Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-04-21
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH


composed Of paStors and lay delegates from
the different Congrega Ito Al churches through
out the country, assembled At the First Con
Eregailonai church, corner OF Tenth aud q
ettects, for the purpose OF examining Rev J
=. Rankin, the candidate for the pastorship o.
this church.
Rev. Il q. Yermnyea, Of Hartford, Conn
was called to preside, and Rev. J. u. WilcoS
was chosen as secretary,
The following churches were represented
Central, Warrington, J, W. Rumsey, del
First Manchester, N. H., Rev. q. W. Wallace
u. D., Or. French first, ST, Albnns, VI, Hon
Mas S @I PO % Wp1hfop, onsiss I
Mr.. TUFTS. ShAwmut, Boston, Mr.. DemOnt
Maverick, East Boston, Rev, J. $, Bingham,
u, D., Mr.. Reeds Central, Worcester, Rev, S,
Sw,etEer, d D., q. whiteomb; Church OF the
Pilgrims, Brooklyn, Rev. X, s, Storts, j., D.
D, Y, =. Buck; broadway Tabernacle, New
York city, Rev. J. P. Thompson, u. D., q. ID
MetdCf, IA ,tiettS, Ohio, T. II. Hawke; Gen
IIrl, PhiladclPhIa, Pa Rev. Edward HAYES
First Rtlumnre, Nd, n Nnyes; JeF.ey city
Vine avenue. Newark, N. J, RSv. .. Il. Hafi,
bert, Nc. collins; Wakefield, Mass, Rev. q.
| II, Dllss, DR., Chickeringj Eliot, Newton Cor.
SGigsP"Tt s. klbcs, fr'S 'P asr,ioFS GoSS.,
| Rev. Geo. q. dOuld, Mr.. X. @. Vermilyea;
hblrsit NSy B B,yeN, GonRSo Dssson TSiHins'
FSirhsnkSi Royal OAK, Mich, MI. j. ID, John.
i R%a,os hs,OdSD Va Riy I r JOhP'Ppi
! ME-. Anderson Exeter, N. II, Rev. j. W,
/ ChickefinE, IT,; West Sfingneld, Mass Rev,
4. N, uroati New Bitsin, Conn, Rev. Mr..
The question beIag raised that the letters
misstve do not mention the dismissal Of the
former pastor OF the church, or give Auy
tesoTd % hts relationship to this church,
much discussion arose, Rev. Drs Storrs,
| SweetEef, Thompson, Wallace, Uhickering
Aud others speaking upon the subject. Lay
some taking the ground that they were JuStl.
| He'd In proceeding with the eNAminAiiou Of the
present pastor, while others thought their ac-
| tion would he premature without some evil
donee showing that DR.. Boyntonp relations
with the church had been severed In formal
! manner.
Thompson, OF New York, to the effect that the
| council proceed to consider the fact OF tho
dismissal Of DR.. Boynton.
| Mr., A. u. Ely, OF Mass, 4 lay member, was
Of the opinion that IL could NOT be considered
| aa the business Of this couReil, aa no mention
OF the subject had been made Ia the letter
| missiye.
Dr. Thompson said II should have been en-
braccd, but they should not proceed without
full evidence Of the dismissal, and he was for
having some recognized fact from the records
OF the Church or Otherwise.
DR.. Sweetzer, OF Mass, was In favor Of
taking no action at all 10 reference to this
matter, Leaving the settlement 81 y to the
that there had been severance Of the rela.
tions between the late pastor and church, aud
he thought they should proceed, accepting
accomplished TACT, and that the church knows
Its own condition better than this council.
nr. storrs differed with DE-. Sweeilcr lie
held that Dr, Boynton should have the right
| to question the regularity Of the action OF this
council. He opposed taking the action pro.
posed, saying that u wm resetionAry 10 its
! church, and thought that they should not pro.
! eeed to the examina ton Of any candidate until
the subject was clearly understood.
| Remarks were made by MIR. DemOnt, \ lay
/ member, and Rev. Mr.. Hawkes..
| Rev. Mr.. Thompson said that very little i'm.
Portanee In regard to the action OF this couG-
| ell would probably be attached by DR.. BOyn.
| ton, and asked II the church OF which DF.
| Boynton 10 y member had been Invited to be
present, for, Il so, the council had already
| acknowledged the action as regular.
| A member Of DF. Boynton's church being
! present, stated that II was through no fault Of
| DR.. Boyntou that his relations were not teEu.
| lar.
DR.. Storrs remarked that IS DR.. Boyntou's
church had already been recognized a. existing
he thought some action was necessary,
on the part Of the council to heal the irFeEn.
larlty, II any existed.
The Secretary then read the original call Of
Dr. Boynton to the First congregational
ance also the action OF Winthrop church,
UhatlestOwn Macs, with reference to the dis.
solution OF the pastoral relations OF Rev. Dr.
