USA > Nebraska > Congregational Nebraska > Part 6
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" 'Whereas, Alimony, when allowed, is to be collected only as a civil debt, and consequently, in most cases, not to be collected at all ; and,
"'Whereas, Marriage, followed by immediate desertion, is the easiest method of escape for an unmarried man from the consequences of an action for seduction or bastardy, and has been frequently performed for that very purpose ; and,
" 'Whereas, A divorce may be obtained from an absent respondent where due diligence has not been used to notify such respondent that action for divorce has been com- menced ;
" 'Therefore, we, the undersigned, do respectfully petition your honorable body that during your present session such amendation of the law may be made as shall
" 'First-Make desertion on the part of a married person a penal offense.
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" 'Second-Subject a man against whom desertion has been proven to the same conditions as one against whom bastardy has been proven.
" 'Third-Give this remedy independent of any action for divorce.
"'Fourth-Prohibit proceeding in any action for divorce until due diligence has been used to bring the respondent into court.
"'And your petitioners will ever pray.'
"Your committee further recommend that this petition be presented to the legislature by a delegation from this association, and that the W. C. T. U. and other associa- tions be invited to cooperate in urging the matter upon the legislature.""
Some of the evils petitioned against have been removed by recent legislation, and desertion in some cases is made a criminal offense, and in other ways the law has been improved.
Spirited resolutions are sent to the President of the United States, requesting that vigorous measures be taken to protect American citizens, and maintain the treaty rights in the Ottoman Empire.4
Again
"Recognizing the increased activity of the Mormon church, and the aggressiveness on the part of the polyga- mous propaganda, be it therefore
"Resolved, That we hereby most respectfully call upon our United States Senators and Representatives to use their utmost endeavor to secure early action by Congress proposing an amendment to our Federal Constitution for- ever prohibiting the practice of polygamy in any place sub-
Minutes, 1892, pp. 19, 20.
Minutes, 1896, p. 14.
7 -
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ject to our governmental jurisdiction, and providing for the disfranchisement of those who are guilty of this crime."5
Sonie years ago a plan of church union of all Protestant bodies in this country was proposed. It was called the New · Jersey Plan and was considered by the Nebraska churches during 1894 and 1895, but the association came to the con- clusion that "We are unable to find a feasible way to such unity in what is known as the New Jersey Plan.""
The time, in the estimation of the association, had not come to agitate the question of the organic union of the Protestant bodies, but the Plan itself is of interest. The essential features of this plan are stated by Dr. A. H. Brad- ford of New Jersey in a letter dated January 6, 1905 :
"The New Jersey Plan for the Union of Protestant Evangelical Churches was based on four proposals namely : I, The acceptance of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, inspired by the Holy Spirit, as containing all things necessary to salvation, and as being the real and ulti- mate standard of Christian faith. 2, The discipleship of Jesus Christ, the Divine Lord and Savior, and the teacher of the world. 3, The Church of Christ, which is His body, whose mission it is to preach the Gospel to the world. 4, Liberty of conscience in the interpretation of the Scriptures and in the administration of the Church.
"I have not given the proposals in the exact form in which they were originally presented, but in their substance. You will find them in the Minutes of the National Council of 1895, page 36.
"Very sincerely yours, "AMORY H. BRADFORD."
The plan of church union in some form has, however, been kept before the Church, and the action of the National
5 Minutes, 1900, p. 17.
Minutes, 1895, p. 14.
