The New York herald., 1872-12-09
BROOKLYN CHURCHES,
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

MIR. Beecher breaches ON the Council ae
Jerusalem and Compares 1t with tho
Recent Installation Of the Rev. George
IL. Hepworth-What This New Depar.
turc I'm Church Councils Means.
Mr.. Beecher preached yesterday morning to .
very large congregation The subject OF the SER
mon was suggested, he said, by the recent instaa-
tlon OF George II. Hepworth as pastor OF the
Church OF the Disciples and the text selected WAS
lengthy passage from Acts xxi, 17-26-'And
when we were come to Jerusalem the brethren re-
ceiyed US gladly. And the day following Paul went
in with us unto James, and all the elders were
present, and when he sa'uted them he declared par
tcularly what things God hath wrought among the
Gentiles by his ministry"
Mr.. Beechcr said that he had selected this SUBJ
ject for his morning discourse because there had
been during the last week council held in New
York for the installation OF the Rev. George II.
Hepworth; and 1t resembled very much the council
at Jerusalem. The council called so that there
might be given to Mr.. Hepworth what might be
called clearing papers to 60 forth IN the churches
1t would be well, perhaps. to describe what was
meant by council. Almost all ecclesiastical de-
nominations had them. BY the Presbyterians their
councils were known as Presbyreries; by the Dutch
Relormers as SynOds; in the Congregational
churches council was called informally OF the
neighborng churches, the distinctive congrega-
u ",
not as carrying with 1t any authority.
THE COUNCIL THAT WAS CALLED IN NEW YORK
was peculiar in this respect, that 1t was made up
OF ministers of various denominations, namely, the
Episcopal Church. the Methodist Church. the Pres
byterian Church. the Dutch Reformed Church, the
Baptist Church and the Congregational churches.
All these were represented in this council. Mr..
Beecher named the representative clergy who
were present, commenting upon their reputation
for orthodoxy, and, aluding to their standing
in the Church, Mr. Beecher said that he well
recolected the time when such thing as this
when to see the minister Of another denomination
present was to make OF him target to shoot at,
and when 1t was your duty to Immediately show
your accuracy by showing other peoples naccu-
racy There was memOrableness about this cOun-
ci too, from the place in which It was held 1t was
held in the old Brick church, or the old church in
a new brick-a church that had been made mem
orable by the ministratons OF DR.. Gardiner Spring
Then Mr. Beecher inquired who this man was
whose orthodoxy was endorsed. 1t was George
HepwOrth, man born in New England OIL
UNITARIAN PARENTS,
and who had been pastor OF the Church OF the Mes
sah, and had left 1t for the Congregational Church.
There was also another remarkable circumstance
little re-, remote from the immediate occasion, ana
gregational minister In Brooklyn, was now the
pastor Of the church that Mr.. Hepworth had lett:
only be hinted at and not commented
on then. Mr.. Hepworth, when he was examined
ss to his faith M at A. the counciMr Bescher M SAD ne
give, ior he was not asked for it, dry, clear sharp
statement OF his theological views but he did tell
that growth OF grace In his SOUL that all these ex-
auiners knew to be their own experience and
that should be the experience OF all men who
preach the gospel. All tnis was given, not In
dogmatica FORM but with great freedom and SIM
pcity. Mr.. Hepw0rth was accepted by this coun-
Gil with great cOrdiality and uEanimity voted to
tion, and the occasion was shown to be a very
blessed one. Now what was the inference Of ali
this9 Well, first the growth, under Divine Provl-
dence. OF the spirit OF charity, rather than the
spirit OF repulsion. Second,
THE GROUNDS
on which this candidate was accepted were not on
views OF theology, except that all theology lies
under all feeling. The counsel required just what
the counsel required OF Paul, namely-was this
man moved towards God by the same spirit that
we were The unanimity OF the council was re-
markabe, because they did not give up their views
OF theology. Mr.. HepwOrth's experience given in
that mild, amber light or thought did not prevent
DR.. McCOsh from requiring from himself clear-cut,
sharp. outlined form offaith The old and new the
Ology claimed its own right of assertion but still
they voted for this man. though his sweep of the0l0
gy did not probably jump within the range OF any
one OF them. Mr.. Beecher said that he should
consider council that came together that said or
thought that 1t did not matter what you believed
very dangerous council. Every man who has
the faculty OF thinking clearly and sharply ought to
define his faith and have q creed. But what was
needful was that when such men came together
they should hold their truth in love and preserve
their own faith to their own conscience.
The concluding sentences or the discourse was
peroratlon on the advance or Christianity and the
ultimate restoration and salvation OF mankind.