USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Minutes of the annual meeting Congregational Churches of Massachusetts 1906 > Part 7
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On Re-adjustment of Our Polity
thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise from another place, but thou and thy father's house will perish-and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?"
For the Committee: L. CLARK SEELYE, Chairman.
W. V. W. DAVIS. REUEN THOMAS.
W. L. McELVEEN.
F. E. EMRICH.
C. H. OLIPHANT.
J. P. BATES. F. G. COOK.
G. E. COPELAND.
H. S. CONANT.
S. A. HOLTON.
C. A. BRODEUR.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RE-ADJUSTMENT OF OUR POLITY
REV. CALVIN M. CLARK, HAVERHILL
Our report is one of progress, not of finality. Early in September, 1905, prior to the fall sessions of the conferences, the Committee, in keeping with their instructions from the State Association, at Lowell, sent a circular letter to the scribes of all the conferences, notifying them of the vote of the State Association upon the matter of the "Conciliar Committee," and requesting them to bring the subject to the attention of their respective conferences. At the same time, the Committee on Polity had sent to each scribe a copy of the Advance for May 25, 1905, giving some account of the new system just introduced into Michigan. The results of the action of the fall sessions of the conferences were as follows:
Number of conferences in the state 25
Not heard from 1
Took no action, chiefly through oversight 3
Rejected the suggested Conciliar Committee 1
Referred the matter either directly to the churches, or to a
committee of the conference to report at their spring session, 20
That is, as was anticipated, the action of the conferences at their fall sessions was preliminary to more full and decisive action this spring.
A revised edition of a paper read by the chairman of the Committee on Polity before the fall session of the Andover Conference was ordered
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On Re-adjustment of Our Polity [1906
printed by the Committee, and copies of this paper were distributed to the committees of the conferences having the matter in charge, or to the churches where the matter had been referred directly to the churches. This paper explained in detail the suggested "Conciliar Committee," gave a brief but accurate outline of the new system in Michigan, proposed also for Wisconsin, and some other information.
Most of the conferences have given large room at their spring sessions for reports of their committees, and for discussions on matters of polity in general and the "Conciliar Committee " in particular. The chief ends in the Committee's making this suggestion at all, viz., to awaken interest in our own polity, to inform regarding movements elsewhere among our churches, and above all to test the question whether the churches here in Massachusetts were practically ready to make changes which seemed imminent if the movement for union with two other denominations was carried through, were attained. Since the meeting at Lowell, where the suggestion was made, the situation has been vastly changed by the Dayton Conference in February, and the unexpected action of that body in voting for organic union. Since then questions of polity have become immensely more prominent and urgent.
The results of the action of the spring sessions of the conferences are given, as nearly as possible, in the language of the votes taken. They are grouped for readiness of reference. The position of one or two conferences, as assigned by our Committee, may be open to doubt, by reason of ambigu- ity in language, either in the vote or in the letter of the scribe reporting the vote.
The total number of conferences in the state is twenty-five.
1. From one conference only, the Berkshire South, the Committee has had no report except of inaction last fall.
2. One conference, the Old Colony, took no notice of the suggestion sent down by the State Association, but expressed itself " as in hearty sympathy with the end proposed by the Dayton Council, and as willing to cooperate in the movement."
3. Three conferences, the Berkshire North, the Essex North, and the Taunton, hold their meetings later than the sessions of the State Asso- ciation. The Berkshire North took no action last fall. The Essex North and the Taunton appointed committees last fall to report this spring.
4. Three conferences, the Brookfield, Hampshire East, and Mendon, postponed action; the Brookfield, "indefinitely "; Hampshire East, " for further consideration "; Mendon, awaiting " the general readjust- ment which will, of necessity, have to be."
5. Six, the Andover, Essex South, Hampden, Hampshire, Pilgrim, and Worcester North, reject the proposed " Conciliar Committee "; Andover, on report of its committee, without discussion; Essex South, “ assembled in the meetinghouse of the church of which the Rev. John Wise was formerly pastor, not favoring the ' Committee ' as proposed "; Hampden,
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On Re-adjustment of Our Polity 63
" believing that the establishment of conciliar committees is not wise," but " deeming it wise to defer all attempts to reorganize one denomi- national system until the question of the union of the three denominations has been decided "; Hampshire, by unanimous action at their fall session; Pilgrim, with fifteen churches, by a popular vote of ten yeas to fourteen nays; Worcester North, with the words: " We are unalterably opposed to organic union with any body of men outside the individual church."