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Council, October, 1904, in adopting the report of the com- mittee appointed in 1901 to confer with other denomina- tions, especially the United Brethren and Methodist Prot- estants, has made this a live question, and it is possible that some kind of federation may be adopted in which these denominations, together with the Free Baptists and Con- gregationalists, may come into much closer fellowship, and perhaps eventually into organic union. This is for the churches of all the denominations to' say. There can be no coercion. Local and state bodies are discussing it. De- nominations are coming closer together, but there are many obstacles to be overcome before organic union can be realized. The readjustment of missionary boards and church papers, of publishing houses and Sunday school lit- erature, is a tremendous undertaking ; but this is a simple problem as compared with that of bringing the individual churches into line with the movement, and "delivering the goods." There will doubtless be a cleavage when it is under- taken. Some United Brethren and Methodist Protestants will prefer the M. E. Church to the proposed Union Church ; some Congregationalists will prefer to remain Independent ; and so there is a danger of the proposed union of denomina- tions resulting in the organization of still another, and the weakening of those that remain. Much will depend on the skill, wisdom, and patience of the leaders in the movement. Congregational Nebraska at the Geneva meeting, 1903, unanimously adopted the following resolutions, which may be said fairly to represent the thought and desires of our churches :
"Whereas, There is at the present time a movement look- ing toward a closer federation and possibly organic union of different denominations with the Congregational body ; therefore
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"Resolved, That we hail hopefully the movement for a closer association with sister denominations, trusting to find in it the beginning of that consummation of Christian fel- lowship so long desired and prayed for by the Church. The end sought is worth sacrifice, and while we still cherish the constitutive principles of our order-the independence of the local church, and the fellowship of the churches-with a conviction too profound to be surrendered, we stand ready to sink personal preferences and all non-essentials of method and tradition that we may strike hands in love and labor with the wider fellowship.
"Resolved, That it should be the aim of our churches to strengthen the denomination through the development of an inner life, and the application to all our work of those his- toric ideas which have left such a profound and beneficial influence upon the development of our national life, as well as upon the educational and spiritual life of our churches.
"Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the next National Council as a testimony of the position of our churches in the state of Nebraska."7
These represent a friendly attitude toward a closer affilia- tion of Christian workers in all denominations, but em- phasize the need of the "development of an inner life, and the application to all our work of those historic ideas which have left such a profound and beneficial influence upon the development of our national life, as well as upon the educa- tional and spiritual life of our churches."
The same Geneva meeting in connection with the preced- ing adopted the following resolutions on the Bible Society ; Labor and Capital; Temperance and the Observanc'e of the Lord's Day :
7 Minutes, 1903, p. 21.
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"Whereas, The American Bible Society, through its trans- lation of the Holy Scriptures into many languages and the distribution of the same in mission fields, has become an indispensable agency in the development of our missionary work ; therefore be it
"Resolved, That we heartily commend the American Bible Society to our churches as worthy their moral and financial support.
"Resolved, That it is the sense of this association that the Bible Society should also print the very best English version, and we therefore respectfully request that the so- ciety publish the American Revised Version of the Holy Scriptures for general distribution.
"Resolved, That the state registrar be requested to send a copy of these resolutions to the officers of the Bible Society in New York.
"Resolved, That without at present expressing ourselves as to the inerits of the controversy between organized labor and capital, we heartily approve of the appointment by the National Council of a labor committee to inquire into the facts as to labor and its relation to capital and to the churches, and recommend the appointment by this body of a committee to cooperate with the national committee as requested.
"Whereas, We recognize in the use of alcoholic liquors, and in their agent, the liquor traffic, after sin in the heart, the most destructive foe to the progress of the Kingdom of our Redeemer in the hearts and lives of men; be it
"Resolved, I, That we pledge ourselves to favor total abstinence on the part of individuals and total prohibition of the traffic on the part of the state and nation.
"2, That working toward this we favor vigorous presen- tation of the evils of intemperance and vigorous enforce- ment of existing laws, and as rapidly as possible the enact-
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ment of new restrictive measures until the traffic is wholly outlawed."
"We deplore the growing laxity in the observance of the Lord's Day and urge upon our ministers and churches the necessity of recovering the reverent regard for the Lord's Day so valuable to family life and to the Kingdom of Christ."
