The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-18

others, and this In a rapidly growing neighbor-
mood. Near the close OF last year we were In ar
rears $1,000. We requested the pastor "a read q
notice calling on the congregation for subscriptions
TO pay the deficiency; but instead, by u statement
much more Ingenious than ingenious, the ue-
hciency was made to appear much less. NO sub
scriptions were forthcoming. anu the $1,000 re-
manned unpaid. In all this did we transcend our
duties either rs church members or as trpsteHsS
A PIE letter. nerhaps, we Eere Superseded.
the lots and Building were owned by Mr.. Lenox
In November last we decided to take steps TO pur-
chase the property and secure the fee TO the con-
gregatiDn. A committee OF trustees was APP
pointed 10 confer With Mr.. Lenoxs agent and q
which the lay members Of the session were invited
the elder trustee writing and serving the invita-
TONS We had on other occasions sought me
one the trustees committee reported favorably
The trustees, cOnceiving 1t their duty 70 consider
al matters bearing directly on the temporal pros
perlty OF the congregation, stated In writing, one
of them verbally, that 1T IL known that many OF
cipally have lost their interest In the church
When we look around at the empty pews on the
well ask ourselves, Where ia the youth OF the
church, We think that our pastor ought to be in
we would therefore, urge that this sting night
take the proper steps to bring the matter before
our pastor and the congregation Many other
matters were discussed; but the ''steps proper"
or improper, which "this meeting" took were to
hear statement from an elder thai the pastor
should resign; motion by an eder that q COM
mlttee Of three should be appointed to see the
pastor and read the paper to him containing the
foregoing statements), which was amended, on
motion of trustee, that only the substance OF the
paper should be stated to him. The committee
WAS was therefore appointed nem con-; but Just here
Presbytcry adopted the folowing:-
Resolved That the Prcsbytcry Of New York do con-
IL an e e. IKE acton s Of inc
pastoral relation as nncaiei for byany exigency spir
greeation subycrsiyc Of the principles Presbyterian
order the al our hc s
little IRE indlethP-James ill.,, g.
Three of the trustees were appointed the COM
mittee but before any one OF them had obtained
an interview with the pastor some other party had
from the pulpit his intention to resign his charge;
on the next Wednesday evening he made his fare
well address and shook hands ., with the members
pastor; he asked their advice as to what he should
do, but they declined advising him. made no re.
quest ana no demand. Afterward notice, signed
by the pastor, calling meeting OF the congrega-
ton to appoint commissioners to unite with him in
his request to the Presbytery to dissolve the pas
tora relation was read by the minister then Ofci-
ating. The commissioners were appointed, but
made no attempt to influence the action OF the
Presbytery in any direction.
With this lengthy statement we should close, but
as the ministers seldom teach us what Is Presby-
tera order, we have to find it in the confession OF
Faith form OF government, chapter II, which, after
describing the mode by which pastor may obtain
a release from his pastoral charge says
"And fany congregation shall desire to be released
rom their pastor, similar process ntutdttS nat
tdldis shall he Observedn Exchange parties and
names and proceed as in the other case. In fact.
Presbyterianism is the radical difference and happy
means between the absolutism OF congregatonllsm
on the one hand and OF prelacy on the
other The congregation must have its say in
both the settlement and release OF pastors, and the
movement on the part of the congregation must
originate somewhere. II the clamOr In the congre
CATION for change be unfounded the PresDytery
can retain the incumbent despite the prospect of
empty pews short rations. All this IS just as it
should be- yet the uncertainty, especially III this
country, OF ministerial tenure, and the exgences
ofministerial lie, tend to sway Presbyteries to-
ward preacy. But since the DEGREES of Laud
have degenerated into denunciations by Presby-
terles, and the dragons OF Claverhouse into
troops OF editors we suppose We nave small cause
NEW YORK, April "a, 1873. 1888 Broadway.
Liberty OF Conscience In Alinncsota-The
Religious Rights OF Prisoners and
Paupers-GovernOr Austin's Veto-An
Indignation Meeting.
At the last session OF the Minnesota Legislature,
that adjourned short time since, there was
passed elderly of Conscience bill," which was
vetoed by Governor Austin. In the prisons,
asyums and poorhouses OF that State the Catholic
inmates have been prevented from receiving the
ministrations OF clergymen OF their own faith and
compelled TO attend Protestant worship. The APP
pcatOns OF Catholics to be visited by priests have
been steadlastly denied, and even in their dying
hours the prohibition has been known to be car
ried out There is no law preventing Catholic
clergymen from visiting prisoners and paupers,
but the regulations enforced by the managers
close the doors of penitentaries and eleemosynary
institutions against Them Citizens Of all denom'
nations favored the passage OF the bill, which was
grounded on the plainest principles OF equity and
III acccr dance with all American ideas OF religious
liberty. Ii was provided that after It's passage
hindrance should be offered on proper occasions,
TO the admission OF such clergymen as the inmates
officers
in charge to afford facilities for that purpose.
The only public institution in New York where
the Minnesota system obtains is the House OF Ref
uge, on Randals Island. The right OF the present
trustees, however, to hold Office at all-they not
being subscribers towards its support, as the law
requlrcs-it appears, is to be investigated, and 1t
is expected that the rules that now debar the boys
and girls confined there from their inalienable
right to religious consolation and help will soon be
entirely changed. In Minnesota the action OF Gov
ernor Austin mas given rise to much indignation.
1t is contended that the only influence to benefit
Catholic prisoners, spiritually and morally is shut
out by the authorities and that they are not
touched by the teaching or preaching OF
these gentlemen may be; that they are
coerced into hearing. 1t was brought to the at
the day has long passed when such intolerance
was practised, and did such state OF things now
exist in any public institution there public opinion
would not permit 1t to continue a week. In France
and in Germany the greatest attention is given to
the religious wants OF criminals and paupers.
Catholic, Protestant and Jew allowed to obtain
counsel from their respective ministers and attend
their respective forms of worship, and instead OF
placing obstacles IN the way, the laws encourage
the practice.
large meeting OF citizens was held in Mower
county TO protest against the conduct OF their rep
resentative, who favored the veto OF Governor
Austin. The resolutions adopted proclaimed to
the world our utter detestation and contempt OF
the narrow, illibera and bigoted ideas that would
prescribe any class OF our people rom free and
unrestrained exercise OF their religious opinions
We recognize the right of the inmates of State in
situations to exercise that inalenable right guar
anteed 10y the CONSTITUTIONS to worship God accord
ing TO the dictates OF their conscence.n There
seems to be some disposition TO Test the power of
the officers in charge OF penitentiarIes and ails to
exclude ministers and TO compel prisoners to
attend services against which their conscences
rebel The objections that clergymen cannot be
trusted TO hold communication with the inmates
and that the privilege OF admitting them would be
abused, are considered unworthy excuses to cover
up the bigotry that controlled the mind OF the Gov
ernor.