The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-16
Deacon Expelled from the Church FOL
VuRDQ Buchanan.


The Grand Rapids (Mich Inquirer contains full report
Of the trial. conviction and expulsion from the church Of
IT, he was the first deacon Of the church 70 be be-
opged-she Freewill Baptist II appears that after
the last Presidential election two elders addressed Deacon
charged with crime they admonished him that he
must clear himself of the accusation. They say
First established fact that there two princ-
pies in active and open opposition viz slavery and nber
ty and Is deemed that you, in opposon to your
nant obligations and protested love Of liberty have,
as action u concerned supported the system, principles
second an established fact that the Office Of deacon
this world and that Governors q States knes Of nsou.
and Presidents Of the United States and the Offices they
M Of less note than the deacon in Chrsts church and
Soon after he was furnished with list Of the charges
against him. and after long and tedious investigation the
council reported ~ follows
The council appointed by the Grand Rapids Q n Con-
ference TO meet with Alpine and Sparta church, having
Dsa, G. p, stebbns present the following decision
Charge 1. Deception
That, is our opinion 10 not sustained.
q Unchrstan conduct
Sustained but removed by confession except the last
specification viz the accusation against the church at the
public meeting, which demands more fall rcsracton and
Cd Publicly declaring that he would support slavery
Not sustained as far as bis statement Ia concerned, but
90 far bis act in voting for Buchanan he has thrown
n K EvARTs. Clerk 4 G. GuIEY, Chairman.
Baptist ChurCn OF Alpine sparta, After
the Council o, Ministers from the quarterly meeting had
examined the above charges preferred against Deacon c.
r. stebbins, AMI exouerated him from them all his
PLANTATION aud ipves cation, not satisfied called Mr. Seb
bins before single church meeting, voted him clear
all charges preferred against him, voting for Mr. b.
chanan for President OF the Unite States excluded him
for that one act by majority Of one.
The facts upon which the charges are founded are ~
follows
In The fall OF 1858, previous to the Presidential election
disqualification took place In the church about s,ebbns
voting he has for plne years been known democrat
In the town OF Sparta. man that decidedly supports the
cor si.oton of the United Saiss At this period Elder
Erastus W Norton asked him he voted 1e liberty ticket
lie said be did. Simeon Rouse asked him who he was
going 10 vote for for President Stebbius did not imme
dhtey answer. Rouse says "You not going 10 vote
for slavery, are you Siebbins replied "No and ira
yelled he mai met Rouse 10 the road For these
answers he was charged With deception.
Seb bins admitted that he had made the answers but
defended himself as follows
Fret. That The democratic ticket which he did vote,
supported the most liberty principles OF any ticket nor in
vogue. That gives 10 all states, hen annexed,
at the time Of annexation, the liberty to frame their
constitution a. best suited them, o'ly should be
s,a,es-ii night be in favor Of slavery or not He
believed 10 be the duty OF every Amer-
citizen TO support the constitution OF the United States
He believed the democratic principles and influence 10 be
ant slavery. To prove this, he says that all the States
that abolished slavery had abolished II under demo.
cratic administration, which Is undenIsbly He also
maintained that slavery covered less territory pro-
portion TO that embraced In The United Safes, than did
al the time the colonies entered into oompac; for the pur
pose OF protection against foreign foes that that
there was but th r,eenh part Massachusetts,
being the only free State si that time And now out Of
thirty. one, there are sixteen free States.
He was sso charged With saying publicly that he would
support slavery which they oouo not and did no, prove
Election on, and he feeling his duty votei for Mr.
Buchanan Consequently as By The chief priests and
the chief priests and Edwin, be brought before the
Judgment sea, Of Sparta and Alpine Free viii Baptist
church.
He pleaded guilty 70 voting for Mr. Buchanan, and upon
that charge was expelled the church