The Lincoln meeting, October, 1904, was alive to the inhuman treatment of the natives in the Congo valley and adopted the following resolution :
"In view of charges made by responsible parties that grossest outrages are being perpetrated upon the native people of the Congo valley, reducing them in many in- stances practically to a condition of slavery,
"Resolved, That the General Association of the Con- gregational Churches of Nebraska urges upon Congress a thorough investigation of the charges made against the authorities of the independent state of the Congo, to the end that if such charges are found to be true, the United States unite with other western powers to secure to the native people of the Congo the humane and just govern- ment which is their right."
In all these, and in other declarations, the churches of the state show an active interest in the questions which affect not only the denomination but our common humanity as well. Congregational churches would be untrue to their historic life if they failed to keep in touch with the great movements in thought and life which characterize the pres- ent century. A new and interior state feels the throb of this vigorous life as well as those states nearer the great com- mercial centers of the country.
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CENTRALIZATION
Interested as our churches are in the movement looking toward a closer affiliation with other denominations, it is even more interested in the trend of thought and action in favor of a more centralized government. There has been much discussion of late of some one or more phases of this question.
Congregationalists "to the manner born" and those who have drunk deep of the historic spirit of the denomination will hardly surrender their freedom for a centralized gov- ernment, acting with authority and assuming legislative functions. It is the independence of the local church to conduct and manage its own affairs, subject only to the laws of fellowship, which makes pulpits in our churches so attractive to ministers in other denomina- tions. We rejoice in our independence, but we are not In- dependents ; we are Congregationalists, because we are bound together by the law of fellowship. We shall see how the application of this principle may work out the unification of the churches, without surrendering our first constitutive principle, the independence of the local church. It is also historically shown that our freedom has been as valuable a safeguard to the orthodox faith of the churches, colleges, and theological seminaries as the more centralized government of other denominations.
On the other hand, it is felt that if, as a body of churches, we can work in closer touch with one another, we may largely increase our efficiency in the Kingdom of God.
It was to secure this that Congregational Nebraska at its Geneva meeting, 1903, appointed a State Advisory
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Board, which has been widely commented upon in the re- ligious press. The board is an experiment in Nebraska Congregationalism, and will be continued only as it proves that it has a mission for good, a mission in harmony with the genius of our polity, in the development of a vigorous, healthful church life dominated by the democratic spirit in fellowship with the best thought and life of the churches.
After a year's trial the churches at the Lincoln meeting, October, 1904, with only one dissenting vote, gave their most hearty approval of the work of the board, and en- larged its membership from three to five members. It has done much in helping pastorless churches to secure minis- ters ; in planning for fellowship meetings, evangelistic ser- vices, and in other ways promoting Congregational interests. The board is the child of the fertile brain of the large- hearted pastor of the First Church in Omaha, Rev. H. C. Herring, D.D.
The following resolutions and explanatory statement, adopted by the association, were prepared and introduced by him, and are here given in full because of their historic value :
"Resolved, I, That there be appointed by this associa- tion two of its number who, with the State Superintendent of Missions, shall constitute a body to be known as the State Advisory Board; one of the two named to be chosen for one year and one for two years, and hereafter one to be chosen each year for a term of two years.
"2, That this board be instructed to associate with itself at its discretion, and as may be arranged with the Home Mission Board, the General Missionary of the state in order that his work may be coordinated with its own.
"3, That this board be charged with the duty of aiding the churches of the state in their work in all ways within its power, so far as they are willing to accept such aid.
·
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Especially is it charged to seek to be helpful to the churches in the following particulars :
"a. The promotion of evangelistic effort through the services of the general missionary, through the introduction of other evangelists in whom it has confidence, and through the cultivation of the evangelistic spirit.
"b. The settlement of pastors by placing at the disposal of vacant churches the information it may possess or may obtain concerning applicants, by seeking to bring good men into the state, and by endeavoring through personal con- ference to guide the churches in wise methods of seeking pastors.
"c. The strengthening of weak fields through the con- centration of workers in them for brief periods.
"d. The investigation of eligible localities and the de- velopment of Congregational churches there when feasible.
