Resolved, That the National Council deems it of paramount importance that all who profess and call themselves Christians, whatever their ecclesiastical relations may be, should bear in mind the new commandment which Christ gave his disciples; that we hail with devout satisfaction the progress of the spirit of fraternal union among Christian people of every name; that for the promotion of this end we acknowledge the obligation to avoid the magnifying of minor points of difference, thereby losing sight of the essential principles of Christian faith and conduct; and that we regard with earnest sympathy and approval the increasing tendency of Christians of different branches of the church to join hands in efforts to diffuse the blessings of the gospel.

The same committee reported the following resolution which was adopted :

Resolved, That, while we unceasingly deplore the great iniquity which is done to the cause of our beloved Lord by the needless multiplication of feeble churches, we gladly recognize the continued and judicious efforts of the American Home Missionary Society to lessen these evils, and the faithfulness of its officers to the rule of the society," not to plant a Congregational church or mission on ground which, in the proper sense of the word, is cared for by other evangelical denominations," and desire to express our confidence that no sectarian zeal on the part of any of its superintendents will ever be allowed to overrule the claims of Christian comity.

Union with Free Baptists and other denominations.1

The committee on union with Free Baptists and other denominations presented a report with resolutions. The report was accepted, and the resolutions were adopted as follows:

Resolved, (1) That affiliation with our denomination of churches, not now upon our roll, should be welcomed upon the basis of the common evangelical faith, substantial Congregational polity, and free communion of Christians, without regard to forms or minor differences.

Resolved, (2) That this Council heartily agrees with the unanimous declaration of the International Congregational Council, held in London, in 1891, in favor of a federation without authority, of all bodies of Christian churches, as soon as the providence of God shall permit, for the manifestation of the unity of the church of 1 Page 292.

Christ upon the earth, and for harmonious action in advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Army and navy.1

The committee on the religious needs of the army and navy presented a report which was accepted. Resolutions on the subject were presented and referred to Byron M. Cutcheon, of Michigan, Rev. E. Lyman Hood, of New Mexico, and Rev. Winfield S. Hawkes, of Utah.

Scandinavian churches.2

The committee on our relations with Scandinavian churches presented a report which was accepted.

The meeting in 1895.

A telegram inviting the Council to hold its meeting in 1895 in Portland, Oregon, was received and referred to the provisional committee.

Resolutions relating to the policy of the government were laid on the table.

Proposed sixteenth amendment of constitution of the United States.

It was resolved, That the secretary of this Council be instructed to formally present to both houses of Congress and to the President of the United States, the petition of this body for the adoption of the following proposed sixteenth amendment of the constitution of the United States:

"No state shall pass any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or use its property or credit, or any money raised by taxation, or authorize either to be used for the purpose of founding, maintaining, or aiding, by appropriation, payment for services, expenses, or otherwise, any church, religious denomination, or religious society, or any insti tution, society, or undertaking which is wholly or in part under sectarian or ecclesiastical control."

Provisional committee instructed.

It was resolved, That the provisional committee, in planning for the next Council, be instructed so to arrange the program that at least one session of each day be devoted to the presentation of papers on subjects of common interest, and to the discussion of the same.

The Year Book.

It was voted, That the following resolution, namely: "Resolved, That this Council recommend the enrolment in our Year Book of all churches and stations sustained in whole or in part by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," be referred to the publishing committee of this Council, and that they be requested to confer with the prudential committee of said Board, the Council agreeing to the determination of those two committees. It was voted, That if questions of variance arise as to what churches shall be enrolled in the Year Book, and by what methods their statistics shall be gathered for this purpose, such questions may be decided by the publishing committee.

New West Education Commission.1

The committee on the statement of the New West Education Commission presented a report with recommendations. The report was accepted, and the first recommendation was adopted as follows:

That the Council join in a hymn of thanksgiving, for ground already gained, and in prayer, that grace and wisdom may be given the administrators of these sacred trusts in sufficient measure to enable them to discharge wisely and well the peculiar and delicate responsibilities which shall hereafter, and in somewhat changed form, press upon them.

Theological seminaries.2

The committee on statements of the theological seminaries presented a report which was accepted.