6. The three Suffolk conferences stand in a group by themselves. The Suffolk North " is in hearty accord with the movement for a more efficient organization of our denominational forces, but we are not clear that . . . the creation of a conciliar committee and giving to it judicial powers would best serve this end." From the Suffolk South no definite action upon the proposed "Conciliar Committee " is reported; their scribe reports that the conference seriously desire some movement in the general direction pointed out last year. The Suffolk West criticises the " Conciliar Committee " as proposed because the lay members should be elected by the churches, not merely nominated, because there is still need of the vicinage council in the old form, because the proposal of last year does not provide for the determination of ministerial standing and the super- vision of the churches, and because the committee as proposed is too large and cumbersome.
All three of the Suffolk conferences have taken action establishing, or looking towards the establishing, of a Conference Committee, of five or seven members, both clergymen and laymen, of about the nature of the Advisory Committees of the Michigan plan, with large powers of initiative and oversight.
7. Four conferences, Barnstable, Franklin, Middlesex South, and Nor- folk, may be grouped together as approving the suggested Committee in general, but objecting to details. Barnstable, " without committing itself to all details as published, heartily approves of the general principle, and holds itself ready to adopt the plan as soon as it shall receive general approval throughout the state." Franklin " favors some forward move- ment of the kind suggested by the General Association, but objects to the size of the 'Conciliar Committee,' and to the finality of its action." Middlesex South " is in hearty sympathy with the movement looking towards union with other bodies, is divided as to the specific matter of the 'Conciliar Committee,' the rock upon which the conference split being the finality of the Committee's finding," and referred the matter to the churches. Norfolk "is in hearty accord with the purpose and spirit of the proposition, hopes the State Association will formulate some plan along this line and send it down to the churches for consideration, and voted that its own Executive Committee should secure from each church in the conference its judgment on the matter and present the result at the next meeting."
8. Four conferences, Middlesex Union, Woburn, Worcester Central,
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and Worcester South, come nearest to approving the suggested Committee. Middlesex Union, with twenty-four churches, on a vote by churches, five not voting, voted six nays and thirteen yeas. Woburn accepted a sub- stitute which changed the name to " Permanent Council "; put the election of the lay delegate in the hands of the local church, changed the matter of extra-conferential members of the Council so that the church might invite whom it pleased, but the number of these members was at no time to exceed one third the membership of the Council; and dropped the word " final " as to the decisions of the Council, and sent both original and substitute down to the churches. The committee of the Worcester Central " unanimously recommended the adoption of the suggestion of the State Association, and the recommendation of the committee was adopted by the conference with almost entire unanimity." Worcester South approves " of the formation of such a committee and so reports to the General Association."
This closes the list of the twenty-five conferences. It is needless to call attention to the great diversity of judgment and action. As yet there is absolutely no approach to unanimity. There is not even unanim- ity upon the presupposition of the specific suggestion made last year, the matter of readiness for organic union with the two denominations mentioned. Yet it may be said that there is at least a widespread desire to know what that union will imply of change and possible profit.
There are two or three further remarks of a general nature which it may be well to make here.
1. Several of the conferences have suggested the postponement of their action till the State Association has acted, or till the union with the other two denominations has been consummated. It is respectfully submitted that power in Congregationalism resides in the local churches and not in the National Council, nor even this State Association, much less in a miscellaneously appointed body of so-called delegates to a council like the one at Dayton, and that, therefore, wherever else these changes are discussed, with us Congregationalists they must be discussed not only in the conference, but especially in each local church.
2. It was with this fundamental fact of Congregationalism in mind that the suggestion was made last year for a " Conciliar Committee " first of the conference. Several in criticism of the proposal for this committee of the conference have asked if there was to be no power of appeal. It was clearly intimated in the paper from the chairman of the committee last year that this conference committee was only the first step in a well- arranged representative system, and the further steps in that system are admirably outlined in a communication from another member of the Committee on Polity in the Boston Evening Transcript for Monday, May 14, 1906. If there is to be a reorganization of the polity of our entire system, then there must be appellate power somewhere, and, of course, in a representative system, in the higher units of that system.
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Incorporation of the Association
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3. The "Conciliar Committee," as suggested last year, whatever else it might be, was the first step in a truly representative system. Every church in the conference was to have at least the right to representation on it. Is anything else likely to be acceptable to the most of Congrega- tionalists, with their democratic and individual training? Two other substitutes have been suggested for it. The first of these comes from the far-away Pacific coast in a private letter from Professor Nash, of our Pacific Theological Seminary. There they have already taken steps to vest power, not in a committee of the conference, but in the conference or asso- ciation itself. The second is that of the churches of Michigan and Wis- consin, and substantially of the three Suffolk conferences of our own state, where there is a decided movement to vest additional power, as in Michigan and Wisconsin, in a small committee of five or seven. Is not this a movement in the direction of bureaucratic, rather than truly rep- resentative government? If we are to have any change in our polity, must it not at the very least be truly and squarely representative? At any rate, here are the three suggested modifications of our polity now before us: bureaucratic in a small committee of five or seven; truly representa- tive in the " Conciliar Committee "; also truly representative in the Con- ference or Association itself, not in a committee.