"c. The cultivation of systematic and effective methods of missionary giving among the churches.
"f. The promotion of the circulation of our denomina- tional literature among the churches,
"g. The furthering of union locally between our churches and the Methodist Protestant and United Brethren churches wherever it may seem desirable.
"4, The members of this board shall be chosen by ballot from six names to be submitted by the nominating com- mittee. In subsequent years the number submitted shall be three, from whom one shall be chosen.
"EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
"The aim of the accompanying resolutions is five-fold :
"I. To secure for the State Association a continuous executive agency, speaking with such authority as is com- patible with our independent polity. There would thus come to be in time a consciousness among the churches that our
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work has a unity and coherence of which they are largely unconscious now.
"2. To secure a definite instrumentality for furthering the lines of effort mentioned in the resolution, such further- ance being made possible by the fact that two of the board give their whole time to the work and the other two con- stant oversight and counsel and it is expected some measure of personal activity.
"3. To reinforce the home mission superintendent in all the relations which he now sustains to the home missionary churches, and to extend the same relationship of advisory helpfulness to the self-supporting churches.
"4. To protect the churches against unworthy ministers and evangelists and to attract worthy inen to the state.
"5. To promote the organizations of Congregational churches in the many promising fields now open to us throughout the state.
"The reasons for the existence of such a board are three- fold :
"I. The acknowledged weakness of our churches in all enterprises calling for united effort and the frequent laxness with which the affairs of the local church are managed.
"2. The fact that in our whole state system there is but one common and continuous meeting point for the churches, viz., the home mission superintendent, and he, of course, is unrelated to the self-supporting churches and can not possibly compass much beyond the routine duties which de- mand attention in connection with the churches under his care.
"3. The fact that the value of an advisory or executive agency is in proportion to its permanence and prominence before the eyes of the churches.
"For this reason the resolutions suggest that the functions of the Evangelistic and the Benevolence Committee be con-
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centrated in this committee in connection with its other duties. It is hoped that an agency such as this might in process of time exercise an important influence in bringing our state to self-support."1
In adopting this measure the General Association ap- pointed as members of the Advisory Board: Rev. H. C. Herring, D.D., Rev. J. W. Cowan, D.D., and Supt. H. Bross, D.D. The following year Rev. G. W. Mitchell and Rev. V. F. Clark were elected additional members. The work of the board will be watched with growing interest by the churches. There are those who think that in this board, or some development of it, we have the happy solu- tion of the more "centralized government" which some be- lieve is necessary to the vigorous prosecution of our church work. It is the "Nebraska Idea." How far it may enter into the life of the churches in other states remains to be seen.
It will be noted that this is an effort to unify the churches and secure greater efficiency along the line of a command- ing fellowship, and not through a legislative body with au- thority over the churches. It is doubtful if we ever go beyond this. And whatever centralization the churches may sanction will be along Congregational, not Presbyterial nor Episcopal lines.
ECCLESIASTICAL STANDING
The development of the constitutive principle of fellow- ship has placed an emphasis on the ecclesiastical standing of churches and ministers in the association of churches. This is thoroughly Congregational.
A church can not organize itself, call whomsoever it will as pastor regardless of moral and doctrinal fitness, and then say "We are a Congregational church, and our pastor is a
1 Minutes, 1903, pp. 8-10.
H. C. Herring, D.D. J. W. Cowan, D.D.
Rev. G. W. Mitchell Rev. V. F. Clark
MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD H. C. Herring, D.D., Chairman
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Congregational pastor and must be received as such." It may be an Independent church and its pastor an Independ- ent, minister, but neither church nor minister can lay claim to the name Congregational until recognized by a Congre- gational council, or received into a Congregational associa- tion which is responsible for the standing of both church and minister.
