V. THE OBERLIN DECLARATION

What is known as the Oberlin Declaration is not in any proper sense a Creed. The National Council of 1871 was called on the district provision in its letter missive that the Burial Hill Declaration should be the doctrinal basis of the National Council. Had that Council followed the precedents of councils pro re nata, it would have had to remain so; for no such council can change the letter missive, which is the charter of the Council. But at the very outset the National Council became a law unto itself, and refused to accept this condition of its organization. This is a matter of such importance as to justify the quotation in full of the official records preliminary to the organization of the National Council of 1871:

On the approach of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, the Church of the Pilgrimage, at Plymouth, Mass., invited the churches to meet by delegates at New York, to consider the appropriateness of particular action in celebrating this fifth jubilee. Such a meeting was held March 2, 1870; and it appointed a general committee for its purposes, consisting of Hon. Edward S. Tobey, Rev. William W. Patton, D. D., Rev. Henry M. Dexter, D. D., Samuel Holmes, A. S. Barnes, Rev. Ray Palmer, D. D., and Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D. D.; of which, the first named was chairman, Rev. Dr. Dexter, secretary, and Mr. Holmes, Treasurer.

Among the acts of this committee was the calling of a Pilgrim Memorial Convention, which met at Chicago, Ill., April 27, 1870, open to delegates from all the churches in the United States.

Of that convention, B. W. Tompkins, of Connecticut, was Moderator; Hon. E. D. Holton, of Wisconsin, Rev. Samuel Wolcott, D. D., of Ohio, and Rev. George F. Magoun, of Iowa, Vice Moderators; Rev. Henry C. Abernethy, of Illinois, Rev. Philo R. Hurd, D. D., of Michigan, and Rev. L. Smith Hobart, of New York, Secretaries; and Rev. William W. Patton, D. D., of Illinois, Dr. Samuel Holmes, of New York, Hon. C. J. Walker, of Michigan, James L. Kearnie, of Missouri, and Rev. Rowland B. Howard, of Illinois, Business Committee.

Among the resolutions adopted at that large convention were the following:

Resolved, That this Pilgrim Memorial Convention recommended to the Congregational State Conferences and Associations, and to other local bodies, to unite in measures for instituting on the principle of fellowship, excluding ecclesiastical authority, a permanent National Conference.

The General Conference of Ohio was the first to propose definite action. That Conference appointed a committee (Rev. A. Hastings Ross being made chairman) to correspond with the other State organizations and propose a convention to mature the plan. The several State organizations approved of the proposed National organization, and appointed committees. The General Association of New York proposed that a meeting of these committees be held in Boston, December 21, 1870, and its committee (Rev. L. Smith Hobart, chairman) issued circulars to that effect. The Committee of the General Association of Masachusetts adopted the proposal, and issued invitations accordingly. The official record of that convention is herewith given.

In accordance with a call issued by a committee of the General Association of the Congregational Churches of Masachusetts, upon suggestion of the General Association of New York, Committees appointed by the several General Associations and Conferences in the United States, on the subject of a National Council, assembled in the Congregational Library Room, Boston, Mass., December 21, 1870, at 12 o'clock, noon.

Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D. D., of Massachusetts, called the convention to order, and read the invitation under which the committees had convened.

Rev. L. Smith Hobart, of New York, Rev. Charles Seccombe, of Minnesota, and Rev. Joseph A. Leach, of New Hampshire, were appointed a committee to nominate officers. They reported the following nominees, who were unanimously elected:

Rev. Edwin B. Webb, D. D., of Massachusetts, Moderator; Hon. Amos C. Barstow, of Rhode Island, Assistant Moderator; Rev. William E. Merriman, of Wisconsin, Scribe; and Hon. Henry S. McCall, of New York, Assistant Scribe.

Prayer was offered by the Moderator.

The roll of delegates was made out, and as completed in the further sessions of the convention, is as follows:

Maine. Rev. Benj. Tappan; Rev. Charles C. Parker, D. D.

New Hampshire.-Rev. Josiah G. Davis, D. D.; Rev. Franklin D. Ayre; Rev. Cyrus W. Wallace, D. D.; Rev. Joseph A. Leach; Rev. George M. Adams; Rev. Henry E. Parker.

Massachusetts.-Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D. D.; Rev. Samuel T. Seelye, D. D.; Rev. Edwin B. Webb, D. D.; Hon. Charles Stoddard; Hon. S. Angier Chace.

Rhode Island.-Rev. James G. Vose; Rev. James H. Lyon; Hon. F. W. Bicknell; Hon. Amos C. Barstow; Rev. Francis Horton. Connecticut.-Rev. Davis S. Brainerd; Rev. Robert G. Vermilye, D. D.; Rev. Edward W. Gilman; Bro. Ralph D. Smith; Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D.; Bro. Calvin Day.

New York. Rev. L. Smith Hobart; Hon. Henry S. McCall; Rev. William I. Budington, D. D.

New Jersey.-Dea. Samuel Holmes.

Ohio. Rev. George W. Phillips; Rev. Hiram Mead; Rev. Israel W. Andrews, D. D.

Michigan.-Rev. Jesse W. Hough.

Minnesota.-Rev. Charles Seccombe; Rev. Jas. W. Strong.
Wisconsin.-Rev. William E. Merriman.

Rev. Dr. Quint read the substance of the action taken by the several State Conferences on the subject of a National Council, and moved the following:

Resolved, That it is expedient, and appears clearly to be the voice of the churches, that a National Council of the Congregational Churches of the United States be organized.

After full discussion, in which delegates from all the States represented expressed their views, the resolution was unanimously adopted.

