The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-28

| TRIAL OF THE REV. o. 8. PRESCOTT, OF BOSTON.
An ecclesiastical court embed in Boston, on
the 10Th instant, to- try several charges preferred
against the Rev y. s Prescott, late assistant
minister of the Church of the Advent, of that city,
Of teaching contrary to the faith of the church
I Rev. Messrs. Bellard, Clinch, Lambert, M ison
and Slater, compose the court the part of the
church: The following is the presentment -
To the Right Rev Man,oa Easf5urn ID ID Bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. in the Diocese Of Massa
The Standing Committee of the Diocess Of Ma,sa-
chusetts do hereby present the Rev Oliver Prescott
Presbyter Of this Dioeess, having been guilty Of
entertaining and believing certain doctrines which
are not held nor allowed to be held by the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United taee, but which
condemned by the standards of said church. wrong
unsound, and hereticsi, and that he the said Rev
Oliver 3 Prescott, Prssbyter has, moreover promul-
! gated taught and defended said doctrines, to the
detrment of religion, the scandal Of the church. and
the great injury OF the Of Christ That he has
further adopted and pursued and encouraged others
to adopt and pursue, certain forms and ceremonies
trary to her teachings and standards land which ara
In opposition to ths general usage and im memorial
customs Of the church and in viostion OF her
law) to the of the gospel and Of the saliva
tion Of souls The Standing Committee Of the Diosess
Of Massachusetts in conformity with Canon ls46
do present the said Rev Oliver Prescott Presbytsr
for trial according 70 the provisions OF tbs Of
the church made and provided for the trial of clergy
accused by public rumor or otherwise or offences
for which they be tried under and for the follow
ing charges and specifications =
! CHARcE FrRsr THAT the Rev Oliver 8 Prescott
has taught that the Virgin Mary the mother OF our
6aviour, Is object of worship.
( Specification i He has held and taught the imma-
culats nature and character OF the Virgin Mary.
2. He has taught that she withc ut sin
. BE has taught that prayers may be, or should be-
He has taught that she may be, or should be, re-
8 He has taught that II is right, or proper or
allowable for Christians to use the "Hal Mary" In
.. He has held, or acknowledged his belief In, or
consent to, the doctrines which are contained in the
above five specifications.
a.. Tkatt ha Ia c n.
has held and taught the doctrine trsnsubsantiation
Specification l. He has, In private conversations
With individuals, acknowledged his belief In this
2. He has in private conversations, defended this
doctrine by employing and expressing divers srsu-
| He has. at sundry times, employed language in
Sacrament Of the Lords suppsr the natural i'm port
| Of which calculated to convey the impression
that he held and defended the said doctrns Of tran
substantiation; and he did not qualify plain
said language as to guard against and prevent any
such natuI inference of his belief In said doctrine
as drawn from the terms and expressions employed
by him In respect to the Sacrament Of the Lords
| Supper.
CHARcs THIRD That the said Rev Oliver 8 Pres
colt has held and taught that auricuar confession
TO priest, the part of the members Of the church.
4 is proper, and allow able, and profitable.
| Specification 1. He has taught and defended this
doctrine and practice at divers times
2 He has urged surc ulsr confession as duty.
3. He has encouraged auricular confession pri
| vilege and benefit.
4 He has allowed members Of the church to come
and form not allowed or sanctioned by the church
He has Acknowledged the substance Of the above
four preceding specifications, In private converse
CHARes FovRrH :-rha. the said Rev. oliver s. Pres
colt has held and taught that prestly sbsoiuton. In
connection with auricular comics sion IL allowable
and desirsble, and profitable.
SPECIFICATION L lie has heard private confessions OF
sins from sundry persons and has pronounced abso
lutions In behalf OF such persons occasions aud
under circumstances not by the church,
and in violation Of the principles of the church
| established
| customs and usagss
| 2 He has ackno wecged his belief In the doctrine
Of priestly absoution. In connection with auricular
} confession.
3. He has ACKNOWLEDGED the necessity OF the pro-
! priety or profit OF private priestiy zbsolution.
He has defended this doetrine
| 9. lie has ipcuicsted this doctrine,
Q. He has encouraged or permitted certain persons
to come TO him to receive such private absolution
rety TO the doctrines, standards and usages Of the
CnAKos FrrrH-Thai the said Rev. Oliver s Prescott
has adopted snd pursued certain customs and prac-
tices which are repugnsDt TO the teachings OF the
church contrary TO the spirit and meaning OF her
lithed ussrss of the church and violation Of her
common Law.
SPECIFICATION l. He holds that the pr,ctic. of suri.
2 He has dsfen dad this practice as profitable.
He has Encouraged others to adept II and practice
4 he has hmfelf been In the habit Of making such
/ concessions 10 a priest.
O. He has prRcticed such confession TO Presbyter,
who had become notorious for hts
cies and who has subsequently, spostatzed from the
neeted him ssii with the Romisb communion.
lie has beed In the habit, In performing divine
seryice Of turning his back to the people while read
ing the Pssltsr-ofsripg up prayers and recitna
the contrary 20 the practice and custom of the
ebureh in this doeess since its first organization.
7. He has prsctsed these violations OF the common
lav Of the church against the we'll and officially
declared admoLtions aud counsels Of the Bishop OF
8 In making the usual s.cription 20 the Holy
Trinity, at the close Of sermons he has turned his
back to the people and his face 70 the Lords table a.
I TO the mott holy place.
o. lie has paid. by diver. turnings or bo~ing,, or
genusctiens that reverence to the Lord table which
IL indicative Of belief in the doctrine that the real
body and blood Of Christ really aud truly offered
up th.reupon. in accordance With the doctrine OF
10 lie has allowed or approved or permitted In csls
b.htipg publ service az morning and evening prayer
portions OF the PtAier 70 be sung In place Of the
psalms ard hymns in meter which the Church has set
IL He prsrii,es thes. ceremonies. which are con-
ary the customs and usssss of the church In this
and the and Of the Protestant
Episcopal church In the United states and Witch srs
wrong IN thsmselve. expressiVs Of error and nm
Caaror sTrn-fbst The said Rev Oliver s. Pres.
Tended come or ali Of the fslrs doctrines hersies aud
wrong and Unauthorized customs forms, and ceremo-
ME. "non are ns nsmmoD isr ~ ahs shgrch a.
braced In the before written charge. and speeidcs-
tions.
that the sad Rev oliver Prescott hath been guilty
Of the above and afor written charges aud specidca
tons within the Jearl last past
And they DO ash that THE Right Reverend Bishop OF
the Diocess do ipst'uie proceedings In scrordance
With the sde aud provided for the dsternin-
ing such that toe honor Of pure religion may
be vindica'sd and that justice may be done both TO
the church and TO the accused
BY order and In behalf OF the Standing Committee
Of the Dicotss Of Msssschusetts, duly eonven
ted q. Boeton on this seventeenth dsy Of July, In
the year Of our Lerd eighteen hundred snd City.
GEO RANDALL
President Of the Standing Committee Of the DiOce o.
Massachusetts,.
wu RAvsoSD LES, Secretary,