The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1779-12-14 00:00:00, page 1

^ /T R S. Levina Deane, a member of
1V 1 the church in Stockbridge, being
lomtome since Est in allate of widowhood,
wkh the care of five small children, after
the most frigidly advice, and repeated ad
monitions to the contrary, both from pri
vate members, and from the whole body
of the church, proceeded to joyn in mar
riage with one Mr. John Filk. In cen
fequence hereof the church, finding all
means and arguments they could use with
her ineffectual to convince herof her error,
proceeded to exclude her from their com
munion. The agrieved party then recrßft
ed council ; and, by mutual cons A, fix
, ? . d ' < _ Jired to
come and give us abidance and advice in
the case. A council met in January last,
for this purpose: And, after having heard
the cause, the members then present pro
posed to adjourn, and to have the parties
chufe a larger number of pastors and chur
ches who might joyn them, at their next
session. To this pfopofal both the parties
agreeing, a council accordingly met in
Stockbridge, on the 19th of May last,
confining of the following elders, with
delegates from their several churches, ex
cepting from that in Newport, viz. Rev.
Meffi'rs Joseph Bellamy, D D. Samuel Hop
kins, Timothy Pitkin, Dowel Ferrand, Cotton
Mather Smith, Simeon Waterman, Benjamin
Trumbull, Levi Hart, Abner Benedit, Joel
Benedict, and Jonathan Huntingdon.
The church and agrieved party, apear
ing before the council, agreed to Submit
the three following articles to them, for
their opinion and advice. Viz.
I. Whether it is not inconsistent with
the rules of our holy proftfficn, to tolerate
any of our members in joyning in marriage
with profane and immoral perlons ?
11. Whether Mr. John risk does ap
pear to be a profane and immoral person?
LI. Whether the church have pro
ceeded regularly, according to the rules
of God's word, in excluding Levina, the
wife of John Fifk,from their communion?
The council, at their meetin^in May,
Yoted upon' the fiift article as follows, viz.
" That, in our opinion, it is inconsistent
^ with the rules of our holy profeffion for
“ chriftian churches to tolerate their menu
^ bers in joyning in marriage with open-
T UESD A Y, December 14, 177,; THE NUMBER 77,.
CONNECTICUT COURANT,
AND THE
Meffi'rs PRINTERS,
The conduct of the church in Stock
bridge, in the case of Mrs. Fisk, and the
doings of a late ecclesiastical council
thereon, having been the fubjeft of much
(peculation, and liable to be greatly mis
represented; you are requested, by the
church, to give the following a place in
your courant.
• STEPHEN WEST, Pallor.
In the name of church.
Stockbridge, October 26, 1779,
HA R TFO RD: Printed by HUDSON AMD GOODWIN, near the Great-Bridge.
WEEKLY I,N T E LLIGENCE R.
On this, the council adjourned to the
firft Wednesday of Oaut-r then next en
suing. Met according to adjournment ;
ail trie forementioned kiers, (excepting
Mr. Pitkin) being pref ur, together with
the Rev. Daniel BrimfmeF who, though a
member, was absent the 1 it session.
On a further and Ire, attention to the
matter, the council gave their final result
in the following words. Vz.
'' After the most m^'ere deliberation
" on the matters laid before us, we abide
" by the answer we have already given to
" the firft queflion ; excepting the in
" dances mentioned Ex us, 22. 16. and
" Dueteronomy, 22. 28, 29. if, indeed,
" they shall be thought • options.
" As tr -dc^ < . < are of opini
" on that Mr. John Fisk hath been pro
'' ved to be a profane and immoral person:
'' And, as Christ hath directed his mini
" fters to preach the gospel unto every
“ creature, and now commandeth all men
“ every where to repent, we most solemn
" ly and earnestly export him immediate
" ly to repent of his great fin, and make
" his peace with God and his people.
" With regard to the third article, we
“ are of opinion that the Rev. Pallor and
“ church in this place, have exhibited an
" amiable, chriftian spirit, in their con
" du& toward Mrs. Deane, (now Mr.
''Fifk.) Yet, as the case is somewhat
" new and singular, and as the church in
" ly profane and immoral persons ; in
“ which we agree with tie confeffion of
“ faith adopted by the church ofScotland,
" and that adopted by the church in New
" England. But, whether gracious per
" fens may lawfully joyn in marriage wi h
" graceless persons me openly immoral
“ and profane, as it is not referred to this
" council, so it is not particularly ah
" fwered."
" this place are capable of more fully ob
" taining the evidence of the true Rate and
" circumflances of it, than this council ;
“ we think it might be well and advisable
" for them, upon Mrs. Fifk's desire, to
" give her another candid Raring of the
" case; and, then determine as shall ap
'< pear to them most agreeable to the word
“ of God.
“ It gives us great pleafufe to fee that
" excellent spirit of chriftian love and of
" attention to the word of God as the on
" ly rule of faith a.;d manners, which ap.
" pears to govern this church. With that
" you may continue to inercafe in love
''and every grace ; and, that the God of
" peace would give you peace at all times
" and by all means, and prepare you to be
" preferred a glorious church without
"rfpet, or wrinkle, or any such thing,
" at the appearance of our Lord frfus
" Christ”
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 20.1
Last Wednesday an entertainment was
given by Congress to the Minister Plenipo
tentiary of Fiance, at which were present,
by invitation, several foreigners of distinc
tion, and gentlemen of public character.
In CONGRESS, Nov. 17, 1779.
According to order, the Honorable the
Chevalier De la Luzerne, Minister Pleni
potentiary of his Most Christian Majesty,
was introduced to an audience by Mr.
Mathews and Mr. Morris, the two Mem
bers for that purpose appointed, and be
ing feared in his chair, the Secretary of
the Ambaffy delivered to the President a
letter from his Most Christian Majesty,
directed on the out fide, "A nos tres chers
grands Amis et Allies, le President et
Membres du Congres General des Etats
Unis de l'Amerique Septentrionale ;" and
which is in the following words:
(TRANSLATION)
V&y dear, Great Friends and Allies,
TH E bad slate of health of the Sieur
Gerard, our Minister Plenipotentiary to
you, having laid him under the neccHiry
of applying for a recal, we have mace
choice of the Chevalier De la Luzerne, a
Coivnei in our ivi oc&, <0 luppiy m< pfere
We have no doubt but he will be agree
able to you, and that you will repose en
tire confidence in him. We pray you to
give full credit to all he shall fay to
you on our behalf, especially when he
shall assure you of the sincerity of our
wishes for your prosperity, as well as of
the constancy of our affection, and cf our
friendfllip for the United States in general,
and for each one of them in particular. We
pray God to keep yuu, our very dear,
great Friends and Allies, in his holy pro
tection.
Done at Versailles, the 31st of May;
U 7-
Your good Friend 2nd Ally,
(Signed) LOUIS.
(Underneath) De Vergennes.
The Minister was then announced to the
House; whereupon he arose and add) fl
Congress, in. a speech, which when he7e
finished, the Secretary delivered in writing
to the President, and is as follows :
/TRANSLATION.)
Gentlemen,
THE wisdom and courage which have
founded your Republic, the prudence
which presides over your deliberations,
your firmnifs in execution, the skill and
valour displayed by your generals and f -
diers, during the course of the war, have
attracted the admiration and regard of the
whole world. The King my Mafler was
the firft to acknowledge a liberty acquired
midst so many perils and with so much glo
ry. Since treaties dictated by medemi
on have fixed upon a permanent bafetie