Publishing committee.

A resolution that the publishing committee at an early day issue and distribute the resolutions of this Council, was laid on the table.

Proposed amendment of constitution.

The proposed amendment of the constitution was taken from the table and continued for action in 1895, namely:

Resolved, That the constitution be amended by omitting the word "third" in the first article, and substituting the word "annual" for the word " triennial" wherever it occurs in Articles III., IV., and V.

The American Board.1

The report of the committee on the statement of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was presented and accepted.

A resolution concerning the exercise of power by the National Council was laid on the table.

Form of admission to church.2

The committee on a form for admission to the church presented a report, which was accepted.

Educational institutions for Germans.

Rev. G. E. L. Mannhardt spoke in behalf of the German educational institutions at Crete, Neb., and at Chicago, Ill.

Committees.

The following committees were appointed: On Sabbath observance. Rev. Linus Blakesley, Kansas; Rev. Henry S. De Forest, Alabama; Samuel S. Rogers, Illinois; Rev. Sedgwick P. Wilder, Wisconsin; Rev. Albert H. Heath, Minnesota.

On union with Free Baptists and other denominations. Rev. William H. Ward, New York; Rev. Daniel M. Fisk, Ohio; Rev. Samuel W. Dike, Massachusetts; Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, Massachusetts; Rev. George E. Hall, New Hampshire; Rev. John H. Morley, Minnesota.

On ministerial standing. Rev. Levi L. Paine, Maine; Rev. Albert H. Currier, Ohio; Rev. George P. Fisher, Connecticut; Rev. Arthur L. Gillett, Connecticut; Rev. Charles S. Nash, California, Rev. Hugh M. Scott, Illinois; Rev. William J. Tucker, Massachusetts.

On capital and labor.— Rev. Washington Gladden, Ohio; Rev. Henry Hopkins, Missouri; Rev. John L. Scudder, New Jersey; Pres. David S. Jordan, California; Robert Newell, North Dakota. On secret and social societies. - A. Lyman Williston, Massachusetts; Rev. Charles A. Blanchard, Illinois; Rev. Smith Baker, Minnesota; Rev. Edward P. Goodwin, Illinois; Rev. Edward Hawes, Vermont.

On marriage and divorce. Rev. Frederick A. Noble, Illinois; Lyman D. Stevens, New Hampshire; Rev. Charles H. Richards, Pennsylvania; Courtney S. Kitchel, Wisconsin; Rev. William H. Scudder, New York.

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On prison reform. - Rev. Amory H. Bradford, New Jersey; Rev. William J. Batt, Massachusetts; Rev. August Drahms, California; Rev. Hastings H. Hart, Minnesota; Rev. William H. Warren, Ohio.

After singing, at 12.30, a recess was taken till 2.30.

MONDAY AFTERNOON, Oct. 17.

Army and navy.1

At 2.30, Rev. George C. Rowe, assistant moderator, offered prayer.

The committee on the resolutions on the religious needs of the army and navy reported the following preamble and resolutions, which were adopted:

Whereas, The soldiers in our army are the servants and defenders of the nation, and are called to a life of peril and temptation; and whereas, we recognize the fact that the highest efficiency of the soldier depends upon his being a man of good moral character, and furthermore, that he has a just claim upon the people and government which he serves for proper moral and religious opportunities; and believing that, at present, such opportunities are wholly inadequate, therefore,

Resolved, (1) That this Council is in hearty sympathy with every proper movement for the improvement of the moral and spiritual condition of the soldiers of our army.

Resolved, (2) That we urge the proper legislative and executive officers of the government to make such provision for religious teachers and other means for moral and religious instruction, that every man who wears the uniform of the United States may have within his reach the preaching of the gospel and other recognized means of moral and spiritual improvement.

Resolved, (3) That we urge upon Congress to make provision by appropriations for a suitable chapel at each permanent military post, where religious services may be held; and we press upon the attention of the churches the desirability of providing moral and religious reading for the libraries and reading-rooms of all such posts.

Resolved, (4) That the newly appointed committee on the army and navy be instructed to present the subject of these resolutions to the proper legislative and executive departments of the government.

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