In closing, your Committee would make the following recommendation to the State Association:
In view of the present great diversity of judgment and plan, this whole matter of polity, inclusive of the subject of delegated representation, be re- committed to a larger and more widely representative committee of this Asso- ciation, and they be instructed to correspond with the individual churches as well as conferences on the one hand, and on the other with the Committee on Polity of our National Council, and the Committee on Polity appointed at Dayton by the Council of last February, and report at the annual meeting of 1907. .
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE INCORPORA- TION OF THE ASSOCIATION.
The Committee on Incorporation, through some miscarriage of notice, were only recently advised of the duty committed to them by the one hundred and third annual meeting of the General Association of the Congre- gational Churches of Massachusetts. Notwithstanding this fact, they have sought diligently, in the time remaining, to advise themselves regard- ing the data which the Association had in mind at the time when the committee was constituted. These seem to comprehend certain facts having to do with the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society (Incor- porated), and the efficient control of the same by the churches of Massa-
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chusetts, which meet annually in convention as a voluntary society, and with which the said missionary society is in close affiliation. It is also possible that incorporation may have been suggested in order that the churches might be amalgamated into a body which can hold property to better advantage.
With this preface your Committee report:
First, That they find incorporation inadvisable for any body as loosely constituted as the Massachusetts General Association where it is desirable to retain the character which at present distinguishes this convention as a representative conference of the churches through delegates annually elected. This because of the lack of certain characteristics which properly distinguish every corporation, such as stability in the personnel of its membership, continuity in succession, and definiteness in the business which it is organized to transact.
Second, Your Committee find it inadvisable for this particular body to change its form or method, if it is to retain the characteristics which make it unique as the representative of the Congregational churches in Massa- chusetts. This because it is the guardian of an independency which gave the first demonstration of the fact that liberty and administration are not irreconcilable.
In this connection your Committee would call attention to the fact that whereas students and practical men have for years emphasized the value of administration the tide has now turned. It is recognized scientifically that the point of equilibrium has been lost in the recent swing of affairs, both civic and commercial. The beginnings of a reactionary movement are, therefore, plainly visible. With the tide turning toward a reaffirma- tion of liberties, it would be unfortunate for Congregationalists to change the character of this association which for over a century has transacted the business committed to it without transgressing its bounds, and there- fore furnishes a concrete example of infinite value to the lawyer and sociologist.
Thus reporting, your Committee begs leave to add that, if it has rightly understood the purpose of the Association in suggesting incorporation, there are other and better ways in which the objects desired can be attained. These are suggested by recent practice which shows the most astute and progressive lawyers providing " agreements of association " with holding trustees and other requisite machinery. There is no reason, we think, why this Association cannot do any business in its province with efficiency, through trustees created to hold and administer, or to pay over, the income of its funds as instructed; and through subordinate organizations, incorpo- rated or not, whose charters shall recognize the Association as a dominant and controlling factor.
D. CHAUNCEY BREWER. CHARLES N. PROUTY. HENRY H. BOSWORTH.
THE DAYTON COUNCIL AND CHURCH UNION
I. THE HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT REV. ALBERT F. PIERCE, BROCKTON
I have been requested to furnish an historical background for the address and discussion which are to follow this paper, and incidentally to offer some views along the line of the proposed union.
The various steps leading up to the present time are a matter of history; have been set forth so fully in our church papers and other periodicals, and ought to be so well understood by this time that a repetition of the facts would be a work of supererogation.
It must be confessed, however, that many persons in the beginning considered any proposed union with any other body such an iridescent dream, and for that reason paid so little attention to it, that now they find themselves ignorant respecting what has been going on. Only a few weeks ago I received a letter from a pastor of one of the largest churches in a state just south of us saying in substance: " Where are we? Is the union supposed to be consummated by the action at Dayton? I never dreamed of anything beyond federation, a sort of working together, and have not kept mysel informed, and so now do not know who I ani or where we are at. Please send me all the information you can and help me out of the woods." I assured the brother that he was still himself, and that he might go on preaching where he was without even printing a new head- ing to his calendar; but that he would better wake up and join the pro- cession, or he would find himself a back number. Church union has been in the air for a long time; let us hope that at last it has its feet on the ground and is going somewhere.
A mere mention of a few facts in the history of the movement may serve to stir up our pure minds by way of remembrance, and prepare the way for a more intelligent discussion of the issues involved.
The earliest recorded steps looking toward a union with either of these bodies were the resolutions offered to the National Council seventeen years ago in Plymouth Church, in this city of Worcester, asking that overtures be made to the Methodist Protestant Church with a view to closer federa- tion, and ultimately organic union. It was believed by the author of the resolut ons that while these bodies were very unlike in name and history, there was so much in common between them that there was no good reason why they might not join together in wedlock. The same author intro- duced similar resolutions in the National Council in the city of Portland, Ore., eight years ago, which were unanimously adopted, as the first had been.
