The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-08-17

l~ATa'A - NN~ ' hAAAh az 50 elFAA
admissions to the church. 1t l. essential tina; he
should have not only the qualities that tit hin
for this high trust. hat lac should not be guilty of
williul neglect of duty.
Ia reviewing Mr.. Rowell's ministerial duties
from July, IS62 t. April, lsUj. rs given 10y him
sel!, we lind that he had hot admitted any menu
hers Dr.. for admission a. lac saw. =. iEii been a
formal CEREMONY, tOo much relied uIon,' and he
thought i; advisable to SUSPEND the usual ordi-
nance had omitted u keep the records of the
church. and above all. had neglected 10 celebrate
the Lords Supper, and To perform baptism.
which are great ordinances of the Church hy i'm
memorial usage; bat he says that he did not
refuse baptism, If subjects We're presented.
y church record, properly kept, Is a regular
statement of tine admission of members, the choice
u officers. and the transaction of the ordinary
business of the church. Chief Justice Shaw SAYS,
in the ease Of Sawyer ~. Baldwin, IL Pick,
1873. :. that we must take notice of a usage ~
general u that of a church u keep a record. II
L. also To be considered that the law recognizes
the existence and organization of Il church AZ an
aggregate body: takes notice of its acts and doing-,
and annexcs thereto various civil rights and
powers. Ii l. in virtue of this organization, and
these proceedings, that deacons are elected and
being thus elected, they are empowered and quail
lied by the law to sue IL Il corporation The
law, therefore, by necessary implication, author
iles and requires Il church, by II proper officer, to
keep some record of its acts.
The principles here announced by the Chief
Justice, are applicable To the church at Maimei.
Tie charter recognizes the existence of the church
by placing the power to remove trustees, and To-
supply their places, in the hands of the church
members III regular standing. Ii l. in virtue of
this organization. AMI these proceedings, that the
trustees are elected. \ record NAV IL considered
u legal necessity, to enable the church members
10 exercise their civil rights and powers.
Mr.. ROwell does not show Il proper apprccia-
ton of the Importance of keeping Il churcli record,
and has neglected To- keep one for some few years.
AiIcT this LIng neglect Of his ministerial duties,
81 or 80 members were admitted into the church
prior To- the election Of trustees IN july. 1865. by
himself AMI committee. These persons were not
examined nor questioned as To- their faith and
practice. Ii would appear that they were AL
mittcd without ceremony, ami that any one
w1nd doubtless have been admitted who request
ci IL. without covenant, obligation, or any real
izing Sense Of the high responsibility assumed.
All these are regarded Us essential Ly the Protcs-
tant Churches. Ey tie charter, the property
was placed in the hands of trustees chosen from
members OF the church ia regular s~tanling. This
was regarded H. II safe trustcc,hip. but 1t would
seem that the church las been practically ignored,
anil it, influence lost and its members had aban-
dDIIed their watciiiulncss over each other, IL well
~ over themselves. How strikingly in contrast
- this church with thI-c the mcnicrs of which
enter into a solemn covenant with Cad and each
other . To- rcnOuncc all fellowship with the un-
fruitful works Of darkness, AMI to walk n the
children Uf light, AMI To adore the doctrine of
Cool OUR Saviour IN all things, and alSo To main
tain mutual watchfulncss over each other in the
spirit of brOthcrly love and Christian charity"
AMI who make an earnest effort to fulfill its re-
quireinents.
In tire ease of Sheldon ". Congregational
Parish in Ei>ton, - Pick, 2S6, Mr.. Justice
Morton says. = that every congregational minister
may forfeit his Office by certain mis-icIsanccs and
uuII-lc.IsanccS. What these are, seems u bc well
settled in tile numerous eases which the Court
unfortunately have from time To- time been called
upon To decide. There are three established causes
of forfeiture.
/. An essential Change of d~,ctrinc.
=. y willful neglect of duty.
=. Immoral Or criminal conduct.
The law declares that morality and virtue are
Indispensable to the clerical character" Admit
that this is an independent church. ~ is contend
al the trustees holding the property under the
charter, must be bound by it, provisions and the
laws of the Kingdom, and they cannot he rcmov-
al except 10y II vote of a majority of the members
of the church in regular standing. II the pastor
who is mt the head of the board of admission, 80
utterly diFrcgIrds his duty ~ required 10y the
uSascs of all the churches of this character, and
which are sufficient u Justify a council in dismiss
ing him, how can there bc any certainty that the
persons who are reputed members are worthy to
bc such, or in other words, are members in rcgu-
lar standing. \ pastor who ncglccts all the
ordinance known to- the church, would not cen
sure members with this neglect, and il guilty of
immortality would not ccnsurc members guilty of
the same. Hence the rule il worthless: that all
members are IN regular standing who have not
been censurcd, more especially as no discipline
was exercised in the church from 1862 to lSG5.
The charter means, when 1t imposes this rcSpOn-
sibility upon church. members of clccting trustees,
that they shall have qualifications according To
the standard recognized and known amongst
christian churches. This church, According to-
the theory Of it, founders. had the highest require
mcnis. IL demanded the highest spiritual appre-
citation of the authority of the Deity, Of bIs holy
works aId teachings, ~ given ia thc bible.
While by the constitution 1t - provided that
all men are free To worship G"Ul according To the
Dictates Of their o,TScicnos, 1t j. further proyid-
ii. that this slrrcl privilege hereby secured shall
MT lie ~ construed ~ So justify acts of liorntious-
ness, or practices Inconsistent with the PEACE and
safety of tlc kingdom. The plaintiff counsel
contend that the fact that MIR. RDwcll might
canHIit an immortality would not dislrinchisc a
majority of the church. and committing an i'm
morality. cyen if proved. which it Is not, is not
teaching immortality
In CindIsk ~. Briggs. IL Mas. 2IS, the
Court say - Minister Of the GOSPEL, separated
ir"m thc world hy las public ordination, carries
with him constantly. whether ia or cat VI the
pulpit, superior obligations to- exhibit ia his
wlulc Department the purity of that religion
which hc ~IrOirSScs t. teach. Ills example l.
always LciOre his people and influences them far
more dan his preaching. IL 1t l. immoral, hi-
preaching j. wore than in vain it l. positively
injurious 1t j. a mockeTy uI,I, Lis sacred call
IN" la thc ci-c referred To- above. thc Court
further say. $50 essential - an un>IJttcl char
actcr {" liz, saluJary administration uf the Minis
trTial Oliec. that cNcna reputation for immortality.
although u,t SUPPORTED by fall rrDf, might III
sninc eases De- a sufficient ground for removal"
Ia the eISc Of Avery. ". Inhabitants Of Ty-
s~inglam. . Mas. ISL, the Court say lit l.
t!c duty II a Minister To- tcich by VIc,cpt ami
example. Il his example n NiciDus. hc j. worse
tlln useless. immoral conduct l. then such a mis-
F.Eancr ~ amounts o. forfeiture Of his Office.
Do MT mean Ia include mere iniirmitics incident
e. human nature. AMI tn which AN hahitually