Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-06-20

the churches and are never invested with
POD to make enactments for them. The
most which they can do in the way of in
Producing new regulations into the church
es is by passing advisory resolutions,
nevertheless is certain, that the repre-
sentative bodies amongst the Baptis:s, often
have before them strong temptations to
transcend the limits of their dele gated au-
thority. For 'these bodies are generally
made up of individuals whose age, expert
ence and superior judgment enable them
to detect and point out evils, and also to
devise good, more readily than many OF
their younger and less enlightened breth-
rem. How natural, therefore, that there
should be a feeling in representative as
sembles to make ordinances, to be. enforc-
ed by rigorous penalties. A feeling of
this kind, it is to be feared, has been cher
ished and acted from, even by some Bap-
fists, although most warmly opposed by
the denomination in general.
The following case will serve for anil
Illustration of this subject.
We are informed that Baptist Quarter
ly Meeting in the eastern part of this State,
several years ago, enacted law, that
when any individual, member Of one Of
the churches belonging to said Quarterly
Meeting, should feel it his duty to engage
in the gospel ministry. he shall, previous
Iy to his enga ging in the work, first obtain
license from the church of which he is a
member, then, of the Quarterly Meeting,
and lastly. of the several churches compos'
ing the Quarterly Meeting. All ;hIs or
deal he must 90 through before he could
receive ordination, and if he should refuse
the penalty is that he shall not be indicted
into the ministry! Who will not pronounce
a regulation like this, altogether worthy
OF the papal hierarchy2
II is interesting to witness what have
been its results, as showing at once the
blightng influence which those have ex
erted upon portion of Gods heritage
who have upheld the Quarterly Meeting ii
this unrig hteous act; & also the little hope
there u.s. that those brethren, w no are jus
entering the ministry, will ever submit 10 it
And what have been the results! Why
:, that, when persons belonging to any o
said churches have become convinced o
, its being their duty to preach, they hav'
t taken their dismission from them and gon'
into some other part of the State and unit
t ed with the churches that have acted indie
2 pendenty of an intolerant sovereignty, AM
from them received license to preach
. Consequently, such candidates for the min
/ istry have never returned to the section {
the State whence they came, but have bee
ordained and settled in other places. w
: are assured, that thele have not been bu
two or three exceptions to this general re
f mark, during a series of many years, al
: though, during the same period, the sec
ton of our State in question, has probabl,
: given birth to as large portion of Baptis
2 ministers as any other. We must express
: our overwhelming astonishment that, il
; the nineteenth century, in the State o
! Maine, and amongst Baptists a regulation
: exists so tyrannical in it's nature, so utterl,
5 incompatible with the best interests of Ii
I on and so much at war with our denomi
. national views.-E0sterm Baptist
. SUCCESSFUL PREAcH1NG.-The grea
art of preaching the gospel Of Jesus
Christ successfully consists, not in tn,
I abundance Of knowledge which minis
ter is able to display, nor in the multitude
of weighty truths with which he car
charge his discourse; but simply in know
ing how to present truth in such man
ner rs to move the Morning
Star.
Five Baptist churches have been form
ed in the southeast part Of Wisconsin,
There is prospect of their being EN-.
bodied into an ASSOCIATION the present
season.-MOru3ng Star.