Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-23
copy OF Minutes and Result OF Council
held mt Bethel, Me., Dec. 9th and 9TH =.
1870.

the Ist Congregational Church, Bethel, Me, at
10 O'Clock A. NJ Dec. 9th, $50. The following
churches were represented viz
The Cong church. at south Paris, by Rev. ! -.
Wheelwright, Pastor.
The "a Cong church, Bethel, by Rev David
Garland, Pastor, and Dea. Nathan +. Twitghell,
Delegate.
The Cong church, Gorham, Y. II by Rev. Geo
F. Tewksbary, Pastor.
The Cong church, Waterford, Me, by Rev W.
W. Dow, acting Pastor, and Dea. Emerson WilA-
ings, Delegate.
The Cong church, Norway, by Rev. I. 7. Merry,
Pastor.
The lst Cong. church someryille, Mass, Rev.
l.. r. Eastman, Jr.. Pastor.
Also, Rev. VIM. Warren. ID. d.
The Council was called by the lst Cong church
and parish in Bethel, 10 advise concerning the
resignation of the Pastor. Rev. f. II. Titus, and
all other difficulties existing in the church and
parish.
Being called to order the Council was organz.
cd b. the choice OF Rev. J Wheelwugit, rs
Moderator, and Rev l. Il Eastman, Jr., a. scribe.
The Moderator read portion of scripture, ant
called upon Rev DIR. Warrcn, 20 offer prayer.
half hour was spent in devotional exercises.
The Letters Missiyc, the Letter ri resignation,
aud the action Of the Church and Society ia refc..
ence thereto, were then read. additional state
ments were made 10y the committee % the church
aud parish, in explanation OF the circumstances
which led 10 the resignation of the Pastor 40
I2l o'clock took recess Of one hour
Eeassembled AZ II T. NJ Listened 20 statements
from various members of the church in regard 10
th.r feelings n. 10 The location Of the now Organ
which i,,. hacn nlaeeb in the church The chair
man NJ rho Committe, oftbc Parish male 4 state.
mon, AZ l,,,b nr ,, e,,f,.c ~ events rcl,riug,1
tho whole ,ubiert ncnd,nv Then the Council
,ook rrce.s ,t5 o,cIock
rho C,,ncu ,,.,...r,ll.d N ~ p NJ Tn,
Chairman of the Parish & ,,nmit,.c continued hi.
,.,o,,.,, ,ld,t,,n.i .t,,cr,.,,, 49,, ,,,,l l.,.
.,,ora, ,,,.,,,ers NJ I'M, church anil n,r,.b ,,,il
,oa,.t,.p vho,,bo connect ,aI,urrol =, nec, ON
49,, .,,o,,,,,..,,.,,.i,,t
,r',...lt,,, " ne, Nj ,cro,,Iin, 10
.,Iio,rrr,c,t PRAYER was offered hy Rev NJ
,,.,.,a,d tis,.,cj ., p., Mr. Tim, .tst,u,rut
=, "a. -. 49, d..i,,,,., ,lt.,ni..,l also ~
o,her br.tbrep NJ tho church
vo,.I,h,t Tho rou,cil l,c b, Themselves.
ON cou.uli,t.on-Voted To advise the dis,oia.
-, a., .,,.,i,,, ,,.,,r.,o p,.,,, ,rI ,.,nlc
a,a,o,,I,r,, r,,,o,,i,,g p,.rr viz
-, -, ,..,.r Win an
.,,,, ..,.,,. D., ,,.. r,,,,o, 81,
=, ,i.. ,t,.....i. ami
"a, ,r.,t.I
m. ,,., a.. ,,,io,yi,,, IL,
-, -, =, ,,..,.. ,t,.
Dor come ve,r- the I.adic, had been acrumulat-
Inc ,,,,,. r, the ,.,rc, - of An Organ until over
ny. hundred ANN dollar, had been ia.-,d
About a year since there was general feeling
that O, u,s hest 10 procecd Immediately 70 procure
/ trc in,trument. Action was then taken, D. the
por;.i and pea holder, in the usual course in
reference 70 nrcp,rirg the house for the reception
of the instrument. Committees were appointed,
and duly reportcd their doing- in preparing places
! and estimating cost, The Parish and Pew.hold.
crs IN revular adjourned meeting, decided by
-, -, ,,,i,, IN mt the organ IN Il, present
,,,.i,,o,, AMI d, commute, of three was appointed
,o.,,rr,. ort tina nl,n the exp,nsc 10 be met by
.,,,.cr,,t,o,
The Council would here notice with special
-. a., ;,,.-, ,.l,o, ,,,, all po,tics c.urci,l
a.. ,,di.s OF the p,ri.b in procuring this
-, -, -. -,,,,,Ii h mot only an ornament g..
.-,.,. 10, -, i,,,,,r,,rt all =, tboir worship
M, ,,.,,i,e ,t., viii, s,ti.fartion the degree
-, ,,n,ni,,itv in votes tourlfing the location u
~. in.,r,,o,,nt anil IN proceedlugs prctim noIy to
~, er,r rc.,,l,. Rut II app,ar. that ON account
of some informally the Legality OF the action of
pin and pcv.holler. was called In question
lh,,. .,,,,r a. th,. was suggested. an Act Of
Iegi.laturc was occurred, lcgallzing the action
,ne.,iored
tn. co,,n,itte. then proceeded 10 carry ont the
direction. az the meeting by which they were ap-
&. -,
,..-,,... ,n,,c,r. tb,, On March 18th 1870. nine
a. A., ~, + sg,.I,,ure VA. .igned. Ger
-! -, p.,s.h et.i certisc,ta- of with.
-, g, - :, c,rtber ,ppears. have.
,,a,, >, ,,,i, consistently refused To put
- - -. ~, IN ,r,. ,vay make them.
M, Tor the .upnort OF the Gospel
- mi. church ot which thee are members. thereby
,h.,ru,ting IA, progress OF the church From all
hos. CIRCUMSTANCE, has arisen state Of feeling
N n. mimi of the Pastor and people which
r,,,crs II difficult or impossible for them 70 con
,;,u. to,,rher
such In brief, are the facts as shown TO the
council. hv the statements OF the various parties.
The council regard il as their duty, to inquire in
re.uect TO the withdrawal Of certain members and
,,; rc,,,.,I 20 sub-rrlb 10 the salary OF the min
i.,., Hive thew pre.cnt,d reasons sufficient 20
ip.titv them in their course The council feel
constrained to say, that, in their opinion said
parti.- have not For,
I.t The Parish voted d ,tinctly that the expense
be met ~ subscription, 80 that one should be
taxed for the extra cost.
~ The majority have stood ready 10 pledge
r.r.,,.s that no part Of the extra expense should
6,ll ON the minority
l..., f,
.,u, instance. been allowed to ini,ucuc, action 10
-, ,,r,,,r,,pt,bl. extent
y,ho Council thcrot,rc. while they make dis.
.,.,rni,,tio, in favor If those no withdraw from
rho society with no suJvcr.i,c or factou, motive,
,ci that the course taken bv various pagtc~ in re-
h,.n, 10 acquie-cc in the will OF the majority, rs