New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-10
AMERICAN CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

Tie above Union celebrated their Anniversary yes
terday in the Pilgrim Church Rev DIR. storrss, cor
nor OF Henry and Remsen-sis., Brooklyn. The Session
commenced at 10 o'clock Though the weather
very nclement, there were present about fifty clergy
men and a considerable number of aynen and ladies.
PRAYER having been offered and other divine
vices performed the Rev DR.. SrEARSs, President OF
Amherst College, Mass, then delivered Discourse.
He said tie subject proposed TO him by the Trustees
was consideration of the interior constitution and
spi II and the outward working Of Evangelical Con-
sregatonaism. Congregationalism, beside being
oscrptura foundation is the form Of ChristanSy best
suited to IN intelligent and hberalmnded people,
among other reasons as being admirably suited to in
dvilua development. The speaker said this with
full Catholic spirit toward other denominations. DIR.
s said he would chiefly confnc himself 10 the former
branch of inquiry proposednamely, the Interior Con-
stitution and Spirit of Congregationasn 1t is often
asked with a sneer, What $ Congregationalsm The
answ er might be- that the great principles thereof are
It's fixed principles while for details confidence Is
posed in the sound Of men guided by the
Holy Spirit TO conclusions appropriate to circum-
stances but without the slightest modification of
fundamentals Thus he who defines Congrega-
tionalism is not called on to maintain the
ground Of the Pilgrim fathers. who considered
union OF Church and State necessary union which
the speaker hoped never again would exist. And so IN
many other instances. The system is necessarily modi
fed by times and institutions. The features OF the sys
TEN NAV be divided into essen als and n0n-essenials
both of which may be shared BY other denominations.
Thus the Church il a divine institution, of which
Christ Is the only head the pastor not above it. bat
IT. neither is the fellowship of The churches the head
of the visible cburch-Chrst alone H. Again, the
Bible and especially the New Testament Is the cOnsti-
tuition and rule By which Jesus Chris; governs his
church. beyond the regions OF his cnacments is per-
sonal Christian liberty Again, IN the government OF
the Church. Characterization contemplate. for il the
n-dwene of the Holy Ghost, and il Is in this presence
that the principle of church infalhbiy finds It's real
basis. In all minor matters, and such as Christ
trusted TO lis disciples the majority Of the church may
decide. church, then, Is a congregation Of orderly
believers, who, having entered into covenant with
God and each other, acknowledge Christ "a their head
and the New Testament az Their rule and having chosen
and conseoraiod certain officers according TO Chrsts
ion, and having the spirit OF God In ;he midst OF
them coDgregate together place for religious or
dinGnces and other exercises. Such church Requires
Il slnotOn OF a previous one when il can be
had; conhdcs rs guidance 70 male members,
chosen according 20 CHRIST rulos while the opinions
Of fsma!cs Of the Church who are often among the
wOnh,st membeIsl are entitled 20 consideration. Dr.
;. explained the machinery Of CongregationaLm al
some length; fundamental pane pie beng that all &C.
csesasiica authority springs from The churches; but
wien minister : once invested with hs ONCE, he +.
responsible TO Christ alone, throu whose sg.nt eyer
cLed IN human agency he wa called 10 h.s charge
There a fellowship confederation OF Congrega-
uonal churcie- by which q bnoksi,ding church NAV
be called 10 dcooun; N spirit OF Christian love by is
ielowchurch,s. Differences 10 be tired by an ar
tTaou OF churches mutually chosen and the cutting
eli Of peTerscly offending caurch gives tremen-
dous power Of pun-LmeIt. one great essential OF
CongIegaioual-m IS ne perfectly demoC ratio equality
No church s more than any other church; no man =
than any otter man; all stand the same plat
form before God-eGual anon; themselves. While
there perfect unity IN fundamental, the very variety
of.orms wi ch unesentas have taken shows the Liberty
Of The system N all regards except where Christ has ~.
NJ limits. DIR. SicarLs concluded by presenting the
advantage Of Congregaionalisn over other ienomiua-
tions in iis easy settlement Of differences without
troubling the church at large therewith-the smallest
number who can reconcile difficulty being the best
number FOR the purpose. and fellowship of discussion
bang fellowship al des;ruciion-snd congrafu-
,eied Bis audience the yitsyand productive force