Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-06-08
s For the Portage Sentinel.
A NIinister silenced--Hfs answer.

in regard to his duties as preacher Of the Gospel,
from what they were when he was licensed to
preach, of which change he has informed this body
in the following language, yiz:--after stating the
treatment he hasreceiyed on account of his change
of. sentiments. be ssays These things regarded
90 special diuiAe calling me to take an
independent stand, and preach tn1 U0sr ri7fv.yu
without charge; to come under no human organi-
zation for support; to make no distinction, far
as christian character is concerned between tho
so called orthodox churches, regarding myself as
connected with Gods spiritual church, which is
exhibited partially from all the formal churches,
regarding my call to preachthe Gospel from God
alone, to achom a.oae am responsible; therefore,
Resolued, That the License granted Mr. Hale,
by this Presbytery, be, and hereby is recalled
Resolved, That the stated clerk be requested to
forward copy of this miuate to the Ohio Obser-
yer, for publication; and also furnish Mf. Hale
with a copy Asr.sas ss.,6E s.sJgas 4sE ..esal
A true copy from the minuates. y,...5..,y,i
Attest: JAMES SHAW, Stated Clerk.
may say, in explanation Of this actions thatit
means No more than that your views were regard
ed as so different from ours, that as Presbytery,
we could not consent to have you preach them nn-
der a License from us. sYou are now thrown en-
trely upon your own responsibilities Ifyoupreach
error, it is matter solely between you and your
Judges. May the Lord direct you into all truths,
and make you useful in its proclamation and de-
fence. .ass3s ip7s ~ issfsfl.'sjt ss.tssssli 10
Very truly, yours, s---+.1.s-
$50 st} fszz bst.ts.5-.f 'AM1o eiaATr w
ez...-a2 s$E MoGApoRE, April Is, 1861
Bro. SHAWL have just received your line
containing the final result of my experience with
with your Presbytery. The general act of your
Presbytery, in recalling my license, founded up
on the brief extract of my letter, containing my
change of sentiments, was perfectly consistent
with your ecclesiastical organization. Thespowr
er which you had as an ecclesiastical body, re-
quired this, and in my opinion, it was no more
than your duty,s whether acting as a religious
body or individually, to throw the responsibility
of my preaching error upon myself. God re-
quires no man nor body of men, to bear the respon
sibilty Of another's actions: If preach error it
is matter as you say, solely between me and my
Judge The final responsibility of all our actions
must rest upon ourselves, and the final decisionas
faithful or unfaithful, must come from the search
er of hearts. This is one reason why have dis
avowed all allegiance to any ecclesiastical tribu
If understand you rightly, in your remarks,
you do not silence me on. the ground Of an eyi-
dent departure from what you consider true chris
tan principles 1t is on the ground of an imagin-
ed heresay, or what your Presbytery regard as
such. Hence, so far as you are an ecclesiastical
body, qou command me not to preach the gospel,
because nv views don't in all llrespects harmonize
with yours, not because l am not christian
You leave room to say that may be christian
still, and hence may have distinct call from
God to preach the gospel But because my views
don't exactly harmonize with yours, because /
have some wrong notions of what true christian
| independence requires therefore you will give me
command, haphazzard it may be- clashing di-
rectly with the command OF Y od, made known by
his spirit and proyidences, According then to
your own admissions, the command of your Pres
bytery may clash with Gods command, which
command may resting upon me withthe strength It
lrested upon Paul, "yea woe is meif preach not
the gospel" You may see then that you assume
great responsibility when you give a permit to
a hypocrte, whom God has not called, or In
taking away such permit, thus, virtually saying,
preach not the gospel, because according to our
views YOU NAV be in error, for it may be you are
thus coming right in the way of the execution of
i Gods designs in the establishment OF his church.
And now let us see whether it be small mat
ter, that you assume the responsibility OF laying
such restrictions upon your fellow men. What
effect will your refusal have upon me, as far as
am connected, or come in contact with the organ
Iized churches. Why, the opinion of the church
es will generally be that am silenced, and hence
have no right to preach. They will be sure to
exagerate the causes which have produced the re-
suit. Those who do not understand my positions,
will in ignorance, (their suspicious being aroused
I by your act,) condemn me as an inidel when in
fact, may be endeavoring to present n,orePure
christianijy and thus to establish the bible There
will be secret but strong prejudice excited against
me, and this unjust prejudice will be fed BY the act
of your Presbytery. 81 shall be regarded as an
alien from the commonwealth Of Israel, and a
stranger from the covenant of promise, without
hope and without God in the world" For such
reasons, / shall be deemed too unholy, too polut-
i ed to enter your sacred desks, and proclaim what
consider pure gospel independent of sectarian
, creeds shall be denied the privilege of enter
ing your pulpits. in order that may give the gos-
pei to the world free of charge. shall thus be
hindered from the exercise OF my beneyolence,
through your channels of usefulness. shall be
regarded ssas the filth of the earth, and the on
securing of all things, dangerous, heFitlcai, m
4 fdel man, and all of these false opinions VIII De
fostered BY the responsible refusal you nave gwen
: Thus will you block up the avenues 70 many
hearts to which might gam nee ana lovely aa-
mittance, and preach to tnem .ns g.so .sa iu laa1
edge of vour spiritual perceptions, If it were not
e ,,o,r formal refusal. o, look at the RESPONSE
: h;Ihyy which your course involves. Can you bear
: m Under it! God forbid that should be severe
with you for your organization has forced you In
to this unpleasant dilemma. And ! can offer up
the Sayiour's prayer while hanging on the cross,
"Father forgive them, for they know not what
they do.'' y zsss s5s.eifsze b 9 ss1
I Do not then interpret the results have given,
as the offspring of sorrowful disturbed mind, not
finding rest in the apparent doubtfalaess Of its cons
dition God is still my strong support and ne will
be faithful to supply all my wants. am willing
to submit to great deprivations, when realize
that my glorious pattern, Christ, had not where
f to Law his head. It is sincere interest in your
welfare, and that Of your PreSbytery, which has
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