The New York herald., 1851-12-20

The Congregat atioaaI Church.

CHAhACIkh, fhlLuoOfhl, AMI hlolOhi IN
UNITED STATES.
It would be matter of no small difficulty to find
out the precise date when Congregationalism began
its existence Lord King H. said to have ascertained
that the primitive churches were Congregationali
but the most We could learn from his
iucubrations is that they were in the aaot OF choos
ine their own ministers, and therefore could not
have been the most primitive. Still, 1t Is allowed
that we meet with traces of the Congregational
principle very early in history; and the present
race of Independents are looked upon as descended
from an ancient and respectable organization.
Il is not true, as many seem to think, that Con-
gregationalism originated with the Puritans OF
England. This was only third or still later edi-
ton of it the thing itself existed long before, and
there was revival of lnde ependency, as truly as
there was revival of letters, under the fostering
genius of the Reformation AS early as the reign
of O uesn Mary, churches are known to have been
formed in England on the congregational prin'
ciple In the native town Of the writer OF
this retrospect, is still Congregational church,
from which, Gin Mary's reign, Of course,) a martyr
was taken, and burned in the city of Coventry.
Tradition still hands down the dreadful particulars.
And the descendants of the martyr, who are still
are mest decided Congreg atioRaists, and not only
Protestants against Rome, but Professors against
the Church of England. and haters of prescy in
every shape and form Il is sfooshness to burn men,
for their spirits come again and il even the church
Of Rome could only put Ter hand to her heart, and
say before God that che had never killed a saint,
and had never pat gunpo Eder under the king, she
would be considered highly respectable old lady,
and fit wife for the Archbishop of Canterbury.
late writer on churches and sects, tells US that
the first Congregational church which be traced,
with aly degree of accuracy, was in 1888 But this
must be a very great mistake. The fact is that
the Congregatonalists, under the reign of Mary,
met and held their worship in the night not
always in the same place, but in places agreed
apon from time to time. And thus they con-
tinued their religious rites, till it should please
cd to take that she head o! the church to himself,
or let the devil have her. We have no certain
knowledge of the way in which she was disposed of,
and therefore can only guess-a privilege which is
allowed to Yankees all over the world II Congre-
gational churches were unknown in this reign, it
WAS not because they did not exist; but because
this more than she Hsynau, instead of sending
them to another world in mild and comfortable
manner, as the Spaniards despatched their old and
tried friend, lopez iSste ad of logging the women
and making the children stand on stool for their
heresy, j,rre divino, burnt them alive.
A Congregational church was founded in 1888, in
the city Of London, by one Brown, puritan of
warm affections, and jealous opposer of both Pres
bytsrianism and prelacy. But even this was step
before the times. The church was broken up, and
the leader fed to Holland, with many of his FOL.
L. Al; To- 80 nf tha un&
uncommon subsequent of extraordinary religious
excitement, or outbursts Of animal feeling, which
spreads ITSELF and is succeeded, the doctors say
by . corresponding reaction.
The person said to have been the founder of Gen.
grsgationalism in America, is Mr.. Robinson,
who had been Puritan Divine in England; and
on the passing Of law in 1904, by which all minis
ters, with their focks were required to conform to
the liturgy Of the Established Church, on pain Of
imprisonment and banishment, was first imprisoned,
and afterv ards sought refuge in Holland, and
formed q church in the city Of Leyden, consisting
chiefly Of refugees Like himself Amongst these
we're some who afterwards became distinguished
settlers in the wilderness of New England. A pa
tent being obtained in 1919, part of this congre
cation sailed for America, and finally landed on
he celebrated Plymouth rock.
These arc generally called pilgrims, and the
,migration q pilgrimage. Their motives, never
.heless, are believed by many not to have been so
purely spiritual as ba, generally been represented
Instead Of religious pilgrimage, it has been
thought to be . money pilgrimage, or a pilgrim
age to get settleme ats in the world. The word
pilgrimage is often rather curiossly employed.
Bishop Hughes made . pilgrimage to Rome lately;
10 . al N rat hat rH
We can Judge by the toasts that we're drank, and
he vas. amount Of birds and all sorts Of good
Ihngs you can think Of, that were sYitted and
cooked, at every place whore the pilgrim went,
like Israel in the wilderness, he appears to
have been led round sbout,) We should think that
without any exception, this was the most comfort
able pilgrimage ever made By man. And at Rome
The people were so well behaved, that the Bishop
,andidly told them their fsith was spoken Of
.hroug ghout the whole world. We do not pretend
% know the motives Of our American pilgrims, OF
,ourse ,but the pie fact Of their contrving to
10 without a minister for some years, and putting
10 With the ministra,ions Of lay elder, who could
lot administer the sscram nts for want Of ordna-
ion, when, according to neir own principles, they
night have ordained him th nselves, does not look
y II they were very psrtcu sr about sacraments at
II events. Ordinations. cosferred by the hands Of
symep. were not uncommon, and were some
lines so performed even vhen ordained ministers
vsrs present. We do not know whether they
,ad the elder for bis services, or whether they
vent to vsrk more econo u.icaly, and helped him q
little at the getting in Of his harvest At all events
hey could not have thou GIT much Of ordination.
But they were Puritans, sna haa been persecutea
BY the church at home, AUD az the tendency Of the
English church ia 10 magnify the clerical Office and
yesp the clergy distinct body frou the lsity, the
puritans might have run into the opposite extreme
" wering the consequences Of ordination and, as
et Of against apostocal succession, ofallOwing it to
70 performed in some cases By lay hands
Here We see, at least, the kind Of stuff our New
England Puritans we're made Of They were me
rho loved liberty-men who would resist, did resist,
md taught Others 10 resist every kind and degree OF