New-York tribune., 1868-12-17
4 CARD.

| SIR: A conversational council composed of
representatives OF the leading churches In the and from
Dr. Kinks OF Boston, and Dr. Thompson OF New-York' to
Dr. Posts OF St. Louis lately met in tins CITY, Ihe de
csion TO which they having been misrepresehted
permit one who attended all the sessions to make this
statement Of their doings and Of their result mainly IN
| their own language.
The Council convened at tho First Congregational
Church In Washington on Wcdnesday, N0y lS ana "ns -;
organized By choosing the Rev. Thomas Wickes D. d. Oh
| Marietta Ohio Moderator and the Rev EDWARD ha"eS
| Of philadelphia, Scribe. -, ~ p,,,o,
and his friends unite In making this mutual co1nei'
but they declined. They were then asked Dy inc 20 ,S
mittce To allow the minority 10 place statement Oh lv
grievances before COUNCIL which Dr. BoyntOn had csI
meet on the 18Th OF january neh % erey ovmop hm
churches OF which had been naineh py Dr M ht
| self lie still declined Ho was then asKeu on WIh1
and Dr. Boynton aud DR. Barber tho representatives
OF the majority slated decidedly that no concession
would be made to the minority aud thnt the purpose 10
refuse the right to be one party In the calling OF
council for the purpose consderng the question Of tho
dissolution of the pastoral relation was fixed Tho ma
jOriiy would never consent Ia IL. .
The Council then called FOR tho records OF the church
nj for documents The clerk OF the church furnished
former aud part OF the latter but letter missve
prepars.by Dr. Boynton for previous mutual council
that document, but II was not furnished 1t was gener
ally Understood 70 be framed That IL should be npoS
sble for representatives Of the minority to sign IT,
Evidence was then introduced showing that DIR. Boyn'
cen Howard tint when the act OF Incorporation Of the
church before Congress he succeeded In getting GeD
Howarda name struck OF tho chatter, but that the
senate replaced IL that he once nsked Gen. Howard
from the communicable whether he Amaga
mauOnist, De, De, sc.
one OF The dcacons Of tho church testified thnt he
member OF the board fer examining applicants for ad
the church. and that OF cOurre, the examna
lion of eolorod people was always different from that o
white. QUO person told them he nye-cghths white
aud egths colored and askednhe was 10 be exam
med as IA black Christian or a white one.
Mr. John II. Cook one Of the coored applicants for ad
mi-son iostihed that he was graduate 1i ODerhn; .a
coming 10 Washington he presented himself g. thl1 a
church FOR examination; that he was examined aIer ~
the White applicants, and then he examination NdH on
other p0uts than theirs. Dr. Boynou asked MN ms
81 what the colofed people would DO " AL barriers
bet IN schools ana churches wero taken
away He replied that the colored people wOnlh remain ny
Themselves: but they became refined and elevated hey
whites Dr. Boyuton told him tlore were pecuaiies IN
the eoored that ought always 10 Keep them IN
cbdiclcs aud schools by themselves lhat the paoA7
ought always 10 stay by themselves laskcd III. boyh
ton n he Was willing Ia give pubic expression To such
ssntlmcn would IL not DO giving fuel 10 Democrats nnd
JoVp-Thcads In political o0utests Dr boyhtoh repisu
friend and inyselt s agreed Ne would join the church,
hut after Dr. Boynton preached ms senCn ast ,p o,
application for admission have never yet Joined any
church being deferred by Dr. Boynton's examination:
Dr. Patterson and SIR. Mouton testified that about the
time Of presenting themselves 10 the church. pr Boyhloh
presented t paper agreeing 10 suPPOt 10, I Ab"up is
OF tho appiicants for admission bad signed T. b.,
been removed from oiicr when the majority OF thom
was opposed 10 Dr. Boynton without charges made or
tuai had that one member had been suspended rom
church relations without charges, specifications or trla
because he had written letter TO tho pastor which tho
latter considered improper; and that during the early
history Of he church only inalo members conlG vote, Du
| became
sought additional votes for the accomplishment ot his
| own purposes. "a, -
offered Dr. BoynOn orthe majority to present evidence or
| To make remarks. They declined both.
