The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-09-05
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS, SPY.
GRAFTON
Committee of
arrangements.

L
Mr.. EDITOR: noticed in your paper several
weeks since a communication containing an ac-
count OF an Ordination in Grafton expressed in
such terms as to give erroneous views, | fear, of
the state of the religious societies in that town.
WIN you permit me To make one or two remarks
on the aforesaid communication
The published account of Mr.. Wider's ordna-
ton, after stating that the new Society had seced
ed Tor peace and conscience sake, says, 81" the
tchole Church" have withdrawn And what does
this prove Improves only that no protested Uni
tartan had been allowed to enter this Church.
ouch were the restrictions and conditions of adj
mlttance, that none but those who we're willing to
bind their consciences and their faith to particu-
lar creed and a human covenant, had joined or
could JOIN the Church. 1t is now found that there
are not a few in the Unitarian Society, who have
sincerely wished for years to make profession of
religion and enjoy the privileges of its ordinances,
but have been prevented by the kind and mode of
profession required. There are many entire fam-
lies, children and parents, some in advanced life,
OF unexceptionabe characters and religious habits,
who have never been even baptized, BECAUSE they
could not be unless they subscribed n human or
thodox covenant. And now, after being long de-
prved of these privileges for themselves and their
chlldren-priyileges to which Christ, the only
Master, has given all an equal rght-they arc told
that they have no rights fewer rights than those
who have thus excluded them. They, the Church,
having kept out all but those Of their own creed,
now take advantage of this very TACT, build upon 1t
aclaim to peculiar rights go off in body to anoth-
er Society, and carry away the records and proper
~ Of Church which was designed expressly for
the benefit of the Congregational Society.
One other point. Mr.. Wilder was said to be or
dnined over the Congregational Church and the
Evangelical Congregational Society in Grafton"
rms is new, believe, that the Church and Socle-
ty should have different names. 1t presents Gu
rlous question. The Congrega onai Church is the
Church ofthe Congregational Society, and if Mr.
Wilder is ordained over that he is ordained over the
Unitarian body. AS to the Church property, the
Untarlans have not claimed il, and probably will
not But If they do, the law will give it to Them
This has been repeatedly decided by our Supreme
Court, and is clearly stated in the decision drawn
up by Chief Justice Shaw, Of the recent Brook.
field case. | will close these remarks with one
extract from that decision.
even should every individual of an existing
Church die or remove, it would be competent fOl
the other members Of the parish, or religious Soci
ETY., to associate themselves for the purpose of eel
ebrating the Christian ordinances, or in the Ian
guagc Of the early days OF New England, To gather
Church. and such associated body would possess
all the powers and privileges Of the Church OF such
parish, and would be the legitimate successors o.
the former Church, to- the extent as IL no sus
pension or interruption in the regular succession
or continuity had taken place. Such body woull
have the power Of olecting deacons, and who
elected, by force Of the statute, all property, rGl
and personal which had been held by their pred {
ccssors, or given to tho Church, would vest in 81
dcac ous. ~ Decision, &c. y. a.