Rankin with that church the letter OF call for
Dr. Rankin to the church 10 Warrington, and
Of his acceptance ofthe same.
The papers were considered aatiafNototy to
the council Dr. Rankin then read a paper
embracing his views OF the doetriuea OF the
church, At the conclusion OF which questions
were propounded by the delegates present,
DR.. StorTs taking prominent part IN the eE.
animation. At the conclusion = secret session
Of = few moments was held, duIing which the
examination was considered and sustained
unanimously after which the minutes were
read and a recess takeu until the evening,
when the instNllation exercises will take
place.
kvENISd sERvIcEs-IssTALLArIOS CERE-
MONIES.
Rev. Il. q. NermilyeA called the eou ell 10
order, and immediately thereupon Rev. Dr.
Storts moved that a committee OF three be APP
no SsS az hafIS 70 fShs a %hse
lowship Of all sister churches Of the same de.
was adopted.
menced by The reading Of the minutes OF the
council by the oleGk, Rev. 4 ID. Wilcox after
which The be1utiiuI anthem, Praise 20 the
Lord" was sung by the choir in most ex.
Rev. J. q. Vase, OF Providence, Rhode
Islaud, then read extracts IRON the Scriptures,
choosing for his selections the 2Tth PsAim aud
PORTIONS Of the tth and 5th chapters of the 81
EpiStle 10 the Corinthians, after which he
delivered an Impressive prayer.
hymn WAS then sung by the choir, the
congregation Joining.
Tie Rev. T. ;. STurrs, jr, d. D., Of Brook.
Ign, New York. then delivered the sermon,
taking flT his text the last clause OF the 18th
verse OF tho 18Th chapter OF the lst Book ~
Kings, "And alter the IRE, still small voice"
The speaker 81 ttcned the life OF the prophet
Elijah, his Efforts TO puTsuade the people OF
Israel to turn from their sinful practices, 40. |
He said that In the wonderful manifestations
OF art aud science, the revolutions and up
heAyinss OF dynaaties which eonvulse the
political world, all men Aekno Wedge the pres
ruee Of GOd. SO In the sudden conversion Of
n sinner His presence 10 IN NnlfeGted and reeog-
niIed, and we are too apt to wait for some
such great and startling manifestations OF the
divine presence rather than take heed TO the
stlll small voice that peryades our inmost
He eloquently pictured the change that had
taken place In MS country during the period
since the commencement al the rebellion, aud
! AdyOeNted thsE now there was = greater
spreading OF the Word OF God, and that ali The
startling events in the history OF the world
were simply preparations for the increased
extent OF the Gospel lie concluded as fol-
dod speed the coming Of that day, foretold
OF ND to saint aud seer, toward which His
plans have ever advanced, for which HIG love
endured the cross and waits 90 high. for
which His spirit nightly works, toward
which the world MES, running IN through
God keep US all 10 our several places-beln
you, my brother, In this high place to do the
part assigned TO each, in making the nations
hear His voice. May life be only precious to
us because 1t can serve this grAndest eAusri
may every power be enlarged and ennobled BY
oonveTsion'to this mission, and then when the
day OF glory comes, and the earth Ia full Of the
knowledge Of God, \ share in the triumph
shall be ours, and the prophet hi mselG to whom
God was revealed not Ia the storm nor 10 the
earthquakes thrOesi not In the luminous Ore,
but 10 the still small voice, shall be In very
truth our brother. May GOd, In his Inhnite
mercy hasten The time,
After the singing Of hymn the Rev, S.
SweetIeT, ID. D., Of Worcester, Mass deIIV-
cred the installation prayer 10 a most ferVent
aud Impressive manner.
The anthem, "HoW lovely are the Messen-
Eers,n was then rendered by the choir, after
which Rev. Geo. II. Gould, ofHAttfoTd, Conn,
delivered the charge to the pastor,
He urged upon him fidelity to his high and
noble calling, and ever remember that he was
a servant Of Jesus Christ, his commission be-
log sealed with the sligo manual of the Saviour
that his reward was spiritual, not for pleasing
men, but for doing duty for God He further
eXhOTted him to preach the word Of God As
revealed In the inspired Scriptures; not to 70
TO newspapers or political eAucuses for his
texts, nor to preach merely the ethics, philoS-
ophy or morality Of religion, but the positive,
stupendous yerities Ofthe bible, and proclaim
them feArfully.
The right hand Of fellowship was then ex-
tended by Rev. Ed. HAwGe, Of Philadelphia.
Rev. J. s. Bingham, ID. d., Of Boston, Mass,
then delivered most Impressive charge to
the people, urging them to cooperative with
their pastor In all his endeAgoFs. He spoke