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The Dayton Council and Church Union.
Shortly after this, negotiations were entered into between certain local conferences of the Methodist Protestant and Congregational churches in Illinois and Iowa, to ascertain if a union was both desirable and prac- tical. And this would soon have issued in something definite in the way of union had not the steps been arrested by a movement of much larger proportions. About that time leading members of the United Brethren and the Methodist Protestant churches discussed the advisability of their two bodies uniting. The result of this interchange of opinion was the appointment of committees of fifteen from each body to definitely con- sider the matter and report. Through overtures made by Dr. William Hayes Ward, chairman, our own Committee on Union with Other Denominations was invited to be represented at this joint meeting. These three committees came together in the city of Pittsburg three years ago last month, and after three days of conference appointed a sub-com- mittee to meet one month later in the city of Washington, and formulate a report to be submitted to the full committee at a later meeting. In the following month of July the full committee reconvened in the city of Pittsburg, and after two days of discussion adopted unanimously the " Syllabus and Letter to the Churches," which was handed down to the general bodies, and which finally issued in the General Council held at Dayton, Ohio, last February.
The results reached at Dayton have been widely published and are well known. But it should be remembered that the plan of union there formulated is only in outline, is yet in the hands of committees for per- fection, and is subject to modification at an adjourned meeting of the General Council before it comes before our several bodies for final action. But the imperfectly wrought out basis of union is substantially, I presume, what will be ultimately adopted by the General Council.
Who are these people with whom we are discussing plans of union? Before we marry we like to know something of the character and qualifi- cations of the other party.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, never left the Church of Eng- land, and would not consent that his followers should do so. Though Methodism was introduced into this country in 1766, it was not until 1784, when the War of the Revolution had practically destroyed the English Church among the colonies, that Wesley consented to the formal organization of the Methodist church here. In that year, when the churches did organize, the itinerant ministers arrogated to themselves all legislative, judicial, and executive authority, and denied the right of laymen to vote, voice, or membership in the various conference bodies of the church. Not only leading laymen but many ministers strongly protested against the assumption of such priestly prerogatives. The contention continued with increasing vigor until 1827, when a number of laymen and ministers in several of the states were expelled. The only charge against them was the disturbance of the peace in discussing and
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maintaining the rights of the laity to representation in the various bodies of the church. Seeing that all hopes of reformation within the church were fruitless, large numbers of ministers and laymen in Maryland, Penn- sylvania, Virginia, Ohio, and other states withdrew and formed themselves in 1828 into " The Associated Methodist Churches." Two years later the organization was completed and the new body took the name of the Methodist Protestant Church. Though Methodistic in its forms of wor- ship, it is anti-episcopal in its form of government. Its polity is that of a representative democracy. It has quarterly, annual, and quadrennial conferences (corresponding somewhat to our local and state conferences and National Council), in which the ministry and laity are equally repre- sented. The church has no bishops nor presiding elders. Methodistic in its forms of worship, and coming from a church episcopally governed, its polity is that of a representative democracy. It holds strenuously to the freedom of the local church and the rights of its individual members. Some of its " Elemental Principles " have a certain familiar sound to the descendants of the Pilgrims. Listen to the first four: 1. A Christian church is a society of believers in Jesus Christ and is of divine institution. 2. Christ is the only head of the church, and the word of God the only rule of faith and practice. 3. No person who loves the Lord Jesus Christ, and obeys the Gospel of God our Saviour, ought to be deprived of church membership. 4. Every man has an inalienable right to private judgment in matters of religion, and an equal right to express his opinion in any way which will not violate the laws of God or the rights of his fellow-men.
While holding to the independency of the local church, the Methodist Protestants believe that there are certain interests common to the whole body, and that the right of self-government is not surrendered when repre- sentative assemblies are created. Hence the following principle: What- ever power may be necessary to the formation of rules and regulations, is inherent in the ministers and members of the church; but as much of that power may be delegated from time to time upon such plan of repre- sentation as they may judge necessary and proper.
The other body with whom we have entered into negotiation, the United Brethren in Christ, grew out of a movement on the part of William Otter- bein, of the German Reformed Church, and Martin Boehm, a Mennonite, to preach to the neglected classes of their own brethren. They sought to carry a pure gospel to those in great need. It was an effort at evangel- ization, with evangelistic methods. Beginning among the Germans in Pennsylvania and Maryland, the interest became so deep and widespread that it reached to other states and included all classes in the community. Though the movement started as early as 1757, it was not until 1800 that a formal organization was effected, this being found necessary in order to preserve the fruits of their toil and to secure efficiency in carrying on the growing work. The body is Methodistic in its forms and usages, but it differs from the Methodist Protestant church in that it has presiding
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