The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-06-08
For the Ohio Star.
A Minister ssEenced--His Answer.

For the Ohio Star.
A Minister SiEenced--His Answer.
NEwBURGH, April 8, 1853.
Bro. HALE:-I promised to let you know what
action the Presbytery might take in your, if you
should not BE- presenr, expected quite talk with
you; but was disappointed. Perhaps may have
the pleasure at some fuaure time.
read your two cpistles addressed to me to Pres
bytery. Afterwards the following minute was
unanimously adopted, viz:
ssWhereas, Mr.. Eleazor Hale, Licentiale of
this Presbytery, has materially changed his views,
in regard to his duties 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, viz:-after stating the
treatment he has received on account of his change
of sentiments, he says:-"Thcse things regarded
as special divine providence calling me to take an
Independent stand, and preach the Gospel free, or
without charge; to come under no human organ-
cation for support; to make distinction, as far
as christian character is concerned, between the
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 preach the Gospel from God
alone, to achona alone am responsible therefore,
Resotued, That the License granted MIR. Hale,
by this Presbytery, be, and hereby is recalled.
RESOLVED, That the stated clerk be requested to
forward u copy of this miuate to the Ohio Obser-
yer, for publication; and also furnish MIR. Hale
with copy.
true copy from the minuates.
Attest: JAMES SHAW, Stated Clerk.
may say,ain exp pIanation of this action, that il
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 un-
der License from US. You are new thrown en-
trely upon your own responsibility. 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.
Very truly, yours,
JAMES SHAW.
MoGADoRE, April Is, 1853.
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. The.pow-
| er which you had ecclesiastical body, re-
CURED this, and 1 in my opinion it was no morse
than your duty, whether acting a religious
body or individually, to throw the responsibility
my preaching error upon myself. God re-
I qures nor body of men, to bear the respon-
sibilty of anothers actions. Ii preach error, il
is matter you say, solely between me and my
Judge. The final responsibility of all our actions
must rest upon ourselves, and the final decision as
faithful or unfathtul, must come from the search
er of hearts. This is one reason why have dis.
avowed all allegiance to any ecclesiastical tribu-
nal on earth.
If understand you rightly, in your remarks
you do not silence me on the ground of an evi.
INdent departure from what you consider true chris.
tian principles. 1t is on the ground of an imagin
ed heresay, what your Presbytery regard as
such. Hence, so far as you are ecclesiastical
body, you command me not to preach the gospel
because my views don't in all respects harmonize
with yours, not because | am not christian
You leave room to say that may be christian
still, and hence NAV 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 wllgive me
command, haphazzard it may be, clashng d
rectlv with the command of God, made known by
his spirit and providences. According then tc
your own admissions, the command of your Pres
bytery may clash with Gods command, whicl
command may resting upon me with the strength il
rested upon Paul, "yea woe is me if preach no
the gospel" You may see then that you assume
great responsibility when you give permit tc
preach the gospel, for it may be you are licensing
hypocrite, whom God has not called, or il
taking away such permit, thus, virtually saying
preach not the gospel, because according to oul
views you may be in error, for it may be you are
thus coming right in the way of the execution O
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 restrictinns upon your fellow men, Wha
effect will your refusal have upon me, as far as
am connected, or come in contact with the organ
lied churches. Why, the opinion of the church
los II
have no right 10 preach. They will be sure tc
exagerate the causes which have produced the re-
suit. Those who do not understand my positions
will in ignorance, (their suspicious being aroused
by your act,) condemn me as an infidel, when in
fact, may be endeavoring to present more pur'
r6r a..