 1895 no
action was taken on the last named
creed, but the one recommended by
the committee was amended, APP
proved, and goes to the session of
1897 for final action.
This, in brief, is the history of the
attempt at amending the Winchester
Profession of faith, begun and con-
tinued through ten years, solely for
the purpose of changing the second
article; but, for the last nine years,
an attempt to substitute something
for its entirety, and eliminating in
passing through the first stage to
success a wholly new creed now most
warmly opposed by some who voted
for its adoption.
| am here to endeavor to show that
we need no new creed: no change in
the old one. Somewhat familiar
with the reasons for change which
have been offered during the last
nine years, feel that they are not
sufficiently well founded to justify