The convention took a recess of half an hour.

On re-assembling, it was unanimously

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, to whom shall be referred all suggestions or papers, and who shall report in proper draft what is necessary to the organization of a National Council.

The following brethren were appointed the committee:Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D. D., of Massachusetts; Rev. William E. Merriman, of Wisconsin; Dea. Samuel Holmes, of New Jersey; Rev. George W. Phillips, of Ohio; and Hon. F. W. Bicknell, of Rhode Island.

Informal discussion followed, on various points submitted to the committee; and the convention adjourned to meet to-morrow at 9 o'clock, A. M.

Thursday, December 22, 1870.

The convention re-assembled at 91⁄2 o'clock, A. M. Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Seelye, of Massachusetts, and Rev. Mr. Hobart, of New York.

The committee appointed to prepare a draft of action necessary to the organization of National Council, reported. Their report was accepted, and considered article by article. After some amendment, it was unanimously adopted, as follows:

Resolved, 1. That it is expedient, and appears clearly to be the voice of the churches, that a National Council of the Congregational Churches of the United States be organized.

Resolved, 2. That the churches are hereby invited to meet in Council, by delegates, to form such an organization, and constitute its first session at a place and time to be settled by a committee hereafter to be appointed, who shall give public notice thereof; and that delegates be appointed in number and manner as follows: (1.) That the churches assembled in their local conferences, appoint one delegate for every ten churches in their respective organizations, and one for a fraction of ten greater than one-half; it being understood that wherever the churches of any State are directly united in a General Association or Conference, they may, at their

option, appoint the delegates in the above ratio in General Conference, instead of in local Conferences. (2.) That in addition to the above, the churches united in any General Association or Conference, appoint by such Association, one delegate, and one for each ten thousand communicants in their fellowship, and one for a major fraction thereof. (3.) That the number of delegates be, in all cases, divided between ministers and lay-men, as nearly equally as is possible.

Resolved, 3. That a committee, consisting of seven persons, be appointed to prepare the draft of a proposed Constitution for the National Council, to be submitted for consideration at the meeting now called, and to be previously published in season for consideration at the meeting now called, and to be previously published in season for consideration by the churches, and that that committee be governed by the following directions:

(1.) That the name be as above.

(2.) That reference be made to the Declaration of Faith set forth at Plymouth, in the year 1865, as the doctrinal basis.

(3.) That a declaration be made of the two cardinal principles of Congregationalism, viz.: the exclusive right and power of the individual churches to self-government; and the fellowship of the churches one with another, with the duties growing out of that fellowship, and especially the duty of general consultation in all matters of common concern to the whole body of churches.

(4.) That the churches withhold from the National Council all legislative or judicial power over churches or individuals, and all right to act as a Council of Reference.

(5.) That the objects of the organization be set forth substantially as follows:

To express and foster the substantial unity of our churches in doctrine, polity, and work; and

To consult upon the common interests of all our churches, their duties in the work of evangelization, the, united development of their resources, and their relations to all parts of the kingdom of Christ. (6.) That the number and manner of electing delegates be as now adopted in calling the first meeting.

(7.) That the session be held once in

-years.

(8.) To provide as simple an organization, with as few officers, and with as limited duties as may be consistent with the efficiency of the Council in advancing the principles and securing the objects of the proposed organization.

Resolved, 4. That the churches throughout the country be notified of the action of this convention, and be requested to authorize their representatives in conferences to choose delegates as above.

Voted, That this committee be directed to determine the time and place of the first meeting of the Council, and issue the call.

Voted, That this committee be instructed to recommend a mode of providing for the expenses of delegates to the National Council. Voted, That thanks be returned to the brethren in Boston, for their abundant hospitalities.

Voted, That the convention expresses to the directors of the American Congregational Association its sense of the value of the library rooms as a place of meeting.

Voted, That an official copy of these proceedings be published in religious periodicals.

The following persons were then chosen, by ballot, the committee to prepare the draft of proposed constitution, as ordered in the third resolve:

Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, D. D., of New Bedford, Massachusetts, (Chairman.)

Rev. Pres. William E. Merriman, of Ripon, Wisconsin.
Rev. Prof. Samuel C. Bartlett, D. D., of Chicago, Illinois.
Dea. Samuel Holmes, of Montclair, New Jersey.

Major-General Oliver O. Howard, of Washington, District of

Columbia.

Rev. William I. Budington, D. D., of Brooklyn, New York.
Hon. Amos C. Barstow, of Providence, Rhode Island.
After prayer, the convention adjourned sine die.

William E. Merriman, Scribe.

EDWIN B. WEBB, Moderator.

The Preliminary Committee decided to accept an invitation from the churches in Oberlin, Ohio, and issued the call of a National Council to meet there November 15, 1871.-Minutes of National Council of 1871, pp. 7-12.

The Oberlin Declaration is contained part in the Preamble to the Constitution of the National Council as thus adopted and in part on the Declaration of Unity which was adopted, and ordered "printed in close proximity to the Constitution."

CONSTITUTION
[Adopted Nov. 17, 1871.]

Preamble to the Constitution.

The Congregational churches of the United States, by elders and messengers assembled, do now associate themselves in National Council,

To express and foster their substantial unity in doctrine, polity, and work; and

To consult upon the common interests of all the churches, their duties in the work of evangelization, the united development of their resources, and their relations to all parts of the kingdom of Christ..

They agree in belief that the Holy Scriptures are the sufficient and only infallible rule of religious faith and practice, their interpretation thereof being in substantial accordance with the great doctrines of the Christian faith, commonly called evangelical, held