From papers before the council IL appeared ta there
5, male adults opposed to Dr. Boynon, a. In ms
! favor.
made the following unanimous decsion:
"From the records of tho church and other evidence
presented. made plain to the Council that earnest
efforts extending through period OF several mouths hh1
been made Thy the aggrieyed members, that nutlnl
aggricved members, aud that this request had been
| refused, 40 that the call of all er pdrte Council
with established Congregational usage. II is clear
| from the evidence that the members Of the church
for long time felt aggreyed by the action or the pastor
and the Church. aud hoy have during long period earn
council In accordance with usage aud.
they were duty bound, 10 redress the matters com
iho Church OF Christ, Of which tcy mombcrs and
they used nil reasonable efforts TO procure such
From the evidence before us. must conclude that
the minority have been and are sincerely desrous OF
ing all the difficulties in the church submitted To mutual
council to which tho majority and themselves should
hold me same relation as fes ursre.o uytcJ y tbs
majority 10 meet Janary Is: as composing Douy tnah
which could bo more able or more willing to deal
Justly aud truly with the whole But thus far thoy
are unable To get consent of the majority To Do repre-
presented before that council as party In tho questions
We have had laid before convincing evidence Of
tho church in tho transaction OF the business OF the
church. endangernR the character OF the church as
Congregational bOdy-the meetings being sometimes dis
orderly opportunity FOR the full discussion OF important
matters not being always allowed, and tho Moderator,
while occupying the chair as presiding Ocer taxing part
IN the debate and thus acquiring undue advantage. We
think the action Ia te summary removal OF tho deacohs
from their Office was TO speak IN the mldest FORM very
nudcios that tho action both hasty aud irreg
uar In the summary suspension OF one OF the members OF
the church before the proper preliminary steps III ohurc
discipline had been taken. . ,
We also believe that the ropellant attitude In which
the church placed toward orr Christian brethren OF
the coored race, by the manner In which examination
certain persons OF that race proposing unite win tho
church conducted and by some of the pubic utter
OF the pastor uerward, Is In serious conflict WIN
the expectation Of the Congregational churches at large
concerning the policy which this church would pursue
seeking realize the law Of liberty, equality aud aerhi-
ty N the kingdom Of our Lord and Savior A..
presents itself thus: On the ono side are ma
Jority OF tho church members warmly attached 10 tp
pastor and entirely opposed to the change III MS oela
relation Their devotion In Itself highly cOmmehuaDe
aud their udgment iscnttled TO much defereuoe
ION tho other side o. more members, about ono
third OF tho church. who comprise largo amount OF IN
eyepywhers Sonored aud beloved through whose nssdu
ons and selfdeDybg labor and III part III ilDute ,o
patriotic service aud sacrifice, by far mo larger poIo
tho money for building this beautiful sanctuary WI" oD
| tained. ~, -.
cessty Of the pastors withdrawal In order 10 tne pros
perity and peace OF the church, is worthy OF to HaNes
consideration =,
"Whie ,then II compelled to Judge solely by the ev
dencO obtained by acting In our chpaclty hs a n
OF the pastor so much for the troubles Of
the church 10 make his withdrawal IN our Judgment
thnt the case IL one demands the advice OF mutual
Council before which all tho facts ana considerations
bearing upon 10 might be- made the basis OF eAahatoh
and advice" , a.,
The publication OF these uterances OF the Council VIII
show tho readers Of TIE TRIBUNE tho mature OF the
evidence before the Council ana the result 10 which
they arrived. Very truly yours, -
Washington, Dec. 2, 1903. WILLIAM IL ioorER'
no the above giving tho Howard side OF tins church
difficulty We add tho following extracts from closely
printed slxecnpagc pamphlet signed by 9s members o
ihc conprrgatioi On the other sde aud with tins close
mn ..ll lffttf- ip tltnp