The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-01-15
Icorrespondence Fremont Journal

, n = 4 r
in, not yet fully completed, but for a year or
SO 6t for use, the most spacious Protestant
church in Washington, built on the money
and promises of congregations throughout the
land, all eyes are turned upon this church
with something like the interest that MOham7
medans turn toward Mecca, and Catholics
think of St. Peters. 1t is their religious en-
try into the oapitsl of their nation, after.
long wishing and long waiting, from which
they had always been excluded by theSara+,
cenism of slavery. No wonder, then, ct
the nationwide interest in the unfortunate
troubles which threaten the rum Of. all their
hopes, just IS they we're felioitatiDg them
selves in anticipatiOns of the hapPieSt fruits.
The church is at present divided into two
opposing parties, one consisting of about
tWo-thirds of the church, adherents Of the
pastor, Rev. Dr. Charles B. BoyntOn, (Ohap-'
laiu Of the House of Representatives, and the
remainder portion, adherents of General o.,
o. Howard, Commissioner Of the Freedmen'S
Bureau, who are very desirous that the Doc
tor should go elsewhere and find another
flock TO which his pastoral attentions would
be more unanimously acceptable. The diff
ferenoss dating as far back as the beginning
of 1867, aud widening, and seeming to be ir-
reconcilablr, the Howard party eariy in
1868, offered to submit the matter to a coun-
Gil of other Congregational churches, sach
party to have an equal voice in the selection
of the persons 10 constitute the council.
This, the BOyntOn party declined, on the
ground that in CoDgregationalism minor ty
had no right to constitute themselvesas a
distinct body, placing themselves upon an
equal footing with the mtjOrity; the latter
would consent to the minority acting in that
matter and in all church matters, as indiyid-
uals only.
Gepersl Hovardts prOuiinsnceiHthisc church
grew out of circumstances not difieult'to uD-
dsrstsnd. Whenthe church Wss first orga-
niEed there was neither an edifce sppropri-
ated to its worship nor any money 10 build
one. No small affairs was contemplated,
but one bearing some proportions to the size
and respectability of the denomination in the
nation, and TO the wants and fitness Of an
only church of their denomination in the
Capital. ltwss to be Metropolitan church.
in short. Now, as the 65 persons who Orga-
nized the church, with all the accessions they
were warranted in expecting, could not raise
bEt 8 small fracIiep Of the money needed for
so large an enterprise, outside churches were
looked to from the first for the great part Of
the necessary means. General Howard wis
well-knoWn and possessed Of a large share Of
the confidence and liking of ali manner Of
Christians. He was one Of the earliest mem.
bers Of the Society (the business part Of
the organization ofs Congregational church j
though not of the church untllIt vas about
seven months old, and took upon himself the
task of raising the chief part Ofithe means;
and did go about among the sister churches
asking contributions TO that end and obtain
ed most of the means of the enterprise. In
consequence be was made President of the
Society, Chairman Of the Business Commit
tee, and Treasurer of the Building Fund.
He bought the site for the church, paying
down part, and giving his own notes for the
balance, and taking the deed in his own
name. All this naturally made him the
great man of the church It is said BY the
majority that at the meeting Of the oongre-
gatioual Union, at Mr.. B5ecasr's church in
May 1866, he asked the Christian public to
give him the money 10 build the church, as
a testimonial, as the people had given money
and houses to Sherman and Grant, and that
he had never yet made detsiled statement
of the moneys received; and they feared that
be was disposed to make the church a one
man sffdir, the most repulsive Of all things
to the Democratic genius of Congregational,
ism. The majority also charge that the Of
fcers and employees Of the Frcedmen's
Bureau, attempted to make the church aid
in presenting the General as candidate for
the Presidency or Vice. P Presidency, that in
the sapie sumner and i pursuance of the
salns aim, 1t was suspected, by the sanction
of the General, more than 100 colOyed child.
ren were suddenly brought into their Sunday
School by some teachers without oonsulia.
ton with other teachers, church or pastor;
that the pastor with the majority opposing
these things, Gsnoral Howard snd his ad-
hereDts have raleutles<ly sought TO get the
pastor out of the CHURCH, and have falsely
accused BIN of preaching sermon against
admitting blacks to membership, and of
various other things Objectionable to Con.
gregationalisw, for the accomplishment Of
Their hostile purposes; that lately the GEN
eral, as Treasurer, has refused to pay the
interest due on the church bonds, unless they.
would dismiss the pastor; that at a church
meeting the General accused the pastor Of
"Setting the church by the ears" and say
ing to him " believe the very Satan is in
your heart" and giving the lie three times
to gray haired man; at communion sea-
son interrupting the Doctor in some remarks,
relative to the difficulties, and making a
speech in church; and so forth.
On the other hand, the minority falling to
get the majority to join them in calling a
mutual council, called themselves, an enparss
council, the substance of whose finding is a
more reliable reply to the foregoing, than
any thing the minority may say for them
selves.
= From the evidence before US, we must
conclude that the minority have been and,
aresincerely desirous ofhaviDg all the cuhrCh
submitted 10 a mutual council, to which the
majority and themselves should hold the
same relation as parties. But thus far Thea
are unable to get consent of the majority TO
be represented before that council IS party
in the question at issue
ave have had laid before US convincing
evidence of hasty and irregular action en- the
part Of the pastor aud the church, in the
transaction Of the business of the church,
endangering the character Of the church as a
Congregational body. The summary remO-
ysl of deacons from their Office was, to speak
in the mildest form, very injudic'Ops and the
summary susp. nsicn of one of the members
of the church hasty and irregular"
. They fgTther deprecate the attitude of
the minority toward the ealorei brethren,
and assign to the PASTOR so much sespo6si-
bility for the troHblcs of the church as to
make bis withdrawal ia their Judgment ex-
Pc isrt.
Impartialisis win suspend 6nal Judgment
until they learn the result of The council on
The l3th instant JE,