Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-16

NATIONAL THKArRR-Last appearance of
the ZavistOwsh SISTERS. sIxion, or the Man
at the Wheel" aud The Preach Spy"
CANTERBURY HALL-The great French Cam
Can Last night OF the great double trodpe.
ME1zERoIT HAIL.-Last night Of the
Davenport Brothers
PRoF. SnITa's Art Gallery. 3Oi Pennsyiva.
MIA avenue. New pictures on exhibition.
~
The Mutual Coanc;l of the Csngrexa.
tional Churches.
The Council re-3ssembled at 6X o clock last
evening but not being ready to reports co.,
mIt;ee being then engaged in drafting the re-
few remarks and introduced Capt. Duncan,
who proceeded to give an account of the visit
oftne "Quaker CITY" party to the Holy Land
year or two ago; and was followed by toe Mod
orator. who gave some "reminiscences Of his
visit 10 Syria and the Est.
Mr.. Parsons here stated that the committee
woald not be re DIV TO report tor considers
able time. The Council adjourned to this
mo. ding. :
The Council reassembled at 10 a, m. tc-dsv,
and in the sosenes Of the M ns.s Df.t
Rev Dr. q uint read the de cisiou of the Coun-
o. The Council refers first TO the doubt OF
ECme OF tue Congr"gauon in the sympathy of
TIE pastor in peculiar Congregational views,
and saws IL would have been good To- the
church ard pastor had he connect d himself
with IT. At considerable length the errors n
the administration of the affairs of the church
winch has not been in accordance w IN the
rules o. the church l. referred %, as also the
proper manner of conducting business meet
'nCs. and tie acton of conducting m. e.inys o.
he ofhc'ary, &c, TIE Council says:
The supposed atutuoe OF TINS CHURCH towards
the colorrd race excited painful interest in our
churches throughout the country. The facts
regarding the application OF these coIored per-
sons for membership in this church the ser
mon Of the pastor soon follow ing, and the seye-
-al votes of the church, either endorsing or
modifyin g its positions, have touca6 4 a sensi-
tive nerve IN our denomination. The Council
" not surprise TO find that the occurrences
have beed the fruitful source of controversy
within this church. There is no denial of the
fact that an impression has been made that this
church il cOnclous of the distinction between
persons ofdinerent races In its membership.
The pai,-ful fact has appeared in evidence be-
fore thIs COuncIl that TIE reception of colored
children in the sunday school, was consider
ed an open question, until II was settled by the
offer of pre- miums to that scholar should
bring in the largest number of pupils, which
resulted in the accession of considerable num-
beers of children of color; and which was COM
planned Of as forestailIng the consideration OF
that subject.
The Council believes that this unpleasant
imp-' ssion Is not FULLY warranted by facts. II
doe not appear that this pastor has changed
his lifelong convictions. or abandoned mis-
lifelong and manly support Of the rights of
the African race. There appears to have been
IN his mind the idea, and in fact he AYERS, that
he believes the highest success of that race will
be achieved by its working through its own
schools and churches; and that his motive is
class, and not in any dislike 10 their reception
20 our churches. The pastor and church ut
terly deny any sympathy with a spirit Of caste,
and Tepudiate all It's manifestations.
Yet IL 10 true that the impression referred TO
has been made by the sermon of the pastor and
the acts Of himself and the church That i'm
preston has checked the sympathies Of our
denomination aud dried up the sources of
further help. The churches undou btedly par
t.cIpate in the feelings OF the minority on this
subject. This Council feels that it speaks the
off, hl I'M hes han rhasr
lief from this suspi cion Is indispensable either
TO harmonic the parts OF this church or 10
harmonic this c1uTch with the churches of
cur denomi nation.
The Council .eels that this unfortunate i'm
preston was inevitable, from the transactions
recorded However carefully qualified the in
forming of applicants for memI srship and the
teaching in a sermon that II was better that the
race remain in churches of their own, ensured
a belief that this church preferred that dstnc-
ton. Ii was an unhappy event that this the
CRY was introduced. 1t was unhappy thai il
was introduced at its particular time, and that
- seriously compromised the position of some
orethTen in the church whose public duties
brought them into intimate relations to that
race; that members were necessarily formed
into open antagonism, in which their conduct
could not be considered factIous, II was deyo-
ton 10 principle. For the dissensions thus
arising these men are not responsible. II was
not only unfortunate: this Council believes
that NO such theory is the proper province Of
the church. The Church OF Christ knows NO
distinction of race or color.
To what churches any class of Christians
should be morally constra ned to Join them
selves, IS hot for the church TO CO Ider. 1t is
settled Ia the constitution of the church i.self
and of iSs divine head thai not the color of the
SKIN, but the char icter OF the heart, il the oaly
test There is neither white nor black, only
Iene we'd souls are known, and the quest on Of
color ought not TO be known TO the church.
The Council believes that this church shall
renew most emphatic expression Of Its priRci-
piles, that Of color or race the church is igno-
Iaut.
The Council condemns the act OF publishing
pamphlets, which have increased the a.iena-
uon OF feeling, rendering reconciliation more
dIficult- And after speaking Of the pastor as a
minister and the character Of thoee with him.
and that Of the so-callsd minority, referring 70
Gen- Howard In eulogistic terms the Coancil
says. The Coancil feels that if these two par
ties-so dIsasuOasly divided, and each Of which
the church nee DIS aud must have for its future
well osing-could be united here .iter in action
and feeling. there would be nothing 10 prevent
the church from realizing all, and more than
all &c - lis most ardent friends have desired
and prayed for whether It is possible to Sc
cure this house while the present pastoral re-
laiion continues the Council are not prepared
TO ssy- II can be, II Will only be by the ex-
erciee TO an unexampied degree Of the spirit Of
forbearance for the future, and forgiveness for
the past on either side; by careful avoidance
OF all further OCCASIONS of strife. and by al
earnest aud universal study of the things thar
make for peace. If the future experience of the
church shall be like that of the past two years
itwill be an occasion Of regret to all who have
contributed that IL was erected.
We earnestly expect each and all of its MEM
bers, with the pastor, To consider the respousi-
oilties under which they stand 10 those
churches Of the Lord in other parts of the
land, who have so promptly and generously
given Of their means to The erection of this spa
C,ous and beautiful edifice, and on whom reIi-
ance must b. bad for its completion. W..
expect them more than all instantly to recog-
Dizs their responsibilities to the Great Head of
the Church, whose kingdom is 10 be greatly
advanced or numbered by the success or failure
of This church; and we pray them to resolve,
each for himself. that no one OF them will stand
IN the way of That success which is SO import
ant, or 20 al 80 himself 10 be in any measure
the occasion OF a disaster 80 sad and vast and
undesirable.
Atthe conclusion of the reading of the report
the Moderator DIR. Holbrook) In a few remarks
proposed that they e.sage in devotional exer-
cIses, during which short exhortations were
inside by Rev. Mr.. Lord of Vermont; Deacoa
Duncan OF Brooklyn; Rev. Doctors BIscon,
QuIrk. Wolcott, and The pastor, DIR. Boynton
after which the Council closed.
Religious Matters.
The introductory 10 the second series Of spe-
csai dlscourses, by Rev. DIR. samson, Presi-
dent of Columbian Collexe, will be delivered
before the Young Mems Christian Association,
tomorrow evening, at the 18th street Baptist
Church Sublect-"The Four Gospels as Me.
moirS, giving together a complete knowledge
49, 80 IL