New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-05
THE Elk PARTE COUNCIL ON THE
CHURCH OF THE PURITANS.

The Ex Pane Council met again on Friday in The
room of the Geographical Society at Clinton Hall, the
Rev. j. NJ. SrURTIyAsr, ID. d., Moderator.
The Council proceeded 10 consider the hes OF com
plants presented to them by the appellants.
Mrs JOHNSTON presented lengthy document, ses.
ting forth oertsn grievances OF which che alleged tha'
she had TO complain, and which council the lev
DIR. Bacon proceeded TO read. Some MEMBERS weafieo
with listening to the reading, proposed that it be DIS
pensed with. Oilers thought they might as wen ne'
the whole story, and DIR. Bacon read Il entire. :, ~
Mr.. CHARLES ABERsrrHY, JOEL BLAcksh, %. ~
PHELPs, DR.. GEORGE WBITE, ana Dr. a: D. ", oA :,
G. r. HARVEY, who declared that DIR. Cheevef wa
a perfect Pope, and would not allow any member o.
bis church TO differ in opinion from himself.
The Council having considered the aifereht Neu.iI
the lt of grievances Of the delegates examines
the appellants different points that bad come before
them but particularly oD the point, whether, by re
naming In the church, their party might not yet be
come the majority, and then come into possession OF
ersly admitted THAI there hope Of that, as
the supporters Of DR.. Cheever now held all the offices
in the church. and the majority remained firm in their
fidelity to each other and to the Pastor.
Members Of the Council also inquired as to their de
Sire with their adberents to be formed into distinct
church, and expressed Willingness so to recognize
ITEM but 70 this made any definite response.
Dr.. Bacon, IN summing up, spoke for about two
hours. commenting severely Oh certain acts OF the
Church declaring that the money which the aggrieved
now worthless az Virgina or Missouri State
Bonds, and that the Church Of the Purtans ought to
be declared by the Council no Chsrch at M. The
learned Doctor in support of his vewa, made frequent
reference TO. and quoed largly from, the writings OF
the New Engia fahers from the landog OF ihe PHI
grims on Plymouth Rock down " the present day.
At tle evening session each member the Council
canvased for bis opinion In reference 70 the case
imous decision that the minority, Of which the appel
lpls were portion, had been badly used by the ma
jority.
A Committee was then appointed to prepare the de-
cson OF the Council said COMMITTEE TO submit ns re-
port To the Council at its meeting this morning, 10
which time IL adjourned.
Owing the fact that no witnesses appeared In be-
half If the Church toe pastor, the Conflicting char
Of the testimony given by the appellants and the
multiplicity Of printed and written documents submit,
ted for most Of the delegates experienced
great difficulty in forming their opinions on the ee
siTURDAr's PRocEIDIsGs.
II was resolved 70 take no sthn upon the seventh
article Of complaint, which is as follows: Whether
the best Interests Of the Society aud Church OF the
Purians and the cause Of Christ, as represented by
the Congregational BODY O. well Is the general csnse
religion ia this city, do not require that the present
pastoral relations existing between the Church and the
Rev. George b. Cheever be Dissolved
La the course of the debate, Mr.. AUSTIN ABBOTT,
delegate from the Tabernacle Churh in this city
se "a ely condemned the ChurCh OF the Puritans, aud
advocated tue withdrawal OF fellowship from said
Church.
Rev. II. b. ELLIOT Of Bedford, Mass, also
advocated the Withholding Of fellowship from Dr.
Cheeycr and bis Church, bnt doubted very much
.A-thsr tie Churcles they Represented Would sueenn
them. They could only recommend their Churches 70
do He differed frvpI his brethren who held that
the Church Of the Puritaps low extinct. IL was
s,ill ali Evangelical Christian Congregational Church.
The Rev Mr. BsL.LII 81 Paterson e; said he did not
DR.. Cheeysr aud bis Church. Members had said that
the very name Of tho church had "a stencil" This
was a poor argument, for Jesus Christ himself, the
Apostl,s, the puItsns in the days Of Cromwell, and
even We ourselves stssch" 70 the churches Of
the South Ne advocated forbearanoe with the Church
the Pertains, and that time be given them for re-
pentaIce.
The MoDERAroRln giving his views, said that toe
majority Of the Church Of the Purtans, should bs de-
clared longer the Church. bu. that those whom they
had suspended should be recognized the Church.
lie tho lght they entitled 10 all the rights, prvi
l.ges aud property Of the Chnreh-eyen 70 tie very
name.
with the Moderator and those who took his view Of
the case The Church Of the Pnritans 10 truly to-
day Christian Church as IL ever was and in all its
decisions the majority had ruled as they had right TO
do which was according to the Cambridge platform.
The Church al,o had perfect ri hit ~ recognize q
council of brethren not, just as Trey pleased.
DIR. LEONARD Bacon, counsel for the Appellants
and others, spoke, advocating the Withholding Of
fellow ship from the Church Of the Purians, and the
recognition OF thore tney n~u sueItLoeu 40 uS'EiVt
church org Inzat on.
Tie committee If FIVE rev. DR.. Sturtevaut, Rev.
Dr. Buddiugton, Rev. :. Walcott, Rev. j. Z. Gull.
yer, and Judge Taylor, who previously appoint
ed to draft resolutions and present them to Council in
tinated that they yet prepared to report and
would not be ready TO do 80 before Monday; where
upon 1t was
Rsced That when the Council oured Il would adjourn 10
Monday O'Clock z ~ receive the report Of the
CouInttve.
It was also decided TO notify THE N. Y. TRIBUNE
tht il not the intention Of the Council to interfere
" h the affairs of DR. Cheeyers Church.
q q. rnn,. Ricotn .airs.aa hna