The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-05-30
For the Register.
J. II. BARRETT, ESQ Dear Sir:

| ~ H. OARNETT, IISQ - near or
In your Regis,c, of May 9th, a Mem
Der of the Congregational church" com
! planned that | had made erroneous
statements as to the length of DR.. NJ en-
EiIL's pastorate | believe the general
sentiment Of this community is, that the
piece was untimely and needless, that
we ought not to rake up the ashes of the
departed, and violate even the heather
AKIN, Let the dead rest in peace"
The friends Of DR.. NJ. think | am
bound TO submit TO the imputation of
Of error or state the facts in reply. |
choose the latter l stated in my adj
dress That lie was Pastor for half cen.
tury, lacking seven months and eleven
days. Let us look al the facts to sus.
tain my statement, beg leave to say
that l shall not attempt to toss back
the taunts of misstatemcnt,n of "per-
version of truth, or Of " fraud" If we
must discuss the matter, " e can do it in
more courteous language. if not in a more
christian spirit,
DR.. NJ. was ordained Dec 10Th, 1905
and died April ooh, 1875 How il his
continued pastorship proved through all
the intervening times ?
lst by tie statement Of tie writer
himself. II 1912, Dr.. NJ sail, 81 con-
slider it my duty to state that while |
purpose Ia retail" my pastoral relations.
and. Of course. my usual connection with
the ecclesiastioa bodies, | request that
the church will excuse me from perform.
ing pastoral duties This proposition
was accepted by the church, and TINS
the matter has stood ever since"
These are the statements Of the wri-
ter, and what do they prove simply
this, that DR.. NJ. agreed to relinquish
salary and the church agreed to rein.
quiSh service, and thus it has stood ever
since, The writer thus decides against
hius'lf the whole controversy lie has
raised.
2d. BY custom anl Law Of the cougrc.
gational church.
DR. NJ AID the church could not dis
solve tits connection. 1.-THE church vas
perfectly independent, like that Of Da.
vcrport or Dana Of the old New Haven
COLONY /, might be done But Middle
bury church is a consocated church. ana
one agreement Of this con ISOLATION is
that the settlement and dismission of
Pastors should he by council Take an
iilusiraiion:-how is it with husband
and wife who are perfectly unanimous
that tGcy should not live together any
longer ihcy divide their property and
plurder, and separate rs wide IS the diam
alter of the earth will allow them. and
they arc wider in disposition than in 10.
cliion-are they divorced ? Not at all
The law sanctioned their union the law
mus. consent to their separation till
that is given they nrc husband and wife
Apply this to the pastoral relation. 1t
was established by council and moth.
ing short Of council can break ii ur.
If a mar becomes a pastor he has just
two ways of getting out of the place lie
must be dismissed or die. Now it is GER
tain Dr. NJ did neither Of these between
1903 and 1855. He was Of course all
that time pastor Of Middlebnry church
81. BY settlement Of Mr.. Coe. the
fr't junior or assistant Pastor The rec
ord Of the council is on this wise Mid
debury July l6, 1874, An ecclesiastical
council called by letters met and couven.
cd at the Cong church in Middlebury. at
Z. VI to examine Rev Sam'l G.. Coe
as candidnte for associate Pastor Of the
Cong church and society of MiddleLury u
lie was examined approved and ordained
as associate Pastor, assuming there was
another and senior pastor, who could be
no other than DR.. Merrill
4lr. By the acknowledgement of the
writer at the time Of Mr.. Kendalrs set.
Element.
A member" says be (Mr X knew
nothing of the relation of Senior Pastor
till after bis examination. That, of
course assumes he did learn it then.
Learn what Why, that DR.. NJ. was
the Senior Pastor. lie then learned it
as an existing fact. DR.. NJ. was Senior
Pastor 1t was late, but he had time
for retreat. IIa could back water, re-
verse his engine and save collision.
Suppose the writer has pledged himself
to beautiful bride, who comes to the
marriage rites leaning lovingly on his
arm while passing from tho porcl, to
th2-altar, the mask drops OF, and he dis
covers q bald. wrinkled aud toothless