The Portland daily press., 1865-01-26
Some Remarks Suggested By a Protest"

wn.cD leads me 10 ask place. once more, in
your columns 10 reference to the action of
TIE Bethel Council. The principles Involved
ia that action, and in the discussion which Il
has awakened, are of Importance to very
considerable portion Of the community. And
as l think the "Protesr' OF Rev. Mr.. Walton,
published in your issue of Tuesday, is calcu-
lated to confuse mems minds as to those
principles and their proper application, Il
make no further apology for offering a second
land as far as am concerned LAST commu-
nication on the subject NC ? - - 81
In doing SO / shall not, however, follow the
lead of that Protest in any utterances Of
personal or recrininatory character. The
truth needs no such support. 1t will be my
endeavor to speak of facts, with as little ref.
erence to individuals as the clear setting
forth of the matter will permit.
l. Ga the organization of the Council at
the Bethel Church last week, it was found
thata clergyman was present, aching in the
character of Pastor OF the Third Parish
Church. 1890 = ~ ~
But this was character ia which these
very Churches, now represented in the Bethel
Council, had distinctly declined to recognize
him.. Only last July, Council had been as
sembled by invitation of the Third Church Ia
this city. to consider whether the Congrega.
local Churches of this community would ex-
tend to the candidate presented by that
Church, the hand OF fellowship, and install
MIN as its Pastor. They considered the qnes-
lion, and, by their delegates, unanimously de-
clined to do SO. s1e
TIE examination of,the candidate on that
occasion, developed the fact that be was not
in sympathy with the Council upon certain
important doctrines which the Churches gem
orally hold. The Council found, as they re-
corded in their result, that the views of the
candidate differ widely from those generally
held by the Congregational Churches of New
England. and taught as we believe In The
1 Word of God.''
4 They therefore declined to install him. How
could they do otherwise p II man presents
| hiulself for admission to Republican club,
must he not be Republican? Does not every
organizations even II il be but manufacture
I lag corporation, expect unity Of sentiment in
those who join ita Is II hardshipto require
that an applicant for fellowship in any given
! association, shall be in sympathy with that
:associatian9 The Council finding there was
not such community OF views on several i'm
! portant doctrines, '.taught as we believe In
The Word of God," declined by unanimous
1 vote to institute the Pastoral relation re-
| quested, ,g -,.-..-s.
But at the Bethel Church Council, this gen.
tleman presented himself among the Pastors
and delegates of the oery Churches which had
I deliberately declined to accord TO him the
I charac er OF Pastor, and assumed to exercise
the functions Of the oery office whose refusal
| 10 MIN had been SO exphcit. Ee1ao
Gould these Churches, by their delegates.
| do leas than say that they saw an ''obvious
improperly" 10 thisP III the face of The re-
cult to which they themselves, in unison with
others, had deliberately come last July, could
they accord nolc, a character denied then?
Was there not "jmpropriety" In un1ertak-
ing to exercise functions spong Churches.
sno had been asked to permit their exercise
among them, but had explicitly refused9
II. But it is in effect replied In the "Pro-
test = that no consent Of the Churches a0as re
i qlired TO institute o Pastoral relation be-
tween the stated-supply OF the Third Church
and the Church itself. 1t is argued that the
relation had been established Independent of
4 any Council. And the writer of the"Protest"
asks, unjust an ordained minister be installed
4 by Council before he can be Pastors e
TO this question I answer: Certainly not,
if the Passionate to be established be the Pas.
torate of an Independent Church! But GER
tainly be muSt, II the PastoRats be Of Q Con
sregational Church, in the general and ae-
cepted sense Of Ne,o England orttodor Con
4 gregationdltsm. T5.s KS
Congregationalism Is cot IndepeDdency.
AGO things are necessary to the formation OF
the Pastoral relation, under that system of
polity known as Orthodox Congre gationalism.
One of them is the Churcb's choice Of the
\ candidate; the other is his actual induction
j into office by the advice and co operation OF
sister Churches. Both Of them are essential
to the institution of the Pastoral relation as
understood in our Congregational polity.
4 II indeed, the Taird Church Fenounce that
system Of fellowship which is an essential ele
| ment 10 New England Orthodox Congrega
tionalism, then no one can question its right
70 settle or unsettle its ministers without
advice of Councils. Ii 1t rlts itself into a
position Of Independency, it may erdain. in
stall or Dismiss, whom it pesses, and consult
! no one. But whilst it continues TO ask fellow
ship by inviting advice, and by giving advice
/ In Council, 1t agrees to abide by the common
ienoninaional usages, which require that it
hall not do these things alone. BY such be-
hayior 1t covenants to submit to the custom,
which has prevailed from very early period
Of our New England history, and which re-
quires Church to establish the Pastoral re,
alton, only BY advice and cooperation OF
other Churches around 1t. A vote to nire
preacher for year, and his acceptance, do not
constitute Fastosste, such as is required by
the fellowship of Congregationalisla
But this is all the relation which does SUBJ
list between the Third Church and its stated
supply. That Chureb has put forth no claim
% Iadependency Oaiy c geek ago last Mon
lay, it came by its delegate to the Bethel
Church practically saying: II am Congrega-
tonal iU that Orthodox, New England sense
Of the word, which recognizes the fellowship
Of Churches by Councils, Us 40 Integral part
Of its'polity."
But being so, it has no Pastor. No rfcoz.
1itlon OF its Stated-Supply as such, has been
the result of its consultation with its siste,
Churches. 1t asked End they declined 10 con
-titute or acknowledge him as such. Ga no
ground, therefore, but cutting loose from the
congregational fraternity, and standing alone
IAN the Third Church be regarded as HAVING
!. Pastor. The preacher there Is Stated