The old idea of ministerial standing in the local church is a relic of independency without fellowship. Modern Con- gregationalism has long since repudiated it, and the western churches have been among the foremost in pushing forward this development of Congregationalism, holding in even bal- ance its two constitutive principles, the independence of the local church in the management of its own affairs, and the fellowship of the churches in a united body-the denomina- tion. Any future centralization in government of the de- nomination must continue to hold in even balance these two constitutive principles if our churches remain Congrega- tional. There is no indication that Congregational Nebraska is ready to renounce its birthright and disown its inheritance.
EVANGELISM
But there are tokens of a vigorous denominational life, a truly Congregational life. The action of the recent Na- tional Council at Des Moines in creating a Committee on Evangelism, representative in every way, earnest and de- voted, a committee who mean business, is already sending a purer blood through our denominational veins, and with the development of a new spiritual life there is coming also into our churches a strong Congregational consciousness, which indicates a more rapid growth in churches and a commanding influence in the management and life of our great missionary societies and institutions of learning- the congregational academies, colleges, and theological seminaries.
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XVIII
THE OUTLOOK
At the Geneva meeting Superintendent Bross in his an- nual report makes mention of the fact that the Nebraska State Missionary Society had almost reached its majority, which to-day it boasts, in the following words :
"TWENTY YEARS
"This is the twentieth anniversary of our Home Mission- ary Society. The history of the years has much to show of progress. Then we had a membership of 4,042, now 16,005 : then our home expenses were $45,248, now $150,030; then we raised for our benevolences $8,723, now $19,479. While then we had nominally 147 churches, many of them were so only in name, and even their names have since dis- appeared. Only seventy-seven of our present 205 churches had then been organized. We often mourn over our lost churches, and in many cases we ought not only to weep but to humble ourselves in dust and ashes that we forsook them in the time of their dire extremity ; but it is worth remember- ing that the total membership of the churches whose names have disappeared from that list of twenty years ago amounts to only 453, only four or five of them having a membership above twenty.
"NEW FEATURES
"Three features of the work of the past year I wish to emphasize, viz. : the Lincoln Convocation, the advent of the Yale Band, the efforts of the board to take advantage of this occasion to increase the volume of our work.
Sanderson
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"The Lincoln Convocation [presided over by Hon. C. B. Anderson of Crete] March 23, brought together many representatives from different parts of the state and gave utterance to the deep conviction on the part of many that we need an awakening interest in our Congregational ranks. Dr. Herring evidently interpreted the feeling when he said: 'I am oppressed with the sense of the weakness of our Congregational Zion.'
"For a whole day, from 8:00 o'clock in the morning until 9:00 in the evening, the convocation faced the question of ways and means for an advance along the line. Prayer and conference, addresses and resolutions, the best wisdom and concentrated attention in committee meetings combined to make the day memorable in our Congregational history. The publication in the Congregational News of April of Dr. Herring's strong address and the resolutions adopted brought the message of the meeting into many of our homes. The paper ought to have gone into many more homes.
"Among the resolutions adopted was the following : 'In our judgment the time has come to set a higher standard for our missionary gifts. Especially in the matter of home missionary offerings do we feel that our 15,000 members ought not to attempt to raise less than $10,000 per year, nor to be satisfied to fall short of it.' This certainly struck a high note, none too high, for our home missionary gifts. The meeting also expressed the conviction that in view of the great need of laborers, the superintendent should visit eastern seminaries and appeal to the young men to come to the rescue. Upon reporting this matter to New York it struck a responsive chord there, and Secretary Choate, with- out waiting to write, wired the superintendent at once ad- vising the visit.
"It has been felt by the board and the superintendent that the coming of this band in connection with the utter-
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ances of the Lincoln Convocation ought to mark the begin- ning of better things in the development of our work. Evi- dently we ought to be moving more rapidly toward the goal of self-support. In the hard-time years we could not press forward with much momentum. We have outgrown hard- time conditions. It is amazing to witness the recuperative power of our great state. Churches in eastern Nebraska that have almost reached self-support need to make the ad- ditional effort to complete the work.
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