The New York herald., 1873-10-26
Dcnomi tion-Opcn Versus Close
Comm n ION.

Comm lion.
The Baptist denomination, not only here,
but in Great Britain, il passing through
crisis among the most memorable in its his
tory. To this denomination, perhaps, moro
than to any other, is due the honor of having
given to this Republic SO much of religious
freedom as we enjoy to-day. But, impercep-
hbly, and perhaps unconsciously to itself, it
is beginning, like other denominations, to be
affected by the liberal thought of the age, and
door has been opened through its hitherto
untenable, if not unchristian, practice Of COM
munion exclusiveness. Congregational in its
form of government, even more SO than Con-
gregationalists themselves; independent of
any and every authority outside Of and beyond
their several local societies, each is his own
master to whom he must stand or fall. But
while thus free and independent the churches
choose to unite in voluntary associations for
mutual encouragement and aid. No church
thus affiliating with its sister churches yields
a particle of its own Independence, nor
does it belong to the associated body to
sit as inquisitor or judge over any men,
Der thereof. Nevertheless, this is just
what some of the associations seek to do when
they come together in their annual conferences.
Last week the Long Island Association met in
Brooklyn and claimed this right and in part
exercised this authority over at least four
churches namely, the Lee avenue church,
the Port Jefferson church, the Rockville Gen.
tire church and the Carsville church. The lat
ter has failed for two years to report to the
association, and committee was appointed
to ascertain the cause of this failure. The
Rockville Centre church has had open COM
munion trouble during the year, which COM
PEELED it's pastor, Rev. H. O. Pentecost
(brother of the late pastor of the Hanson place
church, where the association convened), to
resign, because of his liberal sentiments on
this question. The Port Jefferson church
trouble is of another kind, and the associa-
ton exercised semi judicial authority over it
by appointing committee Of inquiry and re-
solving not to hold intercourse with it except
through its committee. These three churches
have received missionary aid from the associ-
alton, and a judicial as well as spiritual
oversight of them may be conceded to the
association on that account
But the association holds no such relation
to the Lee avenue church. and consequently
has no ecclesiastical jurisdiction over that So
ciety, except such as may be cheerfully and
voluntarily conceded to it. But, notwith-
standing this fact, very well known to the
members of the association as it appeared in
the discussions thereon, committee Of in
quiry was appointed for this church also.
From the defiant language and attitude Of its
pastor and delegates in the Convention it is
not difficult to divine of what nature will be
the report which they will present to the asso-
citation at its next annual gathering. The
church and its pastor are unit on the ques-
ton of open communion; and as they are not
likely, during the coming year, at the solicita-
ton or dictation Of committee, to change
views which they have openly held for nearly
three years against fierce opposition, amount
ing almost to persecution, the probable result
Of the inquiry next year will be the cutting off
of this church from all intercourse or af1ilia-
ton with the Long Island Baptist Association
But this result is coveted rather than feared by
the Lee avenue church, as was manifest dusing
the discussions last week.
The church, Of course, has the same right
to withdraw from the association that it had to
unite with it, and desire that it would do
so was expressed by one or two delegates to
the Convention. This would be an easier way
of getting over the difficulty than by ex-
cising the church, and it would most likely
divert public sympathy from the church tow
ard the association. This, it may be in
ferred, is not the chief end sought by the Lee
avenue society hence it will wait until the
association moves in the matter and cuts it
off from fellowship measure that, if car
ried out, could not fail to disrupt, if not
destroy, the association. The association is
hardly strong enough yet to begin the work of
excision of some of its best members. For
if it succeeds in turning out Lee avenue
church, with its $40 members, next year. it
may have to do the same thing year or two
after with the First church, with its 637
members, nearly one-half of whom, accord
ing to the testimony of one of its delegates,
are open communicates. And nearly every
Baptist church in Brooklyn is more or less
tainted with open communion sentiments.
This leavening influence has come across the
ocean from England, where close communion
churches are few and feeble, while open COM
munionists are numerous and strong and
wealthy. And it will not stop in one or
two churches here and the Long Island
Association and all other associations
might as well try to beat back the
Atlantic's waves with broom as to attempt
to stop the progress of liberal and Christian
thought among American Baptists. The
Long Island Association, with its membership
Of eight thousand seven hundred and fifty-six,
showing net gain of only sixty-eight members
- IA = -